Wikiriwhi Hona

Wikiriwhi Hona who served with B Company and embarked with the 4th Reinforcements.

 

Reference:

Family collection. No reproduction without permission.

Submitter:
Submitted by mereanah on

Takupu (1)

Kia ora, I am glad I was able to put the photo up of my Koro, so gave him some identity rather than just a number. As my twin sister said, Koro was often silent and I always wondered what he witnessed when he was in the ware. The atrocities and killings that none of us would ever see in our lifetime. I felt he suffered emotionally, physcologically and physically as well. He had chest problems due to the sand filling up in his lungs, whilst he was fighting over in Crete. They had to sleep anywhere in the desert so this was to play havoc on him later in life. My koro like others, also kept a regime where no matter how old he got, he would always ensure he was shaved, looked sharp and dashing. I suppose this is the teachings of being in the army, discipline, presentation, respect, etc. I always get aroha for all our koros and Uncles that served in the war. More recently I travelled over to Italy a few weeks ago and went to Cassino, where I visited the graves and abbey on Monte Cassion. Very sombre place. It made me think of my koro, how he would of felt being in a foreign place and seeing those who died where he was fighting never to return. Moe mai ra taku koro. moe mai ra i tou waka pakanga i te ringa kaha o tatou matua nui i te rangi.