Thomas Wi

Title

Gunner - Private

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Forenames

Thomas AWMM

Surname

Wi AWMM

Also known as

• Tamati Waaka Nene Te Wehiwehi Wirapakio AWMM
• Tamati Waka Nene Wirepa
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record & Research

Service number

WWI 16/486 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

• Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
• Ngā Puhi, Māori AWMM
• Ngāti Maniapoto, Māori AWMM

Religion

Church of England

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Birth

1892 Public Source

Date of birth

1892

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Place of birth

Te Kuiti

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Birth notes

son of Michael Te Wehi Wehi Wirepakio and Rangiahua Hetet

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Address before enlistment

Unknown AWMM Te Kuiti, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

Wi Kio, Te Kuiti, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

Pre 14 Feb 1915 AWMM Single AWMM

War

World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

Campaign

Egyptian & Egyptian E.F. & Western European - France

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Armed force / branch

• Army AWMM
• 1st NZ Maori Pioneer Contingent & NZ Field Artillery Division Ammunition in France
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Service number

WWI 16/486 AWMM

Military service

1914-1919

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Medals and Awards

1914-1915 Star
British War & Victory Medals

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Enlistment

• WW1 Unknown AWMM Farmer/Civilian AWMM
• 19 October 1914 at Avondale, NZ
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Age on enlistment

23 yrs

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Embarkation details

WW1 14 Feb 1915-26 Mar 1915 AWMM
HMNZT 20 AWMM Vessel was Warrimoo AWMM Private AWMM A Company AWMM 1st Maori Contingent AWMM

Medical notes

1918 In France, he was badly wounded in both his legs and feet by a shell blast

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Last rank

Gunner

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Death

15 Jul 1978 Public Source

Date of death

15 July 1978

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Age at death

86 yrs

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Place of death

Te Kuiti, NZ

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Military Record

Obituary

After the war Thomas was allocated a War Pension due to the severity of his wounds. He would end up wearing special metal leg braces and shoes to enable him to walk and would carry the pain of those wounds for the rest of his life. He would go on to marry and have a family of five children. He is remembered by his family for his large vegetable gardens and the large eels he often caught and smoked. He is also remembered for his musical abilities, joining the Te Kuiti Municipal Band after the war and also being an excellent Mandolin player. He is fondly remembered as playing the last post on his bugle at the funerals of a couple of his brothers, so it was sad for the family when the local RSA played a recording of it at his own funeral. He passed away in 1978, having lived a full life in spite of his severe war wounds, reaching the age of 85 years old.

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 August 2015 - Research

Memorial name

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

Related Serviceperson

External links

• Military personnel file
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R22019014
  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

References

• New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  Vol1: 776
• Turner, A. (1982). Turner Reunion 9th -11th April 1982. Hangatiki, N.Z.: Sutherland Print.
  Photograph in Turner Reunion Book, pub 1982.
• Soutar, M. (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori In the First World War. New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd.
• 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.