Grandpa's Lonely Walk Home : Medical Details Upon Enlistment

According to his Medical Description on Enlistment, Grandpa was recruited for military service in Kohukohu, New Zealand (May 29, 1916). Born in the Waihou Valley, Northland, New Zealand on 28 May 1999, Grandpa worked as a Mill Hand at the Union Box Company¹, Rawene.² He listed his brother, James Heperi, as next of kin, even though his parents, Hohepa and Raupia Heperi were alive, and residing in Waihou. James Heperi would enlist, the following year, and also serve on The Western Front.

Nine (9) days after being recruited in Kohukohu, Grandpa arrived at Narrow Neck³military training camp in Auckland. Here, he enlisted as a Private #20623, with the 4^th Maori Reinforcements. Enlistment documents show that Grandpa stood 5 feet 8 inches tall; weighed 11 stone 10 lbs; was single; Mormon; of a dark complexion, with brown eyes and black hair. His chest measured 34 inches minimum (breath exhaled) and 37 inches maximum (breath inhaled). His overall medical condition was “Normal.”

As a part of military medical procedures-- and in preparation for pending assignments in foreign lands-- Grandpa received two (2) inoculations at Narrow Neck, and one vaccination en route to England, on the HMNZT #61 Aparima.⁴ His total service in the military was five (5) days short of three (3) years. This included 129 days in New Zealand, and 2 years 231 days overseas, on the Western Front.

¹Photos of the Union Box Packing Case Company, Rawene, where Grandpa and Pona worked, prior to WW1.

Union Box and Packing Case Company, Hokianga Branch, Rawene.

Ref: 1/2-034920-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22676284

Logs being transported by water at the Union Box and Packing Case Company, Rawene.

Northwood brothers :Photographs of Northland. Ref: 1/2-029844-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22386509

View over floating and chained logs to the Union Box and Packing Case Company,
Hokianga Branch, Rawene.

Ref: 1/2-034921-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22889160

²Photos of Rawene, New Zealand around the time Grandpa, Pona, and David enlisted.

Rawene, Hokianga.

Ref: 1/2-154747-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22895316

View of Rawene showing dirt road and houses with picket fences.

Ref: 1/2-034929-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22802025

View of Rawene, 1918.

Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949 :Collection of albums, prints and negatives. Ref: APG-1651-1/2-G.
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22820291

Group of people gathered on the wharf at Rawene

^{http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22820427?}

³Photo of Narrow Neck Military Camp, Auckland.

3rd Maori Reinforcements on parade
(Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 20-Dec-2012
URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/maori-reinforcements-parade,

⁴Photos of the HMNZT#61, Aparima that Grandpa, Pona, and David embarked on, to England.