Harry Delamere Barter Dansey
Born 1 Nov 1920 - Died 6 Nov 1979
- Service number
- WWII 376544 AWMM
- Also known as
- Harry Dehamene Barter AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- WW2 Sergeant AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- Harry Delamere Barter AWMM
- Surname
- Dansey AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- Harry Dehamene Barter AWMM
- Service number
- WWII 376544 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
- Te Arawa, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM
- Tainui, Māori AWMM
- Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngā Iwi o Te Arawa, Te Arawa, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM
- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 1 Nov 1920 AWMM
- Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
- Son of Harry Delamere Dansey & Winifred Patience nee' BarterPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 7 June 2024 - https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5d3/dansey-harry-delamere-barter
- Address before enlistment
- WW2 C/o Y.M.C.A, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- Next of kin
- WW2 Mrs L.M. Dansey (wife), C/o Mr R. Hikaka, Oeo, Manaia, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 31 Mar 1944 AWMM Married AWMM
- On 19 May 1943 at Ōeo, Manaia, Taranaki, Harry Dansey married Te Rina Makarita (Lena Margret) HīkakaPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 7 June 2024 - https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5d3/dansey-harry-delamere-barter
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- North Africa AWMM
- Italy AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWII 376544 AWMM
- Military service
- 28 (Maori) Battalion, D Company AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
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Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 Warehouseman/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Temporary Sergeant AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
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Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW2 1946 AWMM Sergeant AWMM
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Name mispelt on the Nominal Roll as Dehamene.
Harry Delamere Barter Dansey (Ngāti Raukawa, Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa) was born in Greenlane, Auckland, on 1 November 1920, the eldest of four children of civil engineer Harry Delamere Dansey and Winifred Patience Barter. He grew up in Rotorua, where his early exposure to te ao Māori, combined with time spent at Auckland Institute and Museum, shaped a lifelong engagement with Māori history, language, and culture.
Dansey served with the New Zealand Army during World War II, enlisting with 28 (Māori) Battalion. He embarked for Egypt in March 1944 and served in North Africa and Italy. During his service he was frequently tasked with gathering and reporting intelligence, using his drawing skills to sketch buildings and landscapes of strategic interest. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Sergeant.
After the war, Dansey trained as a journalist and built a prominent career as a writer, cartoonist, broadcaster, and local politician. His work focused on Māori and Pacific affairs, tikanga, and race relations. In 1974 he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to journalism, and in 1975 became New Zealand’s second Race Relations Conciliator. He died on 6 November 1979 and is buried at Muruika Urupā, Ōhinemutu, Rotorua (Profile written for “A Flight to Remember”, an Anzac Day 2026 initiative by Online Cenotaph and Air New Zealand).
Harry Dansey had a longstanding association with the Museum, beginning during his career as a journalist and continuing through his appointment as a representative of the Auckland City Council and was known for his contribution as an orator and spokesperson. AWMM - In 1974 Harry Dansey was made an MBE for his services to journalismPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 7 June 2024 - https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5d3/dansey-harry-delamere-barter
- Name mispelt on the Nominal Roll as Dehamene.
About death
- Death
- 6 Nov 1979 AWMM
- Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
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- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Muruika Cemetery, Ohinemutu, Rotorua, New Zealand AWMM
- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
- A former member of the Council and long time supporter of the Museum, Mr H. D. B. Dansey. died in November. Mr Dansey was Race Relations Conciliator until shortly before his death. Mr Dansey’s association with the Museum Council began during his career as a journalist, and continued during his term as a representative of the Auckland City Council. He was tireless in his assistance to the Museum, and served as its orator and spokesman on many occasions which he graced with his eloquence.
Haere ra, e nga mate, haere, haere, haeri ki te po (Auckland Museum Annual Report, 1979–1980, Auckland Institute and Museum). AWMM - Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
http://www.dnzb.govt.nz
Sources Used - 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
Further Reference - Essay, Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=5D3
Further Reference - Online Cenotaph Feature
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/harry-delamere-dansey
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 - Auckland Museum Annual Report, 1979–1980, Auckland Institute and Museum
https://archive.org/details/AucklandMuseumAnnualReport1979-1980/page/n13/mode/2up?q=harry+dansey
Further Reference
- Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
- References
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 13 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1944 to 31st March, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
p.31 - 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.
- This record was part of “A Flight to Remember”, an Anzac Day 2026 commemorative partnership between Online Cenotaph and Air New Zealand, where service stories were shared onboard a dawn flight from Auckland to Sydney.
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 13 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1944 to 31st March, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
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