NZ Volunteer Period (Maori Wars), NZ (Forest Rangers)

William Henry Skinner was born at Newport, Monmouthshire, England on 3 December 1838.

He trained as a builder and arrived in New Zealand on the ship “Joseph Fletcher” on 18 August 1859.

Skinner joined the Royal Rifle Volunteers on 21 December 1859. He may have served in the early stages of the Waikato Wars with them.

On 26 August 1863 William Skinner enlisted in the Original Company of the Forest Rangers.

He held the rank of Private and Bugler and was under fire with them at Lusks Farm, Mauku on 8 September 1863.

This was a significant engagement for the Forest Rangers, being their first.

Wellwood Clearing was on Lusk’s Farm at Mauku, near Pukekohe.

A group of hostile Maori had killed a cow belonging to Lieutenant Lusk. When the Forest Rangers went to investigate the dead cattle they were fired upon by the 100 or more Maoris who were hiding in the adjacent bush.

The Forest Rangers made towards another patch of dense bush surrounding the open paddock and proceeded through the bush in the direction of the gunshots.

Von Tempsky and Jackson led two bodies of Forest Rangers and engaged the Maoris.

After sustaining a number of casualties the Maoris withdrew into the bush.

After the Maoris retreated the Forest Rangers pursued them back to their encampment where they found food and other items stolen from settler’s farms.

It was later found that the Maoris had suffered an estimated 5 killed and that they were local Maoris from Patumahoe, and who had been causing problems for the local settlers.

Private/Bugler Skinner spent the following months patrolling the Hunua and South Auckland areas with the Forest Rangers.

William Skinner discharged from the Forest Rangers on 11 November 1863. The Forest Rangers had disbanded the previous day -with the men being released from their three months service. The Forest Rangers were re-established shortly thereafter however for reasons unknown Skinner did not re-join the elite unit where one was expected to be exposed to “peculiar danger” due to the guerrilla nature of their tactics and bush patrolling.

It is known that Skinner was later attached to a Flying Column under Colonel Nixon (who commanded the Colonial Defence Force –and who was later killed at Rangiaowhia in 1864).

Skinner was commissioned as Ensign in the Royal Company (Auckland Rifle Volunteers) on 18 January 1868 and was promoted to Lieutenant Commanding Number 2 Company Auckland Rifle Volunteers on 2 July 1874. William Skinner received numerous successive promotions being; Sub-Lieutenant Victoria Company 23 November 1875, Lieutenant 18 May 1880, Captain 7 November 1885, Adjutant 25 October 1886 and finally that of Major on 21 November 1889.

He represented New Zealand at the Inter-colonial Rifle Match in Melbourne in 1873 and also in 1888. Skinner won the Auckland provincial class firing medal in 1874 and the following year was Government representative and Rifle Champion Shot of New Zealand. Rifle shooting was a particular skill and interest of Skinner, who received numerous prizes in that regard.

Although he originally carried out the trade of builder and contractor Skinner became an Architect in 1880. He was responsible for the design of many of Auckland’s now landmark buildings including The Auckland Star buildings, the Grand Hotel (now KPMG in Princess Street), the Freemason’s Hall (Princess Street), St Pauls Anglican Church and St Johns Presbyterian Church in Thames.

Skinner was an active freemason and also a talented artist. Prior to leaving for New Zealand in 1859 he had studied at the Department of Science and Art at South Kensington and had been presented with assorted prizes as well as their Bronze Medal. He was also a talented gymnast and in later years a noted chorister.

Major Skinner was one of the founders of the Auckland Institute of Technology. He was awarded his New Zealand Medal named to him in the Forest Rangers in 1871, at which stage he resided in Parnell.

His medals and full uniform are in the A G Bairstow Collection.