William Brian Kerekere
Died 10 Jun 2001
- Service number
- 808598 AWMM
- Also known as
- Wiremu AWMM
- Kere Kere AWMM
- Wiremu (Bill) Peka Kingi KEREKEREPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - Research
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- 28 Maori Battalion C CompanyPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - The Herald 24 August 1999
- Last rank
- —
- War
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- William Brian AWMM
- Surname
- Kerekere AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- Wiremu AWMM
- Kere Kere AWMM
- Wiremu (Bill) Peka Kingi KEREKEREPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - Research
- Service number
- 808598 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- —
- Date of birth
- 8 Aug 1923Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - Research
- Place of birth
- Waihirere, GisbornePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - Research
- Birth notes
- —
- Address before enlistment
- Unknown AWMM Waihirere R.D., Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- Tutor, song writer & singer, Leader of Waihirere Maori Party, Gisborne Radio BroadcasterPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - Research
- Next of kin
- Mrs T.H.S. Kerekere (wife), Waihirere R.D., Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Unknown AWMM Married AWMM
- Married Te Haumihiata nee' ParataPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - Research
Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
- North Africa & ItalyPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - The Herald 24 August 1999
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- 28 Maori Battalion C CompanyPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - The Herald 24 August 1999
- Service number
- 808598 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- —
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW2 Unknown AWMM Student/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Temporary Staff Sergeant AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), 15th Reinforcements AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- —
Last known rank
- Last rank
- —
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Aka Wiremu as recorded in Soutar (2008). Name mispelt as Kere Kere on the Nominal Roll AWMM
- Wiremu Kingi Kerekere was a leader of his people
worked for Gisborne Radio (2XG), writer of songs, Tutor & Leader of the Waihirere Maori Concert Party, 1990 lead the Commonwealth Games Cereomony in Auckland, trainer for the 1970 National welcome in Gisborne for the Queen and lead the 1983 welcome for Prince Charles & Princess DianaPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - The Herald 24 August 1999
About death
- Death
- 10 Jun 2001 Public Source
- Date of death
- 10 June 2001Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - Research
- Age at death
- 78yrsPublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - Research
- Place of death
- Gisborne Cook Hospital, GisbornePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - Research
- Cause of death
- —
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
- Waihirere Urupa, Hexton, GisbornePublic - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - Research
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- Wiremu Kingi Kerekere (Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki ki Turanganui a Kiwa, Ngai Tai ki Tainui, Ngati Pukeko ki Maatua). Wiremu (Bill), who grew up at Waihirere and lived in Gisborne, made an enormous contribution to Maori performing arts. He composed many songs, and was a renowned tutor who worked with Waihirere, Ngati Poneke and Te Kahui Rangatahi culture groups. He also served on the Mangatu Blocks committee, worked in radio for 20 years, and organised many major Maori events. Wiremu and his wife, the late Mihiata Parata Kerekere, touched the lives of many people - young and old, Maori and Pakeha - with their aroha, wisdom and dignity.Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 20 February 2016 - http://maorimediapeople.blogspot.co.nz/2004/07/wiremu-kingi-kerekere.html
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- —
Sources
- External links
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
Further Reference - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington: Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy.
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210104000423/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Maor.html
Further Reference - J Force Wikipedia Page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J_Force
Further Reference - Romano, G. (2021, March 4). Jayforce: 75 years on. Auckland War Memorial Museum – Tāmaki Paenga Hira.
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/jayforce
Further Reference
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
- References
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 15 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1945 to 31st December, 1945). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 15: WW2 77 - Soutar, M. (2008). Nga tama toa = The price of citizenship : C Company 28 (Maori) Battalion 1939-1945. Albany, N.Z.: David Bateman.
Portrait published in Soutar (2008) - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
- Brocklebank, L.W. (1997). Jayforce : New Zealand and the military occupation of Japan, 1945-48. Auckland, N.Z.: Oxford University Press.
- Parr, A. (2012). The occupiers : New Zealand veterans remember post-war Japan. Auckland, N.Z. : Penguin.
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 15 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1945 to 31st December, 1945). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
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.
Online Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.