Walter Ihaia

Surname
Ihaia
Forename(s)
Walter

World War 2

Serial No
811097
Rank
Private
Address on enlistment
Matata, New Zealand
Next of kin
Mrs F. Ihaia (mother), Matata, New Zealand

Comments (1)

 

I worked for NZR in the BOP in the 1970's working in BOP and Kawerau and was at the Edgecumbe pub with some of the railway track staff. One of the Bridge carpenters Wally (Golly) Ihaia on finding out my name asked me who my father was. I said Taka/Edward Robson and he said "I'm going to take you outside and give you a bloody hiding". My dad was an older and bigger man and the WO II/RSM who meted out the discipline to the young mischevious soldiers. He wouldnt get them to run around the block, he would take them out of sight and beat them up. Anyway I became good friends of Wally Ihaia and Laurie Raureti who was also a Bridge Carpenter and I took dad to meet them when we passed through in 1979.