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Samuel Mitchell ,1841-1894-winner of the first Victoria Cross,buried at Ross Cemetery. -2 PHOTOS-
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DescriptionA yarn of sorts.
Bob Laing.."When I worked for the Westland Catchment Board in Greymouth 1982-86, I meet Mackley (Mac) Ferguson who was one of the owners of Ferguson's Earthmoving, based to the south of Greymouth.
When we lived in Ross until I was about seven (1950-55). The first puppy I got was from Macaulay's father, I think his name was Jim Ferguson, who owned a farm to the south of Ross near Ferguson's bush.
Mac and I became well acquainted and we spoke a lot about Ross, people we knew etc.
Mac told me about Samuel Mitchell who was buried in the Ross cemetery and who had won the first Victoria Cross, in NZ, during the Maori land wars. Mac told me as a younger person he used to go around to the Mitchell's and he was shown the medal.
I wondered if we were related to the Mitchell's as Mum ( Mum's father a Kemp and her mother a Woolhouse) used to speak highly of Arthur Mitchell who was a minister and who from time to time called on us at Cape Foulwind. Arthur married my sister and new brother in-law.
I consulted friend Google about Samuel Mitchell VC.Captain of the Foretop (Warrant Officer) Samuel Mitchell participated in the Battle of Gate Pā (Pukehinahina) on 29 April 1864. He carried mortally wounded Commander Edward Hay from the battlefield under fire and for this action was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Samuel Mitchell was likely born in Aspley Guise in Bedfordshire, England, in 1841. He was christened in the nearby village of Husborne Crawley on 8 September 1841.
In December 1860 Samuel was appointed to HMS Harrier.
Samuel was Commander Edward Hay’s Coxswain. He stayed close to Hay during the assault on Gate Pā on 29 April 1864. Samuel carried the mortally injured Hay out through the rear of the pā under fire, even though Hay had ordered Samuel to abandon him. For this act, Samuel was awarded the Victoria Cross on 23 July 1864.
As Samuel was carrying Hay, he was met by Staff Surgeon William George Nicholas Manley (1831-1901) who, notwithstanding the chaos around him, dressed Commander Hay's wounds under fire and then went to attend to other wounded in the pā. It is said that William was one of the last officers to leave the pā and he was also to receive the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions that day.
The drawing above is from the Sydney Morning Herald (15 October 1864), taken from a photograph of Samuel, aged 23, after he was awarded the Victoria Cross in September 1864.
Mitchell Street in Tauranga is named after Samuel.
On 21 May 1870 he married Agnes Ross.
The 11 children of Samuel and Agnes Mitchell:
Ellen Mitchell.
Esther Mitchell.
Ada Mitchell.
Ruby Mitchell.
Isabella Mitchell.
Edith Mitchell.
Samuel Mitchell.
Stewart Mitchell.
John Mitchell.
William Mitchell.
Frank Mitchell.
Samuel drowned, aged 52, in the flooded Mikonui River near his farm on 16 March 1894. On the day of his death it appears that he tried to cross the Mikonui and was struck by a floating tree or a fresh [a sudden rise in the river level] coming on very quickly, which led to his drowning. Three days later Samuel's body was found down the coast by William Green, a farmer in the area and a former sailor who had also participated in the Battle of Gate Pā.
Samuel was buried in the cemetery positioned on a hill above the township of Ross, about 30 minutes south of Hokitika, in South Westland. His headstone reads: In Loving Memory of Samuel Mitchell V.C. who was drowned in the Mikonui River on 16th March 1894, aged 52 years. Also his beloved wife, Agnes, who died at Ross 23rd October 1918, aged 71 years. At Rest. Erected by their family.Date of Photo1841-94Map[1] ContributorBob Laing
Bob Laing.."When I worked for the Westland Catchment Board in Greymouth 1982-86, I meet Mackley (Mac) Ferguson who was one of the owners of Ferguson's Earthmoving, based to the south of Greymouth.
When we lived in Ross until I was about seven (1950-55). The first puppy I got was from Macaulay's father, I think his name was Jim Ferguson, who owned a farm to the south of Ross near Ferguson's bush.
Mac and I became well acquainted and we spoke a lot about Ross, people we knew etc.
Mac told me about Samuel Mitchell who was buried in the Ross cemetery and who had won the first Victoria Cross, in NZ, during the Maori land wars. Mac told me as a younger person he used to go around to the Mitchell's and he was shown the medal.
I wondered if we were related to the Mitchell's as Mum ( Mum's father a Kemp and her mother a Woolhouse) used to speak highly of Arthur Mitchell who was a minister and who from time to time called on us at Cape Foulwind. Arthur married my sister and new brother in-law.
