A VERY RARE & INTERESTING NEW ZEALAND MEDAL (1863-1866) & L.S.G.C. PAIR.
To.
3077. Sgt John McNally 43rd (Monmouthshire) Foot Regt.
Born in Canada & joined the British Army aged only 14 in 1853 at Dublin.
[THE MEDALS] -Officially Impressed-
New Zealand Medal (1863-1866)
3077. JOHN McNALLY . 43rd Lt INFTRy
Long Service Good Conduct Medal
3077. CORpl J. McNALLY. 43rd FOOT.
[HISTORICAL FAMILY NOTES]
Private Thomas McNally, was the father of Sgt John McNally and was a serving soldier in the British Army with 43rd Foot Regiment in Canada at the time of John’s birth in 1839.
Born in 1805, he died on 20th February 1848 at the age of just 43 with a pension of 1/- being awarded to his widow.
[JOHN McNally 1839-1895) Age 56
John was born in Canada on 28th February 1839. His father died when he was just 9 years old. He travelled across the Atlantic in 1853 at the tender age of 14 and joined his late father’s regiment, 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment at their base in Dublin, Ireland.
The full reason for John’s unusually early attestation is not fully clear, but it’s thought that he was orphaned by the early death of his mother in 1852-53 who had been in receipt of an army pension. His father had already been dead for five years at the the time of his son’s attestation in 1853. Having possibly lost his mother and presumably also his home, it would perhaps have left him with very few options other than joining the army.
John is thus shown on his papers as “Underage” in his first two entries, before being eventually shown as “completed 15 years” (of age) on 28th February 1854. He officially joined the man’s service on 28th February 1857 at age 18.
He had served for just over 9 years, including time in India before leaving at age 24 for the New Zealand war in September of 1863. He spent just over 2 years there and qualified for his New Zealand medal 1863-1866 during this period.
The 43rd regiment sailed back to England via South Africa with a stop at The Cape of Good Hope where John clearly visited “The Lion’s Rump” which is a high natural viewing platform on Table Mountain over 1,100 feet up overlooking Cape Town with panoramic views of the city beneath.
While there he obtained a small souvenir spray of what are known as “Everlasting Leaves” from the Silver Tree (Leucadendron argenteum), which he pressed in a book & annotated with the wording:
From “The Lion’s Rump” 1122ft - Cape of Good Hope.
Upon his return to the U.K. from New Zealand, John McNally at age 28, married Selina Mc Nally (nee Denham, born 1850) who was a minor aged only 16 or 17. The wedding took place on 9th April 1867 at The Parish Church in Portsmouth. Having made her mark “X” on the wedding certificate, Selina was clearly illiterate & the daughter of a labourer, Charles Denham.
John McNally was at this time with 43rd Regt and described on the marriage certificate as a Bandsman with an address of “Anglesey Barracks” (near Llanberis) North Wales.
[JOHN’s CAREER with 43rd FOOT] 1853- 1877
In September 1863, the 43rd left India to take part in the New Zealand Wars.
[THE ACTION AT GATE PA]
The main assault & storming party at Gate Pa in April 1864 was made up of 300 soldiers from the 43rd Regiment led by Lieutenant-Colonel H.G. Booth and a Naval Brigade led by Commander Hay. Another 300 men were held in reserve to follow up the initial assault. There were many casualties sustained due to confusion which occurred on the day which was brought on by what was considered to be an attack by native reinforcements from the rear of the Pa. What in fact was occurring was the arrival of further & unexpected British troops firing from the rear. This caused a sudden retreat by our troops many of whom perished in the ensuing panic.
When the Naval Brigade entered the main earthworks, some of its defenders apparently fled but were driven back inside by the men of the 68th stationed behind it. A confused battle took place within narrow confines. Then the British reserve force was sent forward. Now hundreds of men were trying to force their way through a narrow gap into the honeycombed interior of the pā. Enough Māori had remained to ensure they remained in control. The quick loss of most of the British officers left the assault force with no clear leadership. Those storming the pā from the front fled in panic, believing that the garrison was being reinforced by the Māori re-entering it from the rear. The dead and wounded were left where they fell. The British lost 35 killed and 75 wounded, twice the estimated Māori casualties.
The 43rd Regiment men later later got their own back when they took part in the assault on the fort at Te Ranga in June 1864.
[THE ACTION AT TE RANGA]
The action at Te Ranga was the sequel to the battle of Gate Pā. Following their humiliating defeat, some of the British force at Tauranga returned to Auckland. Meanwhile, their Ngāi Te Rangi opponents were reinforced by fighters from Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Porou. They began building a pā at Te Ranga, 5 km inland from Gate Pā.
Unfortunately for the Māori, British reconnaissance discovered this fortification before it was completed.
On 21 June, Colonel H.H. Greer attacked the 500 defenders of the half-dug trenches with a 700-strong force. The 43rd – ‘mad for revenge’ for their losses at Gate Pā – 68th and 1st Waikato regiments stormed the rifle pits ‘in the most dashing manner’.
