Between 1914 and 1916 Samoan’s enlisted in Australia and New Zealand and were sent to fight at Gallipoli, in France and Belgium on the Western Front, and later in North Africa and Palestine.
“Soifua manuia Loius,
E na’o nai laina itiiti ia e fa’ailoa atu ai i le nofo tapua’i i ‘āiga, ua ou te’a ese mai ma puapuaga i o’u manu’a, ua fa’asolosolo manuia e pei ona fa’anōnōmanū i ai. O lo’u manu’a i le pulufana i lo’u tuāua ae na ati mai i lo’u taliga taumatau ma na āfāina ai lo’u ‘auvae. Masalo o le a ou nofo ai pea i Egelani mo le 3 i le 4 masina ona fa’ato’ā toe auina atu ai lea o a’u i Farani. O loo lelei pea le va’aiga o a’u i le nofoaga o loo o’u i ai nei, e lelei lava nai tamaitai tausima’i. O uso iā James ma Bob o loo iai pea i lā’ua i Egelani ma o loo sōlōga lelei foi i lā’ua.Si o’u uso pele ea ua tatau loa ona fa’a’uma lenei tusi i ‘ou alofa’aga mo outou uma i lo tatou ‘āiga, iā Bella ma tamaiti ma e lē fa’agaloina pea oe le pele.
Fa’asoifuaina. Tatalo mai mo i mātou.
O Viliamu”
Fa’asoifuaina. Tatalo mai mo i mātou.
O Viliamu”
“Dear Louis,
Just a few lines to let you know at home that I am out of danger and as well as can be expected, my wound consisting of a bullet through the back of my neck and coming out by my right ear; the result is that my jaw is affected. Probably I’ll be in England for 3 or 4 months before they send me to France again. I am well looked after where I am, the nurses are very nice. Brothers James and Bob are both in England and getting along very well. Well dear brother, I must now conclude with my best alofa to all at home, Bella and children and not forgetting your dear self. Good bye. Pray for us.
Your loving brother
William” - William Frederick Stowers, September 1917.
William Frederick Stowers was Apa’s father...my great grandfather, and one of the many Samoan’s and several Stowers to take part in the “Great War”.
Below is an extract from Samoa Times Newspaper 15 June, 1918
- “A taumafataga feast fa’a-Samoa, given by the relatives of Pvt. William Stowers took place at Leauva’a last Saturday in celebration of his return to Samoa. Pvt Stowers left for the Front with the 18th Reinforcements and having been wounded in the Somme Battle, was returned to New Zealand and is now home to be with his family. At the conclusion of the repast, Judge Roberts gave a short address with a complimentary reference to the Stowers family, mentioning the fact that no fewer than three sons of Mr J. Stowers have seen service at the front.”
Just a few lines to let you know at home that I am out of danger and as well as can be expected, my wound consisting of a bullet through the back of my neck and coming out by my right ear; the result is that my jaw is affected. Probably I’ll be in England for 3 or 4 months before they send me to France again. I am well looked after where I am, the nurses are very nice. Brothers James and Bob are both in England and getting along very well. Well dear brother, I must now conclude with my best alofa to all at home, Bella and children and not forgetting your dear self. Good bye. Pray for us.
Your loving brother
William” - William Frederick Stowers, September 1917.
William Frederick Stowers was Apa’s father...my great grandfather, and one of the many Samoan’s and several Stowers to take part in the “Great War”.
Below is an extract from Samoa Times Newspaper 15 June, 1918
- “A taumafataga feast fa’a-Samoa, given by the relatives of Pvt. William Stowers took place at Leauva’a last Saturday in celebration of his return to Samoa. Pvt Stowers left for the Front with the 18th Reinforcements and having been wounded in the Somme Battle, was returned to New Zealand and is now home to be with his family. At the conclusion of the repast, Judge Roberts gave a short address with a complimentary reference to the Stowers family, mentioning the fact that no fewer than three sons of Mr J. Stowers have seen service at the front.”
William’s mentioned brothers were Privates Robert and James Stowers. They were despatched from New Zealand as members of the 4th Maori Contingent, NZ Maori Pioneer Battalion. It is noted that although some of the Maori contingent were conscripted…“The men who came from the Pacific Islands to serve with the New Zealand forces were all volunteers.” Robert and James embarked together from Wellington to Egypt…
The records of all 3 brothers trace their movements (and are available from the National Archive).