I consulted friend Google about Samuel Mitchell VC.Captain of the Foretop (Warrant Officer) Samuel Mitchell participated in the Battle of Gate Pā (Pukehinahina) on 29 April 1864. He carried mortally wounded Commander Edward Hay from the battlefield under fire and for this action was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Samuel Mitchell was likely born in Aspley Guise in Bedfordshire, England, in 1841. He was christened in the nearby village of Husborne Crawley on 8 September 1841.
In December 1860 Samuel was appointed to HMS Harrier.
Samuel was Commander Edward Hay’s Coxswain. He stayed close to Hay during the assault on Gate Pā on 29 April 1864. Samuel carried the mortally injured Hay out through the rear of the pā under fire, even though Hay had ordered Samuel to abandon him. For this act, Samuel was awarded the Victoria Cross on 23 July 1864.
As Samuel was carrying Hay, he was met by Staff Surgeon William George Nicholas Manley (1831-1901) who, notwithstanding the chaos around him, dressed Commander Hay's wounds under fire and then went to attend to other wounded in the pā. It is said that William was one of the last officers to leave the pā and he was also to receive the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions that day.
The drawing above is from the Sydney Morning Herald (15 October 1864), taken from a photograph of Samuel, aged 23, after he was awarded the Victoria Cross in September 1864.
Mitchell Street in Tauranga is named after Samuel.
On 21 May 1870 he married Agnes Ross.
The 11 children of Samuel and Agnes Mitchell:
Ellen Mitchell.
Esther Mitchell.
Ada Mitchell.
Ruby Mitchell.
Isabella Mitchell.
Edith Mitchell.
Samuel Mitchell.
Stewart Mitchell.
John Mitchell.
William Mitchell.
Frank Mitchell.
Samuel drowned, aged 52, in the flooded Mikonui River near his farm on 16 March 1894. On the day of his death it appears that he tried to cross the Mikonui and was struck by a floating tree or a fresh [a sudden rise in the river level] coming on very quickly, which led to his drowning. Three days later Samuel's body was found down the coast by William Green, a farmer in the area and a former sailor who had also participated in the Battle of Gate Pā.
Samuel was buried in the cemetery positioned on a hill above the township of Ross, about 30 minutes south of Hokitika, in South Westland. His headstone reads: In Loving Memory of Samuel Mitchell V.C. who was drowned in the Mikonui River on 16th March 1894, aged 52 years. Also his beloved wife, Agnes, who died at Ross 23rd October 1918, aged 71 years. At Rest. Erected by their family.Date of Photo1841-94Map[1] ContributorBob Laing
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PersonEllen MitchellWilliam MitchellFrank MitchellSamuel MitchellStewart MitchellJohn MitchellEsther MitchellAda MitchellRuby MitchellIsabella MitchellEdith MitchellEventSamuel Mitchell ,1841-1894-winner of the first Victoria Cross
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Date Created21st August 2019CommentsSam Mitchell Samuel Mitchell VC, my great great grandfather, was the recipient of the very first VC to awarded outside of England. Up until that point those awarded the VC had to travel to England to receive theirs.
Unfortunately due to fighting on HMS Harrier, which was commissioned by the Australian Navy, he is deemed an Australian recipient and not a Kiwi, missing out on a commemorative stamp when NZ post ran it's VC series years ago.
Fascinating story around how the medal was lost, sold, faked, and eventually bought back by the King and returned to the family.
Cheryl Mitchell can you check the family tree for Arthur Mitchell
Peter Mitchell Sam Mitchell mum will check but the name doesn't ring any bells
Sam Mitchell Peter Mitchell I didn't think it did
Peter J Smith Further information is available for those interested by Googling "Samuel Mitchell VC". The website is provided by Peter Mitchell of Christchurch who (like myself) is a Great Grandson of Samuel.
Sam Mitchell Peter J Smith he wrote a good book on him as well, back when that was a thing
Unfortunately due to fighting on HMS Harrier, which was commissioned by the Australian Navy, he is deemed an Australian recipient and not a Kiwi, missing out on a commemorative stamp when NZ post ran it's VC series years ago.
Fascinating story around how the medal was lost, sold, faked, and eventually bought back by the King and returned to the family.
Cheryl Mitchell can you check the family tree for Arthur Mitchell
Peter Mitchell Sam Mitchell mum will check but the name doesn't ring any bells
Sam Mitchell Peter Mitchell I didn't think it did
Peter J Smith Further information is available for those interested by Googling "Samuel Mitchell VC". The website is provided by Peter Mitchell of Christchurch who (like myself) is a Great Grandson of Samuel.
Sam Mitchell Peter J Smith he wrote a good book on him as well, back when that was a thing
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West Coast New Zealand History (22nd Aug 2019). Samuel Mitchell ,1841-1894-winner of the first Victoria Cross,buried at Ross Cemetery. -2 PHOTOS-. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 3rd Apr 2026 23:22, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25902