The Tomahawk

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” 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