Ian Tawhai Kura Kohere

I whānau mai i te 4 Mar 1886 - I mate atu i te 27 Mar 1956

Nama Hōia: WWI 16/110 AWMM
Ingoa kārangaranga: Benjamin AWMM
Tawhai Kohere AWMM
Tawhai Mokena Kohere AWMM
Ian Tawhai Kura Kohere AWMM
Ta-whai Kohere AWMM
Corporal Fine Day AWMM
Kōhere AWMM
Te Ope o Tū / te peka: Army AWMM
Te tūnga whakamutunga: WW1 New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion AWMM
Pakanga: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

Mātātuhi

Lay a poppy

Ian Tawhai Kura Kohere — (L-R) 2/Lt Henare Kohere and brother Pte Tawhai Kohere, dep. 206 (1). Image kindly provided by Kohere whanau (December 2019).Image has no known copyright restictions. No Known Copyright Restrictions

Whakaatu mai ngā āpure e wātea ana Hunaia ngā mātāwai kōrero

Ngā pakanga me ngā whawhai

Pakanga: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
Kauhanga riri: 1915-1916 AWMM Gallipoli AWMM
1914-1919 AWMM Western Front AWMM
1914-1916 AWMM Egypt AWMM
Te Ope o Tū / te peka: Army AWMM
Nama Hōia: WWI 16/110 AWMM
Urunga ki te ope taua: School Cadets at Te Aute AWMM
NZ Field Ambulance 1915 AWMM
Whakapikinga / Tukunga / Whakawhitinga: —

Ngā tohu taumata rau ope taua

Mētara me ngā Tohu: 1914-1915 Star AWMM
British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
Victory Medal with oak leaf AWMM
Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
MiD. 9 April 1917. Supplement to London Gazette AWMM

Te Whakangungu me te Urunga atu

Whakangungu ope taua: —
Branch Trade Proficiency: —
Te urunga: WW1 15 Oct 1914 AWMM
Age 27 AWMM
Farmer/Civilian AWMM
Pakeke i te whakaurunga: —
Mahi i mua i te ekenga waka: —

Te maha o ngā ekenga waka

Taipitopito ekenga waka: WW1 14 Feb 1915-26 Mar 1915 AWMM
HMNZT 20 AWMM Vessel was Warrimoo AWMM Corporal/Military AWMM B Company AWMM 1st Maori Contingent AWMM

Whakapapa hauora

Tuhinga hauora: Height, Unknown Period AWMM
5 feet 7.5 inches AWMM
Weight, Unknown Period AWMM
151 pounds AWMM
Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
Admitted 1917 TB AWMM
Died of Sickness, Cause of Death AWMM
Illness AWMM

Te tūnga whakamutunga e mōhiotia ana

Te tūnga whakamutunga: WW1 28 Mar 1918 AWMM
Discharged no longer physically fit for service on account of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis contractracted on active service AWMM New Zealand (Maori) Pioneer Battalion AWMM
Te tūnga whakamutunga: —

Kōrero taurongo

Brother of Henare Kohere (16/1018)

Tawhai is the youngest son of Henarata Bristlow and Hone Hiki Kohere, and grandson of Mokena Kohere. Attended Te Aute College, like his older brothers, Reweti, Pohipi, and Henare.

Attested in Te Araroa, he was promoted to acting Corporal March 1916, confirmed April 1916; reverted to rank Private on own request.

Attested as Tawhai Kohere. Former servicemen's rehabilitaion files listed as Ian Tawhai Kura Kohere. Death registration listed as Tawhai Mokena Kohere.

Throughout the First World War Private Tawhai wrote letters home to his mother, the first letter is dated August 20th, 1915 and is follows - "I hope you and yourself again. I am very well, though in contant danger every day. Your letters have come. So you have another son (Lieut. Henare Kohere) on his way to the front, where many another mother's son is fighting for a righteous cause. You should feel it an honor to have two sons on active service; in fact, you should be happy till the end of your days. Be brave! the day will come when we shall meet again. Don't save any of the money I send you - never mind me - I have yet life before me. I suppose your grandchildren are growing. My love to them. My thoughts often wander back to the old spots - Rangiata and Tarata. May God preserve us till me meet again (Sankey 494). - Your Benjamin on active service, T. M. Kohere"

A second letter dated September 1st, 1915 is as follows, "I got your letter and Poi's yesterday. I wrote you andother letter last month when I received the news that Harry was on his way to the front. I feel for his children Mother, I want you to be brave and strong - you have your grandchildren to comfort you. There's time for everything thing, and your two sons have thought is a time for making sacrifices. Of course I know you are suffering more than we do - the suffering is all on your part--but, we be brave; there's a rejoicing coming. I am cheered to hear you are all very well. The survivours of the Maori Contingent have been merged into the New Zealand Brigade, who have been terribly cut up. We still, of course, retain our name - Maori Contingent. The units on arrival of the reinforcements, will be reorganised. Half of our contingent are sick, wounded, or killed; the other half are still keeping the fires buring on the slopes of Gallipoli. Enoka (Enoka Potae, 16/81) and I were in the second big attack - we were with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. It was a fierce attack - bullets showered like rain and shrapnels were bursting in all directions. I can't describe to you my feelings when we were charging. This time we attacked in broad daylight. The attack was heralded by the booming of the guns. It was fearful. we took two trenches - then the enemy fled. About half our number reached our objective. For three days we had to hand on the positions we had taken before we could be relieved. We then fell back to take breath. The water carriers were unable to bring us water while we were hanging on to our position, and I would have given anything for a drink of water then. However, we were all thankful to God for seeing us through this fight."

Both of these letters written to his mother Henarata Kohere were published in the Hawera and Normanby Star, 5 November 1915 AWMM

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Ian Tawhai Kura Kohere