Two descendants of the only surviving British officer – Assistant Surgeon William George Nicholas Manley – of the Battle of Gate Pa are in Tauranga commemorating the 150-year-old event today.

Cousins Gillian Manley and Frances Luxton have travelled from the United Kingdom to Tauranga to be part of commemorating the battle, which saw their late great-grandfather, William Manley, become a recipient of the Victoria Cross and Iron Cross for his efforts in tending to wounded on both sides of the battle.

Battle of Gate Pa descendant, Gillian Manley, with Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata, battle descendant Arthur Mitchell, and Gillian's cousin Frances Luxton at last night's Commemoration Dinner. Gillian and Frances travelled from the United Kingdom to attend the commemoration events. Photo by Sarah Webb.

Gillian, who is from Jersey in the Channel Islands but lives in London, has travelled with Frances, from Bristle, to New Zealand for the first time to see where their late great-grandfather was part of the storming party into Gate Pa on this day, April 29, in 1864.

Exactly 150 years before today, Maori warriors – outnumbered 10 to one – inflicted a stunning defeat on numerous British Colonial forces in what's now known as the Battle of Gate Pa.

'He [William Manley] wasn't a combatant, although he was attached to the Royal Artillery, as an army surgeon,” says Gillian.

'We've been brought up on stories ever since we were children about how he received the VC in New Zealand. And having never been to New Zealand before, we felt it [the commemorations] was a great opportunity to come here.”

Today, the cousins have been observing commemorations at Gate Pa Reserve, with Gillian saying she's been looking forward to the event.

'I gather this is like a remembrance of reconciliation between both sides – and that the sides looked after each other, like our great-grandfather.

'His job was to look after any wounded, on both sides.”

Knowing the 150-year anniversary was nearing, Gillian's mother's cousin, Mrs Davenport, a guide at the Elms House, organised the pair's visit.

'It's very interesting, since hearing about the battle since I was young child, and for Frances as well,' say Gillian.

Assistant Surgeon Manley was awarded the Victoria Cross for attending to Commander Edward Hay, as he was carried away mortally wounded and for then returning to the pa to search for more wounded.

He was also the only officer of those that gathered for dinner at The Elms the night before the Battle of Gate Pa (April 28, 1864) to survive. Manley Grove in Tauranga is named after him.

Arriving four days ago, Gillian and Frances have taken a look at The Elms, where their great-grandfather dined the night before the battle and attended last night's Commemoration Dinner alongside Arthur Mitchell.

Arthur is a descendant of Samuel Mitchell, who was Commander Edward Hay's coxswain in the battle, in which Samuel received a Victoria Cross for tending to the commander, as did William Manley.

Frances is the grand-daughter of Williams's eldest son, Ralph Manley, while Gillian is the grand-daughter of his fifth son, John Manley.

'He had seven children altogether – and he died the same year as Queen Victoria [in 1901].”

Gillian says her great-grandfather was a surgeon in a number of Victorian wars, even before the Gate Pa battle.

'He was in a number of campaigns after this one – in Afghanistan, Egypt and France and he'd been in the Crimea before he came here [to New Zealand], so he received the VC quite early on its history.”

In New Zealand for one month, Gillian says the trip will be a long-held precious memory of visiting the site where her great-grandfather took part in one of Tauranga's defining moments.

'To be in the actual place – and to see The Elms Mission house where they had the last dinner before the battle – and he was the only surviving officer – is amazing.”