Locations Posted

On 19 Aug. 1916, Grandpa embarked from Wellington, New Zealand aboard the HMNZT #61, Aparima.  Over two (2) months later, he disembarked in Devonport, England (25 Oct. 1916) and entrained to Amesbury, England.  Here, he and his fellow countrymen unloaded (25 Oct. 1916) and marched a short distance to their final destination, Sling Camp (26 Oct. 1916). Less than a month later (15 Nov. 1916), Grandpa proceeded overseas and marched out for France (23 Nov. 1916).  The following is a comprehensive list of locations where Grandpa was posted during the war: 

• Narrow Neck Camp, Auckland, New Zealand (10 May 1916)
• HMNZT #61, Aparima (10 Sept. 1916)
• Sling Camp, Amesbury, England (26 Oct. 1916)

• 
  General view a New Zealand military camp in England, World War I. 
  Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association :New Zealand official negatives, World War 1914-1918. Ref: 1/2-014163-G. 
  Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.  
  http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22826869

• 
  Saluting the Auckland Battalion at the Piccadilly, Sling Camp. 
  Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association: New Zealand official negatives, 
  World War 1914-1918. Ref: 1/2-014051-G. 
  Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.  
  http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22900184
  
  
  
  New Zealand soldiers at Sling Camp, England. 
  Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association :New Zealand official negatives, World War 1914-1918. Ref: 1/2-014046-G. 
  Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. 
  http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22835194
  
  
  
  New Zealand officers and NCOs at Sling Camp, Bulford. 
  Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association :New Zealand official negatives, 
  World War 1914-1918. Ref: 1/2-014049-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.  
  http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22880661
  
  
  
  Cutting cabbages at Sling Camp, England. 
  Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association :New Zealand official negatives, 
  World War 1914-1918. Ref: 1/2-014008-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. 
  http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22894441
   
• Attached to Strength, Etaples France (25 Nov. 1916)
• Attached to NZETC, *Arras (Pas-de-Calais) France (8 Dec. 1916)
• Joined Pioneer Battalion, Oosthove Farm, France (2 Mar. 1917)
• Rejoined Unit from hospital, Hill 63, France (8 May 1917)
• Maori Contingent attached to NZPB, Etaples, France (24 June 1917)
• Attached to Strength, Etaples, France (24 June 1917)
• Rejoined Unit in Base, Ypres, France (14 Sept, 1917)
• Rejoined from leave, Chateau Road. and Glencorse Lane., Dickebusch, France (16 Nov. 1917) 

 

Issuing the rum ration to troops in the front trenches.

World War I. Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association :

New Zealand official negatives, World War 1914-1918. Ref: 1/2-013056-G. 

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.  

http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22534861

• With Pioneer Battalion, No. 9 Potsdam and the Crucifix, France (25  Feb. 1918)
• With Pioneer Battalion, Solesmes, France (16 Oct. 1918)
• Rejoined Pioneer Battalion, Artres, France (29 Nov. 1918)
• Larkhill Camp, Amesbury, England (4 Jan 1919)  
• Aboard S.S. Westmoreland (28 Feb. 1919) 

* Grandpa was posted in Arras, France with the New Zealand Engineering Tunnel Corp.  More research about his work in the Arras Tunnels will be posted, shortly. Initial information shows that soldiers from the NZETC and Maori Contingency chiseled their names, dog tag numbers, and pictures, into the walls of the Arras Tunnels.

Key Dates in Military Service

Key Dates are important.  They can help us focus on a specific time period or activity that occurred during Grandpa’s service.  Exploring these dates and experiences can provide further insight into:

• Grandpa’s life as a soldier,
• the areas Grandpa served in, and
• the individuals Grandpa served with

The following are Key Dates in Grandpa’s military history:

• Born, 28 May 1899
• Recruited, 29 Apr. 1916 
• Embarked Wellington, New Zealand (HMNZT #61 Aparima), 19 Aug. 1916
• Disembarked Devonport, England, 25 Oct. 1916
• Marched out for France, 23 Nov. 1916
• Attached to NZETC, 8 Dec. 1916
• Best Friend, Peter ‘Pona’ Te Whata DOW (Died of Wounds), 23 March 1917
• The Armistice, 11 Nov. 1918
• Embarked Dunkirk, France (S.S. St George), 3 Jan. 1919 
• Disembarked Southampton, England, 3 Jan. 1919
• Embarked Liverpool, England (S.S. Westmoreland), 28 Feb. 1919
• Disembarked, Wellington, New Zealand, 6 Apr. 1919
• Discharged from Military, 4 May 1919
• Died: Kawakawa Hospital, New Zealand, 26 June 1977

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 Neck³ military 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. 

HMNZT #61, Aparima

HMNZT #61, Aparima

^{http://flotilla-australia.com/hmnzt.htm#19}