New Zealand Fencible Society Incorporated (NZFSI)
The Society was formed to promote and encourage historical research into the New Zealand Fencibles and their families but over the years this has expanded to include all UK (Empire Veterans) who chose to make New Zealand their home prior to 1902.
WHO WERE THE FENCIBLES?
The Royal New Zealand Fencibles were corps of retired soldiers from UK 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.
There were over 2,500 men, women and children who arrived in New Zealand during the years 1847 - 1852. They settled in the now southern and eastern suburbs of Auckland; Onehunga, Otahuhu, Panmure and Howick. In return for availability in case of attack and attendance at parades the Fencibles were provided with a cottage and land they would own after seven years service.
FENCIBLE HISTORY
HISTORY:
In 1846 Governor Grey requested a military force from his superiors in Britain, as he was concerned about the 'unrest' between the Maori and the early settlers in New Zealand. The English Parliament however approved a detachment of retired soldiers to be known as 'The Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps' to be recruited and sent to New Zealand. (The word 'Fencible' comes from the word 'defence' which this detachment of retired soldiers were required to do as opposed to a unit of fighting men.)
ENLISTMENT:
Conditions for enlistment for the Royal NZ Fencible corps were posted in every camp in the British Isles where Military Regiments were stationed.
Some of the conditions for enlistment were:
The men had to be under the age of 48 years of age (later lowered to 41 years due to the numbers applying being so great), with a minimum of 15yrs military service. They needed to be over 5ft 5in in height, of good character, industrious habits, robust frame and be medically approved as fit for occasional military duties.
Those approved would be enrolled to serve for 7 years on the following terms. They would receive free passage to New Zealand for themselves, their wives and families. On arriving in NZ each pensioner would be put in possession of a cottage of 2 rooms on an acre of land. Each man was required to attend military exercise for 12 days per annum and church parade each Sunday. On the termination of 7 years service the cottage and allotment would become the absolute property of the Pensioner.
SHIPS:
The Fencibles and their families arrived in Auckland, New Zealand between 1847 and 1852 on board the following ships.
Ramillies
Arrived 5 August 1847; Captain McLean; 67 pensioners, 57 women, 123 children; Major William Henry Kenny, 73rd Regt including Lieutenant Colonel Bolton, Royal Engineers and 12 sappers and miners; surgeon Dr Cunningham RN.
Minerva
Arrived 8 October 1847; Captain McBrath; 80 pensioners, 67 women, 145 children; Captain Charles Henry Montressor Smith, 55th Regt including Major General Dean Pitt, Captain Greenwood; Surgeon Dr Mahon.
Sir Robert Sale
Arrived 11 October 1847; Captain Loader; 74 pensioners, 69 women, 142 children; Captain Alexander McDonald; surgeon Dr John I Lancaster MD.
Sir George Seymour
Arrived 26 November 1847; Captain Thomas W Millman; 78 pensioners, 63 women, 114 children; Major John Gray, 40th Reg (Commandant RNZ Fencibles); surgeon Dr Goldney.
Clifton
Arrived 23 January 1848; Captain Kettlewell; 79 pensioners, 72 women, 161 children; Lieutenant Owen Wynne Gray; surgeon Dr Arthur Saunders Thompson.
Ann
Arrived 16 May 1848; Captain C S Walker; 74 pensioners, 70 women, 153 children; Lieutenant John Annesley Hickson; surgeon Dr Bacot.
Berhampore
Arrived 16 June 1849; Captain T B Smith; 80 pensioners, 67 women, 101 children; Captain John Jermyn Symonds; surgeon Dr Carr.
Oriental Queen
Arrived 18 September 1849; Captain Thomas; 71 pensioners, 62 women, 108 children; Captain Theodore Minet Haultain, 39th Regt; surgeon Dr T Hunt.
Inchinnan
Arrived 27 May 1852; Captain T Ennis; 78 pensioners, 68 women, 113 children; surgeon Dr Henry Rickards.
