Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse undated (1514. Thos. Welton, 96th Regt.) officially impressed naming, extremely fine and extremely rare £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Kuriheka Collection of British Medals.

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Collection

Ex Sotheby July 1879, and Glendining April 1923, June 1925 and March 1927 (£13/10/-).

Approximately 25 medals are thought to have been awarded to the 96th Regiment who served in New Zealand in 1845-47, the rolls for which do not survive. Mr Needes, in his records of medals sold up to 1939, records only this example and one other, to Pte. Henry Beighton, which is held in the Chelsea Hospital Collection.

Private Thomas Welton was severely wounded at Kororareka (now Russell) on 11 March 1845, in what was the first major engagement of the New Zealand Wars. The despatch, dated 15 March, written aboard H.M.S. Hazard by Lieutenant E. Barclay, R.N., records the attack by 2,000 Maoris on the flagstaff, blockhouses and township of Kororareka at about 4.00 a.m. on the morning of the 11th. He further records the death of ten military personnel, four from the 96th, and the wounding of another six, including Thomas Welton who was in action in the town at the time he was wounded. Barclay was subsequently charged by court martial of dereliction of duty at Kororareka but was acquitted. Sold with relevant details of Barclay’s Despatch.