VON TEMPSKY, GUSTAVUS FERDINAND (1828-68) was born in the Silesian town of Liegnitz, the son of a lieutenant-colonel in the Prussian army who was once aide-de-camp to Prince Lichtenstein. Educated at the Military College in Berlin, he received his commission in 1844 in the 3rd Regiment of Fusiliers. As soon as he had completed his military service he went abroad. In 1848, with an introduction from Lord Westmoreland to Patrick Walker, the British consul for the Mosquito kingdom, in Central America, he went there with some companions intending to settle. Owing to the climate the colony failed, and von Tempsky accepted a captain's commission to organise an irregular force of Mosquito Indians for service against the neighbouring state of Nicaragua. He acted as guide to a force from H.M.S. Vixen, Alarm and Daring which penetrated up the river to attack the forts of Castello Viejo, Sarapequi and San Carlos (Feb 1848). There Walker met his death by drowning.

Von Tempsky shortly afterwards left the country and found his way to California, where he spent three years, having many rough experiences on the gold diggings and with desperadoes at San Francisco, but making little money. In Jul 1853, in company with a doctor, he sailed for the Mexican port of Mazatlan, from which point they commenced a long journey of 3,000 miles on horseback and on foot. The roads were infested by robbers and Comanche Indians, from whom they were often in danger when travelling on foot. Their pilgrimage through Mexico, Guatemala and San Salvador terminated in Jan 1855. While in Bluefields again von Tempsky married Emilia (daughter of the British resident, James Stanislaus Bell), and he returned with her parents to Scotland, where he spent some months preparing for publication his fascinating book Mitla, gaining a facile command of English and sketching.

His father-in-law having died, von Tempsky sailed with his wife and child for Victoria, where he began farming. He applied for the command of the expedition into the interior which the government was organising, but one of British nationality was preferred and he declined to be second in command (1859). Instead he crossed to New Zealand and commenced goldmining in Coromandel. When the Waikato war broke out the Government decided to raise a special corps for bush fighting, similar to the Forest Rangers of Taranaki. For such duty von Tempsky had unrivalled qualifications, and he received his commission as ensign on 26 Aug 1863. He contributed a good deal from his own pocket to the cost of equipping his company, which was soon engaged in bushfighting in the Hunua forest. His first brush was with a force of King natives which had laid an ambush at Mauku. Shortly afterwards, with Thomas McDonnell (q.v.), von Tempsky distinguished himself in reconnoitring the enemy position at Paparata. Approaching the position in the middle of the night, they spent 48 hours in a swamp observing the movements of the enemy, and returned with information of high importance. On the recommendation of General Cameron both officers were promoted captain (10 Nov 1863). Von Tempsky played an independent part in the fight which developed on 11 Feb 1864, when a bathing party was ambushed by the enemy at the Mangapiko river. Under heavy fire he led his men through the river with revolver and bowie knife, and cleared the enemy from the fern with some loss, gaining the thanks of Sir Henry Havelock and other British officers. On 22 Feb his force was engaged for two days in sharp fighting at Rangiaowhia, from which it returned laden with booty. At the investment of Orakau (2 Apr) von Tempsky was sent with his company to occupy a position commanding an angle of the enemy works. Approaching across the open under heavy fire, they gained their post and soon subdued the enemy fire. When the evacuation began, von Tempsky gallantly led his men into action to cut off the retreat of the enemy. For his conduct on this occasion he earned his majority (4 Apr 1864).

A few weeks later he was in the field on the West Coast. On 13 May, with 64 of his Rangers, he moved out from Kakaramea against a strong native position on the bank of the Patea river. After several days fighting, in which the natives were severely punished, he regained the redoubt with his dead and wounded. In Jun he saw fighting at Nukumaru, and two days later was with a force of 500 men which advanced to within a mile of Weraroa. Commanding the advance guard, he approached within 400 yards. A week later Weraroa was evacuated. Von Tempsky was unable to be present owing to an attack of rheumatism, and had to be taken to Wanganui in a cart. He took part in the operations against Pipiriki in Jul 1865, and then went as a volunteer to Opotiki, expecting to rejoin his Rangers at Hicks Bay. Landing on 9 Sep with Stapp and Captain Newland, they seized a commanding position to cover the debarkation. Von Tempsky commanded the rear of the position when it was attacked on the 11th, and on the following afternoon brought up reinforcements for the native contingent. Then he took part in the attack which carried the village and the town. He hoisted a red shirt as a signal to prevent H.M.S. Brisk shelling.

