Disaster, Wahine Ferry [memorial] d. April 10, 1968 On the morning of 10 April, 1968, Cyclone "Giselle" hit at the same time as another storm which had driven up the West Coast of the South Island from Antarctica. The two storms met over the capital city, Wellington, creating a single storm just as the inter-island ferry Wahine was crossing Cook Strait, between the South and North Islands of New Zealnd. At 5.50 on the morning of 10 April, carrying 610 passengers and 123 crew, the Captain of the Wahine, decided to enter Wellington harbour. Huge...[Read More] (Bio by: Jeff J) Palmer Head Memorial, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Frickleton, Samuel b. April 1, 1891 d. September 6, 1971 World War I British Victoria Cross Medal Recipient. He served as a Lance Corporal in the 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifles Expeditionary Force during the First World War. On June 7, 1917, at the Battle of Messines Belgium, although wounded, he went ahead of his section, destroying a German machine gun crew, which was causing heavy casualties. He then attacked a second gun killing all the crew of 12. By the destruction of these two guns he undoubtedly saved his own life and other units from very...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith) Taita Servicemen's Cemetery, Naene, Wellington, New Zealand
Hardham, William James b. July 31, 1878 d. April 13, 1928 Second Boer War British Victoria Cross Medal Recipient. He served as a Farrier-Sergeant, in the 4th New Zealand Contingent. On January 28, 1901, he was in command of a scout unit that was ambushed by a Boer force at Naauwpoort in Transvaal. Under heavy fire he held the point position mounted on his horse so his men could to retreat. When one of his troopers was wounded and his horse killed, he went to his assistance. He placed the injured man on his own horse and ran alongside until he had...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith) Karori Cemetery, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Te Wiata, Inia Morehu Tauhia Watene b. June 10, 1915 d. June 26, 1971 Singer, Actor. Born Inia Morehu Tauhia Watene Iarahi Waihurihia Te Wiata (originally Te Iwiata) in 1915 of parents who were from the "Ngati Raukawa" Tribe, he became a Bass Profundo at the age of 14, which allowed him to join groups to help his mother make ends meet after his father's death from influenza in 1918. He went on to become one of New Zealand's (Aotearoa) most loved singers of the 20th century. He appearing in several motion pictures, including "In Search of the Castaways", "Pacific...[Read More] (Bio by: Jeff J) Rangiatea Churchyard, Otaki, Wellington, New Zealand
Unknown Warrior of New Zealand On November 6. 2004, in cooperation with the France Government, the remains of a World War 1 unidentified New Zealand soldier was exhumed by staff of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission from Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, France, Plot 14, Row A, Grave 27. In a ceremony on November 14, 2004, the soldier was laid to rest within the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, at the National War Memorial, Wellington, New Zealand. (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith) New Zealand National War Memorial, Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
d. April 10, 1968
