Colonel T. W. Porter, C.B.

Colonel Porter, who gave his country distinguished service in the Maori wars and in South Africa, was the son of Lieut-Colonel Porter (7th Bengal Native Infantry), who died in India during the Mutiny, and nephew of Sir Hugh Rose, afterwards Lord Strathnairn, who at one time was Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in India. On his mother's side he was of ancient Scottish Highland stock, the Roses of Kilravock Castle. Geddes, Nairnshire. He entered the Royal Navy in 1857 at the age of thirteen, and served as a midshipman in H.M.S. “Hercules” in operations against pirates on the coast of China. In New Zealand in 1863 he joined the Colonial Defence Force Cavalry as a trooper, and won commissioned rank in the East Coast Hauhau campaigns. He was continuously on active service from 1868 to the end of 1871 in operations against Titokowaru and Te Kooti. In the South African War, 1900–2, Colonel Porter commanded the Seventh New Zealand Contingent of Mounted Rifles in the Transvaal. Orange Free State, and Zululand, and later the Ninth Contingent. For his services in veldt warfare he received the high commendation of Lord Kitchener and was created a commander of the Bath. He was afterwards for some time Acting Under-Secretary for Defence in New Zealand. Colonel Porter died in Wellington in 1920 at the age of seventy-six years.