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Cenotaph record

Pareiha Tuati

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Jamison, J. (ca. 1915) Dave Stewart, World War One soldier. Collection of Paumea McKay, Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira (PH-1997-2-209).

Jamison, J. (ca. 1915) Dave Stewart, World War One soldier. Collection of Paumea McKay, Auckland War …

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Identity

About

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Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    1895 Public Source
  • Date of birth
    1895 Public - Derek Francis - Other Relative - 18 April 2015 - family
  • Place of birth
    Parawai, Thames Public - Derek Francis - Other Relative - 18 April 2015 - family
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Unknown AWMM Whakatane, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
    Northern Steamship Company Public - Derek Francis - Other Relative - 18 April 2015 - Military files
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • Mrs Emere Tuati (mother), Thames, New Zealand AWMM
    • Also know as Emere Apanui-Mair she was the daughter of William Mair and Raiha Apanui. William was the brother of Gilbert Mair. Raiha's father was Apanui te Hamaiwaho the Paramount Cheif of Ngati Awa. Public - Derek Francis - Other Relative - 17 April 2015 - family
  • Relationship status
    Pre 14 February 1915 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
  • Campaign
    • 1915-1916 Gallipoli AWMM
    • Egyptian - Gallipoli & Mudros Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 23 February 2016 - Military Record
  • Armed force / branch
    • Army AWMM
    • 1st NZ Maori Contingent Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 23 February 2016 - Military Record
  • Service number
    WWI 16/123 AWMM
  • Military service
    Oct 1914-Aug 1915 Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 23 February 2016 - Military Record
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
    6th Hauraki Company Public - Derek Francis - Other Relative - 18 April 2015 - military files
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    • WW1 Unknown AWMM AWMM
    • October 14 1914, Whakatane
      Witnessed by Rikihana Carkeek Public - Derek Francis - Other Relative - 18 April 2015 - military files
  • Occupation before enlistment
    Labourer Public - Derek Francis - Other Relative - 18 April 2015 - Military files
  • Age on enlistment
    19 Public - Derek Francis - Other Relative - 18 April 2015 - military files

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    • Died of wounds, Cause of Death AWMM
    • Died at sea of bullet wounds to back and side, while being evacuated to Lemnos Island Public - Derek Francis - Other Relative - 18 April 2015 - military

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • David Apanui (Pareiha) Stewart was the third son of Emere (Emily) Apanui (née Mair) and David Heta Reweti Stewart of Heale St, Thames, Coromandel. His mother, Emere Apanui, was the daughter of Captain Gilbert Mair and Raiha Apanui of Ngāti Awa.

      He was one of ten children. His siblings were Alice Josephine Turuhira Stewart (1891–1950), Matthew Rapana Stewart (1892–1975), John Francis Stewart (1894-1968), Willoughby Stewart (1897–1938), Edward McDonnell Wepiha Stewart (1898–1967), Doris Jeanette Stewart (1899–1917), Reginald Robertson Stewart (1902–1950), Leopold Norman Stewart (1902–1977), and Mary Kate "Molly" Stewart (1905–1965).

      Dave was raised in Whakatāne as a whāngai of his maternal relative, Te Hurunui Apanui (c.1854–1924), a respected rangatira of Ngāti Awa.

      David Apanui Stewart, also known as Pareiha Tuati (16/123), and his two brothers, Matthew Rapana Stewart (12/451) and John Francis Stewart (1376), all served in World War I.

      Matthew Rapana Stewart was the first to enlist, joining the 6th Hauraki Company on 11 August 1914. He trained at Epsom Camp, Auckland, and embarked on 16 October 1914 aboard the Star of India or Waimana, bound for Suez, Egypt. He fought in the Suez Canal Campaign against the Ottoman Turks in February 1915 and took part in the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 1915.

      David (Pareiha Tuati) Stewart, despite being underage, enlisted in October 1914 under the name Pareiha Tuati and joined the 1st New Zealand Māori Contingent. He trained at Avondale Camp and embarked for Egypt in February 1915 aboard the Warrimoo. He later deployed to Gallipoli, where he served alongside the Māori Contingent. On 16 August 1915, he was wounded in action and died while being evacuated to Lemnos Island. He is buried at Portianos Military Cemetery, Greece. At the time of his death, Matthew was stationed just a mile away at Gallipoli.

      After David’s death, John Francis Stewart sought to enlist, but his mother refused to sign his papers. Determined to serve, he left New Zealand for England in August 1915 aboard the Tainui. He officially enlisted in December 1915, joining King Edward’s Horse and serving with the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front. He was later promoted to Lance Corporal and returned to New Zealand in 1919.

      Matthew Stewart continued serving in the Western Front in France, where he was wounded three times. He was promoted to Sergeant before being discharged in 1919.

      Name is recorded as Pareiha Tuati in Nominal Rolls and CWGC, as Paruha Tuati in Archives New Zealand. Named David Apanui Stewart by his family on the Memorial card.

      Next of Kin: Mrs E. Tuati, Parawai, Thames (Roll of Honour, Auckland Province 1914-1918 (Volume 2))

      Family information partially provided by niece in October 2023.

