Pte. Thomas Wahia

Thomas Wahia was born at Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty Region of New Zealand's North Island in 1894. His parents were Te Moananui and Hohepa Paama Wahia. Thomas was a farmer on Matakana Island, considered himself an Anglican, and played football. In appearance he was almost 173 cm tall, and weighed 79 kilograms with black hair, dark brown eyes and a brown complexion. He enlisted to serve during World War I on 12 November 1914, embarking from Wellington on board the Joselyn [according to Military Record - New Zealand War graves had the Warrimoo] on 14 February 1915. Thomas arrived at Suez in Egypt on 26 March 1915. Sadly, his father died in Tauranga only four months later, on 19 July 1915. Thomas served with the 1st Māori Contingent, A Company (Service No. WWI 16/426). Pte. Thomas Wahia was killed in action during the Battle of Chunuk Bair at Gallipoli on 6 August 1915 (reg. 1918/38840). On 6 September 1915 the Bay of Plenty Times reported: Amongst those killed at the Dardanelles recently was T Wahia, a well-known resident of Matakana Island. Deceased was a member of the Matakana football team and was regarded as one of the most promising Backs in the Bay of Plenty. 20-year-old Thomas is remembered on Panel 24 of the Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial located in the Chunuk Bair Cemetery at Gallipoli in Turkey. His older brother Moa had also served at Gallipoli. Moa died of a fever at sea on 9 September 1915 on board the HMHS Salta (His Majesty's Hospital Ship) (reg. 1918/38837). Moa was buried in the Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt. The medals belonging to both Moa and Thomas were sent to their sister Ngahaka Wahia in Tauranga as both of their parents had died by this time. Bio by Debbie McCauley (10 December 2014).

Sources

1. Archives New Zealand: Military personnel file.
2. Auckland War Memorial Museum: Cenotaph Record.
3. Bay of Plenty Times (6 September 1915).
4. Births, Deaths & Marriages Online (New Zealand).
5. Fiona Kean (Tauranga Heritage Collection).
6. New Zealand War Graves.
7. Wairarapa Daily Times (30 August 1915, p. 6): The Roll of Honour, New Zealand Casualties.