William Rakeipoho Bennett
Born 1895-1900 - Died 18 Aug 1974
- Service number
- WWI 16/389 AWMM
- WWII 801890 AWMM
- Also known as
- Wiremu Rakeipoho Bennett AWMM
- aka Toby BennettPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 12 March 2016 - Research
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- WW1 Sergeant Military personnel file New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Military personnel file
- WW2 Temporary Lieutenant Military personnel file
- War
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- William Rakeipoho AWMM
- Surname
- Bennett AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- Wiremu Rakeipoho Bennett AWMM
- aka Toby BennettPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 12 March 2016 - Research
- Service number
- WWI 16/389 AWMM
- WWII 801890 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Religion
- Church of England, Christian AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 1895-1900 Military personnel file
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- Moawhango, Manawatu, New ZealandPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 12 March 2016 - Military Record
- Birth notes
- son of Henry Dargaville BENNETT & Ngapera nee' PINEPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 12 March 2016 - Research
- Address before enlistment
- WW1 Pre 25 Oct 1914 AWMM Taihape, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- Member of Parliament/Civilian AWMM
- Next of kin
- WW1 H.D. Bennett, P.O. Box 20, Taihape, New Zealand AWMM
- WW2 H.W. Wanganui AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 14 Feb 1915 AWMM Single/WWI AWMM
- 1940 AWMM Married/WWII AWMM
Married, 4 children AWMM - 1920 married Hiira WharawharaPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 12 March 2016 - Research
Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
- 1914-1916 AWMM Egypt AWMM
- 1915-1916 AWMM Gallipoli AWMM
- 1914-1919 AWMM Western Front AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWI 16/389 AWMM
- WWII 801890 AWMM
- Military service
- Territorials (7 months) AWMM
- 43 Company - Senior Cadets AWMM
- 2nd Maori Battalion AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
Military Medal. Gallant conduct on August 8th 1915 at Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, whilst Private in Machine Gun Section. The M.G Officer and NCO were killed and wounded. Private Bennett continued working the machine gun under heavy fire until it was withdrawn. Throughout the Chunuk Bair battle, he handled his gun with the greatest coolness and bravery. London Gazette Supplement 11 Oct 1916. p. 9839 AWMM - 1914-1915 Star AWMM
- British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
- Victory Medal AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW1 25 Oct 1914 Military personnel file
Age 19 AWMM
Farmer/Civilian Military personnel file - WW2 01 Oct 1940 Military personnel file
Age 40 AWMM
Transport driver/Civilian Military personnel file
- WW1 25 Oct 1914 Military personnel file
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW1 14 Feb 1915-26 Mar 1915 Military personnel file
HMNZT 20 Military personnel file Vessel was Warrimoo AWMM Private Military personnel file A Company Military personnel file 1st Maori Contingent AWMM - WW2 Wellington West Coast Regiment AWMM New Zealand Territorial Force AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM
- WW1 14 Feb 1915-26 Mar 1915 Military personnel file
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- 22 Oct 1914 AWMM Height, WWI AWMM
5 feet 9 inches AWMM - 22 Oct 1914 AWMM Weight, Unknown Period AWMM
161 pounds AWMM - 22 Oct 1914 AWMM Complexion, WWI AWMM
Dark AWMM - 22 Oct 1914 AWMM Eye colour, WWI AWMM
Brown AWMM - 27 Sept 1916 AWMM Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
Wounded in France at Somme Front, he was charging a bomb when it was hit by German schrapnel. The bomb exploded in his left hand before he could throw it away. AWMM - Oct 1916 AWMM Wounds Diseases Etc., WWI AWMM
Lost tip of thumb and three fingers of left hand AWMM - 3 Oct 1916 AWMM Wounds Diseases Etc., WWI AWMM
Evacuated to England, admitted Brockenhurst AWMM - 28 Oct 1916 AWMM Wounds Diseases Etc., WWI AWMM
Invalided to NZ on the HS Maheno AWMM - Height, WWI AWMM
5' 9" AWMM - Weight, WWI AWMM
161 lb AWMM - Other, WWI AWMM
Nature of Injury: G.S.W. left hand Pension: 10/- Percent of disability: [Not stated] Source: New Zealand. Army (1920). List of the names of all ex-members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, suffering permanent disability from 20% to 100% AWMM
- 22 Oct 1914 AWMM Height, WWI AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW1 18 Jan 1917 Military personnel file Sergeant Military personnel file
New Zealand Pioneer Battalion Military personnel file - WW2 17 May 1943 Military personnel file Temporary Lieutenant Military personnel file
- WW1 18 Jan 1917 Military personnel file Sergeant Military personnel file
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Son of Henry and Wereta Bennett (nee Pine).
