MAORI WAR VETERAN 100

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1934, Page 3

MAORI WAR VETERAN 100

ONE-TIME CAVALRYMAN. WAS MASTER SWORDSMAN. Auckland, Jan. 26. Master swordsman, and veteran of Maori Wars, Captain C. R. Cholmondeley Smith, of Deep Creek, celebrated his 100th birthday on Sunday. “I don’t know what age is,” he said to-day. “That is pretty steady,” and he held out his right arm without a tremor. Bom in Sydney in 1834, Captain Smith is a son of the late Dr. Charles Smith, a noted London physician. He came to New Zealand as a young man with the intention of becoming coach at St. John’s College, but the stirring call of adventure cast its spell over him and he joined the Ist. Infantry Battalion under Captain Wynard. In 1858 he was transferred to the cavalry and placed in command of a troop of horse, his task being to help protect the East Coast from a threatened invasion of the Kaipara Maoris.

When Captain Smith appeared at the door of his home to-day he wore two medals on his breast, and on his head was an old-style military hat encircled with gold lace, and of a type once known as a "pill box.” The fingers of his right hand closed in a strong grip of greeting, and he chuckled. “That is a sword hand,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with my grip yet.” Vigorous in body and mind, his memory roved in alert fashion over many Incidents connected with his soldiering days. Other military affairs were referred to also, his talk being of grape and canister shot, sabres and cutlasses, and combat to the death. There was reference, too, to his prowess as a swordsman, an art of which in his prime he was the finest exponent in New Zealand. The old soldier learned his sword drill from an instructor of the 17th Lancers, who taught him to wield the rapier, sabre, broadsword and lance.

On one outstanding occasion he gave an exhibition on the Takapuna racecourse, his opponent being Duncan Ross, champion swordsman of the Scots Greys. Clad in breastplates and headpieces, and armed with blunted sabres, they mounted horses and charged at each other. Captain Smith won the contest and was awarded a special medal, which he wears beside the Imperial Medal for long service.

One of his prized possessions is a letter from Sir Heaton Rhodes, Minister of Defence at the beginning of the Great War, paying tribute to Captain Smith for having expressed anxiety to be of service to his country during those days of crisis.

For some years Captain Smith has resided with his, daughter, Mrs. Challis, but the family reunion, which is to be held on Sunday to celebrate the captain’s birthday, will be held at his old homestead, Glen Var, near Deep Creek, where his eldest son, Mr. C. E. Cholmondeley Smith, now resides. A large cake to bear 100 candles has been made for the occasion.