Repairs to the headstone of Peter Pender

Our Great-Great Grandfather, Peter Pender (1827 – 1911), Inspector of Police for the District of Wellington, was born in Wexford, Ireland, where he was educated. After a short time, in which he was engaged in farming, he joined the Royal Irish Constabulary as a boy, and soon after was sent on a special mission to England and Wales.

Not long after his return he was promoted to the position of sergeant, and took up his duties, serving in some of the disturbed districts at the time of the Smith-O'Brien troubles. In 1854 Mr. Pender joined the Mounted Staff Corps (as a volunteer), which numbered sixty men, and was known as Lord Raglan's. After drilling at Knightsbridge, London, the company was sent to the Crimea. Mr. Pender was present at the several attacks on, and at the taking of, Sebastopol, and afterwards at the Battle of Tchenere. Subsequently he went with the first Royal Dragoons, who were acting with the French, to the interior of the Crimea on a reconnoitering expedition.

On his return he wintered at Seutari, Constantinople. After this Mr. Pender joined Colonel Grant in the Interior of Turkey-in-Asia to assist in organising the Turkish Contingent Cavalry. Returning to Constantinople, he went back to Britain, and rejoined the Irish Constabulary.

In 1856 Inspector Pender came out to the colonies, landing in Melbourne, and after a few months on the Ovens Goldfield, he joined the Victorian police as a constable. He served with O'Hara Burke, who afterwards became a great explorer in Central Australia. In the Kerry Country, on the borders of New South Wales, he served for over five years, and in 1862, with three others, volunteered to assist in organising the police force in Canterbury, New Zealand.

For thirty years after arrival in New Zealand, with the exception of a few years spent in Timaru, he was stationed at Christchurch. In 1864 he was promoted to the position of Inspector of Police. Inspector Pender was transferred to Wellington in 1892. Three years later he was sent on a special mission to England, in connection with the Harper case.

Inspector Pender is a recipient of the Crimean medal and clasp for Sebastopol, the Turkish medal, and the New Zealand long-service medal

Mr. Pender was married in 1864 in Christchurch to Miss Anastasia O'Hara, who died in 1891, leaving two sons and four daughters.

His Elder son, Arthur (1869 – 1923) married Honora McParland (d.1869). They were the parents of my Grandmother (Eileen McRae)

Peter and Anastasia Pender are buried in the catholic section of the Barbados Street Cemetery in Christchurch and is identified as one of the historical graves at the entrance to the (now historical) cemetery. The headstone was in good condition when I first came to Christchurch in 2004.

During the Feb 2011 earthquake, the headstone fell-over and the cross was broken. When I checked it out I replaced the headstone on top of the grave.

I have an 'estimate' from a headstone place for $1595 (incl GST)