This memorial and the alcove behind it commemorate 138 imperial and colonial troops who died in the Whanganui and South Taranaki areas during the New Zealand Wars between 1847 and 1869, along with another 18 veterans who died after the wars ended.
The monument was first proposed in 1889 following a suggestion that the soldiers’ graves in Whanganui be cleared and their inscriptions preserved. It was designed by George Sherriff who also sculpted the lion out of two blocks of stone from Mt Somers, symbolising the British Empire. Construction was completed by monumental mason W. McGill who carved and erected the tomb-shaped block of Waikawa bluestone. The memorial was unveiled by Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Newall, a New Zealand Wars veteran who now commanded the Wellington, Wairarapa, Taranaki and Wanganui military districts, on 19 December 1893.
The Queen’s Park memorial originally stood at the top of Pukenamu, on the site now occupied by Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery, but it was relocated to the foot of the Veterans’ Steps between 1915 and 1919.
Inscription on northwest panel:
In / Grateful Memory / of / The gallant officers and men of Her / Majesty’s Imperial Army and Navy / and Colonial Forces who died in the / service of their country during the / long wars with the natives of these islands / and who lie buried in and near this town.
This Monument / was erected by the inhabitants of / Wanganui MDCCCXCII / Near this spot stood the Rutland Blockhouse / erected 1847 removed 1883.
Inscription on southwest panel 1:
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1847 1848 1849 1850
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1851 1852 1854 1855 1857 1858 Lieut. Fredk. Wemyss [65th] 1861 1862 |
Inscription on southwest panel 2:
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1863 1864 1865 |
Priv J. Gould 50 Regt. |
Inscription on northwest panel 1:
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1865 1866 |
1866 Priv. Rt. Malcolm Col. Frs 1867 1868 The following killed |
Inscription on northeast panel 2:
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1868 At Nguto o te Manu Place unknown At Nukumaru At Wairoa At Okotuku |
1869 At Karaka The Nukumaru remains |
Inscription on southeast panel:
To the memory / of / His Majesty’s veterans / died since 1908
| Year | Age | Regiment | Medals | |
| Priv. R. Bright | 1909 | 78 Yrs | 57th | Crim[ea]. N.Z. |
| ” J. Donovan | 1910 | 73 " | " | " |
| Cor. H.J. Reid | 1911 | 75 " | 65th | N.Z. |
| Priv. A. O’Connor | " | 85 " | " | " |
| Far[rier]. Sergt W.J. Park | " | 79 " | 6th Dra[goon]. G[uar]ds. | Crim[ea]. Ind[ian]. Mut[iny]. |
| Con. S. Clancy | 1912 | 69 " | A[rmed]. C[onstabulary]. F[orce]. | N.Z. |
| Q[uarter]. M[aster]. Sergt J. Chadwick | 1913 | 88 " | Wan. Cavy. | " |
| Priv. C.H. Swan | " | 80 " | N.Z. Mil. | " |
| Priv. J. O’Neil | " | 73 " | 18th Regt. | " |
| Sergt. W. Handley | " | 77 " | Wan. Mil. | " |
| Scout T. Adamson | " | 68 " | Wan. Rangrs. | N.Z.C[ross] and Medal |
| Troopr. S. Wall | 1914 | 67 " | Wan. Cavy. | N.Z. |
| Priv. J. Wright | " | 82 " | 57th Regt. | Crim[ea]. Turk[e]y. N.Z. |
| Priv. W. McNiven | 1916 | 82 " | 57th " | " " " |
| Ensign E. McKenna | 1908 | 79 " | 65th " | V[ictoria].C[ross]. N.Z. |
| Col. T. McDonnell | 1899 | 67 " | N.Z. Mil. | N.Z.C[ross]. and Medal |
| Major Kemp (Kepa) | 1898 | 74 " | Native Cont. | " " " |
| Sergt S. Austin | 1903 | 76 " | " | " " " |
The Queen’s Park memorial is also a grave marker. On 19 March 1892, the remains of troops killed in action at Nukumaru (24-25 January 1865) were reinterred on the site where the memorial was to be erected. They had been exhumed from the battlefield the previous week and their remains were relocated with the memorial.
Inscription on plaques in alcove behind the memorial:
Sacred / To the memory of / Jonathan Fisher / Smith Hargreaves / Joseph Gould / William Erwin / George F. Poole / William Vine / William Land / Michael Murphy / John Renny / Henry Paris / Robert Ridyard
Of the 50th (Queens' Own) Regiment / Who were killed in action at / Nukumaru / On 25th January 1865.
This stone is erected by the / Non-commissioned Officers / And Privates of the / 50th (Queen's Own) Regiment.
Inscription on panel 6 (left):
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C.H. Parker 18th R J. Jones K.I.C. |
R.R. Adams 3rd N.R. C. Tuffin Wel R C. Billinghurst 65th R.
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Inscription on panel 6 (right):
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T. Hickman A.C.
J. Dempsey [W.M.] |
G.S. Davis W.Y.C. E.N. Liffiton [W.Y.C.] B. Sherriff [W.Y.C.] C. Armstrong [W.Y.C.] R.M. McGonagle [18th R.] T. Carey [18th R.] |
Gathering a complete list of the men who died in the many battles fought in the district proved difficult. Names were obtained from the Registrar-General, military and church sources but discrepancies were inevitable. The names of many of the men listed on the Queen’s Park memorial are spelled differently in official casualty lists while others have different regiments, places and/or dates of death.
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