Amidst hand-to-hand fighting, the Māori slowly withdrew. When Rāwiri Puhirake, the hero of Gate Pā, was killed, the retreat became a rout. British cavalry gave chase, but could not penetrate the nearby bush.
More than 100 Māori, including the chivalrous Hēnare Taratoa, were killed or mortally wounded at Te Ranga, as were 13 British troops. The visiting iwi suffered heavy casualties, which contributed to their subsequent enthusiasm for the Pai Mārire (Hauhau) insurgency.
Peace came to Tauranga in July/August 1864, when Ngāi Te Rangi gave up some guns and some land in return for food and seeds with which to re-establish their crops. This was far from the ‘surrender’ the British claimed it to be.
Frederick Augustus Smith was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery during an attack on a Maori trench. The regiment returned to England in February 1866.
[1st LINCOLNSHIRE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS]
On 1st April 1877, his commanding officer, Captain Miller, wrote him a very positive reference confirming his suitability for a new role as a training instructor. This reference was written on official 43rd Regimental Crested paper and is included with the medals.
John is then seen transferring for his final period of service with 1st Administration Battalion 1st Lincolnshire Rifle Volunteers on 28th April 1877 as a training instructor at Lincoln.
He was officially discharged from the regular army on 26th March 1878 aged 39.
[THE 1881 CENSUS]John McNally.
John next appears as “ Sgt Instructor of Volunteers, Lincolnshire’s with his young family on the 1881 census, living at
“West End, Alford, Lincolnshire” which is a stones throw from Horncastle, Sleaford & Skegness.
His family are recoded as:
WIFE Selina (31)
Jane (9)
Charles (6)
Selina (4) *died prior to 1891*
Anne (2)
John (6 months) *died prior to 1891*
[THE 1891 CENSUS] John McNally
In 1892 John is shown as:
Widower & General Labourer.
With 3 daughters & 1 son
Jane (19)
Charles (16)
Anne (12)
Mary (6)
(Wife Selina, Daughter Selina & Son John clearly died prior to 1891)
John McNally died in the Civil Parish of Grimsby in 1895 aged 56.
A Very Desirable New Zealand Medal & LSGC pair with a unusually full history and compliment of service papers, personal marriage records, census documents & service history.
Both medals are totally original & uncleaned and retain their undisturbed coal black natural time developed patina. Both are on their original ribbons with their Victorian silver top claw suspension brooches.
A Truly Lovely & Rare Pair. Fit for the finest NZ collection.
£1750.
A VERY RARE & INTERESTING NEW ZEALAND MEDAL (1863-1866) & L.S.G.C. PAIR.
To.
3077. Sgt John McNally 43rd (Monmouthshire) Foot Regt.
Born in Canada & joined the British Army aged only 14 in 1853 at Dublin.
[THE MEDALS] -Officially Impressed-
New Zealand Medal (1863-1866)
3077. JOHN McNALLY . 43rd Lt INFTRy
Long Service Good Conduct Medal
3077. CORpl J. McNALLY. 43rd FOOT.
[HISTORICAL FAMILY NOTES]
Private Thomas McNally, was the father of Sgt John McNally and was a serving soldier in the British Army with 43rd Foot Regiment in Canada at the time of John’s birth in 1839.
Born in 1805, he died on 20th February 1848 at the age of just 43 with a pension of 1/- being awarded to his widow.
[JOHN McNally 1839-1895) Age 56
John was born in Canada on 28th February 1839. His father died when he was just 9 years old. He travelled across the Atlantic in 1853 at the tender age of 14 and joined his late father’s regiment, 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment at their base in Dublin, Ireland.
The full reason for John’s unusually early attestation is not fully clear, but it’s thought that he was orphaned by the early death of his mother in 1852-53 who had been in receipt of an army pension. His father had already been dead for five years at the the time of his son’s attestation in 1853. Having possibly lost his mother and presumably also his home, it would perhaps have left him with very few options other than joining the army.
John is thus shown on his papers as “Underage” in his first two entries, before being eventually shown as “completed 15 years” (of age) on 28th February 1854. He officially joined the man’s service on 28th February 1857 at age 18.
He had served for just over 9 years, including time in India before leaving at age 24 for the New Zealand war in September of 1863. He spent just over 2 years there and qualified for his New Zealand medal 1863-1866 during this period.
The 43rd regiment sailed back to England via South Africa with a stop at The Cape of Good Hope where John clearly visited “The Lion’s Rump” which is a high natural viewing platform on Table Mountain over 1,100 feet up overlooking Cape Town with panoramic views of the city beneath.
While there he obtained a small souvenir spray of what are known as “Everlasting Leaves” from the Silver Tree (Leucadendron argenteum), which he pressed in a book & annotated with the wording:
From “The Lion’s Rump” 1122ft - Cape of Good Hope.
