Robert Gourlay

Andrew James Gourlay was born at Maketu on the Bay of Plenty Coast on 18/11/1917. He was the third of five sons of Teaokorewarangi (Margaret) Warmington (Ngati Whakaue) and Thomas Gourlay (Ngai Tahu). Andrew who was better known to his whanau as Andy volunteered for the Army shortly after the outbreak of war. He enlisted but was discharged as medically unfit because he had tuberculousis as a child. Not to be outdone he re-enlisted several months later under his brother Robert's Name and arranged somebody else to sit the medical. He was posted to the Maori Battalion in 1941 and saw action in the Western Desert for two years. In 1943 when the Battalion reached Tripolli Uncle Andy was suffering tuberculousis. He was sent back to NZ on a hospital ship. He spent over a year in hospital. He was discharged from the Army in 1944. He returned home to Maketu but remained unwell until he passed away on 31/07/1946. Arohanui uncle Andy lest we forget.