Letter

This item 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.

The New Zealand Wars collection includes letters written by soldiers serving in British regiments in New Zealand, as well as letters from members of colonial militia and volunteer units. The content and context of the letters provide a wealth of historical, social and military information about this period. The postal markings on the letters and envelopes are also informative, allowing us to track the movement of British troops and the opening up of post offices in their wake.

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.

Transcript:

Camp Taranaki Oct 8^th 1860

Dear Sister

I now sit down to answer your kind and welcome letter which i recieved about a month ago it is the first oppurtunity i have had since
i was very sorry to hear of the death of our couson Besey as you had previous informed mee in a letter that i have not received it is a debt we must al pay sooner or later but i am happy to hear that she was prepared for it, it is a happy thing to be prepared for it for we dont know the mommant we will be called upon to meet our maker

[page 2]

Dear Martha it would be very hard for mee to describe al that as been transacted since i wrote to you last for i have had so much marching about after the rebels that i am a most confused on the 10^th of last month we went to pay Willy King another visit we passed the Waitara camp about 3 miles before we seen or heard anything of the enemy we marched in between two Bushes the two comes to a point and when we were within 200 yards of the Bush we received a volley from them but had litle effect as they are bad shots

[page 3]

i was in the advance guard we were commanded by General Pratt from Sydney we were busy firing away when the General recieved a despatch from Town he took us away to Town again we were 3 days away we had only one killed and 3 wounded as the deadly balls kept whizing by i thought of my dear Mother and Sisters far away anxious to hear how their son and broter is getting on, on the 27 of June last their was an awful combat at the Waitara their was 30 men killed and an officer and 33 wounded

[page 4]

We are expecting More Troops out every day and as soon as this war is over we are coming home it is reported that the 14^th Regt. is coming to relieve us and if god spares us we will have the pleasure of seeing one another again
Dear Martha you must excuse mee saying much more
My only prayer is that i shall be able to see you in a short time and then i can tel you all i know
i made a mistake some time ago in putting a letter i had wrote to you in a wrong envelope which i supose you have found out since. My Love to My Mother and all of them.

G Tatler*

*and must conclude hoping to hear from you soon.