THE ROYAL NAVY IN NEW ZEALAND HMS BRISK 1865 1868 GERALD J. ELLOTT MNZM RDP FRPSL FRPSNZ January 2018
HMS BRISK HMS Brisk Name dates back to 1784 Sloop (1862 Screw Corvette) Launched 2 June 1851 1087 T, 250 HP, 16 guns Sold 1870. Commissioned at Plymouth for the Australian Station 30 August 1864 In New Zealand 1865 1868 Complement 190 officers and men Captain Charles Webly Hope (29 August 1864 19 January 1869) Lieutenant Francis S. D. Broughton 6 September 1864 Lieutenant Delvin D. Fremantle 25 August 1864 Paymaster William H. Clyma 26 August 1864 Assistant Surgeon John Cruickshank 27 August 1864 HMS Brisk was involved in the Crimean War (White Sea 1853-1854) 1
NEW ZEALAND BOUND Left Plymouth 27 September 1864 Madeira, 7 October 1864, left next day 8 October Cape of Good Hope, 26 November 1864, left 12 December 1864 Arrived Sydney, 15 January 1865, to relieve HMS Miranda Arrived Auckland New Zealand 4 February 1865 Visited various locations in New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands. HMS Brisk was mainly involved with the Expedition to Opotiki in September 1865, against the Hau Haus who had murdered the Rev. Volkner and Captain Lloyd earlier in February/March that year. In late September 1865, HMS Brisk transported 50 or 60 men of Von Temsky s Forest Rangers and 60 of the Colonial Defence Force from Napier to Waiapu under the command of Captain Westrup and Lieutenant Ross to attack the fortified Pah at Pukemaire on 2 October 1865. In October 1865, HMS Brisk transported a Local Militia Force to Poverty Bay, in order to attack the Waerenga-a-Hika Pah. The siege lasted seven days, and during the attack, the British and Colonial Forces lost 11 Killed and 20 wounded. The Daily Southern Cross, newspaper 28 October 1865 page 5 Monthly Shipping Summary reported that HMS Esk Captain Luce, anchored in the man of war offing on the 4 th inst., from Sydney after an absence of more than four months from these waters, and that HMS Brisk arrived on the following morning. 2
East Coast Operations 1865-1866 Carl Sylvius Völkner was a Protestant missionary who arrived in New Zealand from Germany in 1849. In 1861, he became head of the Church Missionary Society mission at Ōpōtiki in the Bay of Plenty. During the rise of the Pai Mārire, or Hauhau, movement Völkner wrote to Governor Grey informing him of events in the region, and asking him to receive my accompanying letters as private communications to yourself, and not to publicize my name or abode with any information you make use of. On 2 March 1865 Carl Sylvius Völkner, was hanged from a willow tree near his church at Ōpōtiki. Followers of a new religion, Pai Marire, who suspected Völkner of spying for the government, were held responsible. The Government responded to Völkner s death with military reprisals. His killers were hunted down. A number of local people were arrested, and some executed. In addition, a large area of land was confiscated from eastern Bay of Plenty tribes. 3
4
Sydney HMS Brisk, arrived at Port Jackson 21 October 1865, and at Farm Cove 24 October 1865, for refitting, left Sydney for New Zealand 23 December 1865, arriving on 2 January 1866. 8 February 1866, HMS Brisk left for Waiheke Island, on the 9 th one Officer and 20 men sent to collect spars, returned to Auckland on 1 March for coaling (There was a very small space for coal storage) returning to Waiheke Island on 3 March, leaving on 4 March 1865 for New Plymouth. HMS Brisk was engaged on transporting troops and baggage, and returning to Waiheke Island on 14 March 1866 and again on 28 March, on 2 April sent Lieutenant Broughton ashore with 22 men to transport spars, returning to Auckland 14 /15 May 1866. South Sea Islands Cruise HMS Brisk left Auckland for Navigator Island, at Apia 11 July 1866. returned to Auckland 6 September 1866. Left Auckland 27 September for Norfolk Island and Sydney. New Zealand HMS Brisk arrived Sydney 15 October 1866, left for New Zealand 21 December 1866, arrived Auckland 29 December 1866. Transported Sir George Grey sand entourage to Port Chalmers, arriving there 25 February 1867, via Tauranga, Wellington, and Port Cooper. At Otago, Sir George Grey visited The Bluff, Stewart Island and Ruapuke Island 23 March 1867. HMS Brisk left Otago on 24 March 1867, with Sir George Grey and suite, calling at Akaroa, Wellington, Nelson, Wellington, Auckland Kawau Island, and finally back at Auckland on 21 May 1867, where Sir George Grey received a 17-gun salute. 5 July 1867, HMS Brisk left Auckland for Sydney, arriving on 24 July 1867. Cruise of the Fiji Islands Left Sydney, 26 September 1867, for a visit to Fiji, and at Lord Howe Island 19 November 1867, returning to Sydney on 25 November 1867. New Zealand HMS Brisk returned to Auckland 4 April 1868, arrived 13 April 1868, left again for Sydney after visiting the Bay of Islands, 31 May 1868, arriving Sydney 11 June 1868. 5
