Today in History

1901 Hardham wins VC in South Africa

William Hardham was a Wellington blacksmith who served in South Africa with the fourth contingent. He was the only New Zealander to win the Victoria Cross in the South African War.

The citation for his award, which appeared in the London Gazette on 4 October 1901, described his actions:

On January 28, 1901, near Naauwpoort, South Africa, this non-commissioned officer was with a section which was extended and hotly engaged with a party of about 20 Boers.

Just before the force began to retire, Trooper McCrae was wounded and his horse killed. Farrier Sergeant Major Hardham at once went under a heavy fire to his assistance, dismounted and placed him on his own horse, and ran alongside until he had guided him to a place of safety.

In the First World War Hardham served as a Captain in the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment of the NZEF in Egypt and at Gallipoli, where he was severely wounded in 1915.

Hardham was a keen rugby player who played for the Petone club and Wellington. He was described as a 'fast dashing forward, full of go from kick-off to cease play’. He later became heavily involved in rugby administration in Wellington and is remembered in senior Wellington club rugby through the Hardham Cup.

He died in Wellington on 13 April 1928 and is buried at Karori Soldiers' Cemetery.

Image: William James Hardham (Timeframes) 

1827 D'Urville sails through French Pass

In a feat of great navigational daring - and after several attempts - the French explorer Jules Sébastien César Dumont d'Urville sails the Astrolabe through French Pass and into Admiralty Bay in the Marlborough Sounds.

Image: Dumont d'Urville (DNZB)