Trevor Chute
Encyclopedia
Major-General Sir Trevor Chute KCB
, 31 July 1816 – 12 March 1886 (age 69), was an Irish soldier
in the British army
, whose six week campaign during the Second Taranaki War
was the last to be carried out in New Zealand
by imperial
troops.
, Ireland
.
. By 1847 he had been promoted to Major
, performing duty in Ireland
in 1848 before being transferred with the 70th regiment to India
in 1849. In India Chute was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding the regiment at Peshawar
. He was promoted to Colonel
in 1854, and organized flying column
s for pacification purposes during the Indian mutiny of 1857–1858.
, where they helped construct the military road from Drury
to the Waikato River
. During this time he presided over a court of inquiry into the conduct of the ‘battle’ of Waireka. In March 1863 he was promoted to Brigadier-General commanding the troops stationed in Australia
. Returning to New Zealand as a Major-General in 1865, he replaced Duncan Cameron as head of the British forces while also retaining his Australian command.
Although Governor
George Grey
had proclaimed peace in Taranaki, conflict in the Second Taranaki War
flared up again in 1865 after troops sent by Chute to convey the terms to west coast Māori were killed, and a supply convoy was attacked in the Hawera
district on 4 October. Chute led a 620-strong force across South and Central Taranaki, from Wanganui
to New Plymouth
, destroying approximately twenty villages between the Waitotara River
and Mount Taranaki/Egmont. His expedition, although effective, has been described by biographer David Green in terms that portray an unsophisticated, ruthless and undiscerning leader. The 9-day “forest march” of January 1866, a journey across the eastern base of Mount Taranaki/Egmont which usually took two or three days, almost resulted in disaster. The use of pack-horses meant that many of the 'twenty-one rivers and ninety gullies' to be crossed required bridging – a feat for which his force was not prepared, and which had to be carried out amidst incessant rainfall.
Following the campaign, British troops were gradually withdrawn from New Zealand, and in 1867 Chute moved with his headquarters to Melbourne, Australia. That same year he was created KCB, and on 9 July 1868, he married Ellen Browning. While in Australia he helped foster the volunteer movement and oversaw the attenuation of British garrisons there.
back to England
, where he was appointed colonel of the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment. He was made a full general in 1877, and was placed on the retired list in 1881.
, near Bracknell
in Berkshire
, on 12 March 1886, aged 69.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, 31 July 1816 – 12 March 1886 (age 69), was an Irish soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
in the British army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, whose six week campaign during the Second Taranaki War
Second Taranaki War
-Background and causes of the war:The conflict in Taranaki had its roots in the First Taranaki War, which had ended in March 1861 with an uneasy truce. Neither side fulfilled the terms of the truce, leaving many of the issues unresolved...
was the last to be carried out in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
by imperial
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
troops.
Family Background
Trevor Chute was born to Francis Chute and Mary Ann Chute (née Bomford) on 31 July 1816. His birthplace is alleged to have been Tralee, County KerryCounty Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Britain & India
Chute entered the British army in 1832, serving first in the Ceylon Rifles and then in the 70th (Surrey) Regiment70th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot
The 70th Regiment of Foot was a regiment of the British Army formed in 1758 and united with the 31st Regiment of Foot in 1881 to form The East Surrey Regiment .- History :...
. By 1847 he had been promoted to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
, performing duty in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1848 before being transferred with the 70th regiment to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1849. In India Chute was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding the regiment at Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
. He was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in 1854, and organized flying column
Flying column
A flying column is a small, independent, military land unit capable of rapid mobility and usually composed of all arms. It is often an ad hoc unit, formed during the course of operations....
s for pacification purposes during the Indian mutiny of 1857–1858.
New Zealand & Australia
In 1861 Chute and his regiment arrived in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where they helped construct the military road from Drury
Drury
Drury can refer to several things:*Drury, New Zealand*Drury, Flintshire, UK*Drury University, formerly Drury College, Springfield, Missouri*Drury Hotels operator of Drury Inns*Drury Lane, a famous street in the Westend of London...
to the Waikato River
Waikato River
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. In the North Island, it runs for 425 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and emptying into Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It drains Taupo at the lake's northeastern edge, creates the...
. During this time he presided over a court of inquiry into the conduct of the ‘battle’ of Waireka. In March 1863 he was promoted to Brigadier-General commanding the troops stationed in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Returning to New Zealand as a Major-General in 1865, he replaced Duncan Cameron as head of the British forces while also retaining his Australian command.
Although Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
George Grey
George Grey
George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand...
had proclaimed peace in Taranaki, conflict in the Second Taranaki War
Second Taranaki War
-Background and causes of the war:The conflict in Taranaki had its roots in the First Taranaki War, which had ended in March 1861 with an uneasy truce. Neither side fulfilled the terms of the truce, leaving many of the issues unresolved...
flared up again in 1865 after troops sent by Chute to convey the terms to west coast Māori were killed, and a supply convoy was attacked in the Hawera
Hawera
Hawera is the second-largest town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of . It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3 and 20 minutes' drive from Mount Taranaki/Egmont.It is also on State Highway 45,...
district on 4 October. Chute led a 620-strong force across South and Central Taranaki, from Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
to New Plymouth
New Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
, destroying approximately twenty villages between the Waitotara River
Waitotara River
The Waitotara River in New Zealand's North Island stretches approximately 100km in length from its headwaters in the Matemateaonga Ranges to its mouth on the South Taranaki Bight...
and Mount Taranaki/Egmont. His expedition, although effective, has been described by biographer David Green in terms that portray an unsophisticated, ruthless and undiscerning leader. The 9-day “forest march” of January 1866, a journey across the eastern base of Mount Taranaki/Egmont which usually took two or three days, almost resulted in disaster. The use of pack-horses meant that many of the 'twenty-one rivers and ninety gullies' to be crossed required bridging – a feat for which his force was not prepared, and which had to be carried out amidst incessant rainfall.
Following the campaign, British troops were gradually withdrawn from New Zealand, and in 1867 Chute moved with his headquarters to Melbourne, Australia. That same year he was created KCB, and on 9 July 1868, he married Ellen Browning. While in Australia he helped foster the volunteer movement and oversaw the attenuation of British garrisons there.
England
In October 1870 Chute followed the last imperial troops stationed in VictoriaVictoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
back to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he was appointed colonel of the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment. He was made a full general in 1877, and was placed on the retired list in 1881.
Death
Trevor Chute died at 'Egmont,' his home at BinfieldBinfield
Binfield is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest borough of Berkshire, England. According to the 2001 census it has a population of 7,475...
, near Bracknell
Bracknell
Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It lies to the south-east of Reading, southwest of Windsor and west of central London...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, on 12 March 1886, aged 69.
Personality
David Green describes “General Chute” as follows;- “Chute was 'a short-legged man, with a shaggy, square, masculine head and powerful body. He walked deliberately, carrying his head a little to either side, and no man could precisely foretell his temper from day to day'. His nickname, 'The Kerry Bull', derived from both his general appearance and a resonant voice, which was fully exploited on the parade ground. His direct, unscientific approach to soldiering endeared him to his troops, but in New Zealand left him 'lonely as a moulting crow in the midst of his predecessor's brilliant staff'.”