Soldier's Pay Book, 57th Regiment

This soldier's pay book was issued to Sergeant Denis Sullivan (Service No. 2744), of the British Army's 57th Regiment, which fought in the New Zealand Wars from 1861-67. This incomplete paybook includes his physical description, next of kin, clothing issued, pay received or due, and how much Sullivan was saving.

Denis Sullivan was born in Killarney, Ireland, in 1836. He enlisted in the British Army in 1854 and served with the 57th Regiment of Foot in Malta, Crimea, Aden, and East India before being deployed to New Zealand in 1861.

The paybook records his promotions and reductions in rank and his being awarded the Crimea Medal and clasp plus the Turkish War Medal. Sullivan was discharged in 1866, after which he established a successful bakery in Carlile (called Pātea from 1881). He married Mary Jane Hiorns in 1875 and they had three children. Sullivan died in 1880 after being thrown from a carriage he was driving while 'the worse for drink'.

New Zealand Wars Postal History Collection

The paybook comes from a collection of letters, covers and other historical material which Te Papa has acquired from Gerald Ellott at various times since 2001. The collection includes items from as early as 1818, but most relate to the New Zealand Wars period (1845-1872) and particularly the 1860s. 

Gerald is one of New Zealand’s foremost postal historians, and for nearly sixty years has been collecting, researching and exhibiting the early postal history of New Zealand. He was invited to sign the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1988, is a recipient of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie Research Medal, and was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philately in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Many items in the collection are mounted and annotated on archival pages. Gerald wrote the annotations for the purposes of display and storytelling. They reflect his views and the language of the time, and Te Papa has not reviewed them for accuracy.