On This Day
1850-1899 > Colonial Navies & RN
On This Day - 1850-1899
- October 22, 1860
CDRE Loring, commanding the Australia Station, reported from New Zealand where he was commanding a naval squadron against the Maoris: ‘The disturbances in New Zealand are likely to detain HM Ships in these waters for an indefinite time’.
- September 15, 1860
HMC Schooner SPITFIRE, (LEUT J. W. Smith, RN), was attacked by natives off Cape Cleveland, QLD. The attack was repulsed without casualties in the schooner.
- June 27, 1860
The Naval Brigade of HMS PELORUS, flagship of the Australia Station, participated in an unsuccessful attack on the Maori Pah at Puketakauere, New Zealand.
- April 30, 1860
HMVS VICTORIA transported 120 troops of the 90th Regiment to New Plymouth, New Zealand.
- April 24, 1860
HMVS VICTORIA sailed from Melbourne for service in the Maori War, in New Zealand. This was Australia’s first commitment of forces overseas.
- March 28, 1860
HMCS VICTORIA, (screw steamer), joined the Australian Squadron, HM Ships IRIS, NIGER, CORDELIA, PELORUS, MIRANDA, HARRIET, and ORPHEUS, involved in the second Maori War.
- March 10, 1860
CDRE F. B. P. Seymour, CB, RN, was appointed Commodore Commanding the Australia Station, his flagship was HMS PELOROUS. Seymour was a fighting officer, leading the naval forces in the Maori Wars, and in July 1882 as ADML Sir Beauchamp Seymour; he commanded the British Fleet in the capture of Alexandria, Egypt.
- June 1, 1859
The Imperial Squadron on the Australia Station consisted of HM Ships IRIS, (26 guns sailing); PELORUS, (21 guns screw); NIGER, (14 guns screw); ELK, (12 guns sailing); and CORDELIA, (11 guns screw).
- May 15, 1859
CDRE W. Loring, RN, in HMS IRIS, offered to exchange Fort Macquarie for Garden Island as a base for RN ships in Australia.
- March 26, 1859
CDRE William Loring, CB, was appointed Commodore commanding the newly established Australian Squadron of the Royal Navy, which became independent of the C-in-C, India. His Flagship was HMS IRIS, and HM Ships NIGER, CORDELIA, ELK, and PELORUS completed the squadron.