Mika Puru
Born 6 Jun 1893 - Died 29 May 1947
- Service number
- WWI 16/104 AWMM
- Also known as
- Michael PuruPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military record
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- NZ Maori Pioneer BattalionPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Last rank
- —
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
About
- Title
- PrivatePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Forenames
- Mika AWMM
- Surname
- Puru AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- Michael PuruPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military record
- Service number
- WWI 16/104 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
- Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Ngā Iwi o Horouta, Horouta, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM
- Religion
- Church of EnglandPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 6 Jun 1893 Public Source
- Date of birth
- 6 June 1893Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Place of birth
- GisbornePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Birth notes
- —
- Address before enlistment
- Unknown AWMM Ohinemutu, Rotorua, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- Mihi Mere Tutapu, Te Arai, Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 14 Feb 1915 AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
- Campaign
- Egyptian & Egyptian EF - GallipoliPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- NZ Maori Pioneer BattalionPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Service number
- WWI 16/104 AWMM
- Military service
- 1914-1916Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- 1914-1915 Star & British War & Victory MedalsPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW1
- 14 November 1914 at AvondalePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Age on enlistment
- 21 yrs 5mthsPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Occupation before enlistment
- Farm WorkerPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW1 14 Feb 1915-26 Mar 1915 AWMM
HMNZT 20 AWMM Vessel was Warrimoo AWMM Private AWMM B Company AWMM 1st Maori Contingent AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- 1916 trouble with lungs - invalided homePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
Last known rank
- Last rank
- PrivatePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13662, 19 April 1915, Page 8
A MAORI SOLDIER'S LETTER.
A member of the Maori Expeditionary Force, Mika Puru, writes the following interesting letter to his uncle, Mr Ruatapu Tutapu, under date March 20.
"Dear Uncle, I have to write you a correspondence to show or to let you know the result of our departure from New Zealand. Well, uncle, I hope to hear that you are in good form, and also the old grandfather Hemi and many others. As for I and my brother Epiha it is pai on. Well, uncle, when we left Wellington I felt sorry for the people and also for the Motherland. But it does not matter much as long as I follow the footsteps of our forefather of the stone age, as they say, a crossing the great ocean of the future there, for the reason it does not matter much.
After leaving Wellington for Australia it took us fully 14 days from New Zealand to Albany, and from Albany to Colombo 18 days and on our way to Egypt we are making ourselves us if we were at home.
We used to enjoy ourselves, and have games of all sorts. Boxing is the most interesting game of all, for, telling you the truth, no one in the whole Maori contingent could beat me for boxing for my own weight. Well, uncle, this letter was written to you in Colombo garrison hall in mv spare time. We had four days out in Colombo. We used to give the people in Colombo a haka of all kinds, just to give, us exercise if we get to Egypt. I will write to you again. It takes two or three weeks from Colombo to Egypt, and then to the barracks. Other than that I could not tell you for sure whether we are going to the firing line or not. Anyway, I'll tell you if we happen to be going to the firing line. Another thing I want to tell you is that our officers are very good to us. Our captain of the Maori contingent is Captain W. Pitt, brother of C. Pitt. He is very kind to us, and we were kind to him. Well, uncle, I must, conclude my letter for time to parade, and wish you good luck. From yours, Mika PuruPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13662, 19 April 1915, Page 8
About death
- Death
- 29 May 1947 Public Source
- Date of death
- 12 dec 1935Public - Irene - Direct descendant - 23 April 2023 - Gisborne Herald Dec 1935. Coroners Report 1936
- 29 May 1947Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- 12 dec 1935
- Age at death
- 54 yrsPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Place of death
- Whatatutu, GisbornePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Military Record
- Cause of death
- —
- Death notes
- Gisb Herald Dec 1935: died Mick PURU =Maude NIKORA Rupture of right ventricle. Was found dead on the side of the road. Last seen by Maude at 5am riding his horse. Was going to get his cows. Still attached to his horse.Public - Irene - Direct descendant - 23 April 2023 - Gisborne Herald Dec 1935. Coroners Report 1936
- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
- Te Onehau, Mangatu, GisbornePublic - Irene - Direct descendant - 23 April 2023 - Gisborne Herald Dec 1935. Coroners Report 1936
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- Gisb Herald Dec 1935: died Mick PURU =Maude NIKORA Rupture of right ventricle. Was found dead on the side of the road. Last seen by Maude at 5am riding his horse. Was going to get his cows. Still attached to his horse.Public - Irene - Direct descendant - 23 April 2023 - Gisborne Herald Dec 1935. Coroners Report 1936
- Memorial name
- Has RSA plaque with Date Of death 1935 not 1947Public - Irene - Direct descendant - 23 April 2023 - Gisborne Herald Dec 1935. Coroners Report 1936
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- —
Sources
- External links
- Military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R20803424
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
- Pugsley, C. (1995). Te Hokowhitu a Tu : the Maori Pioneer Battalion in the first World War. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed.
- New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
Page No: 597 - New Zealand. Army. 1st Maori Contingent. Scroll of the 1st New Zealand Maori Contingent, 1915. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-624.
- Soutar, M. (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori In the First World War. New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd.
- Cowan, J. (1926). The Maoris in the Great War. Auckland, N.Z.: Maori Regimental Committee by Whitcombe & Tombs.
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