John Baxter

Born in Portadown, Ireland, he was a weaver before he enlisted in the 68th Light Infantry in 1854, aged 17 years. He fought in the Crimean War and was wounded at Sebastopol in August 1855.

He also fought in New Zealand as a Sergeant and was shot in the right thigh and groin at the Battle of Gate Pah on 29 April 1864. John Baxter was discharged in 1869.

In 1854 the 68th Light Infantry joined the Allied invasion of the Crimea to capture Russia's naval base at Sebastopol. As the Allies advanced, battles were fought at Alma and Balaclava, though the Durhams only had a minor role in both. However at Inkerman on 5 November 1854 the Durhams played a major part in the most important battle of the war, when 250 men charged and routed 1500 Russian soldiers.

During the bitter winter that followed cold, wet and disease (cholera) killed more British soldiers in the trenches than enemy bullets. In May 1855 the Russians attacked the Durham's trenches and John Byrne, who had already rescued a wounded soldier at Inkerman, killed a Russian soldier in a bayonet duel. He was later awarded the Victoria Cross - the first awarded to the Regiment. With the war finally won, the Durhams left the Crimea in May 1856

In January 1864 the 68th Light Infantry, including 200 Crimean War veterans, landed in New Zealand, where the Maoris had gone to war to try to halt the spread of the British settlements on North Island.

In April 1864 British sailors and soldiers attacked Gate Pah (a Maori fort), whilst the Durhams, led by Colonel Greer, waited to prevent any escape. Despite an artillery bombardment the attack failed and the British were driven off with heavy losses. During the night the Maoris slipped away past the Durhams.

In June the British discovered a Maori force building a new pah at Te Ranga and stormed the unfinished defences. In the ferocious hand-to-hand fighting John Murray killed several Maori soldiers and saved John Byrne VC from certain death. Sergeant Murray was later awarded the Victoria Cross. This was the last major battle fought by the Durhams in New Zealand.