Description
New Zealand War Medal, reverse dated 1863 to 1865, 477 Corporal William McClunighan, 70th Regiment. Served at Waikato, Taranaki and Battle of Koheroa.
Officially impressed: “477 Corpl Wm McClunighan. 70th Regt”
Confirmed on the medal roll, with copy service papers.
One interesting addition to his medal is that the medal roll for the 70th Regt expands on qualifying actions fought.
It confirms that he saw service in the war from 1863 until 1865 and saw service at 3 major actions:
“Waikato, Taranaki & Koheroa”
He saw service in 2 Campaigns, the “Taranaki” and then “Waikato” campaign.
Notably being present at the battle of Koheroa on 17th July 1863, as part of the Waikato Campaign.
Five days after Cameron’s main force crossed the Mangatāwhiri Stream on 12 July, which marked the formal start of the Waikato invasion, Māori fighters under the Ngāti Mahuta rangatira Te Huirama were spotted holding the heights above the Waikato River near the newly built Alexandra Redoubt.
On the morning of the 17th, Cameron led a force of roughly 500–553 men (drawn from the regiments then at hand, the 65th and 70th among them) up onto the Koheroa ridge.
The action was a fast, close-range affair: British regulars advanced under fire and finished it with a bayonet charge that broke the Māori position and drove them off, with about 15 Māori killed, including Te Huirama, against a single British fatality. It cleared the way for the British to push on toward the next Kīngitanga defensive line at Meremere.
William McClunighan aka McClanaghan was born in the town of Clauday, in Londonderry, Ireland, now part of Northern Ireland circa 1836.
Having come over to Scotland, he attested for service aged 22 on 1st May 1858.
He would go on to see a full career lasting over 20 years, to be discharged aged 42 on 23rd August 1878, being “Discharged free to a modified pension, after service of 20 years under act 1279 Royal Warrant of 1st May 1878, on being found unfit for duty with his regiment abroad.”
His conduct was noted as “They have been good. He is in possession of 2 good conduct badges, and has the New Zealand War Medal and a third class school certificate.”
His conduct was classed as simply “Good” due to “He has 17 entries in the Regimental Defaulters Book and he has been 6 times tried by Court Martial”.
Seeing varied conduct through his 20 year long career he had been a Corporal a number of times and even a Sergeant seeing steady promotion during the New Zealand War, but always found himself back as a private again.
1st May 1858 – 110th June 1861 – Private
In Confinement and Tried by Court Martial, 11th June 1861 – 12th July 1861.
Release 13th July 1861 – 31st March 1864
Promoted to Corporal from 1st April 1864 – 30th November 1866
Promoted to Sergeant 1st Decr 1866 – 13th Feb 1867
In Confinement, 14th July – 15th Feb 1867
Tried and released, retaining Sergeant Rank from 16th Feb 1867 – 24th April 1867
However, in confinement again from 25th April 1867 – 28th April 1867.
Being tried by Court Martial and reduced to Private, 29th April 1867 – 12th Septr 1867.
Promoted to Corporal again, 2nd April 1868 – 2nd January 1870.
In Confinement 3rd Jan 1870 – 5th Jan
Being tried and reduced, 6th Jan 1870 – 22nd June 1872.
Promoted back to Corporal, 23rd June 1872 – 26th Jan 1874.
Before “In Confinement, Drunk” 27th Jan 1874 – 29th January 1874.
Tried and reduced, 30th January 1873 – 19th January 1876
Appointed Lance Corporal on 20th Jan 1876
Promoted Corporal and Lance Sergeant, 27th December 1877 – 29th June 1878.
Before “In Confinement, Drunk” from 30th June 1878 – 2nd July 1878.
Being tried, reduced and released from 3rd July 1878, back to Private again.
Finally discharged as a Private on 10th September 1878, with service of 20 years and 89 days.
Out of his service, 7 years 188 days were spent on service overseas, consisting of:
East Indies, 2 years 223 days
New Zealand, 4 years 330 days.
