Mika Puru

Surname
Puru
Forename(s)
Mika

World War 1

WW1 Serial No
16/104
WW1 address
Ohinemutu, Rotorua, New Zealand
WW1 next of kin
Mihi Mere Tutapu, Te Arai, Gisborne, New Zealand
WW1 embarkation body
1st Maori Contingent
WW1 embarkation unit
B Company

Comments (1)

The following article was found on page 8 of the Poverty Bay Herald, 19 April 1915:A member of the Maori Expeditionary Force, Mika Puru, writes the following interesting letter to his uncle, Mr Ruatapu Tutapu, under date March 20."Dear Uncle, I have to write you a correspondence to show or to let you know the result of our departure from New Zealand. Well, uncle, I hope to hear that you are in good form, and also the old grandfather Hemi and many others. As for I and my brother Epiha it is pai on. Well, uncle, when we left Wellington I felt sorry for the people and also for the Motherland. But it does not matter much as long as I follow the footsteps of our forefather of the stone age, as they say, acrossing the great ocean of the future there, for the reason it does not matter much. After leaving Wellington for Australia it took us fully 14 days from New Zealand to Albany, and from Albany to Colombo 18 days and on our way to Egypt we ae making ourselves us if we were at home. We used to enjoy ourselves, and have games of all sorts. Boxing is the most interesting game of all, for, telling you the truth, no one in the whole Maori contingent could beat me for boxing for my own weight.Well, uncle, this letter was written to you in Colombo garrison hall in my spare time. We had four days out in Colombo. We used to give the people in Colombo a haka of all kinds, just to give us exercise if we get to Egypt. I will write to you again. It takes two or three weeks from Colombo to Egypt, and then to the barracks. Other than that I could not tell you for sure whether we are going to the firing line or not. Anyway, I'll tell you if we happen to be going to the firing line. Another thing want to tell you is that our officers are very good to us. Our captain of the Maori contingent is Captain W. Pitt, brother of C. Pitt. He is very kind to us, and we were kind to him. Well, uncle, I must, conclude my letter for time to parade, and wish you good luck. From yours, Mika Puru."Click here to view the article on the Paper's Past website.