Von Tempsky- soldier and more...

he find out that his men had decided not to join this fight because of low pay. He won them round, but then found another problem. He would have had to be under the command of an officer of lower rank than his. Obviously a certain amount of pride would not allow him to do that. But the Defence Minister at the time ordered him to proceed to Napier. Von Tempksy countered by resigning.

The Rangers, deprived of their commander refused to board the boat to Napier, and he in turn refused to order them to. Both Rangers and their commander were held under close arrest. When put to trial von Tempksy argued that Napier was outside the area his men had volunteered for. But even after his trial he was still held. But he was, if not the most compliant solider, one of the bravest, and the colony needed bravery. He was released.

But then in 1866 the Forest Rangers were disbanded. Von Tempsky went back to Auckland to be with his family, where he painted, pottered in the garden, and wrote poetry. But he was, like many other soldiers, bored with peace. So in 1868 when the Armed Constabulary was formed, von Tempsky jumped at the chance to command a division.

There was trouble brewing, with a Maori leader Titokawaru, promoting a version of the Hauhau faith, which included ritual cannibalism. When he attacked a garrison near Hawera, Lieutenant Colonel McDonnell led his forces, including von Tempksy's Armed Constabulary, against Titokawaru's pa. Von Tempksy asked permission to attack the fortifications, but was told instead to form a rearguard. He strode among his men, bending down, and asking one why he wasn't taking cover. That soldier in turn asked him the very same thing. One of the company was shot, and when von Tempsky went to his aid, he too was shot, directly in the forehead. He left behind his family, and the grieving Emelia.

But perhaps as a soldier, it was the way he might have wanted to go. He had written in his letter just a few weeks before his death.

"An honorable death on the battlefield is a gift of God compared with a slower death."

And as for his body, it was cremated along with his fallen comrades, by those he had called enemy, and their chant was as fitting an epitaph as any

"Farewell spirits of the brave! The pride and power of heroes!"

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