condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Cenotaph record

Roger Ingram Dansey

-
  • Service number
    WWI 16/317 AWMM
  • Also known as
  • Armed force / branch
    • Army AWMM
    • 1st NZ Maori Contingent Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
    • and NZ Maori Pioneer Btn 9th Reinforcements Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
  • Last rank
  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
Lay a poppy
Nominal Roll Vol 1, Page: 173. The first two entries on this page represent the one person. Jack Daniel served first in Samoa, and reenlisted the following year. - No known copyright restrictions

Nominal Roll Vol 1, Page: 173. The first two entries on this page represent the one person. Jack Dan …

Identity

About

Contribute ›

Civilian life

About birth

Contribute ›
  • Birth
    1885 AWMM Ohinemutu, Rotorua AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
    Roger Delamere Dansey, a postmaster, and his wife, Wikitoria Ngamihi Kahuao Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Research
  • Address before enlistment
    • Unknown AWMM Selkirk Street, Roslyn, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
    • Unknown AWMM Unknown address AWMM
  • Post war occupation
    Engineer/Military AWMM
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • Mrs Daisy Sarah Dansey (wife), Selkirk Street, Roslyn, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
    • Mrs D.S. Dansey (wife), Selkirk Street, Roslyn, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    • Pre 14 February 1915 AWMM Married AWMM
    • Pre 14 January 1916 AWMM Married AWMM
    • 1912 married Sarah Millar Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Research

Service

Wars and conflicts

Contribute ›
  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
  • Campaign
    Egyptian - Gallipoli, Egyptian EF & Western European Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
  • Armed force / branch
    • Army AWMM
    • 1st NZ Maori Contingent Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
    • and NZ Maori Pioneer Btn 9th Reinforcements Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
  • Service number
    WWI 16/317 AWMM
  • Military service
    1914-1919; Post WWWI: NZ Territorial's Officer Reserves Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

Contribute ›
  • Medals and Awards
    • British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
    • Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
      London Gazette 11 July 1919, p8836 AWMM
    • 1914-1915 Star
      British War medal
      Victory Medal
      Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) awarded Apr 1919: Specially Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig for distinguished & Gallant service & devotion to duty during the period 16 Sep 1918 to 15 March 1919 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record

Training and Enlistment

Contribute ›
  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment
    29yrs Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record

Embarkations

Contribute ›

Prisoner of war

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

Medical history

Contribute ›
  • Medical notes

Last known rank

Contribute ›
  • Last rank
    Major Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - Military Record

Biographical information

Biographical information

Contribute ›
    • Bother of Harry Delamere Dansey (16/1017)

      Rugby representative Maori All Blacks 1910, 1911

      Promoted to Captain 1915

      Instrumental in rushing the trenches in the battle of Sari Bair at Gallipoli

      Together with Captain Pirimi Tahiwi apparently introduced the haka 'Ka mate, ka mate, ka ora, ka ora' on the Gallipoli hills

      Wife's name recorded as Sarah Daisy Millar AWMM
    • Dansey was one of 3 Maori officers from the Pioneers sent back to NZ is disgrace for serious misconduct at Gallipoli. Public - Graeme - Researcher - 6 April 2015 - NZ History (On line)Maori Units of the NZEF, page 3 ,Pioneer Battalion(at Gallipoli .
    • Roger Dansey left Rotorua for his secondary schooling, completing his education at Christ's College, Christchurch, in 1902, after which he became apprenticed for six years to a Dunedin engineering firm, John McGregor and Company. He then studied engineering at the University of Otago. His sporting ability earned him a place in the New Zealand Universities rugby team to tour Australia, and he became both an Otago and a South Island representative. He played for the Maori All Blacks in 1910 and 1911. Harry had been an athletics champion at high school and captain of the Canterbury College rugby team in 1899.

      On 18 January 1912 Roger Dansey married Sarah Daisy Millar at Dunedin and commenced a new career as manager of the Oban Hotel. Their only child, Roger Delamere Tahere, was born in December of that year. The family then moved to Wellington where Roger took control of a Lower Hutt hotel, remaining there until the outbreak of war in Europe in 1914.

      Roger sailed for Egypt in February 1915, as an officer in the Maori Contingent of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. After a week at El Zeitûn camp near Cairo he was detailed for garrison duty at Ghajn Tuffieha camp, Malta. A popular officer and natural leader, he was promoted to captain in October 1915. He was instrumental in the rushing of the trenches in the battle of Sari Bair at Gallipoli, and together with Captain Pirimi Tahiwi introduced the haka 'Ka mate, ka mate, ka ora, ka ora' on the Gallipoli hills.

      Invalided to England after being gassed during the fighting on the Somme, in January 1917 Roger Dansey was given the responsibility of organising light railway operations in France. In December he was promoted to major. He was to remain overseas for nearly nine years after the war ended, assisting in the rehabilitation of Belgium.
      Returning to New Zealand around 1927, Roger Dansey, with his wife and son, settled in Rotorua, where he was appointed welfare and unemployment officer of the Native Department. Poor health obliged him to take early retirement in 1935. He assumed a very active civic role. The personality he brought to the Rotorua Borough Council's Publicity and Amusement Committee and the organisation of the town's Christmas and New Year celebrations ensured his public prominence.

      Roger Dansey died in Rotorua on 13 August 1938. The lasting effects of his war injuries had contributed to his early death. He is buried at the Muruika cemetery behind St Faith's Church at Ohinemutu, alongside his brothers Harry and George, and their Te Arawa kinsmen with whom they had served in Gallipoli and in France. Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere
Read more

Death

About death

Contribute ›
  • Death
    1938 AWMM
  • Date of death
    13 August 1938 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - BMD NZ Records & http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere
  • Age at death
    53yrs Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - BMD NZ Records & http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere
  • Place of death
    Rotorua, NZ Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - BMD NZ Records & http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
    the Muruika cemetery behind St Faith's Church at Ohinemutu Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 28 March 2016 - BMD NZ Records & http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

Contribute ›
  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Roger Ingram Dansey by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Roger Ingram Dansey

Leave a note

Contribute ›

Sources

Sources

Contribute ›
  • External links
  • References
    • 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. AWMM
    • New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      Vol1: 173 AWMM
    • New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      21: 42 AWMM
    • Dansey, Harry Delamere Barter. Papers 1914-1970. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 873 (Note: Restricted. Personal & family related papers are restricted) AWMM
    • Soutar, M. (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori In the First World War. New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd. AWMM
    • Iwi, Hapū, Rohe and additional whakapapa information kindly provided from “Ngāti Raukawa and 20th century wars. Ngā Pakanga o Te Ao. Participation, Price, and Post-War Experience.” Research conducted by Te Kenehi Teira and Heeni Collins (2022). Report commissioned by Crown Forestry Rental Trust, Wellington (Wai 2200 Porirua ki Manawatu Inquiry). AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
28 March 2016Lorraine MGisborne, NZResearcher
06 April 2015GraemeNZ HamiltonResearcher

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Creative Commons LicenseOnline Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.