Charles Heaphy

Photo by Terry Macdonald

Charles Heaphy (1820? - August 3, 1881) was a New Zealander 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.

Details

He was approx. 43 years old, and a Major in the Auckland Militia, New Zealand Military Forces during the Waikato-Hauhau Maori War, New Zealand when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 11 February 1864 on the banks of the Mangapiko River, New Zealand, Major Heaphy went to the assistance of a soldier who had fallen into a hollow where there were a great many Maoris concealed. While doing this, the major became a target for a volley from only a few feet away. Five musket balls pierced his clothes and cap and he was hit in three places, but in spite of this he stayed with the wounded man all day.

Further information

A New Zealand explorer.

Charles Heaphy was only seventeen years old when he was appointed as resident Artist and Surveyor to the first New Zealand Company expedition to New Zealand, sailing with William Wakefield on the Tory and arriving in what later became known as Wellington late in 1839. In 1841 he joined Arthur Wakefield on the expedition that lead to the founding of Nelson. From here he took part in several expeditions to explore the North West corner of the South island.

In 1848 he was appointed gold fields commissioner at Coromandel. In 1859 he joined the Armed Constabulary as a volunteer and subsequently took part in the Invasion of the Waikato. It was during this conflict that he was awarded the Victoria Cross for saving a wounded comrade; the first and for a long time the only Colonial Soldier to receive it.

In 1865 he was appointed Chief Surveyor for Auckland and in 1867 elected to the House of Representatives for Parnell, a area of Auckland. In 1878 he was appointed as a judge of the Native land Court but retired two years later due to ill health. He died in Brisbane in 1881.

Charles Heaphy was an accomplished artist and his watercolours are an important record of the many of the scenes in the early days of European settlement in New Zealand. However, he is probably best remembered for the Heaphy Track, which is named after him although he didn't actually ever follow its route. He and Thomas Brunner were probably the first Europeans to walk through this area in the North west corner of the South Island.

First man serving with New Zealand Forces to win the VC. Grave/memorial at Buried at Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Portion 1. Section 5. AL/34, 8th Avenue. Grave 252. Headstone.

The medal

please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed.

External links

• Heaphy C.
• New Zealand Troops who have won the Victoria Cross (brief biography details)
• A documentary retracing one of his expeditions through the Nelson-Westland area

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.