Donna

My name is Donna and I am one of the daughters of James Hutana Edwards of Te Waotu. For the last few years I have been attending the ANZAC Dawn Service in Putaruru. I think about my dad who fought in WW II and my koro Rakumia who also fought in WW I. Strangely enough this afternoon was the first time I had come across this site and to see my dad very nearly brought tears to my eyes. I was proud that he was acknowledged. I was happy knowing that his many moko and future moko would be able to see this as well. I was sad that neither myself or my siblings had found this site earlier and added a picture or written a few lines. When I visit the Rotorua Museum I always go and see my dads' photo in the memorial section to the Maori Battlion. I recall as a young girl hearing dad sing the same song in another language (italian I think) sometimes after having a few beers. My eldest son has proudly carried a photo of his koro as he walked in a parade held in Putaruru to commemorate those who went to Crete and Egypt. After our meal and the veterans had partaken in a few refreshments - I again heard the song dad used to sing. He never spoke about the war - not to us. As an adult I realised some of the things he did that I thought was funny or strange were because of the effect the war had had on him. He put LOTS of salt on his food; he hated to throw any food out - especially fruit and fresh veges and he would sometimes stare as if he was seeing a scene from a time long ago. He enjoyed attending the Maori Battalion reunions with our mother and always proudly wore his blazer. When he left us to go to his dad and mum ...... we knew he would want to wear his Maori Battalion blazer and so he did.