Description
New Zealand Medal, dated 1863-1866, 2238 Driver David Hunt, C Battery, 4th Brigade Royal Artillery.
Officially impressed: “2238 Drivr David Hunt, C Batty, 4th Brgde R.A.”
Confirmed on the medal roll, which recall in detail that he served during: “1863,4,5,6” as well as being engaged in the Affair of “Kerri Kerri” serving under command of “Lieut Rait and Capt Peile.”
Lieut Rait was MID for this action, which was also known as the “Skirmish of Kirikiri” fought on 22nd July 1863.
David Hunt was born circa 1839 in St Marys, Thetford, Norfolk.
He was seen there with his family on the 1841 Census.
On 24th December 1859 he enlisted for service into the Royal Artillery, having worked as a Groom.
He saw the following service:
Home, 29th December 1859 – 3rd March 1861
New Zealand, 4th March 1861 – 29th October 1866
Home, 30th October 1866 – 29th Dec 1880.
He was posted to the C Battery, 4th Brigade, R.A. who embarked at Woolwich on the ship Norwood on 21st November 1860, arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 5th March 1861.
David would go on to spend 5 years 240 days in New Zealand, being active in the “Waikato Wars” from 1863-66 when he earned this medal, his battles including the “Affair at Kerri Kerri”.
Of note the Commanding Officer of his unit Captain Mercer, seeing war on the horizon had armed the Drivers of his unit with revolvers and swords and Lieut Rait employed them as Cavalry in the war.
“In March 1863, Captain Mercer received directions to mount 100 gunners and drivers of his battery and to drill them to act as cavalry. Each man was armed with a regulation cavalry sword and either carbine (cavalry pattern) or a Dean and Adams’ revolver. These arms were supplied by the Colonial Government. One troop had hunting saddles and light bridles, which were also supplied by the colony.”
David returned home to England in October 1866 and continued with his service, on formation of the Army Service Corps in 1870 he joined them as a Private, serving for another 11 years there.
He was eventually discharged on 11th January 1881, having done 21 years 14 days, his good service would earn him the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Shown on the 1891 Census in Plumstead with his Wife.
He is later spotted at the age of 72 in the 1911 Census, shown as an “Army Pensioner” living with his wife Betsy Elizabeth hunt back home in Hepworth, Norfolk.
He lived a good few more years before he died in Thetford, Norfolk during 1916.
