Rangiwāhia war memorial

Rangiwāhia war memorial

Rangiwahia memorial

Rangiwahia memorial

Rangiwahia memorial

Rangiwahia War Memorial Rangiwahia War Memorial Rangiwahia War Memorial

On 14 November 1921 the Minister of Lands D.H. Guthrie unveiled the Rangiwāhia soldiers’ memorial alongside the Rangiwāhia hall. The dignified granite obelisk was mounted on a stepped concrete base and inscribed with the following text:

IN MEMORY / OF SOLDIERS OF RANGIWAHIA AND / SURROUNDING DIST- / -TRICTS WHO FELL / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1918. / FOR KING AND COUNTRY

There followed the names of 21 local men who had given their lives.

After the Second World War another tablet with eight names was set into the base. A community war memorial building was also erected on the other side of the road. This was formally opened by the Minister of Internal Affairs Sir William Bodkin on 28 April 1954. It was dedicated to local men who had fallen in both world wars.

Two First World War rolls of honour from neighbouring schools are also on display in the old hall. The Ruahine School roll of honour is a wooden tablet which lists eight men who died in the First World War and 26 others who also served, as well as one nurse (Miss G. Guthrie). The Mangarimu School roll of honour is a marble tablet which lists a total of 18 men within the following categories: ‘killed in action’, ‘missing’, ‘died of wounds’, ‘died of sickness’, ‘returned sick’, ‘returned’. Mangarimu School was closed in 1937 and Ruahine School in 1944.

See: ‘Soldiers’ Memorial’, Hawera & Normanby Star, 15/11/1921, p. 5; Ken and Lucy Grover, Rangiwahia and District, 1886-1986, Rangiwahia, 1985, pp. 60-1, 63, 83.

Community contributions

10 comments have been posted about Rangiwāhia war memorial

What do you know?

Bob May

Posted: 07 Nov 2011

Seeking information on Te Kooti, Raurimu, National Park , Tu Wharetou,

paul titterington

Posted: 03 Nov 2011

Hi. I used to live on the old "Murray Thompson" farm up bowling road with my wife and two kids! Those were the happiest days of my life. I live in England now. Did anyone know Murray Thompson? I want to find out more about the history of the old roger woods farm? ..How is Roger Wood by the way?
I was a friend of Mary Morton and her husband. I know he is now deceased.
Steve and Mary Belski know me.

Chet Crawley

Posted: 22 Jul 2011

What happened to Frank Heise hotel in Rangiwhahia? Did it burn down? -thanks.

AlisonC

Posted: 16 Dec 2010

Regarding Charlie Goodwin on the Rangiwahia War Memorial. His parents (William and Sarah Goodwin my GG Grandparents) lived in the township for awhile around 1890 and started the livery stables.Charlie was employed by A Wilson of Hinau as a Shearer. He was in the Wellington Infantry Regiment and embarked on the Troop Ship Number 17 - SS Maunganui on 14 February 1915. Charlie was initially listed as missing at Gallipoli and then a search was done of the hospitals in England on behalf of his mother Sarah. On 21 March 1918 he was formally recorded as "wounded and missing believed dead" ("We are unable to detail his injuries as it was not possible to retrieve him due to enemy action"). His name is on the Chunuk Bair Memorial at Gallipoli as it is during this action he was last seen - he was not recovered neither was he evacuated. The above information is from the book "Our Goodwin Heritage"

N/K

Posted: 25 Jan 2010

Hi Sharon I'm wondering if you received all the information from Charlie that you hoped for. I lived in Rangiwahia until 1950 and could possibly supply more if you are still looking for it. Best wishes N/K

admin

Posted: 08 May 2009

Hi Sharon - no problem, I've emailed Charlie now. regards, Jamie Mackay Web Editor

Sharon Stebbings

Posted: 08 May 2009

Hello Thankyou very much for fowarding the letter from charlie. I would very much like to contact him regarding his fathers sheep station, however i have no email address for him please would you pass on my email address to him so we may correspond. I am very greatfull to you for your help and look foward to hearing from you soon. kind regards sharon stebbings

admin

Posted: 03 May 2009

Thanks, Charlie - I've let Sharon know

Anonymous

Posted: 02 May 2009

Hi my name is Charlie. Your email is not dated so I have no idea if this post is pertinent. I may be able to help. My Dad had a sheep farm at Rangiwahia. I grew up there till the age of 10. The years. I was born in 1951 and my Dad bought his farm before WWII.

sharon stebbings

Posted: 13 Jan 2009

Hello, my name is sharon stebbings, I know this request is not related to your subject, however im looking for infomation regarding a sheep station that my father worked on in the late 1940s - 50s in Rangiwahia, his boss on the station was a Mr DeRolles. My father moved to New Zealand after the 2nd World War and worked for this family sheering sheep for 3yrs before moving back to England. He will be 83 on the 5th of March and for his birthday I would love to gather some infomation regarding his time on the station. I can't seem to find any would you possibly be able to help me, or point me in the right direction?
Thanyou for reading this. Sharon Stebbings England.