Description
New Zealand Medal, 2218 Private John Rost, 70th Foot, undated reverse, saw operational service through 1863-4-5. With service records.
Officially impressed: “2218 J Rost 70th Foot”.
Medal very crisp and unworn condition, he was discharged upon arriving back home in England having done his 21 years.
Rarely encountered to the 70th Surrey Regiment of Foot, the last undated example made £700+34% in auction in Jan 2021.
Corporal John Rost, was born during 1828 in High Ongar, Chipping Ongar, Essex.
He first attested for service aged 17 on 6th February 1845 with the 70th Regiment of Foot at Romford, Essex.
He would go on to serve a full 21 years 134 days.
Of which 16 years were spent on service overseas, comprising of 12 years in India and over 4 years in New Zealand.
By the time of his discharge he was a Corporal, 4 good conduct badges, but 2 entries in the defaulter’s book and 2 court martials, meant he would miss out on an LSGC medal.
He had been a Corporal and Sergeant multiple times, but fell back to private each time.
With his discharge he chose to return back home to Essex.
During his service, he spent a long time in India, being present there during 1851, the regiment had first arrived in 1849.
He fought with the 70th Foot in the Indian Mutiny, being entitled to the medal without bar.
He served throughout the New Zealand posting of the regiment for over 4 years, the medal roll records he was active with the regiment in at least “1863, 1864 & 1865”.
Notably during February 1864, the 70th Foot fought in a skirmish at Rangiaohia during the Invasion of the Waikato.
They had first seen action in New Zealand at Katikara River in Taranaki during June 1863, before they went on to serve in Wakiato from 1863 present at the battles of Koheroa, Cameron Town and Orakau.
They then returned to Tranaki once again with General Duncan Cameron during 1865, fighting at the Battle of Kaitake and their Commanding Officer, General Chute’s Campaign.
They were stationed in Napier during 1865, before leaving Auckland to return home in 1866.
When they returned home from New Zealand they had spent over 16 years overseas, Rost having been one of the original surviving members who first left England with the regiment during 1849.
His promotions:
Private, 6th Feb 1845 – 31st August 1853
Corporal, 30th August 1853 – 30th June 1854
Sergeant, 1st July 1854 – 16th July 1855
In Confinement, Reduced and Released to Private, 17th July 1855 – 20th Feb 1858
Corporal, 21st February 1858 – 14th February 1860
Serjeant 15th February 1860 – 22nd January 1861
In Confinement, tried reduced and released to Private, 27th January 1861 – 12th June 1866
Promoted Corporal, 13th June – 30th July 1866, when discharged at his own request as a Corporal.
1871 Census, records him living with his wife Lucy at London Road Crown Cottage, in Romford, Essex.
In 1881, he was living at Mount Pleasant, Barking Lane, Barking, Romford.
Noted as a “General Labourer and Pensioner late 70th Foot”.
John Rost later died in Romford, Essex, during 1901.
