New Zealand Medal awarded to George Crosswell

This is the New Zealand Medal awarded to Trooper George Crosswell of the Bay of Plenty Volunteer Cavalry following a clash with Te Kooti's forces at Opepe near Taupo. 

On 7 June 1869 Crosswell's cavalry detachment was ambushed by a party of Te Kooti's followers as they camped near Opepe. The attack was a complete surprise – nine of the 14 troopers were killed and their weapons and horses captured. Crosswell, who had been drying his clothes over a fire when the attack started, managed to escape and travelled naked for 64km on foot to Fort Galatea in the middle of winter.

The medal, believed to be a duplicate issued to Crosswell in 1913, is currently on display at the National Army Museum in Waiouru.

Image courtesy National Army Museum Te Mata Toa
Accession Number: 2003.86
Permission of the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.