Robert Bennetts

Byadmin
Portrait of Robert Bennetts
Imagined portrait. No photograph of Robert is known.

Private 819445 · D Company, 28th (Māori) Battalion · 1945

Early life

Robert Patrick Bennetts was born on 16 March 1924, the son of Martha Kiwi (née Wakefield) and Frederick Henry Bennetts. Through his mother he was Kāi Tahu, a grandson of Harawira Wekepiri of Little River and Martha Kiwi Otella Rickus of Tuahiwi. Before he enlisted he was working as a bushman at Cobb River, in Golden Bay, and his mother was living at North Beach, Christchurch.

War

Robert sailed with D Company in 1945, aged 21. His draft reached Italy after the fighting had ended in May.

After the war

Robert lived in Christchurch after the war and worked as a labourer. He died in Christchurch Hospital on 4 June 1964, aged 40, and is buried in Ruru Lawn Cemetery. His family’s death notice named him “Late 2nd N.Z.E.F., 28th Battalion”. His war medals are on the 2022 list of unclaimed medals for the 28th (Māori) Battalion, so his whānau are able to claim them.

Sources

Online Cenotaph C117459; WikiTree; The Press, 5–6 June 1964; Christchurch City Council cemeteries database; NZDF list of unclaimed medals, 28th (Māori) Battalion (2022).

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

Similar Posts

  • Henry Kokoro Barrett

    Byadmin

    Corporal 25813, DCM · D Company, 28th (Māori) Battalion · Wounded three times Early life Henry Kokoro Barrett (Hēnare Kokoro Tiratahi) was born at Temuka on 2 October 1911. His mother was Hīria Kokoro-Barrett, a Ngāi Tahu and Kāti Māmoe leader whose life is told in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, and his father…

  • Buck Robinson

    Byadmin

    Private 807479 · D Company, 28th (Māori) Battalion · Wounded, Italy 1945 Early life Theodore Whuia Wharaki Robinson, known as Buck, came from Wainui, on Akaroa Harbour, the son of Theodore Percival Robinson. He was farming when he enlisted, and his mother, Mrs M. Robinson of Barrys Bay, was his next of kin. War Buck…

  • Peter Bates

    Byadmin

    Private 823231 · D Company, 28th (Māori) Battalion · Jayforce, Japan Early life Peter Gordon Noha Whare Bates was born in about 1922 and lived in Earn Street, Invercargill, before the war. His sister, Mrs S. Leitch of Hill End, was his next of kin, and he was single and working as a labourer. His…

  • Toby Anglem

    Byadmin

    Corporal 25804 · D Company, 28th (Māori) Battalion · Wounded and invalided home Early life John Topi Anglem, known as Toby, was born in 1903 and grew up at Te Waipopo, near Arowhenua and Temuka, the son of Walter Te Maiharanui and Mereana Anglem. He was a well-known singer at Arowhenua. In 1926 he sang…

  • Harry Navau Apes

    Byadmin

    Private 807383 · D Company, 28th (Māori) Battalion · Wounded, Italy 1944 Early life Harry Navau Apes grew up at Glenavy, near the mouth of the Waitaki River, where his grandmother, Mrs H. Wesley, was his next of kin. He was single and working as a grocery assistant. Harry was also a cricketer, and in…