Owing to a misunderstanding as to the terms of their enlistment the Rangers did not embark for the East Coast, and von Tempsky accordingly went to Wellington (which he reached on 15 Sep). Acting on his suggestion that the men would have volunteered if he had been present the authorities ordered the corps to be sent from Wanganui to Wellington. When they arrived von Tempsky resumed command and was instructed to take the corps to the field of war and place himself under the orders of Major Fraser. That officer had shown great courage and resource in suppressing the Hauhau outbreak in his district but was nevertheless junior in rank to von Tempsky, who felt that he had been unjustly superseded. He declined to obey the orders and tendered his resignation. When summoned to discuss the matter with the Defence Minister (Atkinson) he left the room abruptly. Having three times refused to obey orders which had been repeated with full cabinet authority, he was placed under arrest, and Westrupp sailed from Wellington (24 Sep) in command of 40 men of the corps who had volunteered. A court of inquiry (30 Sep and 2 Oct) elicited that the Rangers had originally enlisted for service in Auckland province, and had agreed to serve in the Wanganui district on being granted the special pay of 5s a day (including 1s 6d for rations). The terms for the East Coast campaign were equal to 4s 2d a day. Von Tempsky contended that the orders to the corps to proceed there were illegal, but said little about his own seniority, and the court expressed no opinion on the evidence. On 16 Oct the Weld Government resigned, and Haultain succeeded Atkinson as Minister of Defence. On 20 Oct von Tempsky was released from his technical arrest and the Governor gave him an opportunity of recalling his resignation. This he did on the assurance that the promotion of Fraser did not constitute supersession of himself. He at once rejoined the Colonial Defence Force, and on 24 Oct proceeded to Wanganui with 30 men and instructions to organise a new native contingent. Gudgeon indicates that what he desired was an independent command in the field, a position for which Atkinson declared him to be unfitted.

At the end of the year, with 54 Rangers, he joined General Chute's force, and rendered valuable service in scouting and cutting bush tracks during the march to New Plymouth east of the Mountain. At Whenuakura he led his men across the open into the pa, and at Otapawa (13 Jan 1866) he cleared the bush and reached the rear of the pa at the moment when the 57th Regiment appeared on its front. His services on this march were warmly praised by General Chute (N.Z. Gazette 26 Jan 1866). The Rangers were disbanded in the following month, and von Tempsky retired to Auckland for a few weeks' rest. This he spent with his wife at Coromandel, where he made some of his sketches of incidents of the war.

He was again in service in 1868. When the Armed Constabulary was formed he accepted a commission as inspector, and in Aug was engaged in the stiff fighting against Titokowaru. At the first attack on Turuturumokai (21 Aug) he arrived with his detachment of 60 too late to avert defeat, but managed to bring off his killed and wounded. In the second attack (7 Sep) he was in command of No. 1 detachment (which consisted of 142 men of the Armed Constabulary, Rangers and Volunteers). The objective was to surprise the village of Ruaruru, which was in rear of the enemy position; but when the force came into touch with the enemy it was found that they were actually before the main position of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu. Von Tempsky asked permission to attack, but McDonnell hesitated fatally and eventually ordered a retreat. Meanwhile von Tempsky, who had been waiting in an exposed position, was shot by a concealed Hauhau. His body, with those of other pakeha killed, was burned on a funeral pyre with Hauhau rites.

Von Tempsky's reputation at the time of his death was at its zenith. At a public dinner after the action at Kakaramea the Premier declared that he was the great bulwark of the self-reliant policy and had done more than any other officer to raise the morale of the colonial soldier.

App. H.R., 1863-68; Wells; Cowan (p); Von Tempsky, op. cit.; Gudgeon (p); Hawkes Bay Herald, 16 Oct 1900; Taranaki Herald, 3 Mar 1866, 24 Jun 1865; Wellington Independent, 10, 12 Sep 1868; Southern Cross, 1 Oct 1865.

Reference: Volume 2, page 218

🌳 Further sources