P. Tewai - In time for ANZAC ?

[freshfields]

Hello members.

I’ve signed on as we are fast running out of time for this years ANZAC, to properly honour this man.

He appears not to have had family, and we are having difficulty learning about his undoubted achievements, from humble beginnings at Tokomaru Bay.

Can forum members full us in with regard to his life as an RNZAF ATC Instructor, provide photos etc.

WWI, Private Paritawa Tewai [aka Paretawa, Paratawa] & WWII, Flight Sergeant.

Service numbers: 16/847 - NZ 411160 - 70664

ROLL OF HONOUR Te WAI - Suddenly on Feb 18 [1959] at Gisborne, Paretawa (Beau) loved uncle of Novis, Lynnette and Dick, in his 65th year. Returned serviceman no 16/847 First World War and servicing flight sergeant RNZAF. A service will be held in Tokomaru Bay at 1.30 p.m tomorrow (Friday) prior to internment in the Ongaruru Cemetery. *

* Tokomaru Bay (public) Cemetery (on Waiotu Road) entry : No.155 Section H, Plot 100. Burial Register : B. TeWai January 1959 >, Tokomaru Bay, Anglican.

OBIT – Flt-Sgt P TE WAI. The Royal NZ Air Force lost one of its best-known members on the death of Flight-Sergeant Pare Te Wai B.E.M at Gisborne yesterday. He was 63 years of age. Flight Sergeant Te Wai was born at Tokomaru Bay and served with the Maori Battalion in the First World War from 1915 to 1918.
 
He enlisted in the RNZAF in February 1941 and served in NZ on instructional duties throughout the war years. After the war he was remustered to instructor Air Training Corps.

At a private ceremony in Gisborne recently Flight Sergeant Te Wai received the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for … years of service in the RNZAF. At the time he received the medal Flight Sergeant Te Wai was confined to his bed at a private home in Gisborne and the presentation was made by Flight-Lieutenant J.W MOYNAHAN, MBE. In 1956 the deceased received the British Empire Medal for meritorious service in the RNZAF.

Follow our research to date:-

www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=717768.0

And yesterdays Waikato Times on www.stuff.co.nz April 17, 2015 page 2 “War veteran mystery unravelling” Each year the lady asks “WHO ARE YOU so that we can acknowledge you, your tribe, and your family. ?” After 96 years we have forgotten you, as you were not a local.

Any assistance greatly appreciated.

- Alan.

[errolmartyn]

From my For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Two: Fates 1943-1998) :

Wed 18 Feb 1959
Northern Area Recruiting & Reserve Centre, RNZAF (Auckland)
Died of natural causes at Gisborne and is buried at Tokomaru Bay.
ATC Instructor: 70664 Flt Sgt Pare TEWAI, BEM, RNZAF - Age 63.
Tewai, also known by the first name of Paretawa, was wounded during the First World War while serving in the NZEF with the Maori Pioneer Corps. He had served continuously in the RNZAF since February 1941.

And from Volume Three (biographies & appendices):

TEWAI, Flight Sergeant Pare (aka Paretawa), BEM.
70664 (16/847 in NZEF, prev NZ411160 in RNZAF); b Tokomaru Bay 29 Jan 96; Hikuwai Native Sch, Tokomaru Bay; labourer - Tom Dawson, Gordonton (prior NZEF) & storeman - Waipiro Trading Co (prior RNZAF). NZEF (Maori [Pioneer] Bn) 2 Jul 15, emb Waitemata with Maori Draft for Egypt 18 Sep 15, arr 26 Oct 15, to France 9 Apr 16, to UK 15 Dec 17, emb for NZ 1 Feb 18, arr 19 Mar 18, discharged 24 Apr 18; RNZAF Ohakea Aircrafthand (GD) 11 Feb 41, Harewood for AD cse 23 Apr 42, remust as Aircrafthand (ADU) & Sgt 2 Jun 42, Hamilton 7 Jul 42, Seagrove 14 Aug 42, remust as Aircrafthand (GD) 1 Dec 42, Wigram 17 Dec 42, Omaka 9 Jan 43, Levin 7 Mar 43, Linton 7 Apr 43, ATC Gisborne 6 Nov 43, RNZAF Gisborne 12 Feb 44, remust as Instructor (D&WT) 1 Mar 44, ATC NCO Camp Ohakea 11 Apr 44, CFE 4 Mar 46, Hobsonville 22 Mar 46, ATC HQ 31 Jul 46 [att Wigram for cse 2-20 Dec & 25 Aug-19 Oct 48], remust as ATC Instructor 16 Sep 46, NRW [merged into NARRC Apr 53] 22 Oct 48 [att HQ Unit 18-24 Feb 50], died 18 Feb 59. Tokomaru Bay Cemetery - H.100. Son of Mr & Mrs Paretawa Tewai. [BSD].

From Colin Hanson’s By Such Deeds – Honours and awards in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1923 – 1999:

TEWAI, Flight Sergeant Paretawa, BEM.
NZ411160 & 70664; Born Tokomaru Bay, 29 Jan 1896; 1 NZEF (Maori [Pioneer] Bn) 2 Jul 1915 to 24 Apr 1918, 16/847; RNZAF 11 Feb 1941 to (das) 18 Feb 1959; Air Training Corps Instructor.
Citation British Empire Medal (QB1955): Not available. During WWI F/S Tewai served in Egypt and in France, being wounded. He joined the RNZAF in 1941 as an ACH (GD), becoming a Sgt instructor with Aerodrome Defence Units in 1943. In 1946 he became an ATC Instructor for the Auckland province, a post which he held for 13 years. His dedicated service to the ATC, particularly to the secondary school units throughout the Auckland area, was recognised by the award of the BEM.
Died on active service, Gisborne, 18 Feb 1959.

Errol

[freshfields]

Hello again Errol
and a big thank you for all your help. Progress is slow, but it is progress. Last we spoke you were frozen out, and today we in the Waikato are flooded out.

- Alan.

[errolmartyn]

Hello Alan,

Sorry to hear about your being flooded out. I'm no longer 'frozen out', earthquake repairs having been completed end last week. Now gradually working on bringing my library/archive out of storage for return to its rightful and accessible place.

Cheers,
Errol

[freshfields]

 Surprise arrival of some candid photos.

Hello.

First Sunday home for ages, so went to my local Church. There preparation for the community Anzac service was discussed, giving me an occasion to advise of this years ADOPT AN ANZAC [from the 59 names on our cenotaph] project, and that Tewai was an ATC instructor. Surprise surprise, tonight I was emailed photos from Wellington, out of a private photo album, which included F/Sgt P. Tewai.

There were 6 photos but no supporting notes. As it is easier for me to post those photos on Rootschat, that is where I will go next and post them. A link to their NZ forum, and the Tewai thread is in the first post above.

If you can recognise any of the cadets etc to fill us in, in  placing the photos, [uniuts ? etc] it would be appreciated.

- Alan.

PS. Also got a reply back, earlier than expected, from the photo archivist at the RNZAF Museum advising Tewai was not in their index, so we would have to know course dates to see if there were any group shots with Tewai in them.

[ringatu4]

Hi freshfields, sorry for the late reply. Have been overseas for a long time. After looking at the Tewai images, I cannot place him on any of the 14 Squadron ATC images from 1941 forward, nor 30 Squadron. Neither has his name come up in 14 Squadron research. This doesn't prove there was no connection however, it may simply be my research is incomplete. I see you've accomplished what you set out to do, and can only applaud your efforts.