Boot and Saddle by JG GilberdWaikato Wars
1st July 1863 saw Mercer's Battery being sent back to Auckland be sea and kept in readiness for General Cameron's expedition against the hostile Waikato tribes. The Mounted Artillery Squadron arrived a little later and were reduced from 100 mounted men to 50, the Gunners going back to their Armstrong guns, while the Drivers continued to act as Cavalry under the command of Lt Rait. The remaining horses and saddlery were given over to the commissariat transport corps, who provided Drivers to move Mercer's guns. Both horses and bullocks were used for this purpose. In those days, field gun limbers were fitted with shafts as on ordinary drays, ie the method of moving the equipments with horses was by 'shaft draught'. However, when bullocks were used the limbers were fitted with locally-made poles, 'pole draught' being thus substituted for shaft. Pole draught was not adopted for use with horses until 1895. In October 1863 Lt Rait's cavalry was sent to Ngaruawahia where they were employed on reconnaissance, foraging, and orderly duties. On 22 February 1864 at Rangiaowahia the native entrenchments were assaulted and taken by the 50th Regiment of Foot covered by artillery fire from two 6-pr Armstrong guns from I Battery 4 Brigade RA, and while the natives were dispersing in all directions they were charged by Lt Rait's mounted men, and good service was done despite very rough ground. One Driver and his horse were killed, three or four men and horses wounded including Lt Rait's own horse. The high fern country was difficult for cavalry; this difficulty was overcome by detaching sword scabbards from their belts and attaching them to the saddles, the carbine being carried in a leather bucket in front of the right leg until required for use. The uniform worn by these men was a blue serge 'jumper' or short frock coat with shoulder straps. The Drivers were supplied with long boots and hunting spurs. Again near Rangiaowahia Lt Rait's mounted men and detachments of Colonial Defence Force Cavalry were used to harass hostile Maoris trying to escape, but again the country was difficult for cavalry operations owing to dense bush. Veterinary Surgeon Blake's horse was shot in this skirmish. Horses were used extensively during 1863-64 in the Waikato, mounted men carrying out a variety of duties. Particularly were they effective in harassing retreating Maoris during this time. The mounted branch of the Armed Constabulary was involved through the New Zealand Wars and under General Whitmore's command ranged far and wide over the Waikato, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Taupo districts. One incident relating to the Armed Constabulary illustrates the arduous nature of soldiering in this rugged country. It happened in Taranaki in 1867: a Trooper Smith, Armed Constabulary, was killed and his body mutilated by hostile Maoris. Smith had gone out of the stockade to look for his horse, and was shot from ambush. A detachment was sent to get his body but all they found was the lower part; the upper half had been carried away by the Hau Haus to Te Ngutu where it was cooked and eaten. In the Bay of Plenty area during 1864-65 the Colonial Defence Force Cavalry and Lt Rait's mounted Gunners were involved in many mounted actions. Jim Gilberd, 1989 |
