FIVE BROTHERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20096, 16 November 1939, Page 7

FIVE BROTHERS

MAORI RECRUITING EAST COAST RECORD POUTU FAMILY’S SONS FURTHER ENROLMENTS The district record for Maori recruiting is held by the Poutu family, members of the ’ Ngatiporou tribe, five brothers of this family having offered their services with the special native corps. They take the place previously allotted, in error, to the Waenga family, of Hicks Bay, five of whom enlisted, but all five not being brothers. The circumstances in regard to the two families are explained in a letter received by the district recruiting officer from an area officer in the Waiapu, who writes:— “I noticed tiiat inquiries are being made as to whether the five Waengas from Hicks Bay are brothers, in view of the possibility of the family having set up a record for Maori recruiting. I am able to say that the Waengas are members of the same family unit, but three are in one group, and two in another. Enclosed you will find the registration form #>f Putu Poutu, this young man having four brothers already registered for service with the Maori Battalion. J-lis registration brings the number of brothers of his name to five. Their family is wellknown in Hicks Bay, and their names and ages are as under:— Poutu, Wiremu, single, 30 years. Poutu, Raana, single, 27 years. Poutu, Jerry, single, 24 years. Poutu, Putu, single, 22 years. Poutu, Henare, single, 21 years. “There is another Ilicks Bay family that did well for the name of the Maori people in the Great War of 1914-18. They are the Bristowcs, of whom six, Rua, Joe, Bob, Sonny, To Poono, and John, served with the Maori Battalion. They were the sons of two fathers, three to each family unit, and all six survived the war, though three died of illness in recent years. Sonny, To Poono and John Bristowe are the survivors today.” Great War Veteran Enlists Included in the list of recruits for the Maori Battalion received during the past two days is the name of a company-sergeant major of the old Maori Pioneer Battalion, whose record of service is vouched for by his possession of the Military Medal (British) and the Croix de Guerre (French). He is well beyond the age at which men are being accepted to-day, but he is one of the sturdy veterans who feel that there may be a call for their services.

Two medical boards have been fixed for the near future to deal with Maori recruits, the first being for Tolaga Bay on November 18 and the second for Tikitiki on November 19. Recruits who are required to present themselves for examination before these boards are being notified in the customary manner from the district office of the Army Department. Latest Recruits The latest list of recruits for the battalion is as under: — Bennett, Joseph Jackson, married, 41 years, Marine parade, Wairoa, electrician. Raroa, Ilenare, single, 21 years, Crawford road, Gisborne, labourer, Riwai, I-lori, married, 42 years, Waipiro Bay, labourer. Harrison, Wirenni, married, 25 years, Waipiro Bay, shearer. Stirling, Maaka, married, 31 years, Te Araroa, shearer. Lardelli, Richard Francis, married, 38 vears. Whangara, labourer.

Kaipuke, Wircmu. single, 24 years, Nuhaka, carpenter.

Korau, Tapore, widower, 34 years, Te Araroa, labourer.

Scott, Matthew, single, 21 years, Wairoa, labourer. Huriwai, Tuahine, married, 28 years, Tikitiki, labourer. Morete, Eruora, married, 29 years, Tikitiki, labourer.

Mahunga, Thomas, .married, 37 years, Nuhaka, labourer. Nukunuku, Whakanehu, married, 28years, Manutuke, shearer. Pomana, Hori, married, 40 years, Manutuke. labourer. Mete, Matiu, married, 48 years, Manutuke, shearer.

Ruwhiu, Wircmu. married, 43 years, Waipiro Bay, shearer.

Toheriri, Enoka, married, 42 years Ruatoria, dairyfarmer.

Poutu, Putu, single, 22 years, Waipiro Bay, shearer. Ormond, Andrew Gordon, single, 35 years, Mahia, farmer.