Howick Historical Village - Fencible History

Fencible History

Governor George Grey was concerned that the French could move down to New Zealand from where they were already established in New Caledonia and Tahiti by 1845. At the same time the Maori chief Hone Heke was causing unrest with new settlers in the north of New Zealand. He cut down the flagpole at Kororareka flying the British flag five times in succession to make the point that the British settlers were not welcome.

The sacking of Kororareka (now known as Russell) caused Governor George Grey to write to Earl Grey back in England in 1846, asking for assistance in protecting the fledgling settlement in Auckland. At this time, Auckland was a collection of wooden buildings near the waterfront and had only just been made the capital of New Zealand. Russell (Okiato) was the first capital, Auckland was capital from 1841 to 1865, and Wellington from then on.

The decision was made to send out retired and worn-out British soldiers who had returned from fighting in Afghanistan, India, Malta and elsewhere in the British Empire. They had served up to 20 years overseas, and were invited to form an army corps to be known as the Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps, meaning they were a form of defensive force to protect Auckland should it ever be attacked.

The conditions of engagement offered these men were that they were allowed to bring their wives and children, and it became the biggest immigration programme of its day (approximately 2,500 men women and children settled in Panmure, Otahuhu, Onehunga and Howick). They arrived here between 1847 to 1852, in ten sailing ships. Most voyages took about 3 to 4 months. Conditions on board were usually very good for the time, but one particular ship, the Clifton, was termed the Ship of Sorrows because 46 people died during the voyage (mainly children coming from the Irish potato famine).

Most of the ships departed from Gravesend, in England, and over half of the Fencible families were Irish in origin. Panmure was the biggest Irish settlement.

The Fencible soldiers were generally offered free passage to New Zealand and for many, a two-roomed cottage and an acre of land, in return for a seven year term of service. They were encouraged to take on other employment, as their main obligation was to attend military parades every Sunday. They were also offered work for a year on public work schemes, like road and bridge building. They were only called out on military duty once, in April 1851.

When the first four boats arrived, no cottages ready. Instead, the new arrivals were assigned to tents, raupo cottages, or on Howick Beach, two long sheds (one for the men, the other for women and children). Privates generally had paired “Siamese” cottages, sergeants had single dwellings, and officers had bigger houses (Captain Smith’s house, Bell House, can be seen behind Sergeant Ford’s).

After seven years, Fencibles were released from service and the cottages and an acre of land became theirs absolutely. They could also buy extra land at a very good price. Only three ever returned to Europe. Financially the Fencible immigration scheme was very successful.