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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 104

(x) New Zealand 1845-66, undated reverse (J. Newland, Taranaki Vol.), locally engraved naming, good very fine

John Newland was the scion of original New Plymouth settlers, his family having arrived in New Zealand in 1841; related papers and journals are held in the Taranaki Museum.

Together with his three brothers, John served with the Taranaki Volunteers, completing seven years' service as a Private in the Rifle Volunteers from 1860. Heavily engaged during the latter year, he saw action at Waireka on 25 March, Mahatahi on 6 November and Kaihiki on 11 November. He went on to serve during the operations at Kaitake on 24 March 1864, besides other actions on the west coast.

The brothers served under the Prussian adventurer Gustavus von Tempsky, who had noted them as 'quite, quite mad, not fit to be in charge of men'. An intrepid leader, von Tempsky was a flamboyant and fearless soldier who was killed in action during a daring attack at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu on 7 September 1868.

John Newland's Medal was issued on 12 July 1872; sold with a copied portrait photograph and a quantity of research.


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Sold for
£420