Camerontown
Encyclopedia
Camerontown or Cameron Town was a British Army supply depot used during the Invasion of the Waikato
during the New Zealand Wars in 1863, and later a small settlement.
, west of Tuakau
and south of Pukekohe
. It was named after the British commander, Lieutenant General Duncan Cameron.
from Pukekawa launched a surprise attack on the morning of 7 September 1863. They took Camerontown, and burnt the depot and its protective pa and over forty tons of supplies. The depot was defended by 4 Europeans and 20 Ngati Whauroa. Five defenders were killed, including Mr Armitage. The British were in a canoe.
The British troops at Tuakau were informed of the attack and sent out a detachment of 50 men. The detachment commander, Captain Swift of the 65th Regiment attacked what they thought were Kingites drunk on captured rum, but were met by a massive volley which felled both officers (Swift and Lieutenant Butler, who was disabled) and several men. The survivors beat a hasty retreat. They were hunted through the bush until nightful, but the Ngati Maniapoto
Kingites did not press home their attack.
Two British soldiers, Colour Sergeant Edward McKenna
and Lance-Corporal John Ryan
were awarded the Victoria Cross
for their action that day, when McKenna took over command after the death of Captain Swift, and they protected his body. Sergeant Bracegirdle and four privates (Bulford, Cole, Talbot and Thomas) were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
.
Later the settlement was the birthplace of Harold Abbott
, a rugby union
footballer and member of the legendary 1905 Original All Blacks
.
Invasion of the Waikato
The Invasion of Waikato or Kingitanga Suppression Movement was a campaign during the middle stages of the New Zealand Wars, fought in the North Island of New Zealand from July 1863 to April 1864 between the military forces of the Colonial Government and a federation of Māori tribes known as the...
during the New Zealand Wars in 1863, and later a small settlement.
Location
The depot was on the north bank of the lower Waikato RiverWaikato River
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. In the North Island, it runs for 425 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and emptying into Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It drains Taupo at the lake's northeastern edge, creates the...
, west of Tuakau
Tuakau
Tuakau is a town in the Franklin district, and is part of the Waikato Region in the North Island of New Zealand.The town serves to support local farming, and is the residence of many employees of New Zealand Steel at Glenbrook....
and south of Pukekohe
Pukekohe
Pukekohe is a town in the Auckland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the southern edge of the Auckland Region, it is approximately 50 kilometres south of Auckland City, between the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour and the mouth of the Waikato River. The hills of Pukekohe...
. It was named after the British commander, Lieutenant General Duncan Cameron.
History
During the advance into the Waikato in 1863, a supplementary line of supply was established. Supplies were taken by steamer from Onehunga to the Waikato Heads, then transported upriver in canoes by Queenite Māori to the intermediate depot at Camerontown, then to the Queen’s Redoubt at Tuakau. The use of water transport was more efficient than the overland route of fifteen miles. As it was a major British suply route the Kingite Māori decided to destroy it. A party of a hundred Ngati ManiapotoNgati Maniapoto
Ngāti Maniapoto is an iwi based in the Waikato-Waitomo region of New Zealand's North Island. It is part of the Tainui confederation, the members of which trace their whakapapa back to people who arrived in New Zealand on the waka Tainui...
from Pukekawa launched a surprise attack on the morning of 7 September 1863. They took Camerontown, and burnt the depot and its protective pa and over forty tons of supplies. The depot was defended by 4 Europeans and 20 Ngati Whauroa. Five defenders were killed, including Mr Armitage. The British were in a canoe.
The British troops at Tuakau were informed of the attack and sent out a detachment of 50 men. The detachment commander, Captain Swift of the 65th Regiment attacked what they thought were Kingites drunk on captured rum, but were met by a massive volley which felled both officers (Swift and Lieutenant Butler, who was disabled) and several men. The survivors beat a hasty retreat. They were hunted through the bush until nightful, but the Ngati Maniapoto
Ngati Maniapoto
Ngāti Maniapoto is an iwi based in the Waikato-Waitomo region of New Zealand's North Island. It is part of the Tainui confederation, the members of which trace their whakapapa back to people who arrived in New Zealand on the waka Tainui...
Kingites did not press home their attack.
Two British soldiers, Colour Sergeant Edward McKenna
Edward McKenna
Ensign Edward McKenna VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
and Lance-Corporal John Ryan
John Ryan (VC 1863)
John Ryan VC was born in Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:Ryan was about 24 years old, and a Lance Corporal...
were awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for their action that day, when McKenna took over command after the death of Captain Swift, and they protected his body. Sergeant Bracegirdle and four privates (Bulford, Cole, Talbot and Thomas) were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
.
Later the settlement was the birthplace of Harold Abbott
Harold Abbott
Harold Louis Abbott , more commonly known as Bunny Abbott, was a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He was a member of the legendary 1905 Original All Blacks. He won his first Test cap for New Zealand on 1 January 1906 against France. In total he played one Test in 1906.-External links:...
, a rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer and member of the legendary 1905 Original All Blacks
The Original All Blacks (1905)
The Original All Blacks were the first New Zealand national rugby union team to tour outside Australasia. They toured the British Isles, France and the United States of America during 1905–1906. Their opening game was against Devon on 16 September 1905 whom they defeated 55–4...
.