Berwick Castle
Arrived 13 December 1852; Captain Andrew Latto/Latta; 40 pensioners, 37 women, 68 children; Seargent Timothy Carroll, 9th Regt Foot; surgeon Dr James Jackson 2nd Class.
FENCIBLES
The men numbered 721 and together with their families comprised a total of over 2,500 new settlers for the villages of Onehunga, Otahuhu, Howick and Panmure.
The men had served in many regiments of the British Army in many parts of the world. They were used to harsh conditions and many were "pensioned out" as being unfit for further active service, largely due to rheumatism. Sometimes wives and children would have marched behind the regiment.
A large number of the families were from Ireland, which was in the middle of the famine period, and all would have been leaving for a better life in New Zealand. The promise of owning land would have been a great incentive. When the first contingent arrived it had not been decided where they should settle. The cottages were not ready on arrival. Most of the families quickly settled into life in New Zealand, building their own houses, growing vegetables and finding work on the neighbouring farms and other government projects. However some for a variety of reasons did not get their cottage and land and later sort redress through the Pensioner Land Claim Act.
The Fencibles were a large group of immigrants who swelled Auckland's population at the time. They created the four villages, now suburbs of Auckland. They were instrumental, in the creation of roads, bridges and lines of communication. They shaped the infrastructure of churches, schools, shops and local governing bodies.
Now it is estimated that there are over a quarter of a million descendants of Fencible families living today spread around the world. The villages are now bustling communities. The Fencibles came for a better life as they committed themselves to developing their communities with their labour and their limited resources. They are to be remembered with respect, for without their service the shape of Auckland would have been a very different place to what it is today.
WHO WERE THE EMPIRE VETERANS?
The Fencibles were not the only UK Servicemen who made New Zealand their home. This group we call the Empire Veterans and takes in all the other former UK Servicemen who chose to make New Zealand their home between 1840 and 1902. These men can be divided into two separate groups.
The first consists of those men who came to New Zealand during the NZ Wars between 1845 and 1870 and chose to take their discharge and remain in New Zealand. These we call the ‘Discharged in New Zealand’ group.
The second was those men who took their discharge in the UK or elsewhere in the British Empire and made their own way to NZ. These we call the ‘Discharged Abroad and Settled in New Zealand’ group.
EMPIRE VETERANS HISTORY
History
The first group ‘Discharged in New Zealand’, was on the whole easy to identify thanks to the work done by Hugh and Lynn Hughes with their NZSG 1988 publication ‘Discharged in New Zealand – Soldiers of the Imperial Foot Regiments who took their discharge in New Zealand 1840 – 1870’.
During the thirty years involved 3600+ rank and file men, from the fourteen Imperial Regiments and other miscellaneous units who served in New Zealand, chose to remain when their regiment or unit left the country. The number of men, regiments, units and over 100 ships involved means it is not possible to give more detailed background information or list the ships like we have for the Fencibles. Hugh and Lynn’s work did not include a number of officers who also chose to remain.
It is interesting to note this group provided a source of husbands for Fencible widows and their daughters.
If a researcher finds they are descended from one of these men we recommend accessing the Hughes book as it does contain a great deal of detailed information.
The second group ‘Discharged Abroad and Settled in New Zealand’ was not so easy to identify without the comprehensive work done by Hugh and Lyn. There is one publication that provides a substantial list of names thanks to former Governor Ranfurly who compiled his ‘Roll of Honour 1840 – 1902 - Defenders of the Empire Resident in New Zealand’. There has been research done to expand this group using a wide range of material such as ‘Papers Past’, Naval and Military Land Claim records and other material held at Archives New Zealand.
Some of these men were from the regiments and units that served in New Zealand and chose to return to the country at their own expense. Others came as members of the Waikato Militia recruited in Australia. There were also a number of former East India Company soldiers who came.