Tikitiki church war memorial

One soldier honoured here is Private Albert Pohoi ANARU, born to the northwest at Raukokore on May 3rd 1898, eldest son of Tiweka Anaru & Paretio (Polly) Heremaia, later residents of and buried at St Faith's Anglican Church, Ohinemutu, Rotorua in 1948 & 1952 respectively. Albert (or Arapeta) went to school at Raukokore Native Primary & St Stephen's, Bombay, Auckland, NZ. When he reached age, he joined as Regimental No. 16/1392, a reinforcement for the 4th Maori Pioneer Battalion and was killed in action at 19 yrs age on Messines Ridge, Belgium / northern France on June 7th 1917. Albert had 9 younger siblings, 2 of whom died in infancy. One of his brothers was Capt. Wi Anaru (1900-1968) of the 28 (Maori) Battalion in WW2, & who led NZ's J-Force occupying Japan.