1849-1864 "The Hamilton Silver Chest" (Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton) - New Zealand
$5,000.00
Sold Out
Offered is the historic large silver chest of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton (1820-1864) of the English 43rd Regiment, killed at the Battle of Gate Pā, Tauranga, New Zealand in battle against the Maori. The chest is made of English oak strapped in steel. The inside is lined in the original marbled paper, covered over with fabric (can be removed, tacked on). Original Turner 'Impregnable Detector' lock is present, marked for London. This chest would have likely included a fine set of silver made for the battlefield including a tea set and dining items given the size, and the chest would have housed an elaborate set by Elkington & Co, Silversmiths, Platers & Guilders of 20 & 22 Regent St London who worked in that location from 1849.
Hamilton was the commander of HMS Esk. Let it serve as a reminder of self-control and restraint, because only fools rush in. Or perhaps, you could think of it as the fact that strategy can win the day and even outnumbered, with a good plan, the small can outwit the large. On the afternoon of April 29, 1864, the elite 43rd Light Regiment and a naval brigade consisting of 1700 well provisioned troops launched an assault of the pa and were routed by about 225 Maori warriors. During the charge, Hamilton was famed for yelling early in the assault, "FOLLOW ME, MEN!" only to be immediately shot dead along with more than 100 others that afternoon. The Maori had laid a trap for the British.
The fighting continued at Gate Pā, but it was ultimately to be a devastating defeat of the vastly superior forces of the English by the Maori. During this time, the Ngai-te-Rangi war chief provoked the English into making an attack on a false fortification while they lay in wait in guerilla trenches and seized advantage, firing at great advantage on the English in close combat.
John Fane Charles Hamilton was born in Hildersham, Cambridgeshire, England, 1820. His parents were Colonel John Potter (1778-1873) and Charlotte Hamilton (nee Fane) (1787-1869) who married on 28 December 1813. John was christened in Hildersham, Cambridgeshire, on 15 July 1821. Nearing the age of 15, John joined the navy on 28 August 1835. He went on to serve in the Americas and the Crimea. He became a Lieutenant on 8 March 1844, and a Commander ten years later, on 27 November 1854. In 1855 he married Laura Parry (1831-1918) in Bicester, Oxfordshire, England. Hamilton 6 May 1856 John was Commander in Elk, East Indies and China during the 2nd Anglo-Chinese War.
Today the city of Hamilton, New Zealand has been named after Captain Hamilton.
Makes for a very fine end table or small coffee table.
Dimensions: 23" tall x 20" deep x 31" long.
Photo credit: Captain J. F. C. Hamilton, H.M.S. Esk, killed Gate Pa Apl 1864, June 1863, Isle of Wight, by Jabez Hughes. Purchased 1916. Te Papa (O.013148)
Check out some of my other antiques here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/neurorocker?section_id=6783279
Or just browse around the shop!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/neurorocker
Offered is the historic large silver chest of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton (1820-1864) of the English 43rd Regiment, killed at the Battle of Gate Pā, Tauranga, New Zealand in battle against the Maori. The chest is made of English oak strapped in steel. The inside is lined in the original marbled paper, covered over with fabric (can be removed, tacked on). Original Turner 'Impregnable Detector' lock is present, marked for London. This chest would have likely included a fine set of silver made for the battlefield including a tea set and dining items given the size, and the chest would have housed an elaborate set by Elkington & Co, Silversmiths, Platers & Guilders of 20 & 22 Regent St London who worked in that location from 1849.
Hamilton was the commander of HMS Esk. Let it serve as a reminder of self-control and restraint, because only fools rush in. Or perhaps, you could think of it as the fact that strategy can win the day and even outnumbered, with a good plan, the small can outwit the large. On the afternoon of April 29, 1864, the elite 43rd Light Regiment and a naval brigade consisting of 1700 well provisioned troops launched an assault of the pa and were routed by about 225 Maori warriors. During the charge, Hamilton was famed for yelling early in the assault, "FOLLOW ME, MEN!" only to be immediately shot dead along with more than 100 others that afternoon. The Maori had laid a trap for the British.
