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Historic Poverty Bay and the East Coast, N.I., N.Z.

Biographical

Biographical.

Major Alexander Gerald Beere (born at Picton in 1863) settled in Gisborne in 1884, and joined up as a gunner in J Battery. Previously he had served in the Wellington Guards for four years. In 1900 he received a commission in the East Coast M.R., and, later, he had charge of the Gisborne Rifles. When compulsory military training came into force in 1911 he became O.C. 1st Battalion, 9th Regiment (Wellington-East Coast Rifles). In 1939 he went to reside in Australia.

Colonel George John Winter, V.D. (born in Tasmania in 1844) was educated at Brighton College, England. Upon his return to Tasmania he was trained as a surveyor. In 1865 he moved to Invercargill, but, a few months later, came on to Poverty Bay, where he saw active service at the Siege of Waerenga-a-Hika and in the engagements brought about by the Te Kooti revolt. He gained commissioned rank in the P.B.M.R. in 1872, and, in turn, became captain of the Gisborne Rifles (1877), J Battery (1878) and East Coast Hussars (1887), and then, with the rank of major, O.C. No. 4 Battalion, Wellington-East Coast M.R. (1900). Posted to the retired list in 1906, he was granted the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was one of the district's earliest “rep.” footballers and cricketers, took a keen interest in rifle shooting, and acted as honorary starter for several racing clubs. For many years he was people's warden in connection with Holy Trinity Church. He died on 10 March, 1919.

Adolphus Frederick Hardy (born near Liverpool in 1840) came of a naval family. He served on H.M.S. Banshee during the Crimean War, and, during the Indian Mutiny, he was present at the Relief of Lucknow and the taking of Delhi. He came out to New Zealand as a lieutenant on H.M.S. Brisk. Gaining his discharge, he saw active service in the Waikato, the Wanganui district, on the East Coast, and in Poverty Bay. For some years he was accountant to Captain Read, and then he took up farming. He was chairman of the Poverty Bay Highways Board for three years. When the Egyptian War broke out in 1882 he was recalled to the Navy, and was present at the Bombardment of Alexandria. His father page 348 was Admiral Joseph Hardy, and his grandfather was Captain (later Sir Thomas) Hardy (“Kiss me, Hardy,” of Trafalgar fame). He died in March, 1920.

Captain Frank M. Twisleton, M.C. (born in Yorkshire in 1867) served in the Boer War and published his interesting experiences in book form. Settling in Waimata Valley, he became the first O.C. the Poverty Bay branch of the Legion of Frontiersmen. In the Great War of 1914–18 he served on Gallipoli, where he was severely wounded. Going on to France, he was attached to the Pioneer Corps. He died of wounds on 15 November, 1917.