South African War Artillery Memorial

About

The South African War Artillery Memorial is a commemorative monument located in Albert Park, Auckland. Unveiled on 25 October 1902 by Premier Richard John Seddon, it honours the New Zealand artillerymen who served and died during the South African War (1899–1902). The memorial is unique among New Zealand’s South African War monuments as it depicts an artillery trooper rather than the more common representation of mounted riflemen. Featuring a life-sized marble statue and an inscribed drinking fountain, the memorial was erected by returned soldiers of the Fourth and Fifth Contingents of the 1st New Zealand Battery. The statue was listed on the Heritage New Zealand list of historic sites as a Category 2 place (reflecting places of "historical or cultural heritage significance or value") in 1981.

1st New Zealand Battery of the Fifth Contingent

The Fifth New Zealand Contingent, largely composed of reserves enlisted during the early months of 1900, was formed at the request of the British Government. It was distinct from the previous Contingent, known as the Fourth Contingent, and earned the nickname the "New Zealand Imperial Bushmen," as opposed to the Fourth’s "New Zealand Bushmen." This distinction highlighted the Contingent's connection to Imperial forces, and the title "Bushmen" was used to align with Australian units of the same name.

Raised, equipped, and paid entirely by the British Government, the Fifth Contingent sailed from New Zealand on 31 March 1900, with the majority of men departing in the Maori, Waimate, and Gymeric. The Contingent was led by Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Newall, an experienced officer from the New Zealand Wars.

Once in camp at Marandellas, General Frederick Carrington called for volunteers to form a battery of six 15-pounder guns for the Rhodesian Field Force Artillery. Captain Charles T. Major, who commanded one of the companies within the Fifth Contingent, offered the entire company of Aucklanders to form the core of this artillery unit. The group, supplemented by a few men from other companies of the Fifth Contingent and about twenty men from the Fourth Contingent, came together to form the 1st New Zealand Battery under the command of Major E. W. M. Powell. This new formation marked the beginning of the 1st New Zealand Battery’s service, and it became a distinct and separate unit from the rest of the Fifth Contingent, which was organised into four squadrons (A, B, C, and D) for mounted infantry operations.

Initially, it accompanied General Carrington on an attempt to relieve Lieutenant-Colonel Hore, and it saw its first action in early August 1900 at Elands River. The left section of the Battery joined Lord Methuen's forces on 29 October, remaining at Lichtenburg until May 1901. During the Boer attack on Lichtenburg in March 1901, the Battery fought fiercely and was involved in the movement through Ottoshoop, Lichtenburg, and Rustenburg to Zeerust. At Zeerust, the right section was detached and remained part of the garrison, while the center section continued with Carrington's brigade until reaching Klerksdorp, later being stationed at Koekoemoer on garrison duties.

The Battery along with the wider Fourth and Fifth Contingents recuperated in the town of Worcester and left for Cape Town, where they embarked on the SS Tagus on 12 June. The Tagus arrived at Port Chalmers on 11 July and both Contingents were disbanded on the 21 July 1901.

The Fifth New Zealand Contingent, largely composed of reserves enlisted during the early months of 1900, was formed at the request of the British Government. It was distinct from the previous Contingent, known as the Fourth Contingent, and earned the nickname the "New Zealand Imperial Bushmen," as opposed to the Fourth’s "New Zealand Bushmen." This distinction highlighted the Contingent's connection to Imperial forces, and the title "Bushmen" was used to align with Australian units of the same name.

Raised, equipped, and paid entirely by the British Government, the Fifth Contingent sailed from New Zealand on 31 March 1900, with the majority of men departing in the Maori, Waimate, and Gymeric. The Contingent was led by Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Newall, an experienced officer from the New Zealand Wars.

Once in camp at Marandellas, General Frederick Carrington called for volunteers to form a battery of six 15-pounder guns for the Rhodesian Field Force Artillery. Captain Charles T. Major, who commanded one of the companies within the Fifth Contingent, offered the entire company of Aucklanders to form the core of this artillery unit. The group, supplemented by a few men from other companies of the Fifth Contingent and about twenty men from the Fourth Contingent, came together to form the 1st New Zealand Battery under the command of Major E. W. M. Powell. This new formation marked the beginning of the 1st New Zealand Battery’s service, and it became a distinct and separate unit from the rest of the Fifth Contingent, which was organised into four squadrons (A, B, C, and D) for mounted infantry operations.

