.jpg)
The Story Of Gate Pa, April 29th, 1864
In Battle Array
In Battle Array
The warriors of the Queen, soldiers and sailors, were marshalled in array of battle, and then they advanced towards us. T'was an army that marched against our fort—a great body of infantry and a number of cannon. Anana! The hour was at hand. Te Poihipi, a cool brave man, called out to us from his post on the parapet: “Eat well, oh friends. Eat leisurely—make one more hearty meal. I will watch here and give you timely warning.”
“E Tama! When we gazed on these soldiers, how could we eat? Grandly did they march; strode they towards us as one man, with
.jpg)
.jpg)
page 25
measured resounding footsteps, their bright bayonets flashing in the sun, and their great guns rumbling along—those terrible guns, which we thought would soon blow our frail defences into the air. Oh friend, when we gazed on those sons of thunder, launched forward in their might, can you wonder that the cooked potatoes seemed to have lost their sweetness and that many a one of us forgot his hunger?
Hori Ngatai, whose story of “Gate Pa” appears in this Booklet.
Henare Taratoa fought against the British forces at Gate Pa and
again at Te Ranga where he was killed.