Militaria Auction Saturday, 14 September 2024 - 11:00 AM start

NZ War Medal (Undated) - George Tatton, Taranaki Volunteers

Lot Details

The New Zealand War Medal issued to George Tatton of the Taranaki Volunteers, who saw active service at Waireka on 28th March 1860, and was noted for his actions at Kaitake in March 1864. George Tatton was born in London, England on 9th May 1841 and came to New Zealand prior to 1860. He served in the Taranaki War of the 1860's with both the Taranaki Volunteers and Taranaki Mounted Volunteers at the Battle of Waireka and the capture of Kaitake in March 1864. On the latter occasion Tatton was mentioned, although not by name, in Col. Warre's official despatch of the action: "Another Maori was captured in the fern, after deliberately attempting to shoot one of the Mounted Corps, who upon this, as on every occasion, rendered me most valuable assistance." This action, and Tatton's involvement was described in the Taranaki Herald of 9/4/1864: "Two mounted orderlies (G. Tatton and W. Brooking) captured the only prisoner taken. He had fired at one of them and had then hidden in the fern. They gave chase on foot and found him, and one of them fired five shots at him with his revolver, one ball wounding him slightly, the others going through the different parts of his dress. He fell apparently dead, but as they approached to examine him he fired again at Tatton, who therefore knocked him down with his revolver. It is very much to the credit of these men that they did not kill him outright after he fired this second shot. He proved to be Ihau of Mokotunu, and is an enemy of old standing, as he was wounded in the former war." For his service during the New Zealand Wars, Tatton was granted land at Kakaramea, and was issued his medal in 1880. He had married Susan Brooking in 1863 (who was probably related to the W Brooking George served with in the Taranaki Mounteds), and had a family of nine children. Two of his sons, Alfred and Henry, served in the NZ Mounted Rifles in the South African War. George Tatton died in Auckland on 8th February 1914.