New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1865 to 1866 (277. John Kean [sic], 2nd. Bn. 18th. Ryl. Irish Regt.) suspension bar slightly bent, edge nicks and light contact marks, very fine, scarce to unit £500-£700

John Keane was born in Clifden, Co. Galway, in 1839 and attested for the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot at Glasgow on 12 May 1858. He served with the Regiment in New Zealand from 1863 (entitled to the New Zealand Medal with the reverse dates 1863 to 1866, rather than 1865 to 1866), and was severely wounded to the left thigh at Shepherd’s Bush, Auckland, on 17 July 1863:
‘On 17 July 1863, six days after the headquarters of the battalion had reached the Queen’s redoubt, Captain Rigg, with Ensign Bicknell, two Sergeants, and 47 rank and file, was sent in charge of a convoy of six carts along the Great South Road to Drury. The track passed through a forest, thus described by an officer of great experience of campaigning in the forests of many parts of the British Empire: “The bush of New Zealand is wonderfully dense and entangled. A European going into it about 20 yards and turning around three times is quite at a loss to find his way out again unless he is somewhat of an Indian path-finder and can judge points of the compass by the bark of the tress, the sun &c. Trying to run through the bus one is tripped up by the supplejack and other creepers.”
While on the march Captain Rigg fell into an ambuscade of about 140 Maori warriors who had concealed themselves in the thick bush on both sides of the road Fire was opened by the enemy upon Rigg’s advance-guard, his right flank, and his rear; a driver and two horses in the centre of the convoy fell wounded; and several soldiers were hit in the first volley which caused the horses to rear, throwing the line of wagons into confusion. The Maoris then rushed the left flank and the rear guard, trying to cut them off from the main body. The outnumbered soldiers counter-charged with the bayonet and fought their way through to the main body. Captain Rigg immediately retired with as many men as he could concentrate, and, in skirmishing order, kept the enemy at bay for some time; then, seeing himself nearly surrounded he retreated into a settler’s farm, which he held until some of Inman’s detachment at Drury extricated him from his dangerous situation. In this affair four men were killed and 10 [including Keane] were wounded.’ (The Campaigns and History of the Royal Irish Regiment from 1684 to 1902, by Lieutenant-Colonel G. le M. Gretton refers).

After being discharged from hospital, Keane was attached for a while to the 65th Foot, before returning to his parent unit. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal shortly before he was discharged at Dublin on 28 January 1879, after 20 years and 262 days’ service.

Sold with copied service papers, muster details, and other research.

Note: One of only 30 New Zealand Medals with the reverse dates 1865 to 1866 awarded to the Royal Irish Regiment.