DID VON TEMPSKY BLUNDER?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 229, 21 September 1908, Page 4

DID VON TEMPSKY BLUNDER?

STOItV 1)1' A.N KYK-WITS ESS. TiHHLUNd IXCIDK.NT uF 13ATT1X THE LAST JJIiAVH STAND. Sometimes il is said, with nlmust a tone of regret, that this fair vi>un-.-country hu„ no classic legend sn'i-Ji as llio ti reeks would have invested it with, that il lias sucn mi great battles when nations met in anus; hut surely the stories of Ui'aknu, of lUiapcka'pck.i.of ilangiriri, of the (iate i'a, and oi' the great'J'aianaki lights will never lie foigottou in New Zealand. The fortieth anniversary of the battle of Te Xgutii-o-te-Manu lias recalled the death of Hint noble soldier, .Major von Teuupsky, and yet, so incomplete are >"(>«• Zealand's accounts of its own wars, there have been raised numerous lines' lions as to what actually happened at Unit memorable light, and the commonly accepted version attributes the disaster as being dim to Ihe major's impetuosity. There 'are three men in Auckland to-day who were eye-witnesses of Major von Tempsky's last stand, ami an Auckland Herald representative was fortunate enough to lind one, 11 r. -lames Slianaglian, of the Labour Department, who was with the major to the last. "J have read," he said, "the accounts of the unfortunate engagement at Te Xgulii-o-te-Manu, failed forth by the anniversary, with decidedly mixed feelings; feelings of sorrow for the fate of that brave and chivalrous soldier, Major von Tempsky, who was so cruelly sacrilieod through the blundering incapacity, if not worse, of his superior ' ollitt'i', and feelings of indignation to think that our history has so utterly failed to record that light that, at thi's late date, statements are made to cloud the memory of von Tempsky by the suggestion that the disastrous defeat! of our arms at Te Ngutii-o-te-Mnnu was due to his impulsiveness, by which Hie plans of the commanding officer were frustrated, and defeat happened. How little is actually known oi that terrible disaster is shown by the statements I hiiv,. referred to. *1 have very good cause to remember Te llaururii or J.'e Ngutu-o-te-Manu. 1 was anxious to go, -ami paid the penalty. (Here Mr. .Slianaglian indicated the stump that was once his loft thumb.) We left V'ailii camp very early on the morning of Monday,' September 7th, 18U8, and after a long circuitous inarch through the bush, we halted in the rear of the pa. Tim Wauganui natives, known as the Kupapas, were in advance, and we. soon became aiware that we were close to th L . enemy by the excitement of the natives. Koine low were sent ahead to scout, and the others prepared for action by putting on white saslies. Presently the scout s opened lire on an old Maori and two boys, wdio were found in a tent some distance in Hie rear of the pa. Of course, the game was up, and our position was disclosed to the enemy. Then trouble arose with the Kupapas, and they refused to advance. We were then ordered to advance, and we liled on past the natives towards the pa.. Major von Tempsky was at om head. | We crossed a crock, and ciiine on to the

pa almost before we knew it, because there had not been a single shut lired from either side after the alarm had been given by the senilis. When we got into the small clearing and immediately in front of the masked pa, we mere saluted by a withering lire, and Lieutenant ]{owa» and several others were hit. We then opened lire, and though We could not see tin; natives, we had reason to believe from tlivr yells that our lire was having some effect, and we wero just warming up to our work when the commanding officer's bugle,- sounded the order ' (.'ease liring.'

■'Then it was that the blunder came •with its awful effect. We, though colonials, were disciplined men. We ceased tiring as erected, and so allowed the enemy to get into position, and shoot ns 'down like sheep. We were powerless to. defend ourselves because of our orders. Our commanding ollicer. Colonel 'McDonnell, was completely unmanned, and I stood by when Jlajor von Tuntpsky and Major Hunter pleaded with him to let them charge. I will never forget the scene. The colonel was reclining on the ground, resting on his* elbow, and the two ibravc officers were standing in front of him. pleading to be allowed to charge the pa. '•"Major von Tenipsky said: 'I will charge with my own company. Things cannot be much worse. .See how the men arc being shot, down.' Major Hunter said: J And I will go with you.' The colonel then replied: '1 cannot. 1 •iu not knoAv where we are.' He then jumped up ami said: 'Come along. Hunter,' and they moved olf to the left, leaving poor .Major von Tenipsky to carry out the policy of masterly inactivity imposed upon him oy his chief, and for this is his memory to b,. clouded with the charge of frustrating his colonel's plans by his impulsiveness. Well, the colonel liad gone, and with him the bulk of the men, including, i regret to say, several of our own company. The

Maoris were keeping up a brisk lire from the pa, anil there wore many men lying about, dead and wounded. Our brave old major was walking to and fro with sword in hand, furious at being caged as he was. I met him, and lie spoke to me in his kindlv, thoughtful way, and asked why I did not take mvcr. I answered by putting the -same cpmslion to him. He then said, 'I am disgusted. If I get out of this scrape 1 will wash my hands clear of Ibis business.' lie liiicn sent me to take up a position and keep my eyes open, as the bullets were coming thick. I left liiiri to obey .(he last order flic ever gave. 1 had not gone far iwlien a man of our company was shot. The major went to his assistance and was shot, the bullet entering the centre of his forehead, lie fell dead on top of the man to whose assistance he was going. That was how von Tcmpsky died." Asked to relate what happened after Major von Tcnipskv fell, Mr. Slianaghan «ii<l: "It lias been said that Major Hunter was the first person killed, but lie wasn't. There were 30 killed before him. When von Tempsky was shot. Hunter was away behind, out beyond the clearing. A Frenchman named Jellsen and 1 went to von Teonpsky and lifted him up and laid liim on his back,, and just as we did so a bullet struck Jensen on the side, and travelled across his breast, bone, and another struck the magazine, box he had an his back. I leff von Tempsky and picked up Jeiv sen, carrying' him out across the clearing. I tiicu met Hunter, and when we were about ten paces from von Tempskv's bodv Hunter was shot dead. 1 goi hold of him and started to pull him hack. Then I said to one of our men.

'Come along for Major von Tempsky's bodv.' This man refused, but Captain Ruck came 11)1 and asked if 1 knew where von Temp-d<y was. I said, ' Yes.' and he ,nid. 'Come along, lad, let's get him out.' When we came to the body 1 was hit bv a bullet on the left thumb. Just as 1 changed the carbine to my other hand a bnlelt struck my left hand and the carbine stock, knocking me backwards. Then Puck was shot dead, and as T got up the bullet took my cap oil'. 1 got away from the Wearing, leaving von Tempsky and Buck dead toSelher. Tlier,. were four of us went for von Tcmp-Jiv's bodv. Jen.en and I were wounded. Hunter and Puck were killed." There were IB killed and wounded in the action, and two-'tl»ii* of these were shot down while they halted, inactive, in front of the, unasked pa. " it may be better to forget such incidents," t-aid Mr. Slianaghan, in conclusion, "but I feel I am only doing right in relating the history of the light to clear the name of one of (he bravest men that ever (ought for Xew Zealand. And one of the saddest things of all was that no one broke the news of Major vo.i death to his widow, and the lir,t'inlimalion she ha I was seeing the notice in front of the "Id Southern Cro-s ollice. 'Disaster at To N'giilu-o-te-Mauii. -Major von Tempsky killed."'