Personal info
- Name: Charles HEAPHY
- D.O.B: 1st Jan, 1820
- D.O.A: 11th Feb, 1864
- D.O.D: 3rd Aug, 1881
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Major, 3rd (Parnell) Company, Auckland Rifle Volunteers, New Zealand Military Forces
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 1
Waiari, Mangapiko river, New Zealand 11 February 1864
11 February 1864
The New Zealand Wars 1860–65
After the capture by the British of Ngaruawahia, the capital of the Maori king, on 8 December 1863, the campaign moved into the Central Waikato. Amongst the posts established by the British was one at Waiari, close to an ancient pa in a horseshoe bend of the Mangapiko river. The Maori were about to mount an attack on this when a large bathing party set out from the post to the river. The Maoris fell on this and a sharp skirmish took place.
Citation
For his gallant conduct at the skirmish on the banks of the Mangapiko River, in New Zealand, on the 11th of February, 1864, in assisting a wounded soldier of the 40th Regiment, who had fallen into a hollow among the thickest of the concealed Maories. Whilst doing so, he became the target for a volley at a few feet distant. Five balls pierced his clothes and cap, and he was wounded in three places. Although hurt, he continued to aid the wounded until the end of the day. Major Heaphy was at the time in charge of a party of soldiers of the 40th and 50th Regiments, under the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Marshman Havelock, Bart., C.B., V.C., the Senior Officer on the spot, who had moved rapidly down to the place where the troops were hotly engaged and pressed.
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