Wanganui cemetery - Major Hunter
Graveyards are always sombre places to visit, and the early-settler Heads Road cemetery in Wanganui is no exception - with all-too-many memorials to infants.
There are also several military graves here from several 19th century New Zealand War engagements which took place in the vicinity.
On my visit in November 2018 I found the graves of the Hunter brothers and Lieutenant Colonel Hassard at the rear of the site, amongst others, however I did not find the headstone for Lieutenant Thomas Johnstone (killed at Nukumaru 24 January 1865).
* Wanganui/Whanganui = “large harbour”?
* Nukumaru = “a wide sheltered expanse”
Major William and Lieutenant Henry Hunter are buried together - they both died in battle against Titokowaru’s Hauhau: Lt Hunter was killed at Te Ngutu O Te Manu in September 1868 (aged 20), then Major Hunter fell at Moturoa two months later (aged 31).
* Te Ngutu O Te Manu = “The Beak of the Bird” - also another Maori name for Mt Taranaki/Egmont
* Moturoa = “tall island”?
Major Hunter’s story is particularly poignant: At dawn on 12 July 1868 Hauhau attacked the small South Taranaki constabulary redoubt at Turuturumokai. Inspector von Tempsky lead a relief party of infantry to the rescue from nearby Camp Waihi (now Normanby), leaving Hunter in charge. For reasons which are unclear Hunter stood-down the cavalry who were on the parade ground ready to ride as additional reinforcements. The troopers were astounded at this action and some accused Hunter of cowardice.
Later there was an inquiry - the charges against Hunter so were serious that he was court-martialled (even though he was cleared of blame) and Hautain, the Minister of Defence, censured him for apathy.
It is likely, however, that Hunter’s reason for standing-down the cavalry was that he suspected that the attack was a feint, and that Waihi (with its large store of ammunition) was likely to be the main target. Therefore he prioritized the defence of Waihi over following von Tempsky and thereby leaving the redoubt at the mercy of a large attacking force.
* Turuturumokai = “heads on pointed sticks”
* Waihi = “water gushing forth”
* Normanby - after the Second Marquess of Normanby, George Augustus Constantine Phipps - Lord Normanby, Governor of NZ 1974-78
A soldier’s honour was of great importance at this time, and Major Hunter was badly affected by this slur on his reputation.
It appears that he strove to prove his courage in subsequent engagements - being at the thick of the fighting in the following months: he fought bravely at Te Ngutu O Te Manu on 21 August - leading the rearguard in a desperate fight out of the bush, and again at the same location on 7 September when his brother was killed.
Finally, still determined to clear his name, Major Hunter volunteered to lead the attack on Titokowaru’s position at Moturoa (near Waverly) on 7 November 1868. Again the circumstances are unclear - one opinion is that Hunter was “unduly rash” in mounting a frontal assault on the strong pa; another is that the strength of the pa was underestimated by the commander, Colonel Whitmore, who expected Hunter’s attack to succeed.
Heavy fire from the defending Hauhau repulsed the charge, with several Imperail casualties, including Major Hunter who unfortunately bled to death on the battlefield after being shot in the femoral artery.
However, by this action, he succeeded in refuting the accusations of cowardice against himself - censure was replaced by adulation: “The Constabulary can boast no better officer, the Colonial service no braver”.
There are also several military graves here from several 19th century New Zealand War engagements which took place in the vicinity.
On my visit in November 2018 I found the graves of the Hunter brothers and Lieutenant Colonel Hassard at the rear of the site, amongst others, however I did not find the headstone for Lieutenant Thomas Johnstone (killed at Nukumaru 24 January 1865).
* Wanganui/Whanganui = “large harbour”?
* Nukumaru = “a wide sheltered expanse”
I could not find the original gravestone. Several of the New Zealand War memorials at Heads Road have been recently been updated.
Major William and Lieutenant Henry Hunter are buried together - they both died in battle against Titokowaru’s Hauhau: Lt Hunter was killed at Te Ngutu O Te Manu in September 1868 (aged 20), then Major Hunter fell at Moturoa two months later (aged 31).
* Te Ngutu O Te Manu = “The Beak of the Bird” - also another Maori name for Mt Taranaki/Egmont
* Moturoa = “tall island”?
Major Hunter’s story is particularly poignant: At dawn on 12 July 1868 Hauhau attacked the small South Taranaki constabulary redoubt at Turuturumokai. Inspector von Tempsky lead a relief party of infantry to the rescue from nearby Camp Waihi (now Normanby), leaving Hunter in charge. For reasons which are unclear Hunter stood-down the cavalry who were on the parade ground ready to ride as additional reinforcements. The troopers were astounded at this action and some accused Hunter of cowardice.
Later there was an inquiry - the charges against Hunter so were serious that he was court-martialled (even though he was cleared of blame) and Hautain, the Minister of Defence, censured him for apathy.
It is likely, however, that Hunter’s reason for standing-down the cavalry was that he suspected that the attack was a feint, and that Waihi (with its large store of ammunition) was likely to be the main target. Therefore he prioritized the defence of Waihi over following von Tempsky and thereby leaving the redoubt at the mercy of a large attacking force.
* Turuturumokai = “heads on pointed sticks”
* Waihi = “water gushing forth”
* Normanby - after the Second Marquess of Normanby, George Augustus Constantine Phipps - Lord Normanby, Governor of NZ 1974-78
A soldier’s honour was of great importance at this time, and Major Hunter was badly affected by this slur on his reputation.
It appears that he strove to prove his courage in subsequent engagements - being at the thick of the fighting in the following months: he fought bravely at Te Ngutu O Te Manu on 21 August - leading the rearguard in a desperate fight out of the bush, and again at the same location on 7 September when his brother was killed.
Finally, still determined to clear his name, Major Hunter volunteered to lead the attack on Titokowaru’s position at Moturoa (near Waverly) on 7 November 1868. Again the circumstances are unclear - one opinion is that Hunter was “unduly rash” in mounting a frontal assault on the strong pa; another is that the strength of the pa was underestimated by the commander, Colonel Whitmore, who expected Hunter’s attack to succeed.
Heavy fire from the defending Hauhau repulsed the charge, with several Imperail casualties, including Major Hunter who unfortunately bled to death on the battlefield after being shot in the femoral artery.
However, by this action, he succeeded in refuting the accusations of cowardice against himself - censure was replaced by adulation: “The Constabulary can boast no better officer, the Colonial service no braver”.
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