BRITISH TROOPS IN NEW ZEALAND

BRITISH TROOPS IN NEW ZEALAND

by Richard Ainslie Barber, N.Z.L.A.CERT., Librarian, Army Department, Wellington.

BRITISH TROOPS IN NEW ZEALAND

After the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, British troops were stationed in New Zealand in varying numbers from 1840 to 1870 and, until the middle sixties, provided the chief protection for the colonists and bore the brunt of the fighting against the Maoris. The first troops to land in New Zealand were a detachment of the 80th Regiment which arrived from Sydney in April 1840, and 30 years later the last of the Imperial troops to depart were the main body of the 18th (Royal Irish Regiment), in February 1870. Throughout this period of New Zealand's history, British forces other than regiments of the line, served here. These consisted of naval detachments, Royal Marines, Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, and the Commissariat and the Waggoners (the predecessors of the Royal Army Service Corps).

From a strength of a few hundred men in the early 1840s, the Imperial Government decided in 1847 to maintain, for the time being, 2,000 regular troops in the colony. Over the next 12 or 13 years this number varied, and in 1860 about the time of the outbreak of the first of the later Maori Wars, the strength of the British forces was down to approximately a thousand men. These troops, consisting of the 65th Regiment and detachments of artillery and engineers, were scattered in five different stations, at Auckland, Wellington, Napier, Wanganui, and New Plymouth. By the end of 1865, the Imperial forces in the colony totalled about 10,000 men, consisting of the 12th, 14th, 18th, 40th, 43rd, 50th, 57th, 65th, 68th, and 70th Regiments, two batteries of Field Artillery, and Royal Engineers and Military Train.

The presence of these troops in New Zealand became a problem for the British and New Zealand Governments. On the one hand, the Imperial Government was extremely critical of various aspects of the New Zealand Government's attitude towards the Maoris, especially over the matter of confiscation of land. On the other hand, differences of opinion developed over the tardy conduct of operations, for the colonists – in theory – were paying £40 per annum for an infantryman and £70 per annum for a gunner. These circumstances led to the adoption by the New Zealand Government, late in 1864, of its “self reliant” policy, the substance of which was to dispense with the services of Imperial troops and to trust to local forces and Maori auxiliaries to carry on the war. For its part, the Imperial Government welcomed the proposal, for it considered the colony with its growing population should be able to fend for itself. From 1866 onwards the gradual withdrawal of Imperial troops commenced, and after Chute's vigorous campaign in Taranaki, early in 1866, with mixed forces. Imperial and colonial, operations against hostile Maoris were conducted by colonial forces.

During this year the following regiments departed from New Zealand – the 70th, 43rd, 68th, 40th, 14th, and half of the 50th. Four more departed in 1867, leaving only the 18th. Early in 1869 this regiment was under orders to depart, but because of alarm felt by colonists about the guerilla war waged by the elusive Te Kooti in the Poverty Bay and Bay of Plenty areas, General Chute, on his own responsibility, detained the 18th, which did not finally depart until February 1870.

The following list of regiments that served in or sent detachments to New Zealand is divided into two sections. In the first group are those regiments which have lost their identity since the 1957 amalgamation plan, and in the second group are those which retained their identity.

Regiments That Have Been Amalgamated

12th: The Suffolk Regiment (“The Old Dozen”) was in New Zealand from 1860 to 1866 as the 12th (Suffolk) Regiment, under the command of Lt.-Col. H. M. Hamilton, C.B. “New Zealand” is worn on the regiment's battle honours. The Auckland Regiment (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) is allied. Now amalgamated with The Royal Norfolk Regiment as the 1st East Anglian Regiment (Royal Norfolk and Suffolk).

14th: The West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own)—“Lord Wellington's Bodyguard”—was in New Zealand in 1860–61 and again in 1863–67 as the 14th (Buckinghamshire) Regiment under the command of Lt.-Col. W. C. Trevor, C.B. “New Zealand” is worn on the regiment's battle honours. The Waikato Regiment, Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps, is allied. Now amalgamated with The East Yorkshire Regiment (The Duke of York's Own) as The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire.

40th: The South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers)—“The Excellers”—was in New Zealand between 1860 and 1866 as the 40th (2nd Somersetshire) Regiment under the command of Lt.-Col. A. Leslie. “New Zealand” is worn on the regiment's battle honours. The Hawke's Bay Regiment is allied. Now amalgamated with The East Lancashire Regiment as The Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers).

58th: The Northamptonshire Regiment was in New Zealand in 1845–46 and again in 1847 as the 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment under the command of Lt.-Cols. E. B. and R. H. Wynyard. The regiment remained in New Zealand until November 1858, when it was under the command of Lt.-Col. C. Bridge. “New Zealand” is worn on the regiment's battle honours. The Northland Regiment is allied. Now amalgamated with The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment as the 2nd East Anglian Regiment (Duchess of Gloucester's Own Royal Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire).

70th: The East Surrey Regiment (“70th Glasgow Greys”) was in New Zealand in 1863–66 as the 70th (Surrey) Regiment under the command of Lt.-Cols. T. J. Galloway, T. Chute, and T. E. Malock. “New Zealand” is worn on the regiment's battle honours. The Otago Regiment was allied. Now amalgamated with The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) to form The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment.