Homeward Bound HMS Brisk left Sydney 4 September 1868, for home via Wellington 16-19 September 1868, Chatham Island, Cape Horn, the Falklands, Ascension, arrived at Plymouth 6 January 1869. 19 January 1869, HMS Brisk hauled down the Pennant, Alfred Thomas, Navigating Lieutenant, Charles Webly Hope Captain.. The New Zealand Medal (1865) 3 Officers, and 10 Naval ratings from HMS Brisk, were awarded the New Zealand Medal (1865) for their services in the fighting during the operations against the Maoris in 1865. Officers Lieutenant Charles S. Fritton Sub- Lieutenant John J. F. Bell & George H. Stoate Naval Ratings John Churchill A. B. George Collings Cox, Pinnace Benjamin Crow Leading Seaman Edward Harvey Ord. Thomas Hunt Leading Seaman John Long Captain Maintop Patrick Lyons Ord. Edwin Pomeroy A. B. John Pook A. B. Samuel Stevens Leading Seaman The original claim from HMS Brisk was originally refused, but afterwards the above claims admitted. HMS Brisk. Further information can be located in surviving Ships Logs at PRO Kew. Log 1.9.64 29.7.66, and Log 30.7.66 25.12.68 G. W. Wilson (Mss 159/160MOD UK) Captain Hope s Letters + Journals 1865-1868 4 vols. (Alexander Turnbull Library NZ) 6
7
22.3 Governor George Grey and suite embarked to Stewart Island. 23.3 Governor George Grey landed at Ruapuke Island. 24.3. 1867 To Wellington via Akaroa (Governor George Grey and entourage landed at Akaroa) 26.3 To Wellington. Arrived 27.3. Governor George Grey and entourage disembarked. 10.4 Governor George Grey came on board to Waitohe Bay (5 miles Sth. West of Fielding) 15.4 To Nelson. 16.4 At Nelson Sir George Grey, landed. 24.4 Sir George Grey etc. embarked. 25.4 To and at Wellington, Sir George Grey etc. disembarked. 30.4 To Auckland, Sir George Grey etc. embarked 3.5 At Auckland Sir George Grey etc. disembarked. 16.5 To Kawau Island. 20.5 Sir George Grey etc. embarked for Auckland. 21.5 At Auckland 17 gun salute and Sir George Grey etc. disembarked. 2.6 Mail Steamer Auckland sailed with a detachment of 50 th Regiment. 30.6 Countess Russell sailed with Military for England. 1.7 The Master James B. Haines was discharged to shore per Admiralty (Instructions?) and replaced by Mr. G.E. Gresley Jackson. 3.7 HMS Esk sailed for England Sir George Grey went on board? HMS Charybdis 5.7.1867 Left Auckland for Sydney 24.7 At Sydney. 13.9 P&O Avoca arrived with the English Mails 24.9 P&O Geelong sailed with the Homeward mails 28.9 Left Sydney for a cruise if the Fiji s 12.10 At Fiji. 9.11 Left Fiji for Sydney. 19.11 At Lord Howe Island. 25.11 At Sydney, also at Sydney HM Ships Challenger, Charybdis, and Virago. 18.12 P&O Avoca arrived with the English Mails 24.12 P&O Geelong sailed with H.E. Sir John young for England 26.12 To Broken Bay. 28.12 At Broken Bay 1.1.1868 To Sydney. Arrived Panama Mail Steamer SS Kaikoura with the English Mails 9.1 Arrived SS Auckland from New Zealand 18.1 To Perth 4.2 Rottnest Island to Fremantle 1.2 At Fremantle 2.3 To Sydney. 20.3 At Sydney. 4.4 To Auckland. 13.4 At Auckland. 15.4 To Bay of Islands. 17.4 At B of I 24.4 To Auckland. 25.4 At Auckland. 31.5 To Sydney. 11.6 At Sydney. 21.6 To Fiji Islands 5.7 At Fiji. 23.7 To Sydney Ship s log ADM 53/9279 27 July 1868 19 Jan. 1869 9.8 At Sydney 4.9 To Wellington 16.9 At Wellington 19.9 To England 21.9 Chatham Island. 1.10 Magellan Straits 22.10 Diego Rangeley 23.10 Cape Horn 27.10 Stanley Harbour (Falklands) 31.10 Depart Port Stanley. To Ascension Island, arrived 9.11 Left 4.12 for England via Cape Verde Island, Azores. Fayal, 5.1.1869 Eddystone Light 6.1 arrived Plymouth. 8.1 Devonport. 19.1.1869 Hauled down the Pennant. Alfred Thomas Navigating Lieutenant, Charles W. Hope Captain. Reference Research carried out by Margaret Frankcom at the Public Records Office Kew. U.K. Complete details were not requested; mainly Military and Mail services are included. 8
Officers of HMS Brisk Australian Station when ordered home Captain Charles Webly Hope (29 August 1864 19 January 1869) Lieutenant Francis S. D. Broughton 6 September 1864 Lieutenant Delvin D. Fremantle 25 August 1864 John J. F. Bell 7 September 1866 Supernumerary Edward A. Liardet 7 July 1866 Paymaster William H. Clyma 26 August 1864 Assistant Surgeon John Cruickshank 27 August 1864 " Believe nothing that you hear, a quarter of what you read, and only a half of what you see, and check and recheck your facts" Percy de Worms I look forward to receiving details of any other covers or items of interest relating to HMS Brisk, whilst in New Zealand or Australia, and in particular details of any errors or omissions which I might have unintentionally included. Gerald J. Ellott MNZM RDP FRPSL FRPSNZ gerald.ellott@gmail.com January 2018 9