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CAMERON, Sir DUNCAN ALEXANDER
(1808–1888), general, born on 19 Dec. 1808, was the only son of Sir John
Cameron. He joined the 42nd royal highlanders (Black Watch) as ensign on 8
April 1825. He became lieutenant on 15 Aug. 1826, captain on 21 June 1833,
major on 23 Aug. 1839, and lieutenant-colonel on 5 Sept. 1843. On the
outbreak of the Crimean war he obtained the local rank in Turkey of
brigadier. He commanded the 42nd at Alma, 20 Sept. 1854, and the highland
brigade at Balaklava, 26 Sept. and took part in the siege of Sebastopol, and
in the assault on the Redan on 18 June 1865. For his services he was
mentioned in the despatches, received the medal with three clasps, was made
an officer of the legion of honour, and obtained the Sardinian and Turkish
medals, and the third class of the Medjidie. At the conclusion of the war he
was nominated C.B. On 5 Oct. 1855 he received the local rank of
major-general in Turkey, and on 24 July 1856 the same local rank in England.
On 25 March 1859 he was nominated major-general. In 1860 he was appointed
commander-in-chief in Scotland, and in the following year commander of the
forces in New Zealand in succession to (Sir) Thomas Simson Pratt, with the
local rank of lieutenant-general.
New Zealand was in a state of intermittent warfare, and hostilities between
the English and Maoris were of frequent occurrence. In November 1862 Cameron
represented to the governor, Sir George Grey, the smallness of his force,
which numbered under four thousand men. On 4 June 1863 he defeated the
natives on the Katikara river; on 12 July he crossed the Maungatawhira with
380 men; on 29 Oct. he occupied Meri-Meri, though without preventing the
retreat of the Maori force; and on 29 Nov. he again defeated the Maoris at
Rangarira. On 20 Feb. 1864 he was nominated K.C.B. On 29 April he was
repulsed with considerable loss in an assault on the Gate Pah. He carried on
his operations with zeal, but he failed to adapt his tactics to bush
warfare, and suffered severely on several occasions from attacking strong
defensive positions without adequate dispositions. He also entirely
disapproved of the war, which he considered to have been occasioned by the
desire of the colonists to acquire the native lands. He expressed his
disapprobation with considerable freedom, and in his letters to Grey made
serious charges against the colonial ministers. Grey communicated these
charges to the accused, and was blamed by Cameron for publishing a private
communication. In January 1865 Cameron refused to undertake the destruction
of a pah at Te Wereroa, alleging that his force was insufficient. Grey took
the command himself, and partly by his judicious conduct of the operation,
partly by his great influence with the Maoris, reduced the position in three
days. Cameron tendered his resignation in February, and received permission
to return to England in June. His conduct was approved by the war office. He
also received the thanks of the New Zealand legislative council.
On 9 Sept. 1863 he was nominated colonel of the 42nd; on 1 Jan. 1868 he
became lieutenant-general, and on 5 Dec. 1874 he attained the rank of
general. He was governor of Sandhurst from 1868 to 1875. On 24 May 1873 he
was nominated G.C.B. He died without issue at Blackheath on 7 June 1888. On
10 Sept. 1873 he married Louisa Flora (d. 5 May 1875), fourth daughter of
Andrew Maclean, deputy inspector-general of the Military College, Sandhurst. |
