Soldiers

After NZ became a British colony in 1840 a detachment of the 80th Regiment from the NSW garrison were sent to NZ leaving on the HMS Buffalo on the 5th April 1840 . This detachment led by Major Thomas BUNBURY comprised three other officers and eighty four other ranks, one commissariat officer and one storekeeper.

In september 1840 a further contingent of around twenty more troops under Captain Foster were sent to NZ.

In early 1843 a further detachment commanded by Captain EYTON consisting of a company of the 96th Regiment was sent to NZ.

Following the Wairau Massacre in June 1843 calls were made from New Zealand for assistance and subsequently on the 1st August 1843 52 men and officers of the 80th Regiment were transported in the North Star to Wellington,

On the 15th October 1843 a further detachment of 100 men of the 99th Regiment under the command of Captain NICHOLSON were sent to NZ on the Emerald Isle but did not disembark and returned to Sydney.

In early 1844 the detachments of the 80th regiment were withdrawn from NZ to go to India. To replace them further troops of the 96th Regiment were sent to NZ. Approximately 100 troops from the 96th Regiment travelled on the Marian Watson and Waterlily leaving Lauceston on the 29th March 1844 under the command of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel William HULME.

Following on from continuing unrest in the Bay of Islands (Hone Heke) further troops were sent to NZ with 205 officers and men of the 99th Regiment leaving New South Wales on the 5th August 1844 on the Sydney but these troops returned to NSW in September.

The unrest in the Bay of Islands escalated and on the 11th March 1845 the North Star with 154 officers and men of the 58th Regiment left for New Zealand. On the 12th march the Velocity left with stores and a further 52 officers and men of the 58th.

Between march 1845 and November 1846 around 1560 soldiers from the 58th, 65th, 96th and 99th British Regiments were sent to NZ from Australia.

From 1845, for a period of 30 years, the NZ Land Wars occurred.

Many soldiers arrived in NZ as part of British Regiments and in many cases they chose to remain in New Zealand and settle, after the end of the fighting, on land granted to them by the NZ Government.

In addition, at various times, Colonial Militias were raised from the early settlers.

It is intended to add to the pre1846 database the names of the European soldiers who arrived in the early period pre 1846 from the Muster Rolls.

references:

Blood Brothers  The Anzac Genesis by Jeff HOPKINS-WEISE  Penguin, 2009.