Rowan (seated with the bandage) was severely wounded in the “attack on Raururu” in Sept 1868 (the battle where von Tempsky was killed). Newspaper reports from February & March 1869 report that he had not recovered from these injuries at that point. In fact he is commended for attending the scene of the White Cliffs massacre in Feb ’69 in his condition.

Titokowaru’s War (June 1868-March 1869) was happening within a short distance from Wanganui from late ’68 through to its conclusion. So while not straight from the front the photograph does document the wounded in relation to the campaign which was still running but there is certainly less urgency to the image due to the delayed capture.

National Library hold the negative (Ref: 1/4-004383-G) of the image which they indirectly credit to William Harding’s studio. While the negative does not have the information that the carte holds enabling attribution, I wonder if Thompson’s negative (much like other early photographers) was taken over by the later Harding studio?

Btw – Rowan’s wife (from 1873) was an Australian artist – Ellis Rowan (1848-1922).

Yet, if the portrait was taken on 1 January 1869, is it connected with any battle? The man may not have an injury connected with the military