Gaston Florian

Forenames

Gaston AWMM

Surname

Florian AWMM

Also known as

Flanton AWMM

Service number

• WWI 20801 AWMM
• WWII 5/1/993 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

• Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
• Fijian AWMM
• Reunion Island African
  Public - Jos Lennon Florian - Direct descendant - 26 March 2025 - Family oral history, Ancestry DNA analysis, and this book from the National Library: https://natlib.govt.nz/records/31211183?search%5Bpath%5D=items&search%5Btext%5D=florian+family

Birth

24 Aug 1885 AWMM

Birth notes

son of Aston Florian

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military record

Address before enlistment

• WWII: Auckland
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military record
• Suva, Fiji
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military record

Next of kin

• Mrs Filiata Florian (wife), Apia, Samoa, Pacific Islands AWMM
• WWII: Joseph Florian of 24 Great South Rd, Epsom, Auckland
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military record
• Mr Aston Florian (father), Suva, Fiji
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military record

Relationship status

• WWII: Divorced
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military record
• 1911 married Filiata Fonti in Fiji (since deceased)
  father of 3 children
  Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military record

War

• World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
• World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Campaign

WWI: Western European

Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military Record

Armed force / branch

• Army AWMM
• WWI: NZ Maori Pioneer Battalion; WWII: N.Z.T.S.
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military Record

Service number

• WWI 20801 AWMM
• WWII 5/1/993 AWMM

Military service

WWI: 1916-1920; WWII: Feb 1941-Mar 1942

Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military Record

Medals and Awards

• 1939-1945 War Medal
  NZ War Service Medal
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military Record
• British War Medal
  Victory Medal
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military Record

Enlistment

• WW1 Unknown AWMM Storeman/Civilian AWMM
• WWII: 25 Feb 1941
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military record
• 19 July 1916 at Narrow Neck Camp
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military Record

Age on enlistment

• WWII: 55yrs
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military record
• 31yrs
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military Record

Occupation before enlistment

WWII: Clerk & Interpreter

Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military record

Embarkation details

WW1 11 Oct 1916-28 Dec 1916 AWMM
HMNZT 67 AWMM Vessel was Tofua AWMM Lance Corporal/Military AWMM 9th Reinforcements AWMM Maori Contingent AWMM

Last rank

• WWII: L/Corporal
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military record
• Corporal
  Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Military Record

Death

5 Jun 1945 AWMM

Age at death

59yrs

Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Waitakere City Council's Waikumete Cemetery Records

Place of death

Auckland, NZ

Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Waitakere City Council's Waikumete Cemetery Records

Cemetery name

Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland

Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Waitakere City Council's Waikumete Cemetery Records

Grave reference

SOLDIERS BURIAL H Row 3, Plot 10

Public - Lorriane M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Waitakere City Council's Waikumete Cemetery Records

Obituary

FLORIAN. —The family of %he late Gaston Florian wish to thank all friends for kind expressions of sympathy In their recent bereavement

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 30 August 2024 - BEREAVEMENT THANKS
Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 153, 30 June 1945, Page 1

Related objects

Related Serviceperson

External links

• Military Personnel file
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24056300
  Further Reference
• Samoan soldiers in WWI
  http://samoaww1.webs.com/
  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

• 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. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  43: 36
• Liava'a, C. (2013). Le fitafita mai Samoa = The force from Samoa : soldiers from the Samoan Islands in the Great War. Auckland, N.Z.: Polygraphia.
• Liava'a, C. (2009). Qaravi na'i tavi = They did their duty : soldiers from Fiji in the Great War. Auckland, N.Z.: Polygraphia.
• Weddell, H. (2016). Soldiers from the Pacific : the story of Pacific Island soldiers in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in World War One. Wellington, New Zealand : Defence of New Zealand Study Group.
• Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
  Vol. 4: Includes portrait
• 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.
• HMNZT 67. Long Trail. (1916). On board ship:Published by the Right Wing of the 18th Reinforcements.