Captain Matthew Slattery of Tipperary - Part Two

We talked about Matthew Slattery and his early career in the previous post. Here we take up his story after the war in Northland, New Zealand.

Map of Kawiti's Pah Ruapekapeka 1846 Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZ Map 4626

The 58th Regiment returned to Auckland after the final battle at Ruapekapeka on 11 January 1846, where they had met unexpectedly sophisticated trench warfare and significant casualties. The map gives only a sketch but the strong geographical position and layout give some indication of the defences they encountered that day.

In May 1846, Governor George Grey ordered a continent of the 58th to Wellington to act as deterrent in the wake of ongoing land disputes between new settlers and Ngāti Toa. They saw action in the Hutt Valley at Boulcott’s farm but Slattery was back in Auckland by the end of May. He married Mary Anne Pickford in June 1846. 2 It was a short window of opportunity – he was to be on board ship with his regiment at the end of the month, returning to Wellington.

NZ 27 June 1846

The 58th then returned to Paramatta, Sydney where the birth of Slattery’s first child Robert was registered on 17 April 1847. When the Regiment was again called to New Zealand the family returned to Auckland  on HMS Dido, arriving 1 July 1847.3  A second child named Matthew was born. Although his birth entry has not yet been found in NSW or Auckland, his death in 1848 records the age of 12 months. Robert also died later that year, recorded as just under 2 years, at 22 months.  Ann Eliza, the next child, was baptised in Auckland on 6 August 1848.4 (We shall take a closer look at the life and members of this growing family in a later post.)

Matthew was promoted to Corporal on 1 December 1847 and to Colour Sergeant in 1848. He remained with the 58th at Auckland for the next ten years. He was a property owner by 1853 and therefore able to vote in the contentious election of his commanding officer, Col Wynyard, to the position of Civil Superintendent.5 He enjoyed music, being accomplished on the clarinet. In addition to performances with the army band Matthew was active with the Choral Society and other groups. He gave time generously to the Mechanics' Institute as well, taking part in a series of lectures and concerts of British folk music.6

During these years the 58th took part in many public building works, particularly roading projects. Part of the Quartermaster's duties were the management of supplies, stores, ammunition, and property. 1858 was a busy time for Slattery, as regimental affairs were tidied up in preparation for their departure from New Zealand.

NZH 11 June 1858

Several hundred men took discharge in New Zealand at the time the Regiment left for England, but Matthew was only 34 and continued with his career, being promoted to Quarter Master in July 1858

NZH 10 Nov 1858

 His growing family travelled with him to Parkhurst on the Isle of Wight, where he served until 1862 as Quartermaster 5th Depot.

Embarkation list NZH 20 Nov 1858

Matthew’s Indian service began in June 1862 with the 38th Regiment, the 1st Staffordshire. He served with them as Quartermaster stationed in Sealkote, Benares (Varanasi) from 1863. This Northern cultural centre on the Ganges is often referred to as the ‘Athens of India’. It is considered the holiest of the seven sacred cities by Hindu, while holding special significance for all faiths in India. This city was the scene of an atrocious battle between British and Indian forces in the First Indian Rebellion – or War of Independence of 1857- 1858.

Samuel Bourne's image of Benares from across the Ganges c 1870

The outcome of the uprising was an end to the rule of the East India Company, as the British Crown took control. The British Raj was established in 1858 encompassing approximately 3/5th of the continent. Independent states such as Varanasi remained so, as allies of the Crown.

Harts Army List 1868 p 297 detailing Slattery's rank and background. (image NA)

 Pashwur, Bengal is known today as Peshawar, Pakistan. This North West region was Slattery’s posting to the garrison there in 1870. This was an area of long standing conflict between indigenous clans and invadors, not far from the famed Khyber Pass.

Khyber Pass Region map by wikimedia

The 38th returned to England for a spell during 1871 but contingents sailed again at the end of the year, arriving in Bombay by HMS Euphrates on 8 December.7 His family are not recorded as passengers. In the census of 1871 Mary Anne, Fanny (Frances) and Maude are listed attending a ladies college in Lambeth, London. This arrangement was traditional for families of servicemen in India.