The fighting continued at Gate Pā, but it was ultimately to be a devastating defeat of the vastly superior forces of the English by the Maori. During this time, the Ngai-te-Rangi war chief provoked the English into making an attack on a false fortification while they lay in wait in guerilla trenches and seized advantage, firing at great advantage on the English in close combat.
John Fane Charles Hamilton was born in Hildersham, Cambridgeshire, England, 1820. His parents were Colonel John Potter (1778-1873) and Charlotte Hamilton (nee Fane) (1787-1869) who married on 28 December 1813. John was christened in Hildersham, Cambridgeshire, on 15 July 1821. Nearing the age of 15, John joined the navy on 28 August 1835. He went on to serve in the Americas and the Crimea. He became a Lieutenant on 8 March 1844, and a Commander ten years later, on 27 November 1854. In 1855 he married Laura Parry (1831-1918) in Bicester, Oxfordshire, England. Hamilton 6 May 1856 John was Commander in Elk, East Indies and China during the 2nd Anglo-Chinese War.
Today the city of Hamilton, New Zealand has been named after Captain Hamilton.
Makes for a very fine end table or small coffee table.
Dimensions: 23" tall x 20" deep x 31" long.
Photo credit: Captain J. F. C. Hamilton, H.M.S. Esk, killed Gate Pa Apl 1864, June 1863, Isle of Wight, by Jabez Hughes. Purchased 1916. Te Papa (O.013148)
Check out some of my other antiques here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/neurorocker?section_id=6783279
Or just browse around the shop!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/neurorocker
Offered is the historic large silver chest of Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton (1820-1864) of the English 43rd Regiment, killed at the Battle of Gate Pā, Tauranga, New Zealand in battle against the Maori. The chest is made of English oak strapped in steel. The inside is lined in the original marbled paper, covered over with fabric (can be removed, tacked on). Original Turner 'Impregnable Detector' lock is present, marked for London. This chest would have likely included a fine set of silver made for the battlefield including a tea set and dining items given the size, and the chest would have housed an elaborate set by Elkington & Co, Silversmiths, Platers & Guilders of 20 & 22 Regent St London who worked in that location from 1849.
Hamilton was the commander of HMS Esk. Let it serve as a reminder of self-control and restraint, because only fools rush in. Or perhaps, you could think of it as the fact that strategy can win the day and even outnumbered, with a good plan, the small can outwit the large. On the afternoon of April 29, 1864, the elite 43rd Light Regiment and a naval brigade consisting of 1700 well provisioned troops launched an assault of the pa and were routed by about 225 Maori warriors. During the charge, Hamilton was famed for yelling early in the assault, "FOLLOW ME, MEN!" only to be immediately shot dead along with more than 100 others that afternoon. The Maori had laid a trap for the British.
The fighting continued at Gate Pā, but it was ultimately to be a devastating defeat of the vastly superior forces of the English by the Maori. During this time, the Ngai-te-Rangi war chief provoked the English into making an attack on a false fortification while they lay in wait in guerilla trenches and seized advantage, firing at great advantage on the English in close combat.
John Fane Charles Hamilton was born in Hildersham, Cambridgeshire, England, 1820. His parents were Colonel John Potter (1778-1873) and Charlotte Hamilton (nee Fane) (1787-1869) who married on 28 December 1813. John was christened in Hildersham, Cambridgeshire, on 15 July 1821. Nearing the age of 15, John joined the navy on 28 August 1835. He went on to serve in the Americas and the Crimea. He became a Lieutenant on 8 March 1844, and a Commander ten years later, on 27 November 1854. In 1855 he married Laura Parry (1831-1918) in Bicester, Oxfordshire, England. Hamilton 6 May 1856 John was Commander in Elk, East Indies and China during the 2nd Anglo-Chinese War.
Today the city of Hamilton, New Zealand has been named after Captain Hamilton.
Makes for a very fine end table or small coffee table.
Dimensions: 23" tall x 20" deep x 31" long.
Photo credit: Captain J. F. C. Hamilton, H.M.S. Esk, killed Gate Pa Apl 1864, June 1863, Isle of Wight, by Jabez Hughes. Purchased 1916. Te Papa (O.013148)
Check out some of my other antiques here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/neurorocker?section_id=6783279
Or just browse around the shop!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/neurorocker