Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John Koruarua was the son of Paraika Korurua and Hakara Ira, his mother later Mrs Karehana, of 55 Elizabeth Street, Timaru. His formal name was Matiu Moera Koruarua (or Karehana Koruarua). His date of birth is difficult to confirm. On enlistment, he gave 13 October 1894, and his age at death suggests about 1892, while family trees give 15 October 1886 (without supporting evidence). He gave Leeston as his birthplace, while other accounts suggest Moeraki. John had a sister Bessie (Irihapeti) Koruarua. Both John and Bessie attended Moeraki School, John’s birthdate given as 1890(!) and entering in 1903 and Bessie’s as 1892 and entering in 1897. At the Moeraki School prize-giving on 21 December 1910, a John Koruarua was first in order of merit and was awarded the Navy League Essay prize in Standard IV, and a second-class attendance certificate. Was this the same John as the subject of this profile?

When John enlisted on 6 August 1915 at Takapuna, he was a labourer for the Public Works Department at Taumarunui. He belonged to the North Otago C Company Senior Cadets 10th Reinforcements. Single and of Church of England affiliation, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Karehana, 55 Elizabeth Street, Timaru. Medically examined on 31 July 1915, he stood at 5 feet 10 inches, weighed 154 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35-38 inches. Private J. Koruarua embarked with the 2nd Maori Battalion, departing from Wellington per the “Waitemata” on 18 September 1915, and disembarking at Suez, Egypt, on 26 October 1915.

It was in December 1915 that Mrs Wirenui Karetiana, of Elizabeth Street, Timaru, received a letter from her son, Private John Koruarua, who left New Zealand with the 2nd Maori Reinforcements. He wrote from “mid-ocean” on October 4th, and said that the health of the boys who left Wellington on September 18th was excellent, and all were pleased with the life and thoroughly enjoying themselves. He mentioned a pleasant visit to Albany, and assured his mother that he and his comrades were having a good time, and were never in need of anything. He also said that their officers were very kind, and treated the men just as well as themselves. The letter concluded: — “Mother, this is what we call the soldier’s life, and it is one of the best. Do not worry about me; you know we all have a duty to perform, and some one must do it. I must now bring this letter to a close, with love and kisses; also aroha nui to all at home.” Little would mother or son have contemplated what had already transpired before the letter reached home.

On 18 November 1915 – just three weeks after arriving in Egypt – he was admitted to the New Zealand General Hospital at Abbassia from Zeitoun Camp with typhoid fever/enteric. He had been ill for three days previously, with dysentery; pains – abdomen; no headache. His temperature on admission was 99.4, the next day 103.4. His symptoms were of a mild type – some diarrhoea. His temperature was normal on 28th and remained so.

In January 1916, Mrs Wiremu Karetiana, of 55 Elizabeth Street, received word from the Base Record Office that her son, Private John Koruarua, had been invalided home, and was coming by the Willochra, which was expected to reach Dunedin at the end of the month. “Private Koruarua celebrated his 19th birthday on his way to the front. He is a descendant of the great Maori warrior Maru.” Was he even younger than thought? Perhaps born in 1896? He returned to New Zealand for change per the Hospital Ship “Willochra”, embarking on 26 December 1915. After being delayed outside heads all day by mist the Willochra, with 196 convalescents, came alongside the wharf at Port Chalmers on Saturday night, 29 January 1916, when the men were given a cordial welcome. The Medical Board at once commenced its work, which was concluded by midnight. This enabled the Canterbury men to leave Dunedin by special train at 9 o'clock the next day. The Provisional Medical Board assembled on the Troopship “Willochra” recommended that he be treated as an invalid at Timaru Hospital. Four South Canterbury men, invalids from the “Willochra”, reached Timaru on 30 January. The men all spoke in terms of high praise of the ship and her company, and they were also very well treated in the matter of food. At Colombo and Albany they had a splendid time, and praised the hospitality of the folk there very much. “The men behaved themselves very well, and found themselves very well treated, especially by the civilians at the ports of call.”

“There was but a small gathering at the railway station yesterday afternoon to welcome the Canterbury soldiers ex Wiilochra, who came up from Dunedin by special train. No public notice was given of the probable time of arrival of the train at Timaru. The only hint given was that the train was to leave Dunedin at 9 a.m., and assuming that it would travel at express speed, this gave the time of arrival at Timaru shortly before 2.30 p.m. As a matter of fact the train travelled much faster than the express and reached Timaru about 1.30 p.m. His Worship the Mayor received word on Saturday night that the train would arrive about 1.30, and he informed officials of the Honorary Territorials, consequently some of these were present. The 2nd Regimental Band mustered at short notice, as the Mayor could not communicate with them till 11 a.m. The reception of the arrival was, therefore, much quieter than usual, but the Band, by its music, relieved it from tameness. . . . . . When the train drew up at the platform, the Mayor, . . . . . gave a brief address of welcome. He felt it a privilege, he said, to give a hearty welcome back to New Zealand of soldiers who had shared in the glorious deeds of which all had read with pride. The people of New Zealand knew what sacrifices they had made, and heartily appreciated them. . . . . . . He hoped that with rest and careful nursing all would soon be restored to full health and strength.” Cheers for the soldiers were heartily given. Two men left the train at Timaru — 6-3138. Andrew F. Rennie, Canterbury Infantry (Timaru), and 16-968, Private John Koruarua, John, Divisional Headquarters Staff (Timaru). Before they left the station and were conveyed by car to their homes, the Mayor gave them a special welcome home on behalf of the people of Timaru. Two other returned soldiers left the train at Temuka - 7-912, Trooper Alex. Hall, Canterbury M.R., of Fairlie, and 10-3138. Private J. J. O’Neill, Wellington Battalion, of Waitohi – and received an ovation from a large crowd assembled at the station.

