Lot 2079

Description

New Zealand Medal, undated. Col Sergt G Bentley Taranaki M S. Engraved. Good fine.

Ex Horne Collection (Christchurch) 2000. George Bentley was born in Herefordshire, England in 1826. He enlisted in No.5 Company of the Taranaki Military Settlers in Melbourne and arrived in New Zealand aboard 'Brilliant' from Melbourne. He was an engineer by occupation. The Taranaki Military Settlers were generally men who enlisted in Australia with the promises of land grants in exchange for military service. Bentley, as part of the Melbourne Contingent of the Taranaki Military Settlers, took part in the engagement at Kaitake Ranges on 24 March 1864. Colour Sergeant Bentley was also engaged at Te Ahuahu on 6 April 1864. The Maori, occupying an old pa Ahuahu slipped down to the party of 55 men from the 57th Regiment and 43 men of the Taranaki Military Settlers. A smaller body of men was then separated and attacked at very close range by the Maori who 'sprang their ambush with a full volley of gunfire..(and) leapt from their trenches and dashed into the mass of struggling soldiers with their tomahawks. Only the confusion of men dashing in all directions, and clouds of dirty white gun smoke in the high fern, saved the party from being completely slaughtered'. As a Colour Sergeant and thus the senior Non Commissioned Officer Bentley was a prime target for the Maori and was wounded in this battle, in which his commanding officer, Captain Lloyd, was decapitated and whose head was carried around the North Island by the Maori as a war trophy. He was awarded an undated New Zealand Medal on 10 April 1872, one of 214 to the Taranaki Military Settlers. With service record and 'For Glory and a Farm' in which Bentley is mentioned.