Upon his return to the U.K. from New Zealand, John McNally at age 28, married Selina Mc Nally (nee Denham, born 1850) who was a minor aged only 16 or 17. The wedding took place on 9th April 1867 at The Parish Church in Portsmouth. Having made her mark “X” on the wedding certificate, Selina was clearly illiterate & the daughter of a labourer, Charles Denham.
John McNally was at this time with 43rd Regt and described on the marriage certificate as a Bandsman with an address of “Anglesey Barracks” (near Llanberis) North Wales.
[JOHN’s CAREER with 43rd FOOT] 1853- 1877
In September 1863, the 43rd left India to take part in the New Zealand Wars.
[THE ACTION AT GATE PA]
The main assault & storming party at Gate Pa in April 1864 was made up of 300 soldiers from the 43rd Regiment led by Lieutenant-Colonel H.G. Booth and a Naval Brigade led by Commander Hay. Another 300 men were held in reserve to follow up the initial assault. There were many casualties sustained due to confusion which occurred on the day which was brought on by what was considered to be an attack by native reinforcements from the rear of the Pa. What in fact was occurring was the arrival of further & unexpected British troops firing from the rear. This caused a sudden retreat by our troops many of whom perished in the ensuing panic.
When the Naval Brigade entered the main earthworks, some of its defenders apparently fled but were driven back inside by the men of the 68th stationed behind it. A confused battle took place within narrow confines. Then the British reserve force was sent forward. Now hundreds of men were trying to force their way through a narrow gap into the honeycombed interior of the pā. Enough Māori had remained to ensure they remained in control. The quick loss of most of the British officers left the assault force with no clear leadership. Those storming the pā from the front fled in panic, believing that the garrison was being reinforced by the Māori re-entering it from the rear. The dead and wounded were left where they fell. The British lost 35 killed and 75 wounded, twice the estimated Māori casualties.
The 43rd Regiment men later later got their own back when they took part in the assault on the fort at Te Ranga in June 1864.
[THE ACTION AT TE RANGA]
The action at Te Ranga was the sequel to the battle of Gate Pā. Following their humiliating defeat, some of the British force at Tauranga returned to Auckland. Meanwhile, their Ngāi Te Rangi opponents were reinforced by fighters from Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Porou. They began building a pā at Te Ranga, 5 km inland from Gate Pā.
Unfortunately for the Māori, British reconnaissance discovered this fortification before it was completed.
On 21 June, Colonel H.H. Greer attacked the 500 defenders of the half-dug trenches with a 700-strong force. The 43rd – ‘mad for revenge’ for their losses at Gate Pā – 68th and 1st Waikato regiments stormed the rifle pits ‘in the most dashing manner’.
Amidst hand-to-hand fighting, the Māori slowly withdrew. When Rāwiri Puhirake, the hero of Gate Pā, was killed, the retreat became a rout. British cavalry gave chase, but could not penetrate the nearby bush.
More than 100 Māori, including the chivalrous Hēnare Taratoa, were killed or mortally wounded at Te Ranga, as were 13 British troops. The visiting iwi suffered heavy casualties, which contributed to their subsequent enthusiasm for the Pai Mārire (Hauhau) insurgency.
Peace came to Tauranga in July/August 1864, when Ngāi Te Rangi gave up some guns and some land in return for food and seeds with which to re-establish their crops. This was far from the ‘surrender’ the British claimed it to be.
Frederick Augustus Smith was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery during an attack on a Maori trench. The regiment returned to England in February 1866.
[1st LINCOLNSHIRE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS]
On 1st April 1877, his commanding officer, Captain Miller, wrote him a very positive reference confirming his suitability for a new role as a training instructor. This reference was written on official 43rd Regimental Crested paper and is included with the medals.
John is then seen transferring for his final period of service with 1st Administration Battalion 1st Lincolnshire Rifle Volunteers on 28th April 1877 as a training instructor at Lincoln.
He was officially discharged from the regular army on 26th March 1878 aged 39.
[THE 1881 CENSUS]John McNally.
John next appears as “ Sgt Instructor of Volunteers, Lincolnshire’s with his young family on the 1881 census, living at
“West End, Alford, Lincolnshire” which is a stones throw from Horncastle, Sleaford & Skegness.
His family are recoded as:
WIFE Selina (31)
Jane (9)
Charles (6)
Selina (4) *died prior to 1891*
Anne (2)
John (6 months) *died prior to 1891*
[THE 1891 CENSUS] John McNally
In 1892 John is shown as:
Widower & General Labourer.
With 3 daughters & 1 son
Jane (19)
Charles (16)
Anne (12)
Mary (6)
(Wife Selina, Daughter Selina & Son John clearly died prior to 1891)
John McNally died in the Civil Parish of Grimsby in 1895 aged 56.
A Very Desirable New Zealand Medal & LSGC pair with a unusually full history and compliment of service papers, personal marriage records, census documents & service history.
Both medals are totally original & uncleaned and retain their undisturbed coal black natural time developed patina. Both are on their original ribbons with their Victorian silver top claw suspension brooches.
A Truly Lovely & Rare Pair. Fit for the finest NZ collection.
£1750.