Events in this conflict will be added as Australian Wars and Resistance research continues.

]]> 119.203,-20.156 #TLCMapStyle In 1864 it was reported that, 'The De Grey natives had made a most determined attack upon Mr. Nairn and his men, but were repulsed, and so severely punished as will probably teach them not to meddle with white men for some years to come' (The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News, Fri 12 Aug 1864, p 2).
More detail was reported later in 1886: 'At length, when all suspicion of hostility on the part of the blacks had died out, their savage instincts asserted themselves, and they concocted a plot, diabolical in its ingenuity, for destroying the whole of the white men. They decided to await the arrival of the Mystery with supplies, and when the latter had been landed and stored, it was arranged to have a grand corroboree to which all the white men would be invited, and when the latter were ail gathered close around, a large yamena (Dugong) net was to be drawn around them after which they could be speared without difficulty, the natives naturally concluding that the white victims would come unarmed. Like many other well laid-plans, the diabolical scheme failed owing to being imperfectly carried out. On the evening in question Mr. Nairn whilst sitting in his verandah after tea enjoying a pipe, was invited by two lusty blacks, to come over to the camp -- only about 200 yards off, where about 100 natives were congregated -- to see a corroboree. The other whites were also invited, but the latter not being quite ready the manager started away with the two decoys, without the slightest suspicion of foul play. As they passed over the crest of a slight ridge between the house and camp the miscreants, evidently, wishing to have the honor of shedding first blood, turned upon Mr. Nairn and knocked him down, their accomplices rushing up with clubs to finish him. ln the meantime, a young man named Conway, who stood in the verandah watching the departure of Mr. Nairn and the two blacks, saw that something was wrong, so he called out to the men to arm themselves, and, seizing a revolver, rushed to the rescue of his chief, firing a shot from the revolver as he ran. This report startled the natives and gave Mr. Nairn a chance to get to his legs, when he ran towards Conway and seized the revolver, which, to his chagrin, would not go off again owing to the tumbler getting locked. However, by this time the other white men had reached the spot, and the blacks seeing that their plot had failed suddenly dispersed, leaving most of their newly formed clubs on the ground. As might be supposed, the little band, who had so narrowly escaped death, passed a sleepless night, and when day broke horses were saddled, and a party started on the tracks of the would-be murderers, whom they came upon about midday and taught a lesson that they have never forgotten' (Western Mail, 6 March 1886, p13).
Smith's (2020) research on this massacre cites directly or indirectly: Pietro Ferrara, letter to The West Australian, 16 November 1892; The Western Mail, 6 March 1886; The Inquirer, August 1864; Nairn 1986, p 44; Austen 1998, pp 49-50; and Charles Nairn, diary, cited in Nairn 1980.
No precise numbers of those killed are given in the sources, apart from Pietro Ferrara's estimate of up to forty killed in his time at De Grey Station over the years 1863 to 1866. The estimate of ten killed in this massacre is based on what is implied by the various accounts.

]]> 1864-01-01 1864-08-31 121.777,-18.684 #TLCMapStyle TLCMap

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]]> 1865-04-04 1865-04-06 116.807,-20.581 #TLCMapStyle TLCMap

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]]> 1868-05-01 1868-05-15 115.042,-21.996 #TLCMapStyle The Battle of Minderoo
by 'Tien Tsin', August, 1869. [Poem likely written by Richard Thatcher who was on the punitive expedition]
'Twas Sabbath morn the rising sun had not appeared in view
But day contested with the night at beauteous Minderoo
The cork bark shed a sweet perfume the wild Ashburton pea
Made sweeter still the morning air and birds sang merrily
What means this band of armed men who ride on fiery steeds?
What mission brings them thus abroad that so much caution needs
No pannicans [sic] nor hobbled chains upon their saddles tied
They seem to hold their very breath as o'er the plain they ride
How slowly and how silently they're riding neck and neck
The impatient neighing of a steed it's rider soon doth check
The sun shows in the Eastern sky illumining the scene
And lighting up the thick snake bush with leaves of heavy green
The startled emu o'er the plain is quickly lost to view
And from the gums with noisy screams there flies the cockatoo
A smile comes oe'r [sic] the leaders face a smile that seems to show
He feels that joy a warrior feels who meets a worthy foe
For there some hundred yards ahead the dimly burning fire
Betrays the presence of the foes to meet whom he desires��
A foe both treacherous and cruel with cunning like to theirs
He means now to surround their camp and take them unawares��
They see the troop and starting up with wild discordant cries
They yell like fiends and on the whites intimidation try
They little know that leader bold who fought in many a field
With stern commanding voice he cries on every man to yield
They answer with their fighting spears most cruelly barbed in rows
With cooeys and with club they try to disconcert their foes
Now Hooley had that barbed spear but one inch nearer been
But Heaven above��your wife and child you never more had seen
Well shot bold Bob: that warrior his earthly course had run
He'll never throw another spear nor view the setting sun
Bold trooper Vincent's restive steed doth rear with all his force
He only asks to fight on foot if one will hold his horse
Now Ensign Willie's mare doth try from off the field to bolt
She kicks and rears but still Will lets them taste his navy colt
McRae confronts the dusky foe upon his well trained steed
He fears no spears alike defies the coyles' whirling force
An ugly smile upon his face most dangerous to see
Descended evidently from a Scottish ancestry��
His reins hang loosely on his arm his rifle grasped tight
He sits just like one carved in stone and cooly takes a sight
The leader of the savages the white man's arms defies��
Encouraging his followers with yells and shouts and cries
His left hand grasped a painted shield his right his spears and rest
To strike the horses of the foe he bids them do their best��
But suddenly his shield is dropped his spears are scattered round
With loud despairing cry of rage he drops upon the ground
A bullet from McRaes good piece has gone right through his brain
He never more will use that shield nor throw those spears again
Hurrah: cries Thatcher with delight that shot was worth a crown
Another warrior bites the dust the boldest of them down
Their leader gone and falling fast for mercy then they pray
And send the prettiest women out to plead with bold McRae
That flinty hearted champion the damsels proudly eyes
He heeds not their entreating looks nor cares about their sighs
Send out the old men and the boys we only fight with men
Throw down your arms unship your spears we'll talk of quarter then
They send out boys and aged men the nuncaberrys stay
And fight like wolves or tigers till they're vanquished by McRae
And there they lie upon the plain a ghastly sight to view
Their life blood stains the clayey soil of beauteous Minderoo��
By murdering natives on that plain a lesson may be read
Whoso sheddeth blood of man by man shall his be shed.
(Western Mail, Feb 21, 1935)

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