McDONNELL, THOMAS (1832-99) was the eldest son of Thomas McDonnell (q.v.), and was born in the Philippines. As a child he came to New Zealand with his father, and he received most of his education at Hokianga. In 1853 he left for Melbourne to try his fortune on the goldfields, but two years later returned to New Zealand and received an appointment in the civil service, being stationed in Hawkes Bay and later at Coromandel. With his brother William he took up a sheep run in Southern Hawkes Bay. He was a capable Maori linguist and on the outbreak of the Maori war joined the Defence Force (Aug 1863) and served as a sub-inspector under Colonel Nixon in Auckland province. He was present at the actions at Mauku, Drury, Queen's Redoubt and Burt's Farm. In company with von Tempsky, he reconnoitred the enemy position at Paparata, narrowly escaping capture. For this he received the thanks of General Cameron. He took part in the Thames expedition under Colonel Carey. In the attack on Rangiaowhia (2 Feb 1864) he approached the large house with Mair and summoned the occupants to surrender. The reply was a heavy volley, in which Colonel Nixon was mortally wounded. McDonnell assisted him out of danger. Promoted captain, he was second in command of the Maori contingent in the fighting at Maketu and was slightly wounded in skirmishes. He was appointed magistrate at Cambridge, but had only been there a few months when his services were again required in the field. Promoted brevet-major (Jul 1865) and given command of the Whanganui contingent in the operations on the West Coast, he took an active part in the first assault at Weraroa (21 Jul) and then proceeded with the relief force to Pipiriki (19-30 Jul). Summoned away by the murder of Volkner, McDonnell served under Brassey in Bay of Plenty, being present at the actions of Kiorekino and Te Tarata (3 and 4 Oct). He pursued Kereopa and his people up the Waimana valley, taking their pa at Te Puia and defeating them in the Waimana gorge. He was soon recalled to the West Coast to serve as advance guide to General Chute's column. There he was in action at Moturoa, Te Putahi (7 Jan 1866), Ketemarae and Keteonetea; and was again wounded.

The Government having decided to occupy the confiscated lands in Taranaki, McDonnell was given command of the protecting force and established his camp at Manawapou. His negotiations with the Ngati-Ruanui and the Tangahe were unsuccessful. After being several times ambushed, he retaliated by attacking the Hauhau position at Pokaikai. For this he was criticised, inasmuch as he had accepted a token of peace some days earlier. There were further stubborn engagements at Pungarehu and Ketemarae. In Apr McDonnell was promoted lieut-colonel and given command of the native contingent operating against the Hauhau in the Rotorua district, Henry Tacy Clarke being attached to his force. From this duty he was recalled to Patea to command a force of 100 men detailed to quell the Fenian disturbances in Hokitika. The situation in Taranaki was far from satisfactory. In May 1868 Booth issued warrants for the arrest of two principal fighting chiefs of Titokowaru, and requested McDonnell to execute them. By diplomacy he secured the return of some of the settlers' horses, but it soon became clear that hostilities were imminent.

A message was sent to Wanganui recalling McDonnell, who hurried to Wellington for authority to raise a force of 400 men, of whom 100 should be natives. With the rank of inspector in the Armed Constabulary (Jul 1868), he hastened back to Taranaki to find that there had been a serious reverse at Turuturumokai (12 Jul). Placing Roberts in charge of that post, he made his plans for retaliation against Titokowaru's stronghold at Te Ngutu-o-te Manu. On 2 Aug, in thick fog, he approached the position with a force of 350 men, himself leading the frontal attack while von Tempsky attacked on the left. The defenders fled into the bush from which, after the whares had been burned, they maintained a harassing fire on the retreating force. McDonnell brilliantly extricated his men, the rearguard being commanded by Major Hunter. Both sides suffered some losses. On 7 Sep McDonnell again marched out from Waihi with 360 men, including 100 natives. The divisions were commanded by von Tempsky and Hunter, the natives being under Captain William McDonnell and Keepa te Rangihiwinui (q.v.). Striking into the forest for the position of Rua-ruru, McDonnell passed Te Ngutu unwittingly, and only learned of it from Keepa when the two European divisions had begun their assault. Believing that the position was strongly held, he could not make up his mind to push the attack. In these moments of indecision there were severe losses, the raw troops showing signs of panic. Both von Tempsky and Hunter wished to attack, but McDonnell ordered a retreat to the Waingongoro under Hunter's protection. Von Tempsky and Captain George Buck having been killed and many casualties sustained, Roberts collected the survivors and led them out of the bush. The force returned to Waihi somewhat demoralised, and McDonnell resigned his command, being succeeded by Whitmore, under whom he served. In the following operations he fell into an ambush and was again wounded. He was present at Tauranga-ika and Karaka flats (Feb 1869), and then resigned from the force. A few months later (Jul 1869) he was again called upon to operate against Te Kooti, a service for which he had every qualification. By the middle of Sep he had concentrated a mixed body of the Colonial Defence Force and native allies in the camp at Tokaanu. Te Kooti took up a position on the Ponanga saddle, between Taupo and Rotoaira. McDonnell moved out and established his field headquarters at Poutu, where he threw up earthworks. On 25 Sep the Maori contingent gallantly attacked Te Kooti's force, which was strongly entrenched, and threw them off the hill with great loss. The blow to Te Kooti's mana destroyed all hope of receiving help from the King tribes, and he withdrew to make a last stand in the fortified knolls and redoubt at Porere, on the banks of the Upper Whanganui river. Here McDonnell surrounded and attacked him (3 Oct 1869), storming the position and driving the survivors into thick bush to the westward. A few days later Te Heuheu Horonuku (q.v.) surrendered. McDonnell, having received native reinforcements under Topia Turoa and Keepa, then pursued the enemy, whom he drove out of Tapapa pa (24 Jan 1870) and defeated in a counter attack on the following day, seizing all his horses. He remained in the field some time longer, and then retired with a fine record of service, having been four times wounded, many times mentioned, and thanked by various governors and generals. It was not until 1886 that he was awarded the New Zealand Cross.

In 1884 McDonnell contested the Waitotara seat against Bryce. Grace says that he was a soldier of outstanding courage and intrepidity. Whitmore says that he was more sinned against than sinning; the Government repeatedly gave him the shadow of authority, but constantly interfered in his operations, so that Te Kooti was permitted to regain the sanctuary of the mountainous Urewera country. McDonnell married first (1866) Rose von Dardebyyn (d. 1869), and second (1870) Henrietta Elise, daughter of Thomas E. Lomax, of London. He died at Wanganui on 8 Nov 1899. His memoirs, upon which he spent much time, have not been published.

Cowan, Wars (p); Gudgeon (p); Grace; Whitmore.

Reference: Volume 2, page 8

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