AUSTRALIANS AT WAR IN NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand Land Wars, 1860 - 1867

The nineteenth-century land wars in New Zealand were without doubt the first occasion that significant numbers of Australian volunteers participated in an overseas war of Empire.

Many would be surprised to learn that Australia’s first international warlike expedition was actually in New Zealand! This book is the story of the 2400 Australian volunteers recruited from a population base of 1.5 million settlers. The volunteers were responding to an appeal from the NZ government to the Australian colonies for help fighting the Land Wars which had erupted. The recruits were motivated by pay, the promise of land and adventure and a sense of their patriotic duty to play a part in keeping peace in the British Empire. Theirs was a contribution with unique military, societal, political and commercial outcomes, both for the individual colonies and their later military development. ‘Australians at War in New Zealand’ examines the period of Australia’s greatest contribution of men and munitions, beginning in 1860, until the disbanding of the majority of Australian recruited Military Settler Regiments in October 1867. It follows some of the survivors of the wars to bring alive the story of the New Zealand Land Wars and the fate of some of those who fought in them.

We have a limited number of copies signed by the author. Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing a signed copy at orders@willsonscott.biz

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