His address on return was care of Mrs Karehana, Washdyke, near Timaru. 16/968 Pte John Koruarua was examined by a Medical Board assembled at Timaru on 24 May 1916. The Board determined that his original disability was enteric, that it was not due to causes existing prior to enlistment, that the specific cause was infection, that there were no consequent disabilities, and that his progress was good. He was not fit for Active Service or Territorial Service, but he was fit for Civil Employment. His disability, which was contracted in the service and was caused by military duty (under circumstances over which he had no control, was likely to continue for three months. It was recommended that he be considered for a pension, his capacity for earning a full livelihood in the general labour market being lessened at the time by a quarter. 16/968 Private John Koruarua was discharged on 14 June 1916, medically unfit (illness). At this time, he had a clear complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, the last two to be issued by the admiralty for subsequent service in the Naval Transport Service.

John Koruarua was one of the native boys who were presented with an illuminated address at a social function at the Arowhenua Pa in May 1920 (after the last man had returned). The hall was beautifully decorated, and there was a large attendance. Mr Pitama (president of the Tuahiwi Patriotic Committee) and Mr Teaika (representing Mr W. H. Uru, member for the Southern Maori District) were present. Excellent music was provided, and there were songs, dancing and a dainty supper. “The Maoris of Arowhenua could well be proud of the fact they had given to the war as a volunteer every boy capable of bearing arms, and he understood it was the same at Kaiapoi,” said Mr T. Gunnion, the Mayor of Temuka. “These were records that the Maoris could justly be proud of.”

John Koruarua went to Australia in about 1923. It is recorded that Matiu Moeroa (John) Koruarua married Bertha Mona Williams in 1924 in New South Wales, Australia. There they had a daughter and a son. But it was in 1934 in Sydney that Martin[sic] M. Karehana-Koruarua married Berthe (Bertha) M. Lynch (née Williams. London-born Bertha Mona Williams married Joseph Edward Lynch in 1917 in London. Joseph served with the Australian forces in World War One, his spouse (Bertha Mona Lynch) being named his next-of-kin after their marriage. Bertha made several trips home to England from Australia and on one occasion from New Zealand. John and Bertha spent much of their life together in the Botany district of New South Wales, where he was a fireman and a labourer. They were divorced in Australia in 1973.

He was known by various names – Matiu Moerua Koruarua or Teone Paraika Koraiarua or Moera Paraika Koruarua or Matiu Moeroa Koroheke or Koruarua [reference probate file]. Matiu Moeroa Karehana Koruarua died on 24 May 1976 at Box Hill Hospital, Victoria, Australia, aged 84 years. He was buried at Ferntree Gully Cemetery, Knox City, Victoria. He had been residing in Boronia, Victoria. He left real property in the Canterbury, Otago and Southland Judicial Districts of New Zealand. In his Will dated 12 December 1975, he appointed a Masterton solicitor as executor and trustee. Matiu’s son, Raymond William Korouarua (Moeroa Reimana Wiremu Koruarua) believed that his father had no property in Australia and that the main asset in his estate consisted of interests in Maori land in New Zealand. Berthe Mona Karehana-Koruarua of Botany died in May 1985, aged 86 years, and was buried at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Randwick, New South Wales. Now, John’s mother Hakara Koruarua had married William Parata Karehana in 1918, but she went under the Karehana name for some time prior to 1918. Both Hakara and William Parata Karehana died in 1950, at the age of 79 years. Iripapeti Koruarua Hampstead (Bessie) – loved sister of John Koruarua (Sydney) - died in November 1970 at Oamaru and was buried at the Maori Kaika Cemetery, Moeraki.

A photograph of a group of South Island Maori Reinforcements printed in the Otago Witness of 10 November 1915 features Koruarua.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [17 February 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0065562) [24 February 2017]; North Otago Times, 24 December 1910, Otago Witness, 10 November 1915, Timaru Herald, 15 December 1915, 17 & 31 January 1916, 25 May 1920, Auckland Star, 19 & 21 January 1916, Sun, 31 January 1916, Press, 31 January 1916, 25 & 26 November 1970, Star, 31 January 1916, Temuka Leader, 22 May 1920 (Papers Past) [17 & 18 February 2017; 14 July 2023; 05 & 08 December 2023]; School Admission records (Oamaru Branch NZSG) [17 February 2017]; Australia & NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [17 February 2017; December 2023]; Victoria, Australia Death registration (ancestry.com.au) [18 February 2017; 07 December 2023]; Australian & New Zealand Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au); SCRoll web submission, 25 April 2020; NZ Probate record (Archives NZ Collections Record number 0209/77) [05 December 2023]; Ferntree Gully Cemetery record (Find A Grave) [07 December 2023]; Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park record (Find A Grave) [07 December 2023]; New South Wales Marriage registration (www.bdm.nsw.gov.au) [07 December 2023]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• KORUARUA John - newspaper clippings (pdf, 103.5 KB updated 16-Jan-2024)

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