Roger Ingram Dansey

Born 1885 - Died 1938

Service number: WWI 16/317 AWMM
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
and NZ Maori Pioneer Btn 9th Reinforcements
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
1st NZ Maori Contingent
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
Last rank: —
War: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

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Roger Ingram Dansey — Nominal Roll Vol 1, Page: 173. The first two entries on this page represent the one person. Jack Daniel served first in Samoa, and reenlisted the following year. - No known copyright restrictions No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Wars and conflicts

War: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
Campaign: Egyptian - Gallipoli, Egyptian EF & Western European
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
and NZ Maori Pioneer Btn 9th Reinforcements
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
1st NZ Maori Contingent
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
Service number: WWI 16/317 AWMM
Military service: 1914-1919; Post WWWI: NZ Territorial's Officer Reserves
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers: —

Military decorations

Medals and Awards: British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
London Gazette 11 July 1919, p8836 AWMM
1914-1915 Star
British War medal
Victory Medal
Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) awarded Apr 1919: Specially Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig for distinguished & Gallant service & devotion to duty during the period 16 Sep 1918 to 15 Mar 1919
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record

Training and Enlistment

Military training: —
Branch Trade Proficiency: —
Enlistment: WW1 Unknown/Civilian AWMM
WW1 Unknown AWMM Engineer/Military AWMM
13 Nov 1914 at Avondale
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
Age on enlistment: 29yrs
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
Occupation before enlistment: —

Embarkations

Embarkation details: WW1 14 Feb 1915-26 Mar 1915 AWMM
HMNZT 20 AWMM Vessel was Warrimoo AWMM Lieutenant/Military AWMM A Company AWMM Not known AWMM
WW1 14 Jan 1916-26 Feb 1916 AWMM
HMNZT 40 AWMM Vessel was Dalmore AWMM Captain/Military AWMM Maori Officers Returning To Duty AWMM New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM

Last known rank

Last rank: Major
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
Last rank: —

Biographical information

Bother of Harry Delamere Dansey (16/1017)

Rugby representative Maori All Blacks 1910, 1911

Promoted to Captain 1915

Instrumental in rushing the trenches in the battle of Sari Bair at Gallipoli

Together with Captain Pirimi Tahiwi apparently introduced the haka 'Ka mate, ka mate, ka ora, ka ora' on the Gallipoli hills

Wife's name recorded as Sarah Daisy Millar AWMM
Roger Dansey left Rotorua for his secondary schooling, completing his education at Christ's College, Christchurch, in 1902, after which he became apprenticed for six years to a Dunedin engineering firm, John McGregor and Company. He then studied engineering at the University of Otago. His sporting ability earned him a place in the New Zealand Universities rugby team to tour Australia, and he became both an Otago and a South Island representative. He played for the Maori All Blacks in 1910 and 1911. Harry had been an athletics champion at high school and captain of the Canterbury College rugby team in 1899.

On 18 January 1912 Roger Dansey married Sarah Daisy Millar at Dunedin and commenced a new career as manager of the Oban Hotel. Their only child, Roger Delamere Tahere, was born in December of that year. The family then moved to Wellington where Roger took control of a Lower Hutt hotel, remaining there until the outbreak of war in Europe in 1914.

Roger sailed for Egypt in February 1915, as an officer in the Maori Contingent of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. After a week at El Zeitûn camp near Cairo he was detailed for garrison duty at Ghajn Tuffieha camp, Malta. A popular officer and natural leader, he was promoted to captain in October 1915. He was instrumental in the rushing of the trenches in the battle of Sari Bair at Gallipoli, and together with Captain Pirimi Tahiwi introduced the haka 'Ka mate, ka mate, ka ora, ka ora' on the Gallipoli hills.

Invalided to England after being gassed during the fighting on the Somme, in January 1917 Roger Dansey was given the responsibility of organising light railway operations in France. In December he was promoted to major. He was to remain overseas for nearly nine years after the war ended, assisting in the rehabilitation of Belgium.
Returning to New Zealand around 1927, Roger Dansey, with his wife and son, settled in Rotorua, where he was appointed welfare and unemployment officer of the Native Department. Poor health obliged him to take early retirement in 1935. He assumed a very active civic role. The personality he brought to the Rotorua Borough Council's Publicity and Amusement Committee and the organisation of the town's Christmas and New Year celebrations ensured his public prominence.

