Known colloquially as the ‘Faithful Durhams’, the 68th (Durham Light Infantry) Regiment were urgently summoned to service in Aotearoa New Zealand in 1863. At the request of Governor George Grey, the 68th regiment were transferred here along with detachments from the 18th, 43rd and 50th regiments, totaling 3000 soldiers, many of whom had fought during the Indian uprising of 1857. The 68th were largely involved in the Tauranga region during the New Zealand wars, where they were stationed. In 1864, they fought at Pukehinahina (Gate Pā) and Te Ranga, suffering heavy casualties of 39 soldiers, seven of which were killed. A detachment of the 68th also fought in Whanganui, alongside the 50th and 57th regiments, marching up the Patea river on the 13th of March, after the army’s acquisition of Nukumaru.

During the battle at Pukehinahina, the 68th played a critical role. During the evening of the 28th of April 1864, the imperial force fired artillery on the pā garrison enabling the 68th to move along the shore to the rear of the pā undetected. Although this prevented the escape of some of the defenders during battle the next day, the attack on Pukehinahina inflicted heavy losses for the imperial force, particularly the 43rd regiment. The 68th regiment assisted the 43rd in avenging their losses from Pukehinahina during the following battle at Te Ranga. On the 21st of June 1864, Colonel Greer led a force of 600 soldiers from the 68th regiment, 43rd regiment and the 1st Waikato militia into one of the bloodiest battles of the New Zealand wars. The combined forces ambushed a group digging a rifle trench. The defenders in battle comprised mainly Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui under Puhirake, with supporters from Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Pikiao, and Ngāti Rangiwewehi, totaling between 500-600 fighters. The ensuing hand-to-hand battle saw the British forces overpower the Māori, with Greer having sent to Te Papa for reinforcements. Upon the death of Puhirake, the Tauranga Māori and their allies retreated to the bush, with their casualties severely outnumbering those of their attackers. Over 100 Māori were found dead in the rifle trench after the battle, and another 15 died later of wounds at Te Papa. Colonial losses numbered 9 dead and 39 wounded.

After the campaign in Tauranga, the 68th participated in General Chute's Taranaki campaign and were then stationed in Whanganui until their service was complete. Over 180 'Faithful Durhams' took their discharge in New Zealand between 1865 and 1866. In March 1866, the regiment embarked at Auckalnd for their return to England on the ships Percy and Ballarat.


External Sources:

Belich, James. The New Zealand Wars and the Victorian Interpretation of Racial Conflict. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland University Press, 1986.

Cowan, James. The New Zealand Wars : A History of the Maori Campaigns and the Pioneering Period / by James Cowan. Wellington, N.Z.: W.A.G. Skinner, 1922.

Hughes, Hugh, and Lynn Hughes. Discharged in New Zealand: Soldiers of the Imperial Foot Regiments Who Took Their Discharge in New Zealand 1840 - 1870. Auckland, N.Z.: New Zealand Society of Genealogists Inc, 1988.

Keenan, Danny. Wars Without End: The Land Wars in Nineteenth-Century New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: Penguin, 2009.

Ryan, Tim., and Parham, W. T. The Colonial New Zealand Wars (Rev. ed.). Wellington, N.Z.: Grantham House, 2002.

Prickett, Nigel. Landscapes of Conflict: A Field Guide to the New Zealand Wars. Auckland, N.Z.: Random House New Zealand, 2002.