Initially, it accompanied General Carrington on an attempt to relieve Lieutenant-Colonel Hore, and it saw its first action in early August 1900 at Elands River. The left section of the Battery joined Lord Methuen's forces on 29 October, remaining at Lichtenburg until May 1901. During the Boer attack on Lichtenburg in March 1901, the Battery fought fiercely and was involved in the movement through Ottoshoop, Lichtenburg, and Rustenburg to Zeerust. At Zeerust, the right section was detached and remained part of the garrison, while the center section continued with Carrington's brigade until reaching Klerksdorp, later being stationed at Koekoemoer on garrison duties.

The Battery along with the wider Fourth and Fifth Contingents recuperated in the town of Worcester and left for Cape Town, where they embarked on the SS Tagus on 12 June. The Tagus arrived at Port Chalmers on 11 July and both Contingents were disbanded on the 21 July 1901.

The conception of the South African War Artillery Memorial can be traced back to the efforts of the returned soldiers of the 1st New Zealand Battery. These men, primarily from the Fifth Contingent, sought to honour their fallen comrades who had died in action or succumbed to illness during the conflict. The memorial was conceived as a way to remember their service and sacrifice, as well as to recognise the role played by the New Zealand artillery in the war. The memorial was funded entirely by funded by returned members of the Fifth Contingent.

Lieutenant J.T. Bosworth, a veteran of the Fifth Contingent, was instrumental in advocating for the memorial. Upon his return to New Zealand, he led the initiative to have a commemorative monument erected in Auckland, ensuring that it would feature an artilleryman rather than the more typical rifleman that adorned many South African War memorials. Bosworth's vision was to depict the artillery unit’s unique contribution, marking a departure from the more commonly seen representations of mounted soldiers.

The South African War Artillery Memorial is distinguished by its unique design, which deviates from the more common representation of mounted riflemen in New Zealand’s South African War monuments. The life-size statue is situated on a marble pedestal, which itself is placed upon a bluestone base.

The statue depicts a standing trooper in Khaki drill complete with the Australian style slouch hat, representative of the uniform worn by artillerymen during the South African War. The trooper is shown in a relaxed pose, with his left hand holding a sword and his right hand resting on a revolver pouch, reflecting the typical armament of an artilleryman. He is also equipped with a haversack, a water-bottle, and other standard field gear. The trooper stands atop a broken cannon and artillery shells. The base and pedestal also functioned initially as a water fountain. The lion head and the bowl of the drinking fountain remain intact, but the water supply has been disconnected.

The Memorial was erected and inscribed by William Parkinson's monumental masonry firm, though the marble Statuary, which had been ordered through a British intermediary, was of Italian origin and likely came from Carrara, Tuscany. Changes to the monument over time include the addition of railings after 1986, and the removal and replacement of the trooper's head, left hand and sword.

The memorial features an inscription that commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of New Zealand soldiers who served and died during the Second Boer War. The primary inscription on the monument reads:

"Erected by members of the NZ Battery R.A., In memory of their comrades, Lieutenant Geo. Leece, Corporal Herbert A. Edwards, Bombardier John Mays, Driver John Beck, Gunners Joseph Brown, Frederick Forbes, Arthur W. Kendall, and Driver Thomas Withers. Who lost their lives in the South African War, 1900-1."

The conception of the South African War Artillery Memorial can be traced back to the efforts of the returned soldiers of the 1st New Zealand Battery. These men, primarily from the Fifth Contingent, sought to honour their fallen comrades who had died in action or succumbed to illness during the conflict. The memorial was conceived as a way to remember their service and sacrifice, as well as to recognise the role played by the New Zealand artillery in the war. The memorial was funded entirely by funded by returned members of the Fifth Contingent.