VON TEMPSKY’S ORDERLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 552, 3 January 1929, Page 6

VON TEMPSKY’S ORDERLY

MR. JOHN GILLANDERS ACTIVE MILITARY LIFE Vivid memories of the Maori Wars and his association with the famous Von Tempsky, to whom he was orderly, are retained by Mr. John Gil landers, of Devonport, who to-day celebrates his 81st birthday. Mr. Gillandcrs has lived in New Zealand since 1856. He was born in Nova Scotia, of Scottish parents. in 1848.. While apprenticed to a stone-mason in Parnell he enlisted in “Pitt’s Four Hundred,” a body of men raised for service in the Waikato. After some time Mr. Gillanders joined Von Tempsky's “Forest Rangers,” and took part in a good deal of fighting in Taranaki. At the cessation of hostilities the Rangers were given grants of land in the Waikato as military settlers. The war having again broken out, Mr. Gillanders enlisted in No. 5 Division of the Armed Constabulary and became Von Tempsky’s orderly. Many months of fighting in Taranaki followed and Mr. Gillanders took part in the relief of the garrison at Turituri, Mokai, and later in the second attack on the bush stronghold of Te Ngutu O Te Manu, where Von Tempsky was killed. Shortly afterward Mr. Gillanders retired from military life and settled in Auckland, where he has lived ever since.