Guide to the Papers of Lieutenant Colonel William Temple (as filmed by AJCP), 1861-1916

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Summary

Collection number:

M679

Creator:

Temple, William, Lieutenant-Colonel

Extent:

9 items

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February-23 September 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-987654321)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

Three letters 1861-1864 written by Temple in Rangariri and Auckland referring to the Maori Wars, conditions and prices in New Zealand, his purchase of land in Otahuhu township, and giving a detailed account of the battle at Rangiriri in November 1863.

A plan of Rangiriri accompanied by a statement concerning the conduct of Lieut. Pickard in the battle.

Letter 1916 of W.F. Gordon of New Plymouth, New Zealand, to Temple concerning a gift to the Dominion Museum, Wellington, of photographs of people who served in the Maori Wars.

Seven photographs of soldiers, groups of Maoris, pitched tents (possibly at Ranjariri) and military equipment.

Biographical / Historical:

William Temple (1835-1919) was born in Monaghan, Ireland, and educated at a private school at Monaghan and Trinity College, Dublin. He enlisted in the British Army as an assistant surgeon in 1858 and was transferred to the Royal Artillery in 1859. He arrived in New Zealand in March 1861 with C Battery, 4th Brigade, Royal Artillery. In 1862 in Auckland he married Anne Mould, the daughter of Colonel Thomas R. Mould of the Royal Engineers.

Temple served in taranaki in 1861 and in the Waikato campaign in 1863-1865. In 1864 he and Lieutenant A.F. Pickard were both awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in fighting at Rangiriri in the Waikato region on 20 November 1863. The citation reffered to their 'gallant conduct ... in exposing their lives to imminent danger, in crossing the entrance of the Moari keep, at a point upon which the enemy had concerntrated their fire, with a view to render assistance to the wounded, and, more especially, to the late Captain Mercer of the Royal Artillery'.

Temple returned to England in 1865. He was appointed a surgeon in the Army Medical Service in 1868. After being based in Portsmouth for several years, he went to India in 1884 and was secretary to the Surgeon-General of the Indian Army Medical Services. He became Brigade Surgeon, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, in 1885 and retired in 1889. He died at Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:: Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use:: Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.