PRO PATRIA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 1, 9 January 1942, Page 5

PRO PATRIA

DISTRICT WAR CASUALTIES

LOCAL AIRMAN'S DEATH

Further losses to the district have added to the mounting Roll of Honour. Already the list is considerable and our pride wilt be in the memories which we retain of the line young men who represented our town and district in. the struggle for world freedom.

Air Sgt Edward Bertriaim Hewitt

A line young athlete and a promising young engineer, was lost in . the person of Sgt E. B. Hewitt, R.N.Z.A.F. who is listed as having met his death whilst on air operations overseas. Nineteen years of age he was a son of Mr and Mrs G. Hewitt, of Waimana, and a grandson of Mrs and the late Mr W. Wardlaw of the same settlement. He was educated at the Waimana school, and later attended the Gisfoorne High School for three years. Showing a decided tendency for engineering, he also attended the Bowers • School of Engineering for twelve months. He was an all-round athlete, and excelled in all field games, especially football and swimming. Popular with his mates he was keen to do his 'bit' when so many of them joined u,p at the outset of the war. By persistent effort he was accepted for the Air Force, and entered the Levin Training Station 011 December 23, 1940. Quickly showing his ability he rose to the rank of Sergeant, and also had the distinction of establishing a record for ground machine-gunning. At the age of 18 years he left New Zealand last June, and apparently no ' time was lost in the transfer to active service. His loss will cause much sorrow in his own district where he was a well known and widely-respected young member of • the community. Lieut Aubrey Rota Lieut A. Rota, one oif the most popular officers in the famed Maori Battalion, was one of sixteen children of Mr and Mrs Rota, Tarewa of Matata. Born at that township on August 23, 1920, he' was educated at the local Native School, and later at Te Aute College, Napier. A. splendid type of Maori he won the esteem and respect of all he contacted. A fine footballer, he was selected at the age of 18 to play full-back for the Rangitaiki representatives and held the eyes of the selectors for even greater honours in the Rugby field. He was employed by the Forestry Department, and enlisted at the. outbreak of hostilities. He was selected to study for a commission and after having attained that rank left with the Fifth Echelon. He was killed in action in the early phases of the Libyan

campaign-.

Pte K. Miniaa-apa

Better known as Johnnie, Pte K.' Minarapa, was a som of Mrs Minarapa of Matata where he was born in 1915. When war broke out he was employed on the P.W.D. With two other brothers Mick and Charlie Miinarapa, he enlisted with the first Maori Battalion, and sailed with the Second Echelon. All three underwent the period of garrisoning in England, and later were transferred to the Near Efcist where he experienced the Greek and the Cretan campaigns. Advancing into Libya, Pte K. Minarapa lost his life in the attack cr Gazala.; His brother, Charlie is reported a pris-

oner of war

Pte D. Vercamef

Twenty-one years of age, Pte D. Vercamer, "was also born at Matata where he was educated and spent his youth. His father, Mr J. Vercamer, is a well known resident, and came to the Dominion from Belgium. He was a well knctwn sportsman and a keen footballer beforef enlisting for overseas service. He* [eft with the Fifth Echelon and underwent • a long period of desert training prior to the Libyan offensive. He fell in the first drive through by the New Zealand Division to the relief of Tcibruk. Before loining the colours Pte Vercamer was a member of the Forestry Department's staff.