A new tribute at Te Kao

TRIBUTE: A new plaque is unveiled at Te Kao Saturday's dawn service.

More than 200 people gathered in the pre-dawn gloom at Te Kao on Saturday to remember those who had given their lives for King and country, and to witness the unveiling of a new tribute to those from the community who served in World War I.

The new plaque, on the southern face of the cenotaph, is perhaps unique in that it not only records the name, rank and number, and the final resting place (cemeteries at Gallipoli, in France, Belgium and England) of those who did not return home, but of all those with strong connections to Te Kao who served.

Some of those named had been born and lived at Te Kao, Errol Murray said. Others had moved away, but all could whakapapa strongly back to Aupouri, and all were now honoured.

It had taken months to gather all the details, he added, but the process had meant a great deal to the old soldiers' families. The next task would be to record those who served in World War II, and then more recent conflicts through to the present.

The dawn service at Te Kao also featured the Bible that is credited with saving the life of Hone Tahitahi at Gallipoli in 1915, by deflecting the bullet that would otherwise have struck him in the chest and likely killed him. The Bible was delivered to Te Kao by two representatives from Te Papa, where it is now part of the collection and features in the Gallipoli exhibition that is scheduled to remain on display until 2019.

Hone Tahitahi, who had yet to celebrate his 16th birthday when he enlisted and left New Zealand, survived the war, as did his two brothers. A fourth brother served in World War II, and also came home.

Hone's son Harry Tahitahi, now in his 80s and one of four children who are still alive, attended Saturday morning's service.

Also there, representing the Navy, was Chief Petty Officer John Harrison, whose mother had been born at Te Kao. He had grown up at Whangape, his father's community, and would return there to live when he retired.

CPO Harrison told the service in Kaitaia later in the morning that his grandfather had lied about his age - taking 10 years off - so he could serve in World War I, adding that the commemoration of the centennial of the landing at Gallipoli was proving to be a very emotional day.

He thanked the Far North for its contribution to the New Zealand Defence Force over the last 100 years, and for all it had been to him.