Tu Akurangi

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Portrait of Tu Akurangi
Digitally restored and colourised from a family photograph.

Private 817819 · D Company, 28th (Māori) Battalion · Jayforce, Japan 1946–48

Early life

Tui Korero Akurangi, known as Tu, was born in Gisborne on 21 November 1923, the son of Paraki Patutahi Akurangi and Ramari Ratapu. He grew up at Māhia, and when he enlisted he was working as a labourer, with his uncle, Mr T. Meta of Opoutama, as his next of kin.

War

Tu sailed with the 15th Reinforcements in 1945 and reached the battalion in Italy after the fighting had ended. He then went on to Japan with Jayforce, serving as a trooper in D Squadron of the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Cavalry Regiment from 1946 to 1948.

After the war

Tu married Te Mokihi Tawera on 18 June 1950, and they had four sons and a daughter. He died at Whakatū, near Hastings, on 22 March 1972, aged 48.

Sources

Online Cenotaph C117447; FamilySearch; Hawke’s Bay Knowledge Bank.

Are you whānau? If you can add to his story, correct anything here or share a photograph, please get in touch.

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