Samuel Mitchell (VC)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Mitchell VC
(8 September 1841 - 16 March 1894) was an English
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
in the Royal Navy
during the Waikato-Hauhau Maori War, New Zealand
when the following deed took place on 29 April 1864 near Te Papa, Tauranga
, New Zealand
for which he was awarded the VC. A storming party of 150 sailors and marines from HMS Harrier
, together with the same number of soldiers of the 43rd Light Infantry, succeeded in establishing themselves inside a fortified position known as the Gate Pa
. His citation read:
. In early 2005 the headstone was restored by a donation from the descendants of Samuel and Agnes and with financial assistance from the Royal New Zealand Navy
. The restored headstone was dedicated in a ceremony held at the Ross Cemetery on Sunday, 13 February 2005 attended by approximately 40 people.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(8 September 1841 - 16 March 1894) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Details
Mitchell was 22 years old, and a captain of the foretopPetty Officer
A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the Waikato-Hauhau Maori War, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
when the following deed took place on 29 April 1864 near Te Papa, Tauranga
Tauranga
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand.It was settled by Europeans in the early 19th century and was constituted as a city in 1963...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
for which he was awarded the VC. A storming party of 150 sailors and marines from HMS Harrier
HMS Harrier (1854)
HMS Harrier was a Royal Navy Cruizer-class sloop launched in 1854. She took part in the Crimean War, served on the Australia Station and took part in the New Zealand Wars. She was broken up in 1865-Crimean War:...
, together with the same number of soldiers of the 43rd Light Infantry, succeeded in establishing themselves inside a fortified position known as the Gate Pa
Gate Pa
Gate Pā was the name of a Māori Pā or fortress built in 1864 only from the main British base of Camp Te Papa at Tauranga, during the Tauranga Campaign of the New Zealand Land Wars...
. His citation read:
Further information
Mitchell is buried on an isolated hillside, 100 ft above a road, near Ross, New ZealandRoss, New Zealand
Ross is a small town located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.It lies 27 kilometres south-west of Hokitika and 46 kilometres north-east of Harihari...
. In early 2005 the headstone was restored by a donation from the descendants of Samuel and Agnes and with financial assistance from the Royal New Zealand Navy
Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
. The restored headstone was dedicated in a ceremony held at the Ross Cemetery on Sunday, 13 February 2005 attended by approximately 40 people.