List of men in the Victoria's Naval Brigade at Taranaki, New Zealand, 1860-1861

THIS PAGE IS PART OF THE DEFENDING VICTORIA WEBSITE

LIST OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF HMCS VICTORIA

WHO WERE LANDED AT TARANAKI, NZ, AND WERE INCORPORATED

WITH THE IMPERIAL NAVAL BRIGADE

UNDER THE ORDERS OF COMMODORE SEYMOUR,

IN THE YEAR 1860

RANK OR RATING	NAME
Lieutenant	George Austin Woods
Midshipman	William Horn
Gunner's Mate	Moses Luther
Captain Fore Top	James Ovenden
Captain Main Top	Ambrose Kensington
Quartermaster	Samuel Long
Quartermaster	Robert Linton
Leading Seaman	John Taylor
Able Seaman	Rees Edmonds
A B	William Jones No. 1
A B	David Smith
A B	James Hawkins
A B	Andrew Dunn
A B	Thomas Dudley
A B	John Schrader
A B	Joseph Collingwood
A B	Edward John Locke
A B	Peter Hood
A B	James Steward
A B	George Brett
A B	John White
A B	Alexander Lawson
A B	John Hay
A B	Harry Ford
A B	Benjamin Rees
A B	George Morey
Trimmer	Robert Parkes
Trimmer	Edward Ashwell
Trimmer	Thomas McIntyre
Trimmer	Mark Davis
Trimmer	John McMinn
Ordinary Seaman	William Gibbond
O S	Arthur Stroud
O S	James Cromarty
O S	Patrick Bonfield
Drummer	Cuthbert Graham
Cook.s Mate	William Jones No. 2
Boy 1st Class	William Horseley

In early July 1860 at Auckland, the Commander of the Victoria was asked to land as many men as could be spared for service in the First Taranaki War. This news was received on the Victoria just after six in the evening. The ship's company was assembled and asked to volunteer for shore service. Lieutenent Woods worked on their feelings a little, saying that this would be a great credit to the crew and a great honour for the Colony. He said the volunteers would be distinct from the Imperial Naval Brigade, but would work with it.

About seven o'clock, the volunteers got into the launch as the Victoria was about to leave for Sydney. The volunteers spent the night in the British Flagship HMS Iris. Leading seaman Andrew Dunn later recalled what happened the following day:

The next morning we landed in Auckland and Commodore Loring gave us to understand

that if any of us did not like to go we could have the privilege of stopping. At the same

time he said that if we went we would be under the Articles of War and subject to

the same discipline and punishment as his men. None of us had agreed to that but

there we were in a way obliged to go.

The volunteers arrived at New Plymouth in HMS Cordelia on July 8. The Taranaki Herald reported that 30 of the Victoria's men were landed and marched up to the camp of the naval brigade [probably Fort Niger in New Plymouth], preceded by the Volunteer Band. "The Victoria's men are armed with the breech-loading rifle, and have besides a revolver and cutlass".

These men were probably the first Australian force to serve in a foreign war. Before operations, the Victoria's Naval Brigade moved to the Waitara Camp. They took part in several actions, particularly at Kairau and Matarikoriko [see operations map in `Victorian Navy page'], where the officers were mentioned in despatches. Eventually ten received the New Zealand medal -- although others may have been enttitled.

DO YOU HAVE AN ANCESTOR WHO

SERVED WITH THE VICTORIA'S

NAVAL BRIGADE IN TARANAKI

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