Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1863 to 1866 (2783 Cr. Sergt. Saml. Manning, 1st Bn. 12th Regt.), officially impressed naming, edge bruise, otherwise very fine £500-600

The 12th Regiment arrived at Sydney in 1854 and served in New Zealand from 1860-66. It was engaged in the first Taranaki War, being present at No. 2 Redoubt and was in action throughout the Waikato War. It sustained losses at Rangiriri and fought at Gate Pa. The Headquarters moved to Napier in December 1865 and then moved to Tauranga in 1866, where part of the regiment took part in the Tauranga bush campaign.

As per the following report from The Hobart Mercury, 10 August 1861, Manning served as a Drill Instructor to the local volunteers in Tasmania in 186-61:

‘Yesterday evening a presentation of a purse of twenty sovereigns by the members of the First Rifles, S.T.V., to Acting Sergeant-Major Manning of H.M. 12th Regiment, who since the formation of the Corps, has filled the post of Drill Instructor, took place at the Town Hall.

Lieutenant-Colonel Russell, Field Officer, commanding Volunteers, and the whole of the officers of the Second Rifles were present; Mr. Manning holding the office of Drill Instructor to that corps. Several ladies also graced the scene with their presence and numerous spectators filled the gallery and lower part of the Hall. Acting Sergeant-Major Manning arrived shortly after eight o'clock, and the Corps being drawn up in subdivisions facing each other, Captain Solly spoke as follows:

“Sergeant Manning - The pleasing duty has devolved upon me, as the Captain Commanding the First Rifles, to convey to you, on the part of the Corps, the expression of their appreciation of your services as Drill Instructor. We feel, that to your unwearied assiduity and never failing patience, the present state of efficiency, which without boasting I may say is second to no corps in the Colony, is in great measure owing to you. I have now the pleasure of presenting to you this purse as a token of the good feeling entertained by the Corps towards you, and the high place you hold in their esteem. l am quite sure that wherever duty may call you, you will not forget the First Rifles, and you will ever carry with you the best wishes of the members of the Corps.

Sergeant Manning said:

“Officers, non-commissioned officers, and members of the First Rifles. I thank you most heartily for the very handsome present which you have made me. It has always been my anxious desire to do my duty faithfully as your Drill Instructor. I shall ever feel it a great pleasure to assist in any way the members of the First Rifles; and any information that I may possess connected with their instruction as Volunteers I shall be most happy to afford. I may be called away shortly, or I may remain here for many years, but wherever I am I shall always remember the time I have spent with you and hope and trust you will ever maintain the position you now hold in the Rifle Corps of Tasmania.”

Sergeant Manning then withdrew and Colonel Russell, who had been present at the drill, requested Captain Solly to convey to the Corps his satisfaction at the manner in which they had gone through their evolutions.’