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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 43

The New Zealand Medal awarded to Corporal H. Hewitt, Commissariat Service Corps, late Royal Artillery, who was severely wounded at the Galloway Redoubt in October 1863 during the Second Taranaki War

New Zealand 1845-66, undated reverse (102. Corpl Hy. Hewett, C.S Corps), note fourth letter of surname, light polishing and contact marks, otherwise very fine

Henry Hewitt was born at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire c.1836 and was an apprentice baker by trade. He attested into the Royal Artillery on 28 November 1855 serving with the 7th Battalion and transferred to the 8th Brigade on 1 May 1859. He transferring to the Commissariat Service Corps on 1 October 1859. Hewitt left the U.K. in early 1861 bound for New Zealand arriving in May. He appears on the Muster rolls as serving in Auckland up until June 1862, before serving briefly in Drury and then serving at Otahuhu until May 1863. He then served at Taranaki in May and June of 1863. Hewitt then served at Wairoa from July 1863 and it was there when he was severely wounded in an ambush. He had been on leave to Auckland and was returning on a pony lent to him by a Mr. McNicol and was riding along in the neighbourhood of Mr. Steel's when he was fired upon by a body of natives who were laying in ambush and this was reported as follows:

Daily Southern Cross, 29 October 1863.

'One ball struck him, and the pony started off immediately at a gallop and brought the unfortunate man (Hewitt) safely to the camp. He was immediately attended to by Dr. O'Carrol who found that he had been wounded in the back, and that the bullet was still in him. The ball had entered a little below the right shoulder-blade and lodged against the left shoulder-blade. It was without loss of time extracted by means of incision made a little below the pot where the bullet was lodged, and then by gently working it down.'

Hewitt later served at Tauranga between January 1864 when a disastrous military engagement was fought with the Maori at Gate Pa, he remained there until March 1865. His service then continued at Raglan from April 1866 until January 1867 before his journey home. Hewitt was promoted to 2nd Corporal on 1 September 1864 and to Corporal on 1 April 1868. On 1 April 1870 he became part of the Army Service Corps and reached the rank of Sergeant on 5 May 1872 and was finally discharged on 2 January 1877. He intended to live at 419 Exchange Court, The Strand, London.

Sold together with a very detailed folder of research including copied service papers.


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Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£500