New Zealand Fencible Society Incorporated

Who were the NZ Fencibles?

The Royal New Zealand Fencibles were corps of retired soldiers from Britain and Ireland, often referred to as 'Pensioners', who enlisted as a military reserve to act as a 'defence force' for the protection of the early settlers in the fledgling town of Auckland, New Zealand.


St Peter's Onehunga

Welcome to the New Zealand Fencible Society Incorporated (NZFSI)

Preserving the legacy of New Zealand’s military settlers and their families.

The NZFSI was established to promote and encourage research into the history of the New Zealand Fencibles, a unique corps of retired soldiers from the British Army, who served as a defensive reserve force for early Auckland settlers. Over time, our focus has expanded to include research on all Empire Veterans who settled in New Zealand before 1902.

Who Were the New Zealand Fencibles?

The Royal New Zealand Fencibles were retired soldiers, often called Chelsea Pensioners, recruited from Britain and Ireland. These military settlers played a crucial role in defending the growing town of Auckland and its surrounding areas, including Onehunga, Otahuhu, Panmure and Howick.

Arriving between 1847 and 1852 aboard ships like the Minerva, Ann, Berwick Castle, Sir George Seymour, and Ramillies, more than 2,500 men, women, and children made the journey to New Zealand. In return for their service in case of attack and attendance at regular parades, these soldiers were offered land grants and cottages, which they would own after seven years of service. This formed the foundation of the Pensioner Settlements, which remain significant communities today.

Explore Our Genealogy Resources

We offer a wealth of resources for those researching genealogy and military history, with access to attestation papers, family sheets, passenger lists, and regimental numbers of the soldiers. Discover the stories of the Fencible Ships, like the Clifton, Berhampore, and Inchinnan, and explore how these veterans contributed to shaping New Zealand’s history.

Whether your ancestors were Fencibles in the Pensioner Settlements, served in the NZ Wars and took their discharge here or were other soldiers who chose to settle in NZ we are here to help you uncover their legacy. Start your journey into the rich history of the New Zealand Fencibles and other British military settlers.

Join us as we honour the contributions of these soldiers and their families, who helped establish a new life in early Auckland.

EVENTS
Open Day/Research Day

22 Feb 2025

Research your Fencible/s or UK Empire Veteran/s who settled in NZ pre-1902.


Search Our Database

The Society has created a computerised database that contains a wide range of information about the Fencibles, Empire Veterans and their families who chose to settle in New Zealand prior to 1902.Not all information is verified. Please use the information as a starting place for your research. Some of the information is member supplied and is un-verified.

READ MORE →

LATEST NEWS
BRICK WALL BUSTERS

06 Dec 2024
Have you hit a brick wall with your research? Check out Seonaid Harvey (Senior Research Librarian - Central City Library) 'Brick Wall Buster Reminders'.They may provide an answer.

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