Major Gustavus von Tempsky, known by his enemies as Manu-rau or “many birds” for his skill at leading swarming attacks during New Zealand’s counter-guerrilla campaigns of the 1860s, was killed while leading an attack against Titokowaru’s fortified village at Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu in 1868. A memorial is visible at the site of his death in South Taranaki, but someone has crossed out the word “Major” and replaced it with “Mercenary”. The attackers were ambushed from concealed rifle-pits deep in the bush, suffering one of the last major defeats of colonial forces in the Land Wars. Major von Tempsky was also a watercolourist, gold-digger, explorer, linguist, musician and writer.
As tagged by Eddie from Hidden Unities, the Meme of Seven.
The Rules:
- Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
- Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
- Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
- Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. (Actually, I’ll skip this one.)
- (added by Soob) Present an image of martial discord from whatever period or situation you’d like.
My reponses:
- I can play two games of Tetris simultaneously with my left and right hands.
- Before I went to university I considered majoring in architecture. I eventually chose marine biology, but after one year changed my mind again and switched to political science and international relations. I also picked up economics in my second year, but didn’t carry on with it.
- Leanne and I celebrate our 5th anniversary together tomorrow.
- When I was 11 I would have voted for the Green party. When I was 12 I would have voted for the ACT party.
- I volunteered at a prison last year, helping out with a Toastmasters Speechcraft course. It was fascinating.
- My flatmates and I brew our own beer and distill our own spirits.
- Until I was 14 I was allergic to milk, dairy products, eggs, nuts and shellfish.
Consider yourself tagged:
- Luke
- Leanne
- PC
- Scott
- The Strategist
- Blognor Regis
- The Whited Sepulchre (by request, the newest addition to our blogroll)
“I can play two games of Tetris simultaneously with my left and right hands.”
He really can, it’s awesome. We should put it up on Youtube I reckon.
Left by Luke H on June 27th, 2008