august english born new_zealand explorer recipient victoria_cross highest military award gallantry face enemy awarded british commonwealth forces soldier new_zealand armed forces awarded noted artist executed works early colonial life new_zealand born england joined arrived new_zealand later year commissioned create art advertising country potential english migrants half years spent travelling executing paintings landscapes life centre country contract company ended lived nelson years explored large parts west_coast later moved north employment surveyor invasion militia unit conduct rescued british soldiers fire saw awarded recipient non regular soldier military service ended served term member parliament held variety civil service positions health declined moved queensland australia seeking better climate recover died months arrival early life born london england youngest child professional painter siblings noted painters grandfather merchant ireland family lived north west london enjoyed comfortable middle class existence mother died early childhood thomas earned painting commissions high society accompanied later duke wellington staff artist war thomas died left entire estate second wife married charles obtained work london birmingham moved family home soon child charles taught paint father december sponsored family friend entered school painting child family receive level education months joined company established private venture organise colonies new_zealand sought educated men staff planning surveying new settlements country sailed edward brother aboard expedition purchase land suitable settlement late arrived known wellington service contract company years primarily create art advertising company travelled extensively country occasionally participated overland living tent staying local sailed parts country aboard learned surveying captain employee company travelling taught basic geology painted variety subjects including landscapes flora fauna notable including success company depended attracting new_zealand work intended present country inhabitants best light times exposed danger expedition party intervened skirmish tribes wounded leg unlikely wound weeks later went trek new_zealand produced notable landscapes october based wellington friend built small cottage allowed execute views advertising months later early joined expedition led founding nelson employees scout area location nelson decided executed paintings highlighting quality land intended settlement late services artist longer required given number works produced decided send london report company directors took nearly months reach london time year contract expired directors impressed report published book entitled narrative residence parts new_zealand life nelson longer employed success report public reception paintings sought opportunities similar work london wrote company secretary seeking support exploration area inland nelson response company concentrating developing settlements undertaking exploration country despite returned new_zealand arrived nelson december little way work opportunities nelson based farmed land friend took little funds farming venture hard work particularly successful late need good pastoral land nelson clashed south east nelson company employees including killed company needed scout area south west finally got chance explore replacement resident agent nelson keen advocate expansion settlement area nelson fox authorised surveyor scout south west november december known golden bay returned coast journey regarded difficult undertaken expeditions failed locate suitable land settlement expedition march reasonably compensated exploration efforts additional funds undertook art commissions nelson wealthy residents february accompanied fox employee named undertook expedition south west difficult terrain faced high mountain ranges topped snow ice steep bush numerous rivers food sources included roots birds caught streams coast eggs added diet party carrying load kilograms walked banks far believing kilometres coast provisions prevented proceeding mouth guided party traversed hope saddle way nelson reached march keen exploration left nelson march scout west_coast mouth expedition traced western coast far south journey began golden bay way west local hired porter local chief barred journey south tobacco continued coast climbing steep cliffs rivers went movements held times rain high tides night sheltered small caves augmented screen palm leaves crossed april reached days later crossed old canoe repaired crossing stayed local village early sighted tributary southernmost point expedition hosted local tribe poor weather plagued return coast reached nelson august harsh conditions experienced travels left disillusioned potential prospects settlements west_coast region life nelson remained difficult lost appetite exploration living taking occasional jobs months undertook survey work later year representative government investigated land set aside company local work dried early offered employment april accepted life moving north new role chief kept occupied preparation maps plans years began spend greater time field carried survey work living nelson supplemented income commissioned artworks began build geological knowledge taking particular interest wrote article geological journal england completed paintings thermal attractions including famous pink white hoping raise profile sent works london remain display offices met began year old daughter reverend couple married october year later appointed commissioner gold fields following recent discovery gold role required supervise claims miners negotiate land sales local gold rush soon returned work november sir ended term governor new_zealand sailed islands interest languages wanted investigate french claims islands accompanied private secretary took opportunity execute artworks islands visited inhabitants gave works grey took england december donated wife moved north known early following appointment district surveyor opened settlement years surveyed plots land sold people moving area provincial surveyor following retirement predecessor moved took residence surveying kept busy years early accompanied invited government report discovered south friendly impressed bush skills privately accord respect scientific knowledge left europe later year took examples artwork later fell article published geological journal felt considered inferior scholar publicly questioned credentials allegations portions work mounted spirited defence generally sympathy public dispute stop artwork book published new_zealand geology military career soon returning joined militia unit rank private unit commissioned officer later year appointed captain invasion campaign new_zealand wars sent survey military road constructed charting river ways pilot pioneer present battle later sketch action unusually included representations british casualties later attached staff lieutenant colonel british advanced deeper withdrawn fortified positions early positions siege war parties mount raids small groups british soldiers february soldiers 40th regiment foot bathing near ambushed raiding party commanding men 50th regiment foot came aid defenders moved cut line retreat overcame reserve leading men ambush site assist british soldiers despite outnumbered british repulsed began pursue bush soldier wounded went aid wounded killed unable remaining fit soldier provided cover prevent wounded men eventually relieved reinforcements wounded men soldier trying protect died wounds despite injuries arm hip ribs remained field remainder day ambushed party relieved following action promoted major month later end war ceased active duty returned civilian life victoria_cross late commander new_zealand colonial forces recommended victoria_cross actions recommendation supported sir serving second term governor new_zealand despite knowing man recommended action earlier campaign british_army royal_navy time personnel regular british military awarded eligible grey argued effective command british officers exception london authorities disagreed recommendation turned refused accept began support grey general commander british forces new_zealand british government eventually successful february queen_victoria declaration local forces new_zealand eligible day award non regular soldier citation read conduct skirmish banks new_zealand 11th february assisting wounded soldier fallen hollow concealed whilst target volley feet distant balls pierced clothes cap wounded places hurt continued aid wounded end day major time charge party soldiers 40th 50th regiments orders lieutenant colonel sir senior officer spot moved rapidly place troops engaged pressed presented parade albert barracks medal display war memorial museum later life cessation hostilities contracted chief surveyor new_zealand surveyed land seized british included towns hamilton cambridge established hamilton suburb named contract ended early reinstated pre war position provincial surveyor april resigned posts superintendent member parliament electorate resignation known soon award announced declared candidacy vacant seat publicity award helped raise profile nomination meeting election held hall june returned unopposed electorate representative hard working representative people electorate time parliament parliamentary colleague old acquaintance days nelson fox premier new_zealand june supporter offered position commissioner native reserves fox administration resigned parliament april commissioner role administer native reserves set aside government determine areas land opened migrants work took country land negotiating landowners process enjoy advocated land stolen added stress year commissioner conduct period chief surveyor new_zealand working allegations raised took bribes illegally adjusting land boundaries cleared corruption criticised taking payments young return work wife moved wellington centrally located convenient work included appointment trust commissioner dealing land fraud beginning suffer reduced time spent field work native reserves ended altogether interim picked civil service work justice peace presided cases petty crime brought wellington april appointed government insurance commissioner later year judge death legacy health severe decline affected caught tuberculosis resigned civil service positions following month wife moved brisbane queensland australia hoped warmer climate help health died august survived wife couple children buried grave located portion cemetery approximately north east hill 8th avenue roadway marked numbered plaque descendant wife discovered burial site erected inscription reads served new_zealand peace war artist explorer member parliament non regular soldier awarded victoria_cross new awarded victoria_cross accomplished artist produced important record scenes early days european settlement new_zealand works published histories new_zealand best known track north west corner probably europeans walk area track followed route named honour
Charles Heaphy