Lt. Gen. George Dean-Pitt, C. B.

invested as a Companion, Order of the Bath (C.B.).
He held the office of Keeper of the Crown Jewels.
The AGE Newspaper 24 August 1863

VOLUNTEERS FOR THE NEW ZEALAND WAR
Colonel George Dean Pitt,- who bas been appointed by the Auckland Government to engage volunteers, in Melbourne, for the New Zealand militia, arrived here on Friday morning. He has opened offices in the Port Phillip Club Hotel, Flinders street, where he will commence the enrolment,of volunteers to-morrow. Meantime, it is evident, from the large number of persons who have been making inquiries for information on the subject, that Colonel Pitt's mission to Victoria will be attended with success.
The present dulness of trade, in consequence of which many persons have been thrown out of employment in Melbourne, or been compelled to resort to unremuncrative labor, will greatly facilitate his objects.
There are many suitable men here who will be happy to allow themselves to be shot at by the Maories on such tempting conditions as are held out by the Auckland Government. These conditions have been widely circulated, and fully commented on in our columns. A doubt, however, has been raised in some quarters as to whether the volunteers will be able to obtain a valid legal title to the allotments of land which are to be granted to them on the expiry of the three years' regular service. On this point we may state that there is no ground for apprehension ; the Auckland Government will guarantee the validity of the land tenure, and in all respects the conditions of service will be rigidly adhered to.
The total number of volunteers to be raised in Victoria has, we believe, been fixed at 1000 ; but, in adhering to this arrangement, Colonel Pitt will probably be guided by circumstances, and may enrol a lesser or greater number.
The nature of the service which the volunteers will have to undergo will, of course, depend upon the progress of events in New Zealand. They will be disciplined and trained like the troops of the line; but as only an irregular guerilla war fare is likely to be carried on, their uniform and accoutrements will be adapted for such a purpose.
The pay and allowances are on a liberal scale.
The date of the volunteers leaving Melbourne will, of course, depend on circumstances but there will be as little delay as possible.
That the subject is exciting a great of interest, there is abundant proof for, in order to obtain an interview with Colonel Pitt, it is necessary to wait for hours at his office door.
On Saturday, there were, during the whole day, several scores of people waiting to take their turn for an interview, anxious to get information on points regarding which they were in doubt. Colonel Pitt, we may state, is the only agent of the Auckland Government in Victoria, authorised to make enrolments — we presume, therefore, that those who have registered their names with Mr Harte, will have to begin de novo by making application to Colonel Pitt.

The ARGUS Newspaper 11 April 1883
THE LATE MAJOR-GENERAL PITT The Victorian public will learn with regret of the death announced by cable message, of Major General George Dean Pitt, CB No Imperial officer was better known or more highly appreciated in the colonies than the deceased officer He arrived in Australia in 1858, and was for many years inspector of musketry to the forces then stationed in the colonies.
When the volunteer movement broke out Colonel Bladen Neill was invited to take the command of the Victorian force but this officer was killed by an accident, and Captain Pitt, with the brevet rank of major, was selected to raise organise, and train the new corps.
His great success is a matter of history.
He secured the hearty confidence of officers and men, ail of whom were enthusiastic believers in his efficiency Major Pitt, without doubt set a standard which the senior officers of the force still have before their eyes.
He organised the first Easter encampments, and under his personal command they were successes. For these services Major Pitt received the special thanks of Her Majesty's Government.
On the outbreak of the Waikato war he received the appointment of military secretary to Major General Sir Duncan Cameron, and in that capacity he served through the various engagements of the Waikato, Tauronga, and Wanganui campaigns including the assaults on the Ovakau and Gate pahs.
He was mentioned in dispatches and received the distinction of Companion of the Bath.
At the commencement of the campaign he was despatched to Australia where he secured the services of 2,000 men to serve in the Waikato militia.
The volume and others flocked in such numbers to serve under Major Pitt that the colonial Governments had at last to take exception to his recruiting.
He was thanked for these services by the Imperial authorities and promoted to be major unattached in the army.
When Sir Duncan Cameron left New Zealand Major Pitt was transferred to the staff of General Carey, and he accompanied that officer to Victoria.
Upon leaving here Major Pitt was ordered to the Cape of Good Hope where he served for many years in the Quartermaster General's department. He received steady promotion being gazetted colonel in 1870 and major general in 1880. In 1882 he received one of the special appointments by which the favour of the throne is shown to deserving officers being gazetted as Master of the Regalia in the Tower.
As Major General Pitt entered the army in 1839 he must have nearly attained the age of 60 years. He will always be held in affectionate esteem as a loyal companion an accomplished gentleman and a brave and efficient officer, by those whose privilege it was to be brought into communication with him.

Lieutenant-Colonel George Dean Pitt, an officer of the 80th Regiment, who was especially instrumental over the years 1859-62 in the redevelopment and expansion of the volunteer movement in Victoria. G.D. Pitt had previously served in New Zealand in 1848 as private secretary to his major-general father (also named George Dean Pitt) who was a provincial Lieutenant-Governor and also the first General Officer Commanding in New Zealand (1847-51).
In February 1862 G.D. Pitt was ordered by the Horse Guards to return to New Zealand from Victoria. On 10 July 1863 G.D. Pitt was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel for special service' (commission dated 27 June 1863) in the 1st Battalion Auckland Regiment of Militia.
From here he became prominent (especially in Victoria) in the enlistment of military settlers for the New Zealand government in Australia in 1863 and 1864 His son and two of his sons-in-law were also military officers in Auckland in the 1840s. He had been present at the Seige of Badajoz where Sir George Grey’s father, Colonel Grey was killed. Pitt resided in a house in nearby Grey Street adjacent to Sir George Grey’s residence on Karangahape Road.
The Grave of Major General George Dean Pitt and his son Lt William Augustus Dean-Pitt (1833- 1890) lie directly adjacent to William Hobson’s grave in the Anglican sector.

Source: http://api.aucklandmuseum.com/id/media/public/2ae6a977-dbe4-4719-84...