James Coffin

Forenames

James AWMM

Surname

Coffin AWMM

Also known as

Wiri Kawhena AWMM

Service number

• WWI 60512 AWMM
• WWII 414161 AWMM
• WWII NZ414161 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

• Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
• Ngāti Maniapoto, Māori AWMM

Birth

• 21 Oct 1898 WWI Military Personnel File
• 15 Aug 1892 AWMM

Place of birth

Te Kopu

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 2 January 2026 - Military Record

Birth notes

Son of William & Rewa COFFIN

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 2 January 2026 - Military Record

Address before enlistment

• WW2 Station Road, Ohakune AWMM
• Post Office, Raetihi
  Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 2 January 2026 - Military Record

Post war occupation

Bushman

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 2 January 2026 - Military Record

Next of kin

• William Coffin (father), Raetihi, New Zealand AWMM
• WW1 Mrs Kahu Tukere, Careton Terrace, Wanganui AWMM

Relationship status

WWI - Single

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 2 January 2026 - Military Record

War

• World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
• World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

• Army AWMM
• Air Force AWMM

Service number

• WWI 60512 AWMM
• WWII 414161 AWMM
• WWII NZ414161 AWMM

Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Royal New Zealand Air Force, Aerodrome Construction Squadron AWMM

Medals and Awards

British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM

Enlistment

• WW1 Unknown AWMM Drover/Civilian AWMM
• WW2 Tractor driver/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

• WW1 31 Dec 1917-25 Feb 1918 AWMM
  HMNZT 99 AWMM Vessel was Athenic AWMM Private AWMM 25th Reinforcements AWMM Maori Contingent AWMM
• WW2 Leading Aircraftman/Military AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force, Rongotai AWMM Royal New Zealand Air Force AWMM
  2nd Embarkation AWMM

Medical notes

Medical, WWII AWMM
Noted as too stout for tropical work AWMM

Only served in England during World War II, not eligible for Victory Medal.

Service in Singapore during World War II. AWMM

Memorial name

WWI Roll of Honour, Ngāti Maniapoto's Memorial Flag Pole, Te Tokanganui-a-Noho, Te Kūiti AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Military Personnel File
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24055248
  Further Reference
• Military personnel file
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R20545878
  Further Reference
• Military Personnel File
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24589305
  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
• AERODROME UNIT, Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 7 March 1942, Page 4
  https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19420307.2.59
  Further Reference

References

• New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1918). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume III. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  76: 23
• Soutar, M. (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori In the First World War. New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd.
• List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - Embarkation Lists, November 1940 - July 1942. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845762).
• Roa, T., Paki, M., & Pūrekireki Marae. (2015). Maiea te tupua : whānau accounts of Waikato-Maniapoto World War One veterans and one conscriptee : commemorating 100 years of World War One. Pirongia : Pūrekireki Marae.
• McClintock, K., Turner, K., Searancke, M., Manawaiti, S., Meredith, P. (2024). Ngāti Maniapoto Ope Taua 1914 – 1918.
• Cowan, J. (1926). The Maoris in the Great War. Auckland, N.Z.: Maori Regimental Committee by Whitcombe & Tombs.
• Pugsley, C. (1995). Te Hokowhitu a Tu : the Maori Pioneer Battalion in the first World War. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed.
• HMNZT 99 - Te huia : the magazine of the 33rd Reinforcement. Printed and published by the Argus Printing Company for the Executive Committee of "Te Huia," 33rd Reinforcements, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1918.