Jack Awahou
Private 815280 · D Company, 28th (Māori) Battalion · Jayforce, Japan 1946–48
Early life
John (Jack) Awahou came from Okaiawa, in South Taranaki, and his sister, Miss H. Awahou of Okaiawa, was his next of kin. He was a seaman when he enlisted. He was also a rugby player. In 1932 J. Awahou was in the Okaiawa senior team that won the Taranaki championship, and in 1935 John Awahou of Okaiawa played in the Māori trial at Hamilton and was one of five Taranaki men put forward for the New Zealand Māori team to tour Australia.
War
Jack sailed with the 15th Reinforcements in 1945 and reached Italy after the fighting had ended. He then went on to Japan with Jayforce, serving there between 1946 and 1948.
Sources
Online Cenotaph C117454; Opunake Times, 14 June 1935; Okaiawa Seniors team photograph, 1932.
Are you whānau? If you can add to his story, correct anything here or share a photograph, please get in touch.