GORING, FORSTER YELVERTON (1846-1923) was born at Portumna, County Galway, the son of Forster Goring. Educated at Auckland Grammar School, he enlisted at the age of 16 as a private in the 1st Waikato Regiment and served in 1863 under Lyon at Wairoa. In Sep 1863 he was appointed ensign, and he was six months with Pitt's regiment at Otahuhu. After escorting Maori prisoners from Drury to Otahuhu, he occupied the church at Mauku. He was attached to the commissariat transport corps (1863-66) and then rejoined his own corps at Tauranga, and served under St John and Fraser in the Urewera. He displayed great coolness and judgment in the retreat at Te Ngutu-o-te Manu (where he saved wounded men under fire), and the reverse at Moturoa (Nov). On both occasions he commanded the rearguard. He was promoted major, and served continuously under Whitmore on both coasts (being present at Ngatapa and at Otautu, and eventually commanding the Waihi redoubt).

Goring was appointed inspector in 1874, and served with the Armed Constabulary in different districts until 1885, when he was appointed to command the New Zealand Artillery in Dunedin, and later in Auckland. He commanded the latter district (1891-97) and retired as a lieut-colonel, living thereafter in Hastings. Goring married (1880) Bertha, daughter of Major H. Dobie, Madras Army. He died on 17 Feb 1923.

Goring's father, FORSTER GORING (1810-93) was a son of Sir Charles Goring, 7th baronet. He held a commission as ensign in the 1st King's Dragoon Guards (1832-34); resigned from the army in the early fifties and arrived in Auckland about 1860. He was clerk to the executive 1862-89. Goring married (1839) the Hon Sydney Yelverton, daughter of Viscount Avonmore. He died on 10 Dec 1893. (See F. Y. GORING and W. W. JOHNSTON.)

Parltry Record; Gudgeon (p); Cowan, ii (p); Whitmore (p); Burke, Peerage; Hawkes Bay Herald, 19 Feb 1923.

Reference: Volume 1, page 171

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