William was shot in the face at the Somme, in France and discharged from active duty on his return to New Zealand- having served most of 3 years in the artillery service (J Company) of the NZEF.
James’ record indicates he was overseas for more than 3 years- after arriving in France he was later attached field hospital and ambulance units to the battlefields.
Robert’s record shows that after a period in France, he served in the Sinai and Palestine- posted for a period to the “Rarotongan company”, battling the Turks in defence of the Suez, where he was injured.
All 3 brothers survived the war and their names are etched on the Clock tower in Apia in remembrance of their service.
I'll post photos at April Showers on Facebook.
You can see photos, and find links to the Stowers war records here…and you can also lay a poppy…
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C71811
I’ve previously mentioned the NZ Expeditionary Force which in 1914 was sent from NZ to secure Samoa (then under German administration) on behalf of the British Government at the outbreak of war. Among that force was one Private Henry Lloyd Halliday, previously of Her Majesty’s Customs. After 139 Days- he was discharged at the beginning of 1915. He would later go on to marry Teuila Gurr, and be father to Pamela Lois “Nana” Stowers. (For a short period was also Treasurer of Samoa).
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH1-Samo-t1-back-d24.html
Anzac Day cannot go past without thinking about my grandfather, Allen Rouse, 2nd NZEF, who died 1st Dec 1975. It was before I was born- but later, when my brother and I were little, we would stay at Gran's and if we had money, we would go to the magazine store, across Silverdale Road, to buy commando comics. What we didn't know then, was the 2nd NZEF fought everywhere that we read about in those war comics, defining the outcome of the 2nd World War...Greece, Crete, the battle of El Alamein, Tunisia and Italy. And ultimately the battles of Monte Casino. I don't know how much of this Grandad saw- but I do know that it altered his life significantly, and that it wasn't a comic book experience of heroics and glory...but something which is literally indescribable to those not present. That he returned, and that we are here is testament to him, and the resilience of men in conditions which should never have been repeated- and yet which have been.
William was shot in the face at the Somme, in France and discharged from active duty on his return to New Zealand- having served most of 3 years in the artillery service (J Company) of the NZEF.
James’ record indicates he was overseas for more than 3 years- after arriving in France he was later attached field hospital and ambulance units to the battlefields.
Robert’s record shows that after a period in France, he served in the Sinai and Palestine- posted for a period to the “Rarotongan company”, battling the Turks in defence of the Suez, where he was injured.
All 3 brothers survived the war and their names are etched on the Clock tower in Apia in remembrance of their service.
I'll post photos at April Showers on Facebook.
You can see photos, and find links to the Stowers war records here…and you can also lay a poppy…
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C71811
I’ve previously mentioned the NZ Expeditionary Force which in 1914 was sent from NZ to secure Samoa (then under German administration) on behalf of the British Government at the outbreak of war. Among that force was one Private Henry Lloyd Halliday, previously of Her Majesty’s Customs. After 139 Days- he was discharged at the beginning of 1915. He would later go on to marry Teuila Gurr, and be father to Pamela Lois “Nana” Stowers. (For a short period was also Treasurer of Samoa).
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH1-Samo-t1-back-d24.html
Anzac Day cannot go past without thinking about my grandfather, Allen Rouse, 2nd NZEF, who died 1st Dec 1975. It was before I was born- but later, when my brother and I were little, we would stay at Gran's and if we had money, we would go to the magazine store, across Silverdale Road, to buy commando comics. What we didn't know then, was the 2nd NZEF fought everywhere that we read about in those war comics, defining the outcome of the 2nd World War...Greece, Crete, the battle of El Alamein, Tunisia and Italy. And ultimately the battles of Monte Casino. I don't know how much of this Grandad saw- but I do know that it altered his life significantly, and that it wasn't a comic book experience of heroics and glory...but something which is literally indescribable to those not present. That he returned, and that we are here is testament to him, and the resilience of men in conditions which should never have been repeated- and yet which have been.
Reference sites…
No comments:
Post a Comment