Portrait of Joseph Osbertus Hamley in military uniform, photographed by Maull & Co, of London, circa 1885. Maull & Co (Photographers): Joseph Osbertus Hamley. Ref: 1/2-096511-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22824704
During the conflicts that occurred in New Zealand between 1847 and 1870, Joseph Osbertus Hamley was a key player in providing Logistical support to the Imperial and Colonial Forces. Although Hamley played a significant role in supporting the Imperial and Colonial Forces, he has faded into obscurity. However, Hamley’s legacy is a collection of paintings that record various landscapes that Hamley observed while in the field.
Hamley had joined the Ordnance Department as an 18-year-old in 1838 and was appointed to the Ordnance Department in Sydney. Transferred to New Zealand in 1847, Hamley was appointed Deputy Ordnance Storekeeper in Wellington and participated in the Hutt Valley and Wanganui campaigns. In 1857 he was appointed Deputy Superintendent of Stores as the head of the Imperial Army’s Military Store Department.[1]
The Military Store Department is an organisation whose contribution to the campaigns of the 1860s has been overshadowed by the much larger and more well-known Commissariat, but existing records show that Hamley was well regarded and provided effective leadership of the Military Store Department. Hamley was no military bureaucrat but a man of action who, when fires threatened both Wellington and Auckland, Hamley played a key role in leading the firefighting efforts. [2] [3] On one occasion in Wellington, Hamley risked his own life, saving the life of a girl who had fallen into Wellington Harbour.[4] A keen sportsman, Hamley was a keen cricket player establishing the Hamley Shooting Club and Swimming Baths in Auckland.
After thirty-two years of overseas service, of which twenty-Three had been spent in New Zealand, and one of the last Imperial Officers remaining in New Zealand, Hamley returned to England in 1870.[5] Hamley retired as a Major-General in 1880 after more than 42 years of service and died on 5 July 1911.
A keen painter and sketch artist, Hamley produced over fifty-one watercolours of various scenes while on campaign in various parts of New Zealand. Providing a value record of early New Zealand, this collection now resides in the Turnbull Library at Wellington.
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911 :[March on the beach between Wanganui and Taranaki. A stroll on the beach, Mount Egmont in the distance after marching all night. Wanganui Campaign. 16 February 1856]. Ref: E-047-q-038. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand
Photograph of an ink and watercolour painting, dated 1860 and signed by Joseph Osbertus Hamley. Looks over New Plymouth from Marsland Hill. St Mary’s Anglican church is in the foreground. The Huatoki River is visible. The camp on the right is occupied by Imperial forces of the 65th Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Urquhart. Photograph taken by John Nicol Crombie circa 1861. Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911. New P
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Auckland, Ordnance Store buildings, Fort Britomart [August 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-030. A
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Auckland, with St Paul’s church, and Ordnance Store, Fort Britomart [August 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-029. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22654738
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Taranaki, Mount Eliot in the centre, landing place at base, New Plymouth [July 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-024. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22780364
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Auckland Cemetery. Graves of Commodore Burnett, R. N. and Captain Mercer, R. A. [Between late 1863 and 1866]. Ref: E-047-q-023. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22762994
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911 :[Sandhills and waterfall near Tauranga. 1864?]. Ref: E-047-q-047. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22312176
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Soldiers bathing. Wanganui Beach [January 1865?]. Ref: E-047-q-040. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22834039
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Near Nukumaru. [January 1865?]. Ref: E-047-q-042. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22915539
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Maungatautari [March or April 1864]. Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Sketches in New Zealand [ca 1860 to 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-034. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22874689
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Whata Whata peach grove [Spring, 1864]. Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Sketches in New Zealand [ca 1860 to 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-014. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22884414
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Kanniwanniwah, Waikato [1864]. Ref: E-047-q-032. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22340150
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Whata Whata peach gardens [1864]. Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Sketches in New Zealand [ca 1860 to 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-013. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23089592
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: View from Razorback [1864]. Ref: E-047-q-003. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22805954
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Soldiers making gabions, Pukerimu, Waikato [April? 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-033. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22801039
