Sam Moeke

Forenames

Sam AWMM

Surname

Moeke AWMM

Service number

39105 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

• Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
• Mataatua, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM

Place of birth

Whakatane, NZ

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Research

Birth notes

6th child of Hone Kawhena Moeke and Mariana Taiuru

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Research

Address before enlistment

Unknown AWMM Poroporo, Whakatane, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

Mrs Mariana Moeke (mother), Poroporo, Whakatane, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

• Army AWMM
• 28 Maori Battalion
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - http://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/sam-moeke

Service number

39105 AWMM

Military service

• 28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM
• 1940-1941
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - http://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/sam-moeke

Enlistment

WW2 Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

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

Medical notes

Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Identified as B and C Company (Soutar, 2008) AWMM

Death

16 Dec 1941 CWGC

Date of death

16 December 1941

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 29 August 2015 - http://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/sam-moeke

Place of death

Libia

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 29 August 2015 - http://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/sam-moeke

Cause of death

Killed in Action AWMM

Death notes

BEREAVEMENT THANKS
Hone Moeke and family wish to thank all kind friends' and relations for expressing their sympathy by letters, cards and telegrams in their recent sad bereavement on behalf of No. 39105 Pte Sam Moeke, B Coy 28th Maori Battalion, killed in action December 16, 1941. Time goes on But memory never dies. Special thanks to Mir W. Sullivan and Co., and Mr Hayter. 24

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 29 August 2015 - Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 1, 9 January 1942, Page 1

Cemetery

Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya AWMM 6.C.2. AWMM

Cemetery name

Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 29 August 2015 - http://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/sam-moeke

Grave reference

Cemetery Reference: 6. C. 2.

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 29 August 2015 - http://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/sam-moeke

Obituary

Private Sam Moeke, who embarked with the 6th Reinforcements.
"He was the 6th child of Hone Kawhena Moeke and Mariana Taiuru. He was educated at Poroporo Native school.He was a labourer when he enlisted. While he was serving in the middle east, he posted a beautiful leather clutch purse to his Sister Sisi Te Rehe Moeke, who lived at Pahou Poroporo Whakatane. I It has an embossed scene of the Pyramids and a village in an oasis. Inscribed on the flap of one of the pockets is written "Love, To Sister Sisi Moeke" It is been treasured by my mother who was named after her aunt. Cissie Mamaeroa Moeke. From my mother I learned that her uncle was a bully during her childhood, but she remembered the day he left home to go to war and how sad, her grandmother was at his leaving. Little did they know he would never return. The day that the telegram was delivered was devastating for his mother and father. And even more devastating was not knowing where he was buried if at all. The years have passed, and that generation of Moeke are all deceased and so the stories are lost to our generation. I am so grateful for the Defence Department keeping information on Samuel, so we can know him and of him a little better. We don't know where his war medals are, or who has them. We know that his sacrifice is more than we can ask of anyone, to give us peace and a future in our own land. No reira e Koro, moe mai i to moenga pakanga i tawahi. A te wa ka tutaki ai tatou kia koutou kua hinga i roto ite mura a te ahi. Na te Atua runga rawa e manaaki tatau te hunga ora. Ae anei ake ake tonu atu. Amine" - Mary Ngatai-Helu

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 29 August 2015 - http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/soldier/sam-moeke

Memorial name

Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Related objects

External links

• 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
  http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
  Further Reference
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2162896
  Sources Used
• 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

References

• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
• 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 131
• Soutar, M. (2008). Nga tama toa = The price of citizenship : C Company 28 (Maori) Battalion 1939-1945. Albany, N.Z.: David Bateman.
  Portrait published in Soutar (2008)
• Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e! : Forever brave! : B Company 28 (Maori) Battalion, 1939-1945. Auckland : Bateman Books.
• Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.