      For much of the twentieth century, David’s burial place was unknown to his whānau as he enlisted under a different name. In 2009, his niece Noelene Hughes (née Stewart) travelled with her whānau to Gallipoli and Lemnos, fulfilling a promise to visit his grave. Soil from Whakatāne was placed at his headstone, marking a reconnection between his resting place and his homeland. AWMM
    • Te Hurinui Apanui was the Paramont Chief of Ngati Awa in Whakatane. Public - Derek Francis - Other Relative - 17 April 2015 - family
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    16 August 1915 AWMM
    Age 20 AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Died of wounds AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Portianos Military Cemetery, Lemnos, Greece AWMM I. B. 32. AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    • MEN WHO HAVE FALLEN.

      LANCE-CORPORAL STEWART. Lance-Corporal Matthew Stewart recently reported as wounded, is the eldest son of Mrs. H. D. Stewart, of Parawai, 1 names. Being; one of the first to enlist he left New Zealand with the main body (6th Haurakis), and went through the campaign against the Turks, afterwards going to Prance with the Anzacs. He was a pupil of the Thames High School, and a prominent athlete on the football field. Another brother, Jack Stewart, is at present in camp at Curragh, in Ireland, and David Stewart, the third son of the family, died of wounds received at Gallipoli. New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16246, 3 June 1916, Page 8

      PRIVATE P. TUATI. Private Pareiha Tuati—David Apanui Stewart—who died of wounds, is the third son of Mrs. David Stewart of Parawai Thames. Most of his life was spent in Whakatane, where he resided with his uncle, Hurunui Apanui, the present chief of the Bay of Plenty tribes. Private Tuati, who was only 20 years of age was a rangatira of the Ngatiwa tribe and was well known and respected in the Bay of Plenty. His brother, Matt Stewart, who is also in the firing-line, has written recently, and stated that he was only a mile away from his brother in the line of action. Another brother leaves for England by the Tainui to help to make munitions [John Francis Stewart]

      SICK AND WOUNDED. Private P. Tuati New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16007, 27 August 1915, Page 9 AWMM
    • PRIVATE P. TUATI. Private Pareiha TUATI —David Apanui STEWART—who died of wounds, is the third son of Mrs. David Stewart of Parawai, Thames. Most of his life was spent in Whakatane, where he resided with his uncle. Hurunui Apanui, the present chief of the Bay of Plenty tribes. Private TUATI who was only 20 years of age was a rangatira of the Ngatiwa tribe and was well known and respected in the Bay of Plenty. His brother. Matt Stewart, who is also in the firing-line, has written recently, and stated that he was only a mile away from his brother in the line of action. Another brother leaves for England by the Tainui Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 14 April 2024 - NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME LII, ISSUE 16007, 27 AUGUST 1915, PAGE 9
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name
    Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 1 Hall of Memories AWMM

Roll of Honour

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  • David used an alias Pareiha Tuati (Frazer Stewart) and also lied about his age during his enlistment. His mother was against his enlistment as he was only 19yrs of age at the time. He was the younger brother of Sergeant Matthew Rapana STEWART 12/451 who served with the 6th Hauraki Company in Gallipoli and then France. Davids father David Heta Reweti Stewart was part of the New Zealand Natives football (rugby) team that toured the UK in 1888 - 89. They were the first team to perform the 'HAKA' prior to the game, which was later adopted by the New Zealand national team as well as the Black jerseys (as the national team jerseys where Navy Blue) which lead to the name of the national team becoming the ALL BLACKS.
    Public - Derek Francis - Other Relative - 16 April 2015
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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Auckland Weekly News AWMM
      Auckland Weekly News, 02/09/1915 page 22 AWMM
    • New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      Vol1: 735 AWMM
    • New Zealand. Army. 1st Maori Contingent. Scroll of the 1st New Zealand Maori Contingent, 1915. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-624. AWMM
    • Soutar, M. (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori In the First World War. New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd. AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
    • Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications AWMM
      Vol. 5: Includes portrait AWMM
    • Roll of Honour, Auckland Province (digital copy), 1914 - 1919. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2016-2. AWMM
    • Lawson-Nuri, M. (2000). Heta Reweti and Emere Apanui Stewart : whanau reunion January 2000. [Whakatane, N.Z.] : [Whanau Reunion Committee]. AWMM
    • Cowan, J. (1926). The Maoris in the Great War. Auckland, N.Z.: Maori Regimental Committee by Whitcombe & Tombs. AWMM
    • Pugsley, C. (1995). Te Hokowhitu a Tu : the Maori Pioneer Battalion in the first World War. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed. AWMM
    • Waite, F. (1919). The New Zealanders at Gallipoli. Auckland, N.Z.: Printed and published under Authority of the New Zealand Government by Whitcombe & Tombs. AWMM
    • This record was part of “A Flight to Remember”, an Anzac Day 2026 commemorative partnership between Online Cenotaph and Air New Zealand, where service stories were shared onboard a dawn flight from Auckland to Sydney. AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
21 November 2024Lorraine Mona Gisborne Researcher
11 September 2023Erena Whakatane NzDirect descendant
23 February 2016Lorraine MGisborne, NZResearcher
18 April 2015Derek FrancisAuckland, New ZealandOther Relative

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