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911 :Te Rore, Waikato [1864]. Ref: E-047-q-011. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23221070
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Ngaruawahia from opposite bank. General’s quarters. King’s palace. King’s flagstaff. Council Chambers [1864]. Ref: E-047-q-009. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23169418
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Meremere, Waikato [1864]. Ref: E-047-q-006. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23192397
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Taranaki landing place [1864]. Ref: E-047-q-020. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22631635
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus 1820-1911: Taupiri, looking down the Waikato [March 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-008. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23082097
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus 1820-1911: Waiari. Hongi’s pah on the left – 70th Regt’s redoubt on the right. [February 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-015. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23148710
Zealand. /records/22863632
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus 1820-1911: Waitotara. [1865]. Ref: E-047-q-012. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22324767
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Camp at Patea [1865]. Ref: E-047-q-050. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22317949
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus 1820-1911: Horowhenua Lake, famous for wild duck shooting. [Lake Papaitonga, ca 1870]. Ref: E-047-q-051. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23142967
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Camp at Waitotara, Taranaki – Wanganui [1864. One of our Brasier’s non fighting days]. Ref: E-047-q-036. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22772498
lymouth from Marsland Hill. Ref: PA1-q-250-05. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23179948
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus 1820-1911: Oakura Stream near Taranaki. 28 June 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-037. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23152927
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Wanganui, showing blockhouses from the sandhills. [16 January 1865]. Ref: E-047-q-039. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22323722
lexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22813691
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Te Awamutu from Picquet Hill [1864]. Ref: E-047-q-017. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22794696
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Henui Bridge, Taranaki [June 1865]. Ref: E-047-q-022. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22634591
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus 1820-1911 :The Bluff Stockade, Waikato [1864]. Ref: E-047-q-004. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23042698
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Near Ngaruawahia [1864]. Ref: E-047-q-010. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23160348
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus 1820-1911: Pukerimu, Waikato. [April 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-046. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23142277
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus 1820-1911: Martin’s Farm, Drury, on the road to the Waikato. [1863]. Ref: E-047-q-001. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22788823
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus 1820-1911: Blewitt’s Redoubt. Rangiawhia. [ca 1864].. Ref: E-047-q-016. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22672192
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Maori fishing pa, Wanganui Coast near Hawera, possibly the Waingongoro River, South Taranaki, 1864 or 1865]. Ref: E-047-q-043. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23178467
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Nukumaru – Lieut. Johnson killed there. [Picket at Nukumaru, 30 January 1865]. Ref: E-047-q-041. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23202880
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus 1820-1911: Bell Block near Taranaki. [1864]. Ref: E-047-q-026. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23099222
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Taupiri from the Coal mines [1864]. Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Sketches in New Zealand [ca 1860 to 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-007. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23133076
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Marsland Hill, Taranaki [New Plymouth, 22 June 1864]. Ref: E-047-q-019. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23031226
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: Onehunga, near Auckland. [1864]. Ref: E-047-q-027. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23199887
Hamley, Joseph Osbertus, 1820-1911: View looking up the Patea River. [South Taranaki, 1865]. Ref: E-047-q-045. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23030473
Notes
[1] Una Platts, Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists : A Guide & Handbook (Christchurch, N.Z. : Avon Fine Prints, 1980, 1980), Bibliographies, Non-fiction, Collective biography, 117.
[2] “Accident,” Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVI, Issue 1204, , 15 March 1859.
[3] “Fire in Wyndham Street,” New Zealander, Volume XIX, Issue 1944, Page 2, 12 August 1863.
[4] “Local Intelligence,” Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1328, , 2 March 1859
[5] “Projected Departure of Mr Hamley,” Wellington Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 3017, 9 July 1870.
