The Storming of Gate Pah - the defeat of the British by Maori warriors

The British love tales of their own military disasters. This was their greatest defeat in New Zealand. Artillery against clubs and spades.

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Lindybeige: a channel of archaeology, ancient and medieval warfare, rants, swing dance, travelogues, evolution, and whatever else occurs to me to make.

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[Hamatabo]

say whatever you want about lindy, the fact that he does 30 minute videos talking the whole time in one shot is damn impressive

[sweepingtime]

Somehow it's deadly funny to think of a Maori warrior taunting English soldiers in English with, "Go on then have another go."

[trueseeing]

It's true the Zulu's struggled to compete on the mustache front.

[timberry]

"How many Maori were there?"


"Enough."

[thomasedgerley]

"The Zulus just didn't have the moustaches"....
*Britishness intensifies*

[brodakwestyn]

1700 men being on a trek in 1900s nz? It's a formidable force even now in nz... I cant even get 1 bro to come to the dairy with me

[rtaraquin]

I prefer "culture who didn't spec into the gunpowder tree"

[jackmackenzie]

"but he got the town of hamilton named after him" trust me, that is no honour

[SquireComedy]

So, when are you going to do the decent thing, and adopt the standard issue British army mustache? You're not on a U-boat, you know.

[matthewrikihana]

Tena koe Lindybeige. Nga mihi ki a koe mo to korero pangia tenei mahi rongonui o nga tupuna.
Thank you LB. Thank you for presenting this talk about these famous deeds of our ancestors.
I did enjoy hearing about Gate Pa again and in such a competent and balanced way. When your used to hearing your language and history get butchered by others, its was refreshing to hear your presentation.
You have earned my loyal subscription. Cheers.

[willkenny]

It’s fascinating to note that even after they successfully defeat the Maori later, Cameron found the war extremely distasteful, and wished for it to end. He apparently found the Maori more courageous and chivalrous than the colonists he was there to defend.

[Longtack]

I served in the NZ Infantry in the 70s and admired and respected my Maori comrades whose training cadre were incredibly tough, learned, intelligent and resilient. Kia kaha tatou. My father served five years in the 20th Armoured & Infantry Reg' in Italy and Egypt in WW2 and was a stretcher-bearer in the 28th Maori Battalion. He said that Maori bayonet charges were feared by the Italian and German enemy as Maori particularly relished it.

[MilitaryAviationHistory]

The last time I was this early, the British still had an aircraft carrier with planes on it.

[theJellyjoker]

This would make a pretty good war movie.

[satyrosphilbrucato]

The Maori had some brilliant commanders. That trap is a nightmare scenario, and it's a wonder any British troops survived at all.

[gfoog]

So that's why Zulus lost in the end
**Shakes Head**
*They just didn't have the moustaches*

[eldorados_lost_searcher]

Lloyd's casual animosity to the French always amuses me.

[danieltheodore]

"go on then have on have another go!" as a blindside flanker that played against some predominately Maori teams this gives me severe ptsd

[gypsyfreek]

The moustache is a grossly underestimated tool in war. About time it was recognised

[ewartward]

Thanks for this Lindy. I wanted to add something about this battle regarding the Maori.
There was a woman who extended her hand in aid to some of the fallen soldiers. This woman was the daughter of Paraone Koikoi and Matatu. Her name was Harata Te Auetu. During the night, she fretted for her uncles and her father who were engaged in the battle. She mounted her horse at Judea, and travelled alongside the kopurererua stream. She climbed up the stream and climbed up to Pukehinahina. But when she reached the other side of the river, she saw that the maori warriors had already escaped. When she arrived, she came across soldiers by the river who were injured from the battle. She took it upon herself to take them to the hospital. At the time the hospital was based at the home of Archdeacon Reverend Brown. Although she didn't even know their names, she managed to get one soldier upon her horse. By then it was daylight. She believed that if she were spotted with a soldier on her horse, they would be shot. So she took him home. She and her family nursed this soldier back to health. His name was David Hall. A few days after the battle, the British soldier returned to his infantry. But he eventually returned to the marae to ask for the hand of Harata in marriage. They then married.
Such a beautiful story. An honorable act of compassion.