Warre Street (Waitara)

Warre Street in Waitara runs off McLean then southeast to Parris Street. It was named after a career soldier who served with distinction all around the British Empire.

Henry James Warre was born in South Africa on 12 January 1819, the third of five children. His father Sir William Warre could trace the family’s lineage back to the 1500s and their crest featured a griffin’s head rising out of a crown.

Henry joined the army at the age of 18 after leaving the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. He became aide-de-camp to his uncle who was commander of British forces in North America and was sent to survey disputed parts of Oregon in 1845, reporting on British interests there and the potential for war over the territory with the United States. He then served in the Crimean War, including the Siege of Sevastopol, taking command of the 37^th Regiment in 1855.

Henry was posted to New Zealand in February 1861 as commanding officer of the 57^th Middlesex Regiment, known as the “Die Hards”. He arrived on the ship Lord Worsley and was based in New Plymouth until 1865. During their time in the region, he and his men established redoubts at Pukearuhe, Wārea and Opunake.

Henry left New Zealand in 1865. He was made commander of the Bombay Army in 1878 and served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War before retiring in 1881. He was subsequently created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath for exemplary military service.

Henry married Georgiana Emily Lukin in 1855. Widow of the Consul General of Peru, she was 40 when she and Henry wed and his nickname for her was “Joy”. She had a daughter from her first marriage but she and Henry had no children of their own. Henry died in London on 3 April 1898 at the age of 79.

Henry Warre was a talented artist and popular in Taranaki, enjoying good relations with local Europeans and kūpapa or “friendly” Māori alike. He was especially close to Major Robert Parris, so perhaps it is fitting that the streets named after the two friends should intersect.

This story was originally published in the Taranaki Daily News.