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Robley, Horatio Gordon, 1840-1930 (Person)

SummaryHoratio Gordon Robley was an artist known for his sketches and watercolours of Māori people and culture, which he created during his time fighting as a British soldier in the New Zealand Wars.

Horatio was born at Funchal, Madeira, on 28th of June 1840, to Augusta June Robley (née Penfold) and John Horatio Robley, who was a Captain in the Indian Army. In 1858 he purchased an ensigncy in the 68th Durham Light Infantry. After a short period of training he joined his regiment in Burma where he remained for nearly five years. In 1860 Robley was sent home to England for a period of sick leave. Later in the same year he was present at the siege of Delhi; afterwards, at Rangoon, he assumed command of the guard of King Bahadur Shad.

In 1863 the 68th Regiment left Burma for New Zealand and, in the following April, Robley took his troops to Tauranga to join General Cameron's forces attacking Gate Pa. Here he remained for 19 months during which his amazing series of sketches of Maori life were executed. Until shortly before his death in London on the 29th of October 1930, Robley maintained a lively correspondence with distinguished New Zealanders. His interest in tattoo and in preserved heads never diminished.

His locally inspired works are below. They often use the original piece title and may therefore include misspellings or out of date terms.

Dates unknown: Chief Hōri Ngātai. Tauranga Heritage Collection 1210/84.
Dates unknown: Henare Taratoa. Tauranga Heritage Collection 1217/84.
1863 or 1864: Tapu A-080-003

1864: Breach at Gate Pa, morning of April 30, 1864 (1992-0035-850)
1864: Building a redoubt at the Wairoa, Tauranga. (1992-0035-843)
1864: Camp at Tauranga (1992-0035-844)
1864: Canoe race December 29th 1865 (1992-0035-1587a)
1864: Erena. A-080-009
1864: Maori arms taken at Te Ranga, 21 June 1864 (1992-0035-2354)
1864: Maori girl (1992-0035-825)
1864: Maori war dance (1992-0035-724)
1864: Morning breaking, day of Gate Pa attack, 29th April 1864 (1992-0035-731)
1864: Old canoe on Wairoa bank, Tauranga (1992-0035-853)
1864: Plan, Battle of Pukehinahina. Tauranga Heritage Collection 1214/84.
1864: Pukehinahina Gate Pa after battle, 29 April 1864. Tauranga Heritage Collection 1213/84.
1864: Rear of the Korari fence, Gate Pa 1864 (1992-0035-834)
1864: Redoubt built on the site of Gate Pa (1992-0035-827)
1864: Sale of a mokomokai (1992-0035-723)
1864: Scene in the pits, Gate Pah (1992-0035-750)
1864: Shell wound, Gate Pa (1992-0035-2149)
1864: Surrender of the Ngaiterangi after Te Ranga (1992-0035-738)
1864: Surrender of the Tauranga natives at Te Papa. (1992-0035-828)
1864: Waimapu (1992-0035-749)
1864: Woman relatives mourning over the spear of a man killed at Te Ranga battle (1992-0035-737)

1865: Arawa soldier warning off. Maketu Pa, September 1865 (1992-0035-1703)
1865: Beach at Maketu Pa. (1992-0035-829)
1865: Church of the Maori at Maungatapu (1992-0035-831)
1865: Corner gate, Maketu Pa 1992-0035-1141
1865: Elizabeth Faulkner (1992-0035-1891)
1865: Enoka te Whanaki’s house at Matapihi (1992-0035-833)
1865: Graves at Huria (1992-0035-748)
1865: Haka peruperu by Te Arawa at Maketū. Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Art 21-008
1865: Maketu Pa, Bay of Plenty (1992-0035-826)
1865: Māori sentry on gate at Maketū, 1865. Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Art 21-007
1865: No 3 Gate, Maketu Pa (1992-0035-1892)
1865: One of the gates of the Maketu Pa (1992-0035-727)
1865: Oyster sellers at the Gate Pa (1992-0035-1701)
1865: Pataka at Wairoa (1992-0035-836)
1865: Portraits at Waimapu (1992-0035-744)
1865: Prow & stern of war canoes at Matapihi, Tauranga. (1992-0035-739)
1865: Roman Catholic chapel Otumoetai (1992-0035-1705)
1865: Tangi over a woman, Matapihi (1992-0035-746)
1865: Tattooed gate, Maketu B-139-016
1865: Te Mutu (1992-0035-1642)
1865: Te Papa, Tauranga (1992-0035-1893)
1865: The chief’s daughter steering. (1992-0035-1706)
1865: Tribal war canoe, Te Papa beach (1992-0035-846)
1865: Two Maori graves at Matapihi (1992-0035-745)
1865: Waka tauā racing on Tauranga harbour. Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Art 21-009 and artists index.
1865: War dance of the Arawas (Matata) (1992-0035-839)
1865: See also Maketu. 1865 A-080-051
1866: Tauranga E. (1992-0035-845)
1866: Te Papa cemetery (1992-0035-1142)SourcesBellamy, A. (Ed.), (1990). 'Horatio Gordon Robley : soldier artist in the Bay of Plenty, 1864-1866'. An edited version of 'Soldier with a Pencil' By L.W. Melvin, 1957. Tauranga Historical Society.Phillipps, William John (1966). 'Robley, Major-General Horatio Gordon (1840-1930). from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock.Northern Advocate. (1930, October 30). Obituary. Major-General Robley. Māori War Service. p. 5.

Photographs

Lt H. G. Robley 1867

Sketch of Te Papa Peninsula

Photographic print of sketch of Henare Taratoa

Sketch of Military Camp 1866

Artworks

Index to Christmas Day waka tauā racing on Tauranga harbour

Waka tauā racing on Tauranga harbour

Haka peruperu by Te Arawa at Maketū

Māori sentry on gate at Maketū, 1865

Archive Collections

Horatio Gordon Robley's (1840-1930) correspondence with John Cuthbert Adams (1854-1932)

Photocopy of article "Major General H. Gordon Robley, Soldier and Artist" by H. Fildes

Publication Collections

Robley : soldier with a pencil

Horatio Gordon Robley : soldier artist in the Bay of Plenty, 1864-1866

Audio Visuals

Scribbles and scratchings (Horatio Robley in Ams 261): The Past and the Curious

Stories - Articles

Scribbles and scratchings (Horatio Robley in Ams 261)

Supporting PDF

Tauranga District Libraries Display of Early Tauranga Watercolours Supporting PDF for Node

Artwork Series

Horatio Robley Collection

Photo 05-274, 'Lt H. G. Robley 1867'

Usage

Kaitiakitanga StatementWe ask that, in addition to normal copyright and privacy considerations, users of our heritage resources uphold the mana and dignity of the people, communities and places depicted within.AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Robley, Horatio Gordon, 1840-1930 (Person)

Personal Information

First Name(s)Horatio GordonSurnameRobleyGenderMaleDate of Birth28 June 1840Place of BirthFunchal, Madeira, PortugalDate of Death29 October 1930Place of DeathLondon, EnglandOccupationSoldierArtist

Whānau

MotherPenfold, Augusta JuneFatherRobley, John Horatio (Captain)

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Start here:Battle at Pukehinahina, 1864 (Event)

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Robley, Horatio Gordon, 1840-1930 (Person)