TAURANGA AND TE PUKE MEN TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN WARS (BOER WAR)
1899 - 1902

During the South Africa War's of 1899 - 1902 (also known as the Boer War and Anglo-Boer War)New Zealand sent just over 6500 men. New Zealanders also served with other colonial forces or with the British Army, though their numbers cannot be accurately established.

Seventy-one New Zealanders were killed in action or died of wounds , 26 were accidentally killed, and 133 died of disease (more than half from typhoid fever).

The First Contingent, of 215 men, left Wellington on 21 October 1899. They were repatriated late in 1900.

The Second Contingent left for South Africa in February 1900.

A Third Contingent was largely organized and paid for by a committee of prominent Christchurch citizens and other members of the public. It sailed from Lyttelton in mid-February 1900.

In March 1900 the Fourth Contingent was raised by a committee of Dunedin citizens. Both Third and Fourth Contingents were known as 'Rough Riders'.

The Fifth Contingent reached South Africa along with the Fourth in April-May 1900. The Sixth Contingent arrived in South Africa in March 1901 and the Seventh Contingent, which was intended to replace the Fourth Contingent, reached South Africa in May 1901.

The 1000-strong Eighth Contingent disembarked in South Africa in mid-March 1902. The two final large contingents from New Zealand, the Ninth and Tenth, arrived in South Africa in 1902, too late to see any significant action.

Also see New Zealand in the South African ('Boer') War 1899-1902

The following are the men that have some connection with the Tauranga/Te Puke area.

SURNAME FORENAMES REG NO CONTINGENT RANK OCCUPATION RESIDENCE NEXT OF KIN R/SHIP RESIDENCE ENLISTED
ASHWORTH Caldwell 3203 Sixth Corporal Farmer Tauranga Caldwell Ashworth Father East Grinstead, Sussex, England Tauranga
BRADY George 7144 Ninth Private Blacksmith Te Puke William Brady Father Te Puke Tauranga
BROWN * Frederick Charles 4266 Seventh Private Farmer Tauranga Mrs Eliza Brown Mother Welcome Bay, Tauranga Tauranga
CHAPPIHALL Thomas Aubrey 3218 Sixth Sergeant Farmer Leonvall, Tauranga Mrs Margaret Louise Chappihall Mother Leamington, England Tauranga
COLLINS Dennis 8805 Tenth Private Labourer Tauranga P Collins Father Tauranga Tauranga
COOK John 8534 Tenth Private Miner Tauranga John Cook Father Tauranga Tauranga
CULLEN Edward James 8533 Tenth Private Farrier Tauranga Jack Cullen Father Tauranga Tauranga
DICKEY William J 8540 Tenth Private Farmer Tauranga Nathaniel Dickey Father Tauranga Tauranga
DOUGLAS Hugh 3226 Sixth Private Farrier Te Puke Hugh Douglas Father Te Puke Tauranga
DOUGLAS M 2360 Fifth Private Carpenter Thames H Douglas - Te Puke Thames
DRABBLE Robert William 7159 Ninth Private Surveyor Te Puke Joseph Drabble Father Te Puke Tauranga
HARRIS Arnold Thomas 3242 Sixth Private Farmer Te Puke William P Hickey Father Rotorua Tauranga
HARSANT Roger Cato Charles 8566 Tenth Sergeant Miner Tauranga Mrs Roffey Mother Tauranga Tauranga
HORNE Robert 5491 Eight Private Chemist Tauranga Mrs Horne Mother Tauranga Tauranga
LAKE Albert Edward 8719 Tenth Corporal Carpenter Te Puke Mr F Peake Sister Te Puke Tauranga
LESLIE A F 2715 Reserves Private Farmer Temuka, Timaru A J Leslie Father Tauranga Geraldine
MALCOLM Alexander Winham 5368 Eight Private Labourer Maketu Mrs Alziere Bell Malcolm Mother C/o Everett Bros, Nelson Tauanga
MATHESON Alister 3262 Sixth Private Farmer Tauranga Robert Matheson Father Tauranga Tauranga
McCAULEY John Richard 7207 Ninth Private Labourer Te Puke William Henry McCauley Father Te Puke Tauranga
RALPH Frederick Hill 4434 Seventh Private Drover Tauranga Benjamin Ralph Brother Tauranga Tauranga
RYAN Charles William 7100 Ninth Private Farmer Te Puke W C Ryan Father Te Puke Tauranga
RYAN Daniel 7722 Ninth Private Farmer Fairlie, Canterbury Charles Ryan Father Te Puke Mackenzie
SMITH Ernest Lewis 5529 Eight Private Salesman Star Hotel, Tauranga E L Smith Father Tauranga Tauranga
STEWART Alexander 7104 Ninth Private Sailor Tauranga W J Stewart Father Tauranga Tauranga
STEWART Charles James 8601 Tenth Private Engine-driver Tauranga William John Stewart Father Tauranga Tauranga
TANNER J 1472 Fourth Private Farmer Mendip, Te Puke Mrs J Tanner Mother Te Puke Tauranga
TAYLOR Thomas Sydney - Ninth Lieutenant Commission Agent Tauranga Mrs Minnie Taylor Wife Tauranga Tauranga
VERCOE Henry Ray 4102 Seventh Private Farmer Tauranga Henry Vercoe Father Tauranga Tauranga
WALKER G A 1350 Fourth Private Settler Cambridge Mrs Rhoda E MacDougall Sister Te Puke Waipa
WRIGLEY Ellis 4104 Seventh Private Farmer Tauranga George Wrigley Brother Tauranga Tauranga

* Died 3rd February 1902 Reitz near Ondraai Nord, South Africa and buried Reitz Cemetery, South Africa.

Bay of Times - 18 June 1900
One Tauranga boy has laid down his life for Queen and Coutnry in the Transvaal, viz., Trooper McINTOSH, son of Mr J McIntosh, for many years residing here are Overseer of Roads for Government. Trooper McIntosh was born and bred here and removed with his parents to Hokitika in 1889.

The following were known to attend Te Puke ANZAC Services as South African Veterans

CUFF Harold 4154 Seventh Private Farmer Mangaweka Joshua Cuff Father Rata, Hunterville Rangitikei
PHARE Jack - - - - - - - - -

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