8 mai 1845 - British withdraw at Puketutu (Te Kahika Pā)
Description:
-The officers commanding the British forces decided to march inland to destroy Heke and his supporters, who had built a new pā on the shores of Lake Ōmāpere.
-Hone Heke's new pā was cleverly designed, with firing trenches and strong palisades padded with flax to protect against musket balls.
-The march inland proved difficult for the poorly-equipped British troops. The route was rough, they had no tents, and their biscuit ration was spoilt by the rain.
-The British arrived at the pā on 8 May, and realised that they should bringing some heavy artillery would have been very useful.
-Of the 12 rockets fired by the British, only one actually hit the pā and it did very little damage.
-The troops advanced towards the pā with bayonets fixed, only to encounter a war party led by Kawiti. After some vicious hand-to-hand fighting, Kawiti and his men were driven back.
-The British troops were caught between two enemy lines, and after hours of skirmishing, had no chance of gaining the pā. They had no choice but to withdraw from the battlefield. The following day, lacking food and burdened with 40 wounded, the troops marched back towards the coast.
Ajouté au bande de temps:
The Northern War
The Battle of Ruapekapeka was the last of a series of clashe...
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