Brothers (from Awanui) in arms
Rapata Wi Kanara was born on March 22, 1894, and raised in Awanui. He was one of Wiremu and Ripene (Hene) Wi Kanara’s 10 children — Patrick, Hoera, Henare, Mere, Raiha, Meri, Rupene, Hehi (Paki), Kataraina and Rapi (Rapata).
In 1915 he was working as a labourer for the Parenga Gum Company at Parengarenga, signing up for military service in Kaitaia on July 24, 1916. (On the expeditionary force attestation form his name was recorded as Robert William Conrad, then crossed out and marked as Rapata Wi Kanara).
On January 2, 1917, Rapata sailed from Wellington aboard the troop ship Opawa with the 12th Ma¯ori Contingent and members of the Mounted Rifles. They stopped off in South Africa, then boarded the Walmer Castle to complete the journey to England, arriving at Devonport on March 27. From there they travelled by train to Bulford village, followed by a good two-mile march to Sling Camp, the New Zealand Reserve Training Centre, in Wiltshire.
At Sling the New Zealand Pioneers were put through a strict training regime, and Rapata’s unit was moulded into fit, hardy, disciplined troops. They were trained in trench building, mock attacks, drill and musketry, learned wiring, bombfusing and throwing, gas-mask drill, and had visits to the gas chamber.
The Pioneer Battalion was primarily charged with digging trenches and building roads, so was seldom on the front lines, although there were times it infiltrated enemy lines and carried out attacks.
On July 6 they left Sling Camp for the New Zealand Base Camp, Etaples, in France. The Pioneers, along with the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, were attached to the First French Army to assist with digging in positions and laying telephone cables. This was done at night, under constant artillery fire. Snipers were also an everpresent danger.
The Pioneers were friendly with the other troops, and mixed their language to communicate. It was quite common to hear a man use three or four languages in one sentence.
The sector was quiet, and the
men worked well, also helping out on French farms, which were being run by women and old men. The men enjoyed helping harvest potatoes and grain, a welcome reminder of home. Privates CT Richards and Puia Tamihana, who were wounded while they were working with the French, were awarded the Croix de Guerre.
On July 14 the Pioneers were marched to Eecke, 87km closer to the front, where they were involved in constructing wire entanglements from Le Rossignol-Warneton Road and trench tramways.
On September 1, after prolonged periods of hard work in wet conditions, and significant casualties, the Pioneers trekked out of Messines to Bourneville.
On September 10 Rapata was evacuated from the field suffering
from enlarged glands, a cough, night sweats and weakness. It was the onset of tuberculosis. He was admitted to No 4 Field Ambulance Station, and from there to No 12 General Hospital in Boulogne, on September 17. The onset of the disease was swift, and he was transferred to England on HS Princess Elizabeth, where he was admitted to Walton Hospital on September 28.
The next day he was examined, and classed as no longer fit for military service, due to chronic pulmonary tuberculosis.
On November 21, 1917, Rapata was returned to New Zealand in a weak condition, along with 547 other soldiers, on the hospital ship Marama. The Dominion reported: ‘There are 88 cot cases, two of the men are
totally blind, 10 are mental cases, and there are a high proportion of limb cases, though all were fitted with artificial limbs in England. Two privates died on the voyage.’
They arrived in Auckland on December 28. Rapata was admitted to Cambridge Sanatorium, and was discharged from military service on March 28, 1918. He qualified for a military pension, having served a total of one year 237 days.
His disablement from tuberculosis was considered permanent, and he never recovered. He died in Awanui on May 16, 1919, aged 22.
He is buried in the Awanui Church cemetery.
Meanwhile two of Rapata’s brothers, Henare and Paki (who enlisted under his European name, Conrad), also served in the war.
Paki also found himself in hospital after arriving in England, suffering fatigue and rheumatism (likely the early signs of tuberculosis), but served in France and Belgium, including the battle of Passchendaele.
On October 21 the Battalion given respite from battle, and staged a sports weekend featuring the New Zealand Pioneer Grand National Steeplechase for mules, no spurs or whips allowed. C Company’s Pioneer Stew led the field until he was challenged at the turn by D Company’s Pork n Beans, which, after a desperate effort, won by a head.
The battalion remained in the area near Ypres, known as the Salient, for Christmas of 1917. Pork and potatoes cooked in a ha¯ng¯ı were enjoyed by the men on Christmas Day.
In March 1918 the battalion was undertaking trench and wiring work south of the Menin Road. Paki’s immune system was worn down.
His body was incubating tuberculosis, yet he continued to work alongside his companions for long hours, undertaking all that was asked of him.
After nearly six months on the Western Front, on March 24, 1918, he was taken by field ambulance to a casualty clearing station, and was admitted to No 51 General Hospital at Etaples, dangerously ill.
From there he was sent to No 2 New Zealand General Hospital in London, with the intention that he be returned to New Zealand, but he died on December 6, 1918, and was buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery in Woking, Surrey.
Henare Kanara #16/333 survived the war with an impressive record.
Enlisted on November 17, 1914, at the age of 38, he served for four years and 51 days, at Gallipoli (from July 3, 1915) as a digger and rifleman, in France and Belgium, including the Somme, and was twice wounded.
On March 21, 1918, he was taken from action and appointed lay cook, until February 27, 1919.
He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Belgian Croix de Guerre, by order of the King of Belgium.
Mule races