 The regiment went back to England again in 1872  but Matthew returned to India in 1873 as Quartermaster with the 7th Royal Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, stationed with them in Poona (now known as Pune), Bombay 8.
Barracks were a little east of the city, in a large European compound. Matthew was accompanied this time by Mary Anne, 3 sons and 3 daughters. They were seasoned travellers by now and were returning to a busy Anglo-Indian centre of both military and administrative personnel. During monsoon season Poona was the centre of Bombay government administration.

In 1876 the Royals moved to Belgaum, Bombay where he remained until he retired on half pay as Honorary Captain on 25 May 1878.

Matthew Slattery is recorded as leaving India for Melbourne, Australia on 24 May 1878, embarking with his family on the P&O steamer SS Assam.9 He returned to New Zealand to live at Northcote, on Auckland's North Shore.
On 1 July 1881 he was listed as retired on full pay and was last mentioned in Hart’s Army List in 1904 as retired. He continued to take an active part in local affairs until his death in September 1904 at the age of 80.

[1] Times 7 Mar 1859 page 10

[2] St Patricks Cathedral Catholic Registers - Marriage: 30 June 1846, Auckland, Matthew Slattery, 58th Regiment, soldier, son of Robert Slattery and Eliza Champion, to Marianne Pykford, from Sommersetshire, England, daughter of Samuelis Picford and Anna Dexter

[3] ref New Zealander 3 July 1847

[4] St Patricks Cathedral Catholic Registers – Baptism: Ann Eliza, daughter of Matthew Slattery, Sergt, 58th Regiment, and Mary Ann Picford, baptised 6 August 1848. Date of birth not given.
[5] DSC 7 July 1853
[6] NZer 8 & 15 August 1857

[7] Times of India 8 Dec 1871 per fibis transcript
[8] Times of India 3 Nov 1873 per fibis transcript Portsmouth to Bombay arrived HMS Serapis 1 Nov      1873
[9] Times of India 25 May 1878 ibid

The Original St David's Presbyterian Church - an early Edward Bartley design

Image by Hanna Photographers, Cyclopaedia of NZ 1902, Auckland p224

The early 1880’s were years when the central area of Auckland was practically rebuilt. Despite depression biting further south, buildings for both public and private use sprang up in Auckland’s great expression of confidence. Companies listed at a phenomenal rate at this time. Both established businesses and new ventures were making the most of the limited liability status now available under new statutes. Improved road and transport systems, along with ready lines of credit, fostered land speculation and the rapid growth of suburban areas.


It was these few years that established Edward Bartley's practice. It was also a time of unprecedented building for many religious denominations.After his competition entry for St Sepulchre’s was placed third, Edward completed a successful design for St David’s Presbyterian Church in Symond’s St in 1879.

The site was a commanding one, situated on the highest part of Symonds St, on the same level as the Khyber Pass reservoir. The main building was 71 feet long and 37 ½ feet wide. A 44 foot high tower extended beyond the main building, facing the street. This was finished with an octagonal spire and wrought iron finial standing a further 47 feet high.

For the plain roof interior Edward specified a contrast of totara brackets and kauri principals resting on carved trusses, all to be varnished, with the boarding of the roof picked out in white paint.

The rostrum continued the Gothic theme in the panelling of native timbers below turned balusters, with Gothic arches between.

The main entrance was from the tower. The side and back of the building were of weatherboard, with the front and tower in rusticated board.

The church was designed to seat about 500 people, at a cost of £1350 and was completed on time in 1880.

In 1902 the church was moved from Symond's St into Khyber Pass, a huge undertaking for the time. 

Memorial Stone on the base of St David's Image BFA

It was replaced in 1927 by a new St David's. The future of that building is now also bleak. Colloquially known as the Presbyterian cathedral, it closed in 2014.

See: http://www.saintdavidsfriends.org.nz/




Refer Auckland Weekly News 10 July 1880 p 2 col 3; NZH 5 July 1880 p 6 col 1; 23 Sept 1880 p 5 col 3; moving and re-erection NZH 3 Feb 1902 p 3 col 1