RARE 1846 to 1847 1st NEW ZEALAND MAORI WAR MEDAL ROYAL MARINES, H. M. S- CALLIOPE
Calliope's marines saw action in the Northern War, the vessel operated mainly between Wellington, Whanganui and Nelson from late February 1846 until October 1847. During the Wellington War it transported troops between Wellington and Porirua. Calliope also took Te Rauparaha of Ngati Toa to Auckland as a prisoner after he was captured at Taupo pa (Plimmerton) in July 1846. The medal was only awarded to those naval men who served ashore, and from Calliope, whose men were landed during 1846 to 1847, some 13 officers, 38 Royal Navy ratings, and 11 Royal Marines were landed. The only medals to the Royal Navy / Royal Marines with the reverse for 1846 to 1847 were issued to the crew of Calliope, some 62 in total, with 11 of those being to Royal Marines, making this an extremely rare award. S- CALLIOPE Condition: light contact wear and very minor edge bruising, otherwise Good Very Fine. John Horswill saw service as a Private in the Royal Marines aboard the 28 gun frigate Calliope in New Zealand during the First Maori War of 1845 to 1847. Owing to settlers have encroached on their land, war broke out with the Maoris in 1845, they being led by Hone-Heke and Kawiti, who were then pitted against the 58th and 99th Regiment's of Foot, under Colonel Despard, the only regiments in the country at the time.
During this period about 35 officers and 360 men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines were also employed after being landed from warships in New Zealand waters. It was during this campaign that British troops first encountered the native fortifications known as'pahs'.
These were high wooden stockades, generally of two walls bound with flax and earth in between, surrounded by a deep ditch. Inside were rifle pits, underground shelters, and communication trenches. They were proof against the small firearms of the time. Reaching these fortresses often involved hacking through forest and scrub, negotiating hills, and swampland, often in inclement conditions, all the while manhandling the heavy guns needed to effect entry. If a successful assault was made, more often than not it was found the Maoris had fled in order to construct another pah elsewhere. After considerable bush fighting, order was restored on the North Island in 1846 and on the South Island in 1847. After ten months in Auckland, Calliope sailed for England on 3 August 1848 carrying'invalids' of the 58th Regiment. McKillop's book is included, this book brings the medal to life! Provenance : ex Toad hall Medals 1986.