A good New Zealand Service Medal 1860-1866, reverse dated 1860 to 1865 awarded to Private William Pomery, 65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot who served out in New Zealand from 1860 to 1865, being confirmed as present during both the Taranaki War of 1860 to 1861, and the Waikato Campaign of 1863 to 1865.
New Zealand Service Medal 1860-1866, reverse dated 1860 to 1865; (3362 Wm POMERY. 65TH REGt.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Awarded to Private (No. 3362) William Pomery, 65th (2nd Yorkshire North Riding) Regiment of Foot who was present out in New Zealand, where his regiment became the longest serving of the regiments to serve out there, being continually based there from 1845 to 1865, with McCarthy arriving there in 1860, and as such he saw service during the Taranaki War of 1860 to 1861.
He would also have been present when the Regiment took part in the invasion of the Waikato in July 1863. The regiment’s first task was to occupy Tuakau on 13th July 1863 and build a redoubt overlooking the Waikato River, a task completed by 250 men in four days. This was named the Alexandra Redoubt, in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who had married Albert, Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII, on 10th March 1863.
In a newspaper article dated 28th July, it was reported that: “The Alexandra redoubt at Tuakau has been finished under the direction of Captain Richard Swift, 65th Regt., who commands the troops at this post. All the canoes about the neighbourhood have been seized by his order, and a regular Naval Brigade has been formed, consisting of about 40 men. By these means the Commandant has obtained complete command of the river. On the 27th a force of 60 men, commanded by Captain Swift, with Lieut. Villars Butler, crossed the Waikato river. This, I believe, is the first time our troops have crossed it. All the arrangements were so well carried out that the whole force landed in half an hour, crowned the hills on the other side, and skirmished through four miles of bush in first-rate style. They returned to the Redoubt, the settlement being entirely deserted on the advance of the troops. The force at this post, under its present commander, is fit to perform any duty required of it.”
On 22nd July, 1863 at Kiri-Kiri on the Great South Road about half way between Auckland and the Queen’s Redoubt, there had been a skirmish in which 6 officers and 81 men, under Lieut. Col Wyatt, were part of the force engaged. 1 man was killed.
On 8th December the Union Jack carried by the regiment was hoisted on the flagstaff of the Maori king at Ngaruawahia. This was the same flag they had carried in battle at Rangiriri, as they had been ordered to leave their Colours in Auckland.
The regiment advanced up the Waipa river with Cameron's main field force. On 26th January 1864, it was reported from Tuikaramea camp that “About nine o'clock 100 rank and file, 5 sergeants, and 2 drummers, of the 65th Regiment, commanded by Lieut. Wrixon and Ensign Spiller, left this camp for Whatawhata, where it is intended a force of 200 men, in command of Colonel Murray, shall remain in charge of the stores deposited in that place until communications can be again safely had with the advanced post now proposed to be taken up”. A large number of the regiment were was present in action at Rangiaowhia on 21st February, 1864 and Hairini, nearby, the next day. At Orakau Pa, 30th March to 2nd April 1864, the final battle of the Waikato war, 9 officers and 238 men of the regiment were present. At Gate Pa, Tauranga, 20th April, 1864 - one detached company of the regiment (No. 3, under Capt. L. S. Warren), formed part of the 'Moveable Column' consisting of men from the 12th, 14th, 40th, 65th and 70th Regiments, took part in the disastrous battle. On 19th August 1864 the moveable column was broken up, “owing to the natives having entirely disappeared from the vicinity of the outposts”. The regiment did not take part in General Cameron’s Wanganui campaign of 1865.
