“Deerfoot” Roberts.

The Forest Rangers led the pursuit of the retreating Maoris when the pa was evacuated by the despairing garrison. The fast runners in Jackson's and Von Tempsky's companies outdistanced even the mounted men, who were delayed by the rough ground. Lieutenant Roberts was mentioned by Von Tempsky in the MS. diary in which he recorded the events of the page 27 Rangers’ Waikato service. “There was Roberts ahead of us all,” he wrote, “with Thorpe, of Jackson's company, and two or three others, the fleetest of the corps. That day I christened Roberts ‘Deerfoot,’ as I panted behind him, bellowing my lungs out in shouting to the men and directing the pursuit.”