John Ruha
Born 29 Aug 1894 - Died 21 Jul 1917
- Service number
- WWI 20630 AWMM
- Also known as
- Hoani AWMM
- John Ruha AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- 7th NZ Maori Pioneer BattalionPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Last rank
- WW1 Private AWMM New Zealand Pioneer Battalion AWMM
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
About
- Title
- PrivatePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Forenames
- John AWMM
- Surname
- Ruha AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- Hoani AWMM
- John Ruha AWMM
- Service number
- WWI 20630 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Religion
- Church of EnglandPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 29 Aug 1894 AWMM
- 29 Aug 1894 Public Source
- Date of birth
- 29 Aug 1894Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Place of birth
- Whareponga, Ruatoria East CoastPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Birth notes
- son of Pera RuhaPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Address before enlistment
- WW1 Whatatutu AWMM
- WhatatutuPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- WW1 Pera Ruha (father), Kiwikiwi Station, Te Araroa, New Zealand AWMM
- brother - Watene Ruha of Raukokere, then of TaneatuaPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Relationship status
- singlePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
- Campaign
- Western EuropeanPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- 7th NZ Maori Pioneer BattalionPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Service number
- WWI 20630 AWMM
- Military service
- New Zealand Engineers, Tunnelling Company AWMM
- 1916-1917Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- British War & Victory Medals
Plaque & Scroll # 511486Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military record
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- D Coy 9th Hawkes Bay RegtPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW1 Unknown AWMM Shearer/Civilian AWMM
- 12 May 1916 at Narrow Neck Camp, TakapunaPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Age on enlistment
- 21yrs 9mthsPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
- Occupation before enlistment
- shearer for E Tate of Arawhera Station, WhatatutuPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Military Record
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW1 19 Aug 1916-24 Oct 1916 AWMM
HMNZT 61 AWMM Vessel was Aparima AWMM Private AWMM 7th Reinforcements AWMM Maori Contingent AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW1 Private AWMM
New Zealand Pioneer Battalion AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Member of the Maori Pioneer Battalion attached to the New Zealand Tunnelling Company.
43 members of the NZ (Maori) Pioneers served with the New Zealand Tunnelling Company and assisted in the late 1916 early 1917 preparations of the Arras caverns for the Battle of Arras.
Next of Kin: Mr Watene P. Puka, Taneatua (Roll of Honour, Auckland Province 1914-1918 (Volume 2)) AWMM - NZ Tunnelling Company
43 members of the NZ (Maori) Pioneers served with our Tunnellers and assisted in the late 1916 early 1917 preparations of the Arras caverns for the Battle of Arras. Over half of these men have now been identified. Families and supporters of the NZETC would love to hear from descendants of these Pioneers. We would especially welcome a Pioneers contingent to join us in 2016 and 2017 when the Tunnelling Company memorials are unveiled, first in Waihi and then in Arras.
Left behind in the Arras caverns is an iconic image showing a fern leaf and the words Kia Ora (hello). The fern leaf would become a predominant badge in WW1. The leaf has been described as a powerful and emotional symbol of inspiration at times when it matters. Nearly one hundred years ago, we hope those that travelled through the Arras tunnels were uplifted by the fern fronds and message of welcome that speaks just as strongly to us today.
Below Pioneers currently known to have been attached to NZETC, some having also left identifying marks etched on the Arras cavern walls. - John Ruha # 20630 is included in those listedPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - https://www.facebook.com/NZTunnellingCompany/photos/a.289846287805029.67066.288844841238507/605893726200282/
- Member of the Maori Pioneer Battalion attached to the New Zealand Tunnelling Company.
About death
- Death
- 21 Jul 1917 AWMM
- Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- Underhill Farm Cemetery, Comines-Warneton, Hainaut, Belgium AWMM A. 24. AWMM
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- FOR HONORS CAUSE
RUHA. — In loving and affectionate remembrance of John Ruha, killed in action in France, July 21st, 1917, aged 19 years.
Inserted by his brother and sister-in-law.Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 4 June 2023 - POVERTY BAY HERALD, VOLUME XLV, ISSUE 14662, 20 JULY 1918, PAGE 2 - Memorial name
- Gisborne's War MemorialPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 9 February 2016 - Research
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- St Mary's Church Memorial Board, Tikitiki near Rangitukia, East Coast, New Zealand AWMM
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 1 Hall of Memories AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R20808497
Further Reference - New Zealand Electronic Text Collection topic page
http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/name-130745.html
Further Reference - 'Tikitiki church war memorial ', URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/tikitiki-church-war-memorial, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 29-Oct-2014
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/tikitiki-church-war-memorial
Further Reference - A Street Near You record
https://astreetnearyou.org/person/445265/-
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission Casualty record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/445265
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 - New Zealand War Graves Trust
https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/
Further Reference
- Military personnel file
- References
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
38: 40 - Soutar, M. (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori In the First World War. New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd.
- Roll of Honour, Auckland Province (digital copy), 1914 - 1919. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2016-2.
- 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.
- Neill, J.C. (Ed.). (1922). The New Zealand Tunnelling Company, 1915-1919. Auckland, N.Z.: Whitcombe & Tombs.
- Annabell, N. Official History of the New Zealand Engineers during the Great War 1914–1919. Wanganui: Evans, Cobb & Sharpe, 1927.
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
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