The final remains of a soldier who died during the New Zealand Land Wars in 1864 were laid to rest at a gravesite ceremony at Holy Trinity Memorial Park in Auckland on Friday.
The service was the culmination of four years of work undertaken at Te Awamutu Museum to uncover the history and search for the descendants of Major Walter Vernon Herford after some of his koiwi tangata (human remains) were placed in the care of Te Awamutu Museum by a private collector in 2018.
Herford died at the age of 35 in Ōtāhuhu on 29 June 1864 from the effects of a gunshot wound to the eyebrow on 1 April at the Battle of Ōrākau (March 31- April 2, 1864).
He served in the 3rd Waikato Militia during the war as a Captain and was later appointed a Major for his involvement and leadership at the battle.
Parts of the soldier’s skull as well as the fragmented bullet responsible for his life-threatening injuries were removed during an operation months after his injury and placed in a curios keepsake box.
“The small but significant box was labelled with Herford’s name, rank and cause of death , as well as details of the surgery,” Te Awamutu Museum Collections Manager Megan Denz, said.
“The box containing fragments of Herford was then taken from New Zealand, to a variety of sites in the United Kingdom before being brought back to New Zealand in 2018.”
Denz said the Museum held the remains in repository, keeping them safe while having discussions with his descendants were had in how to give Herford’s final remains a dignified burial.
“It's not a normal day-to-day process for the museum. It's something quite extraordinary that we will probably never be involved in again,” Director Museum and Heritage Anne Blyth said.
On Friday 11 February 2022, 158 years after his death, Museum staff and members of his extended family attended a small ceremony interring the fragmented remains of Herford at his final resting place.
For 154 years these remains of Walter travelled the world before being returned to the country where he is buried. Denz said through genealogical research by the Museum, Herford’s descendants were found in the United Kingdom, USA, and New Zealand.
“The Museum was able to use the information on the box to track down his extended family, some of whom are five generations removed from his lifetime.”
Descendent Annabel Neal, made a long drive with husband Vince, to attend the service. Herford was the son of Annabel’s great-great grandfather’s half-brother.
“We knew nothing about it until the remote cousin in England who is a direct descendent contacted us and asked if we could help,” Annabelle said.
“We’re very grateful to the Museum and to Megan because she’s been so respectful.”
Herford has also been mentioned in Thomas Gudgeon’s book Reminisces of the Land Wars in New Zealand as being a hero from the battle of Ōrākau, Annabel said.
“We’re proud of him and the family is pleased to have some closure that the little box of remains will go back into the grave which from our point of view is very important.”
“It’s been around the world that box and ended up on mantlepieces and it’s time it came home.”
Denz said the Museum followed the guidance of Ngākahu – The National Repatriation Partnership between Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage and National Services Te Paerangi which was established in 2019 to support organisations by providing expertise and funding assistance to enable the repatriation of human remains to their source communities.
The group advised the Museum on best practices for the storage, return, and handling of the care and tikanga for the koiwi tangata as set out by the National Repatriation Policy for koiwi and associated burial taonga which was adopted in June 2021.
Ngākahu Kaiārahi Jamie Metzger said she admired the museum’s unwavering dedication to the repatriation process, which has ensured the best possible outcome for Herford and his family.
