Description
Title: For Glory and a Farm – The Story of Australia’s Involvement in the New Zealand Wars of 1860 – 66
Author: Glen, Frank
Condition: Near Mint
Edition: 2nd Edition
Publication Date: 1985
ISSN: 01104004
Cover: Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 137 pages
Comments: The detailed history of the Australian involvement during the New Zealand Maori Wars of the 1860s. Now a scarce account about one of the earliest conflicts to involve Australian forces.
The continuing expansion of European settlers onto Maori land and the colonial government’s determination to crush native independence resulted in the first war which took place in 1845–6. With insufficient troops in New Zealand to meet the threat, the 58th Regiment of Foot, then based in Australia, was dispatched in February 1845, soon to be followed by further troops. Fighting died down after 1846 but flared again in 1860 before a truce was declared and peace returned.
By 1863 hostilities had reignited, and New Zealand’s colonial authorities requested further assistance from Australia. A contingent of British troops was dispatched, along with the Victorian Colonial steam corvette, Victoria. In July 1863 British troops invaded the Waikato area and news of the continuing campaign spread through the Australian colonies. Some 2,500 volunteers offered their services on the promise of settlement on confiscated Maori land by New Zealand recruiters; most joined the Waikato Militia regiments, others became scouts and bush guerrillas in the Company of Forest Rangers. Few of these volunteers were involved in major battles, and fewer than 20 were killed.
