William Smith

Title

Private

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military Record

Forenames

William AWMM

Surname

Smith AWMM

Also known as

William Eparaima Wharekura ROPITINI

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 8 November 2024 - Aaron PAREKURA as per "Leave a Mote"

Service number

WWI 20734 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM

Religion

Church of England

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military Record

Birth

2 Jun 1895 AWMM

Date of birth

• Actual is 2 June 1900 - lied at age of enlistment
  Public - Charles - Direct descendant - 30 August 2018 - Family files
• 2 June 1895
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military record

Place of birth

• Nuhaka, Hawke’s Bay
  Public - Charles - Direct descendant - 30 August 2018 - Family papers
• Gisborne, NZ
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military record

Birth notes

• Son of Matawhiua Ropitini
  Public - Charles - Direct descendant - 30 August 2018 - Whakapopa charts
• son of Matawhaua Smith of Te Arai
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military record

Address before enlistment

Morningside, Auckland

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military record

Next of kin

• WW1 Matawhaua Smith (father), Te Arai, Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
• Matawhiua Ropitini (Father) of Nuhaka, Hawke’s Bay
  Public - Charles - Direct descendant - 30 August 2018 - Whakahono-a-Rohe charts

Relationship status

• Husband of Apihaka Hone Ropitini (born Rewi)
  Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 8 November 2024 - NZ BDM Marriage Records
• single
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military record

War

World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

Campaign

Western European

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military Record

Armed force / branch

• Army AWMM
• 8th Reinforcements NZ Maori Contingent
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military Record

Service number

WWI 20734 AWMM

Military service

1917-1919

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military Record

Enlistment

• WW1 Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM
• 16 June 1916 at Narrow Neck, Auckland
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military Record

Age on enlistment

21yrs

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 31 December 2015 - Military Record

Embarkation details

WW1 23 Sep 1916-19 Nov 1916 AWMM
HMNZT 65 AWMM Vessel was Pakeha AWMM Private AWMM 8th Reinforcements AWMM Maori Contingent AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Military personnel file
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R7819477
  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

References

• Information kindly provided by family
• New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  41: 40
• 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.
• Pugsley, C. (1995). Te Hokowhitu a Tu : the Maori Pioneer Battalion in the first World War. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed.
• HMNZT 65 - Pakeha : the journal of the Seventeenth Reinforcements H.M.N.Z. Transport 65 (S.S."Pakeha"). Pilling, E.G. (Ewen George), editor. McGhie, J.G. (John Gordon), editor. Bell, R.B. (Robert Brown), editor. -- At sea : Officers and men, 17th Reinforcements : 1916.