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Auction: 9024 - The Property of a Gentleman Orders, Decorations and Campaign Medals
Lot: 226

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1862-1866 (Ensign Chas. Picot, 57th Regt.), reverse with traces of brooch mounting, rank officially corrected, nearly very fine, extremely rare Estimate £ 800-1,000 Major-General Charles Picot commissioned 57th Foot, 1862, ´´served with the 57th Regiment in the New Zealand war of 1863-65, and was slightly wounded at the bombardment of Kattahi [Kaitake]´´ (Hart refers). In March 1864 Colonel Warre of the 57th Foot received orders to move in force against the hostile Taranaki at Kaitake, ´´The action did not open auspiciously. Major Henry Butler, commanding the southern outposts of the 57th watching Kaitake, took his reconnaissance too close and accurate fire from the rifle pits flanking the pa killed one soldier and wounded a Gunner subaltern and four other soldiers. As Warre´´s reconnoitring was so thorough, however, he encircled Kaitake with some skill and his attack on 24th March, delivered simultaneously from several quarters by his force of mixed Regulars and Volunteers, totalling 420 men, was a brilliant success. By 10am, Captain Corbett´´s Volunteers from Oakura Redoubt were in position on the right flank of the pa, after a most exhausting approach march through dense bush and gullies for many hours and Captain Harry Atkinson´´s company of Bush Rangers from New Plymouth had penetrated deeply to the right rear of the pa, having been guided by Lieutenant C.M. Clarke, 57th Regiment, who had explored a circuitous track. When the bombardment of the half-battery of Armstrong guns, sited across the Oakura river 1,500 yards away under Captain Martin RA, started a fire enveloping the whares and the battered stockade in smoke and confusion, a general attack was mounted. From the left of the pa, where they had climbed high ground to enfilade rifle pits on that flank, came two companies of the 57th under Butler; another company of the 57th under Captain Russell charged frontally, supported by the indefatigable Captain Frank Mace and his Taranaki Mounted Volunteers, while hard by Corbett on his flank came a further company of the 57th, another of the 70th and a company of the Bush Rangers. Before the concerted assault, which cost only four wounded, the enemy retired rapidly, as they tended to do when they knew they were enveloped , and the wild, mountainous bush closed about their escape´´ (The Maori Wars, T. Gibson, refers). Picot advanced to Colonel 1885, before being made Honorary Major-General 1887. Only 2 medals recorded as known with this reverse date: Ensign C. Picot, 57th Foot and Captain Edward Mills of the same regiment (British Battles and Medals, refers). Provenance: Glendining December 1969

Sold for
£2,800