In WWI his birth date is listed as 1895, enlisting for World War 2 he gave his date of birth as 16 April 1900
World War I Service record: New Zealand - 108 days service, 25 October 1914 - 9 February 1915; Egypt - 11 days service, 26 March 1915 - 5 April 1915, Discharged 18 January 1917. Spent a total of 1 year and 310 days overseas and 2 years and 86 days in total service. Incorrectly noted as a member of the New Zealand Maori Pioneer Battalion at discharge in January 1917.
World War 2 Service record: 1 October 1940- 1 January 1941; 24 February 1941- 16 March 1943. Three years, 3 months, 20 days.
Discharged on account of being unfit for service due to wounds received in action.
At this point Mr Bennett had rendered a total of 2 years and 86 days service to the Army, 1 year and 310 of these days being served overseas - Egypt and Western Europe.
He did not embark from New Zealand for WW2.
He is mentioned twice in James Cowan, Maori in the Great War : reference to his Military Medal and the the events surrounding his wounding in France. Medals dispatched from Wellington.
Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Present address (as listed in New Zealand. Army (1920). List of the names of all ex-members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, suffering permanent disability from 20% to 100%): Taihape
Maori politician for Te Tai Hauāuru with the National Party. AWMM - DEEDS OF GALLANTRY - Pioneer Battalion Sergt. R. Angel, Private H. Rawhiti, Sergt, W R Bennett, Sergt. Rotoatara, Corporal R H Flutey, Corporal T. P. Sidney, Corporal R. Otehe. - awarded the Military MedalPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 18 January 2016 - Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14169, 11 December 1916, Page 5
- Son of Henry and Wereta Bennett (nee Pine).
About death
- Death
- 18 Aug 1974 AWMM
Age 74 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- —
- Death notes
- William Rapeipoho Bennett died 18 Aug 1974 in Rotorua aged 74yrs (born 16 Apr 1900)Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 12 March 2016 - BMD NZ Record & Military Record
- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Sources
- External links
- Military Personnel File
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24054475
Further Reference - Military Personnel File
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24096160
Further Reference - Paterson, Lachy. (24 October 2020). The forgotten Maori Battalion. maorihomefront.nz
https://www.maorihomefront.nz/en/whanau-stories/the-forgotten-maori-battalion/
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
- Military Personnel File
- References
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
Vol1: 50 - McDonald, W. (2001). Honours and awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. Napier, N.Z.: Helen McDonald.
p. 29 - NZEF Peter Dennis, UNSW Canberra
- New Zealand. Army (1920). List of the names of all ex-members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, suffering permanent disability from 20% to 100%, compiled from returns supplied by the Commissioner of Pensions, in respect to: a) Permanent War Pensions, and from returns supplied by the Director-General of Medical Services, regarding: b) Discharged and undischarged hospital patients, assessed as suffering permanent disability, but not yet in receipt of a pension at date (28-4-20). New Zealand. Director-General of Medical Services. NZ Times Co. (Printer).
- Soutar, M. (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori In the First World War. New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd.
- Information kindly provided by family
- Ko te Reo Huringa Tau o te Ope Maori Tuarua, i noho ki Remuera, Ohaeawai, 1942-43: The Anniversary Magazine of the Second Maori Battalion, Remuera, Ohaeawai 1942-1943. Patrick Smyth Papers, MS-2002-147, Auckland War Memorial Museum.
- Nominal Roll of Members of the 2nd Maori Battalion, 26th January 1943. Part of the 2nd Maori Battalion Anniversary Magazine. (MS-2002-147). Auckland War Memorial Museum.
- McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
- New Zealand. Army. 1st Maori Contingent. Scroll of the 1st New Zealand Maori Contingent, 1915. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-624.
- 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.
- Waite, F. (1919). The New Zealanders at Gallipoli. Auckland, N.Z.: Printed and published under Authority of the New Zealand Government by Whitcombe & Tombs.
- Father was Henry Dargaville Bennett, Mother was Ngapera Tu Huiarei PinePublic - Jay Ross - Direct descendant - 29 October 2016 - Familysearch.org
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
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