80th: The South Staffordshire Regiment was known in New Zealand as the 80th (South Staffordshire) Regiment. A detachment under Major T. Bunbury made up the first British troops in New Zealand after British sovereignty was proclaimed. Detachment was in New Zealand between 1840–45. “New Zealand” is not worn on the regiment's battle honours and there is no New Zealand regimental alliance. Now amalgamated with the North Staffordshire Regiment to form the Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's).

96th: The Manchester Regiment (“The Bendovers”) had a detachment in New Zealand in 1843 and between 1845–47 most of the 2nd Battalion served here as the 96th (Manchester) Regiment under the command of Lt.-Col. W. Hulme, who in 1845 had relieved Major Bunbury as Commander, British Troops in New Zealand. “New Zealand” is worn on the regiment's battle honours. The Otago and Southland Regiment is allied. Now amalgamated with The King's Regiment (Liverpool) to form The King's Regiment (Manchester and Liverpool).

99th: The Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's)—“The Moonrakers”—provided a detachment of 100 which was in New Zealand waters on the Emerald Isle in 1843 after the Wairau affray. Headquarters and two companies, known as the 99th (Wiltshire) Regiment, were in New Zealand in 1845–47 under the command of Lt.-Col. H. Despard, who relieved Hulme as Commander in New Zealand. “New Zealand” is worn on the regiment's battle honours. The Otago Regiment was allied. Now amalgamated with The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) as The Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire) to which is allied the Hawke's Bay Regiment.

(When a New Zealand regiment has been allied to a British regiment subsequently amalgamated, the alliance has been continued with the amalgamated regiment.)

Regiments That Had Served in New Zealand and Were Not Amalgamated

18th: The 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment served here between 1863–70 under the command of Lt.-Cols. A. A. Chapman and G. A. Elliott. “New Zealand” was worn as a battle honour. The regiment was disbanded in 1922 as a result of the formation of the Irish Free State.

43rd: The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (“The Light Bobs”) was in New Zealand between 1863–66 and was known as the 43rd (Monmouthshire Light Infantry) Regiment. It was commanded by Lt.-Col. H. J. P. Booth (killed, 30 April 1864) and Lt.-Col. F. H. Synge. “New Zealand” is worn on the battle honours of the regiment. The Hauraki Regiment is allied. Now redesignated 1st Green Jackets, 43rd and 52nd.

50th: The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment (“The Dirty Half Hundred”) had a detachment of two companies in New Zealand in 1834 and was in New Zealand between 1863–67 as the 50th (West Kent) Regiment under the command of Lt.-Cols. N. Wodehouse, H. E. Weare, C.B., R. Waddy, C.B. “New Zealand” is worn on the battle honours of the regiment. The Canterbury Regiment is allied.

57th: The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own)—“Die Hards”—had its first recorded association with New Zealand in 1830, when a detachment on convict guard was overpowered, and brought to New Zealand where the ship was recaptured by whalers. The detachment returned to Sydney with the convicts. 1st Battalion, known as the 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment, in New Zealand in 1860–66 under the command of Lt.-Col. H. J. Warre, C.B., and Major R. A. Logan. “New Zealand” worn on battle honours. The Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Regiment is allied.

65th: The York and Lancaster Regiment (“Royal Tigers”) or better known in New Zealand as the “Hickety Pips” which was the nearest the Maoris could get to 65th, was in New Zealand for just over 18 years, between 1846–65, as the 65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment. The regiment arrived in three detachments. The first under the command of Major Wyatt, with about 550 all ranks, landed on 19 November 1846 at Russell; the second, under the command of Capt. O'Connell, on 1 August 1846, at Wellington; the third, under the command of Lt.-Col. Gold, mainly wives and children, on 14 January 1847, at Auckland. Commanded by Lt.-Col. C. E. Gold, and later by Col. A. F. W. Wyatt, C.B. “New Zealand” worn on battle honours. The Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington's Own) is allied.

68th: The Durham Light Infantry was in New Zealand in 1864–66. Known as “The Faithful Durhams”. The 1st Battalion was in New Zealand as the 68th (Durham Light Infantry) Regiment, under the command of Lt.-Col. H. H. Greer. “New Zealand” worn on battle honours. The Canterbury Regiment and the Nelson, Marlborough, and West Coast Regiment are allied.

(In 1964 all remaining New Zealand infantry regiments were amalgamated to form the Royal New Zealand Infantry regiment. In due course the alliances of the old Infantry regiments with British Army units will be realigned under the designations of the new units of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.)

by Richard Ainslie Barber, N.Z.L.A.CERT., Librarian, Army Department, Wellington.

  • The Records and Badges of Every Regiment and Corps of the British Army, Chichester, H. M., and Burges-Short, G. (1899)
  • The New Zealand Wars and the Pioneering Period, Cowan, J. (1955)
  • The New Zealand Army – A Bibliography, Dornbusch, C. E. (1961)
  • A History of the British Army, Vols. 12 and 13, Fortescue, J. W. (1910–30). Regiments at a Glance, Wilson, F. (1957).

BRITISH TROOPS IN NEW ZEALAND 22-Apr-09 Richard Ainslie Barber, N.Z.L.A.CERT., Librarian, Army Department, Wellington.