Te Puke Brothers Remembered for WWI Sacrifice

As Anzac Day approaches, historian Christine Clement helps acknowledge the sacrifice made by two brothers whose names are among those on the memorial gates at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori Te Matai–Te Kura a Iwio Tapuika in Waitangi, Te Puke. Obadiah (Oparia), also known as Frederick, and Thompson William Nicholl were sons of Humphrey Nicholls and Harete Ngakoura Tamihana of Te Kahika, near Te Puke (Ngāti Tuheke, Tapuika). Both brothers enlisted for service in the New Zealand forces during World War I.

Obadiah attended Te Puke School and enlisted as Frederick on August 23, 1916, at the Narrow Neck Camp between Devonport and Takapuna with the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion. Thompson William attended Te Matai Native School and enlisted on October 21, 1914. On October 12, 1917, New Zealand suffered its darkest day when the country recorded 1,190 deaths and 2,106 injured at the Passchendaele Ridge in Belgium.

Obadiah was wounded in action on October 6, 1918, with a gunshot wound to his back and side during the push for the Hindenburg Line. He was admitted to the 49th Casualty Clearing Station in Grevillers, France, and died there from his wounds. He is buried in the Grevillers British Cemetery. The brothers' sacrifice is commemorated as part of Anzac Day remembrances held at Te Puke Memorial Hall in Jellicoe Street at 9am on Friday, April 25.

Originally published in Te Puke News by Sun Media.