Roger Dansey died in Rotorua on 13 August 1938. The lasting effects of his war injuries had contributed to his early death. He is buried at the Muruika cemetery behind St Faith's Church at Ohinemutu, alongside his brothers Harry and George, and their Te Arawa kinsmen with whom they had served in Gallipoli and in France.
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere
Dansey was one of 3 Maori officers from the Pioneers sent back to NZ is disgrace for serious misconduct at Gallipoli.
Public - Graeme - Researcher - 6 April 2015 - NZ History (On line)Maori Units of the NZEF, page 3 ,Pioneer Battalion(at Gallipoli .

About death

Death: 1938 AWMM
Date of death: 13 Aug 1938
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - BMD NZ Records & http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere
Age at death: 53yrs
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - BMD NZ Records & http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere
Place of death: Rotorua, NZ
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - BMD NZ Records & http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere
Cause of death: —
Death notes: Roger Dansey died in Rotorua on 13 August 1938. The lasting effects of his war injuries had contributed to his early death. He is buried at the Muruika cemetery behind St Faith's Church at Ohinemutu
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - BMD NZ Records & http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere
Cemetery: —
Cemetery name: the Muruika cemetery behind St Faith's Church at Ohinemutu
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - BMD NZ Records & http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere
Grave reference: —
Obituary: MAJOR ROGER DANSEY. ROTORUA, this day. One of the prominent leaders among the Maoris, Major Roger Ingram Dansey. has died in the Rotorua Hospital where he had 'been a patient for some time. Born at Ohinemutu, Rotorua, Major Dansey received his secondary education at Christ's' College, Christchurch,. where he studied engineering. After a period as an apprentice with a Dunedin firm he continued his studies at Otago University. While there ha represented Otago at Rugby football and played against the Anglo-Welsh touring team which was beaten by the province in 1908. During the Great War Major Dansey had a conspicuously distinguished record. He was mentioned in dispatches on several occasions, and earned the admiration not only of his 'men, but also of British and New Zealand officers. After ,the war Major Dansey spent several years assisting with the rehabilitation work for the Belgian refugees. On his return to New Zealand he was appointed welfare and unemployment officer for the Native Department at Rotorua, a position in which he did valuable work for the Maoris of the district. He retained this position until about three years ago, since when he has been living in retirement.
Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 27 April 2024 - OBITUARY.
AUCKLAND STAR, VOLUME LXIX, ISSUE 191, 15 AUGUST 1938, PAGE 3
Memorial name: —
Memorial reference: —

Sources

External links: Military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R20995205
Further Reference
Other military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R7879823
Further Reference
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
http://www.dnzb.govt.nz
Further Reference
Harry Dansey
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/harry-delamere-dansey
Further Reference
Cowan, J. (1926). The Maoris in the Great War. Auckland, N.Z.: Maori Regimental Committee by Whitcombe & Tombs.
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20201108000000/https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-CowMaor.html
Further Reference
References: McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
Vol1: 173
New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
21: 42
Dansey, Harry Delamere Barter. Papers 1914-1970. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 873 (Note: Restricted. Personal & family related papers are restricted)
Soutar, M. (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori In the First World War. New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd.
Iwi, Hapū, Rohe and additional whakapapa information kindly provided from “Ngāti Raukawa and 20th century wars. Ngā Pakanga o Te Ao. Participation, Price, and Post-War Experience.” Research conducted by Te Kenehi Teira and Heeni Collins (2022). Report commissioned by Crown Forestry Rental Trust, Wellington (Wai 2200 Porirua ki Manawatu Inquiry).
New Zealand. Army. 1st Maori Contingent. Scroll of the 1st New Zealand Maori Contingent, 1915. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-624.
Cowan, J. (1926). The Maoris in the Great War. Auckland, N.Z.: Maori Regimental Committee by Whitcombe & Tombs.

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Roger Ingram Dansey

Roger Ingram Dansey

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