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NZ Maori Pioneers WWI badges


JerryBB
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Nice badges. A few members of my family served in this unit. A World War One formed unit. Formed in France from the New Zealand Native Contingent and the Otago Mounted Rifles 2 company’s were Māori one was European N.Z.ers.

Maori were equal as New Zealanders and served as Officers, N.C.O.S and enlisted ranks. My mothers uncle served as a Captain and was awarded a mention in despatches and one of my fathers uncles was Killed in action in 1917.83C43353-E75F-4D1D-BCC8-1C5788ECA45D.jpeg.f7e66d405be59b7dbad58a712c7157d4.jpeg

54C6ED51-D3B3-45C2-937C-D1B28CA6D286.jpeg.8eaf557760efb5c709d0a94104d43be3.jpeg
300878AB-A413-49E5-BE98-AD16BE9C1794.jpeg.f833e727c9354690bd38e12ea6479c1a.jpeg

F5E28EEF-B0D9-4A5A-97C7-0A12EBE34FF4.jpeg.be43b1b7c354674b56af1ad5e4c6df0a.jpeg

note on this badge the feather has been removed from the head as in some tribes only the woman could wear feathers, sometimes the necklace amulet would be removed as well as these were not worn in combat.

96F36814-507B-40E9-8C86-25674A275435.jpeg.1ed1b54b605602e818bd93971d4a2c0a.jpeg

N.Z.Pounamu (jade) amulets carried by my Great Uncle, one shaped as a shark tooth.3D5713C9-A6F1-4B3D-9048-E13C3BC848FD.png.6fde3f2777479b6536317a6f315fe853.png

life goes on Kiaroa(a new breath)

 

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1 hour ago, Kia kaha said:

Nice badges. A few members of my family served in this unit. A World War One formed unit. Formed in France from the New Zealand Native Contingent and the Otago Mounted Rifles 2 company’s were Māori one was European N.Z.ers.

Maori were equal as New Zealanders and served as Officers, N.C.O.S and enlisted ranks. My mothers uncle served as a Captain and was awarded a mention in despatches and one of my fathers uncles was Killed in action in 1917.83C43353-E75F-4D1D-BCC8-1C5788ECA45D.jpeg.f7e66d405be59b7dbad58a712c7157d4.jpeg

54C6ED51-D3B3-45C2-937C-D1B28CA6D286.jpeg.8eaf557760efb5c709d0a94104d43be3.jpeg
300878AB-A413-49E5-BE98-AD16BE9C1794.jpeg.f833e727c9354690bd38e12ea6479c1a.jpeg

F5E28EEF-B0D9-4A5A-97C7-0A12EBE34FF4.jpeg.be43b1b7c354674b56af1ad5e4c6df0a.jpeg

note on this badge the feather has been removed from the head as in some tribes only the woman could wear feathers, sometimes the necklace amulet would be removed as well as these were not worn in combat.

96F36814-507B-40E9-8C86-25674A275435.jpeg.1ed1b54b605602e818bd93971d4a2c0a.jpeg

N.Z.Pounamu (jade) amulets carried by my Great Uncle, one shaped as a shark tooth.3D5713C9-A6F1-4B3D-9048-E13C3BC848FD.png.6fde3f2777479b6536317a6f315fe853.png

life goes on Kiaroa(a new breath)

 

I knew they sometimes removed the necklace from the badges but not about the feathers, thanks

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hello,

I have always liked this badge and the story of this unit, some of Maori soldiers are buried in the Ypres Cemetery near the Lille gate.

It took a long time to bring cap and collar badges together, here is my full set with one collar badge whose the necklace was removed.

I read in another forum about this custom and I saw a very nice picture of a Maori soldier who had cut out the necklace of his badges. I don't know if I can attached the photo to my post without asking to the owner. The soldier was his great grandfather.

 

Cap and collar badges made by J.R. Gaunt London :

20220109_173230.jpg.8755cd5aa595bec587db94988a2c8a51.jpg

 

20220109_173158.jpg.59f9a21fbf10fa87f04221cc4a49827b.jpg

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