Effie's Father : Corporal Edward Walker
The 65th Regiment, 2nd Yorkshire North Riding
1846 - 1865
Edward Walker, father-in-law to Donald and Alexander
McKenzie, was enlisted for the 70th Regiment in the British Army on
11 June, 1845 and later was transferred to the 65th Regiment of
Footes.
In the mid 1840s there was unrest in the young colony of New
Zealand and a call was made for more British troops to assist with
maintaining law and order. The 65th Regiment was dispatched
forthwith.
This was also a period of forced emigration for the thousands
of Britons who, convicted of crimes, were condemned to serve their
sentences in the Colony of New South Wales. Whereas many troops from
the 65th Regiment were assigned guard duty on the convict ships
transporting these poor unfortunates to Australia Edward Walker was
selected to come with the Regimental Headquarters. This contingent
of 500 men sailed on the Java.
It was fully three weeks before Teneriffe, the first port of
call, was reached. The Java and its company then faced a long voyage
under trying mid-winter conditions in the Southern Hemisphere. It
took 17 more hazardous weeks before they arrived at Hobart Town,
Tasmania. From there it was another 10 days to Sydney Australia.
Barely had the men become accustomed to being on land again than a
group of them had to set sail for New Zealand. On 21 November, 1846,
when only 19 years of age, Edward landed at Kororareka in the Bay of
Islands, and took up duty at the Wakapu Post.
It was only a few
months prior to the arrival of the 65th detachment that conditions
at the post had been such that Major Cyprian Bridges, the commander,
had recorded in his diary: "My men were getting sickly for want of
proper quarters and covering since the wet weather commmenced." Some
stores were hired at Wakapu and the men were made more comfortable.
Thick bush had to be cleared in the surrounding area and a start
made on the erection of Field Work for the proper defence of the
post. This was still incomplete when the 200 foot soldiers landed.
For the next 19 years the Royal Tigers, or the Hickety-Pips
,as Maori called them, served throughout the North Island. Their
distinctive uniforms and their bearing set them apart wherever they
were stationed. They policed and protected settlements, engaged in
skirmishes and then in the 1860s fought in major battles, including
those at Rangiriri, Orakau and Gate Pa.
To honour those of both races who fell at Orakau and at
Rangiaohia the officers and men of the Regiment placed two tablets
in St John's Church, Te Awamutu. One of these is in Maori
while the other is in English.
By 1865 the soldiers were discharged with gratuities, some to
settle in New Zealand while others returned to Britain.
The New Zealand Medal was awarded to Corporal Edward Walker
following his service in Taranaki in the 1850s. In addition he was
in possession of four good-conduct badges when discharged.
A New Zealand Medal is on display in the Waiouru Military
Museum.