Massacre at West Tamar
A military party was attacked by Aboriginal warriors at West Tamar and in the engagement seven Aboriginal people were killed. The next day, constables who had been with the officer denied the incident. According to the Hobart Town Courier a 'gallant officer' with '...three or four constables, was attacked by a party of the blacks on the west bank of the Tamar on Wednesday last, when seven of the latter fell, the chief on [sic] receiving a ball from the officer's fusee jumped twelve feet from the ground, (a tremendous leap truly). This officer describes the engagement as worthy of great praise, and states that much generalship was displayed by him as commander of the vanquishing party, but his brother officers of the staff and comrades, (perhaps jealous of the honour of the field) declare that they did not see one of the black people during the whole of their excursion.' (HTC February 28, 1829, pp 1-2).
Notes:
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Port Sorell [Pallittore North]
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 7
CorroborationRating: *
LanguageGroup: Port Sorell [Pallittore North]
Victims: Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People
VictimsDead: 7
People involved
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Sources
- HTC February 28, 1829, pp 1-2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/641939.
Event mentions
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Massacre at West Tamar18 Feb 1829 — West Tamar — massacreA military party was attacked by Aboriginal warriors at West Tamar and in the engagement seven Aboriginal people were killed. The next day, constables who had been with the officer denied the incident. According to the Hobart Town Courier a 'gallant officer' with '...three or four constables, was attacked by a party of the blacks on the west bank of the Tamar on Wednesday last, when seven of the latter fell, the chief on [sic] receiving a ball from the officer's fusee jumped twelve feet from the ground, (a tremendous leap truly). This officer describes the engagement as worthy of great praise, and states that much generalship was displayed by him as commander of the vanquishing party, but his brother officers of the staff and comrades, (perhaps jealous of the honour of the field) declare that they did not see one of the black people during the whole of their excursion.' (HTC February 28, 1829, pp 1-2).Source: HTC February 28, 1829, pp 1-2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/641939.