"This book has been written to record and preserve the history of the 'Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps' for future researchers, historians and genealogists. It records the conditions of service for those pensioned soldiers who enlisted from England and Ireland and came to New Zealand, at Governor Grey's request, during the years 1847-1852. It records their arrival in New Zealand in ten ships, and the affect [sic] their lives had on the four villages of Onehunga, Howick, Panmure and Otahuhu. The book has been produced to coincide with the Fencible Descendants' 150th Anniversary 1997"--Back cover.