Tokena Pokai

Ngā ingoa tuatahi

Tokena AWMM

Ingoa whānau

Pokai AWMM

Nama Hōia

39139 AWMM

Ira tangata

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM

Wāhi noho i mua i te whakaurunga

Unknown AWMM Mangatuna, New Zealand AWMM

Uri kiritahi

Miss Tipi Pokai (sister), Ruatoria, New Zealand AWMM

Mēnā he hoa rangatira tōna

Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

Pakanga

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Te Ope o Tū / te peka

Army AWMM

Nama Hōia

39139 AWMM

Te urunga

WW2 Labourer/Civilian AWMM

Taipitopito ekenga waka

WW2 Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Second Echelon AWMM

Tuhinga hauora

Accidental Death, Cause of Death AWMM
Accidentally killed on active service AWMM

Te tūnga whakamutunga

Private AWMM
28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM

Matenga

5 Sept 1940 AWMM
Age  22 AWMM

Te momo matenga

Accidental Death AWMM

Urupā

Maidstone Cemetery, Kent, England AWMM Plot C.C.1. Grave 103. AWMM

Pānui Matenga

MAORI DISPATCH RIDER ROAD ACCIDENT VICTIM LONDON, Sept. 23. A Maori military funeral took place at a cemetery in Kent, when Private Tokena Pokai, aged 22, a dispatch rider, killed in a road accident, was buried. A contingent of smart Maori troops followed the coffin, which was covered with a Union Jack, and at the cemetery chapel a Guard of Honour stood with arms reversed and bowed heads. The service, which was conducted in Maori, except for an address by Lieutenant-Colonel G, V. Gerard, C.F., Bishop of Waiapu, was taken by Captain the Rev. K. T. Harawira, C.F. Bishop Gerard said it was a sad fate that had befallen their comrade, but it was part of the period of adventure which had come to them, and in such days death came sometimes by accident as well as through active service. These things could not always be avoided, sad though they were. Photographs of the funeral service would be sent to the victim’s parents. Captain the Rev. Harawira referred to the fact that that was the first casualty the Maori Battalion had experienced. He extended sympathy to the dead man’s two brothers, who were serving in the same battalion, and who were the chief mourners at the funeral.

A bugler sounded “The Last Post” and “Reveille,” and volleys were fired by riflemen. A Maori oration was delivered by Captain Werohia. There were many wreaths from New Zealand officers, n.c.o.s, and men.

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 30 April 2023 - MILITARY FUNERAL
GISBORNE HERALD, VOLUME LXVII, ISSUE 20389, 28 OCTOBER 1940, PAGE 5

Ingoa maumaharatanga

• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
• Gisborne First World War Memorial, The Esplanade, Kaiti, Gisborne AWMM

Mea e whai hononga ai

Hononga ki waho

• 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
  http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
  Further Reference
• Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington: Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy.
  https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210104000423/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Maor.html
  Further Reference
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2654619
  Sources Used

Ngā tuhinga

• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
• Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 2 (Embarkations to 30th June, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  WW2 2: WW2 150