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Cenotaph record

Toi Karini

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  • Service number
    WWI 20680 AWMM
  • Also known as
  • Armed force / branch
    • Army AWMM
    • NZ Maori Pioneer Battalion Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military Record
  • Last rank
  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
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Nominal Roll Vol 2 (Roll 38), Page: 40 - No known copyright restrictions

Nominal Roll Vol 2 (Roll 38), Page: 40 - No known copyright restrictions

Identity

About

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  • Title
    Private Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military Record
  • Forenames
    Toi AWMM
  • Surname
    Karini AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWI 20680 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
    Iwi Māori AWMM
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion
    Church of England Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military Record

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    1894 Public Source
  • Date of birth
    1894 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military Record
  • Place of birth
    Tolaga Bay, East Coast Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military Record
  • Birth notes
    Son of Te Haua Karini and Paku Tuangi Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military Record
  • Address before enlistment
    Tolaga Bay Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military Record
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW1 Hana Karini (father), Mangatuna, Tolaga Bay, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    single
    Husband of Ani Piki Taitua Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military Record

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 (Belgian) AWMM
      London Gazette 17 December 1917, p13206 "For distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign" AWMM
    • Victory Medal AWMM
    • British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
    • British War Medal
      Victory Medal
      Croix de Guerre (French - 3 July 1917) Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military record
    • One of the Pioneers who served with the Tunnellers was Toi Karini. Karini subsequently received the French honour, the Croix de Guerre. Karini was severely wounded in Flanders when the NZ Pioneer Battalion and the NZ Rifle Brigade were temporarily attached to the French 1st Army. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for meritorious service. The award was made by the General Officer Commanding the French 1st Army and was reported as being presented for an act of gallantry at Ypres Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 13 March 2016 - https://www.facebook.com/NZTunnellingCompany/photos/a.289846287805029.67066.288844841238507/605893726200282/?type=1&theater

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    • WW1 Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM
    • 30 May 1916 at Narrow Neck Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military record
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment
    22yrs Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military record

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
    Toi Karini was wounded in battle at Cambrai, France, as a member of the 22nd Reinforcements, in 1917 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Military record

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Member of the Maori Pioneer Battalion attached to the New Zealand Tunnelling Company.

      43 members of the NZ (Maori) Pioneers served with the New Zealand Tunnelling Company and assisted in the late 1916 early 1917 preparations of the Arras caverns for the Battle of Arras. AWMM
    • Private Toi Karini, of Tolaga Bay who arrived at Auckland last week, has been decorated with the Croix de Guerre. He went to France with the 22nd Reinforcements, and was wounded at Cambrai. His next of kin is given as Hana Karini, Tolaga. Bay. He left Auckland by the Arahura on Saturday and is understood to have landed at Tokomaru Bay yesterday Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - RETURNING HOME. - Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14496, 7 January 1918, Page 3
    • Whānau receive replacement citation for Māori war hero Toi Karani
      It's taken more than 50 years, but today the family of Māori war hero Toi Karini from Tolaga Bay has finally received a replacement citation to accompany his Croix de Guerre (Cross of War) medal for gallantry during WWI after it got washed away in the Gisborne floods in 1963.
      It was an emotional moment for the Karini whānau who were finally able to fulfil their pāpā's wishes.
      Angela Karini says, “It's so amazing for us, the family Karini, to come here and see how much love the tribe and everyone has for him.”
      Private Toi Karini had tried desperately to get a replacement citation after it was washed away in the floods, but wasn't able to fulfil his desire before his passing in 1974.
      Angela Karini says, “When he originally received his medal he was part of the ally's for England during that time.”
      The family of Robert Walker also received a certificate of thanks for his contributions made to the safety of the French during World War I.
      Eru Kaiwai says, “It is a great honour for the family but it's unfortunate for those who served alongside him that didn't receive a certificate like this too.”
      Their young descendants came out in force to not only to honour these two men, but all their ancestors before them who served. Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/whanau-receive-replacement-citation-maori-war-hero-toi-karani
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    10 December 1974 Public Source
  • Date of death
    10 December 1974 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Gisborne's Cemetery Records
  • Age at death
    78yrs Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Gisborne's Cemetery Records
  • Place of death
    Gisborne, NZ Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Gisborne's Cemetery Records
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
    Taruheru Cemetery, Gisborne Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Gisborne's Cemetery Records
  • Grave reference
    Block RSA; Plot 721; Warrant # 13941 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 27 February 2016 - Gisborne's Cemetery Records
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • McDonald, W. (2001). Honours and awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. Napier, N.Z.: Helen McDonald. AWMM
      p.135 AWMM
    • New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      38: 40 AWMM
    • Soutar, M. (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori In the First World War. New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd. AWMM
    • 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

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
13 April 2016JEAN YVESfrance cambraiOther
13 March 2016Lorraine MGisborne, NZResearcher

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