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Cenotaph record

Dan Waharai

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Private D. Waharai, of Rawene, killed in action. Auckland Weekly News, 11 March 1942, p.25. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19420311-25-42.

Private D. Waharai, of Rawene, killed in action. Auckland Weekly News, 11 March 1942, p.25. Auck …

No Known Copyright Restrictions AWMM

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Dan AWMM
  • Surname
    Waharai AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    • D. Waha Rai AWMM
    • Dan Waha Rai AWMM
  • Service number
    62773 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
    Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Unknown AWMM Dargaville, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs Rai (mother), c/o P.O. Box 2, Rawene, Hokianga, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    62773 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 1941 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.290 Labourer/Civilian 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.290
    Dargaville, Northland 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.290
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Dan Waharai was the son of Waha and Maria Waharai, of Mitimiti, Northland, New Zealand.

      Prior to his enlistment, Dan worked as a farm hand and bushman. He joined up in the Dargaville district.

      Listed as D. Waha Rai on the Hokianga Memorial. Listed as Dan Waha Rai on the Nominal Roll. His surname on his home memorial is Waharai AWMM
    • Dan's mother was aka as Te Miringa & Mana Waharai. His father's name was Waha Rai. His paternal grandmother was Rai Pangari from Waima & his grandfather was Hepi Te Hauora. He was a beloved brother, son and family member Public - Tania - Direct descendant - 6 March 2024 - Whakapapa notes of our kuia Nanny Kaho (Julia) who was a sister to Papa Dan.
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    16 December 1941 AWMM
    Age 23 AWMM
    Western Desert, North Africa AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    • Alamein Memorial, El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt AWMM
    • Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
    • Hokianga Arch of Remembrance, Kohukohu, Hokianga, New Zealand AWMM
    • Mitimiti War Memorial, Hato Hemi te Whare Karakia (St James), Matihetihe, Mitimiti, Hokianga, New Zealand AWMM
    • Matihetihe School War Memorial 1939-45, Matihetihe, Mitimiti, Hokianga, New Zealand AWMM

Roll of Honour

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Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Dan Waharai

Leave a note

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  • Memories of our Koro Dan (Our Papa Wire's brother)
    Whānau remember him as humorous, witty, and with lots of love for his whānau. They say both he and his brothers were big men, just like their dad Waha. Hands were the size of a dinner plate. His mum went with him to enlist. His loss was devastating. His mum and whānau posted touching tributes in the NZ Herald for a number of years. In 1943 our mum was born and she was named Libya to remember where he fell in battle. That name continues through our family. One of mum’s mokopuna now has her name, Libya. It's a gift to our family and reminds us to treasure his memory. He was loved. He was important. He is special. Mum always wanted to go visit him in Alamein, Egypt. When the area is safe 2 visit. One of us will honour that wish for her, for his brothers & sisters, his mum, dad & whanau. See moving tributes posted in the NZ Herald
    Aroha mutunga kore
    Public - Tania - Direct descendant - 26 February 2024
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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139. AWMM
    • Northland roll of honour and servicemen of WW II [electronic resource]. (2002). Whangarei, N.Z.: Returned Services Association. AWMM
    • Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 4 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1941 to 30 June, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 4: WW2 290 AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
    • The Maltameter [edited by W.H. Gummer] H.M.A.T. 17 "Malta" October and November 1918. AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
06 March 2024TaniaAuckland Direct descendant

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