Corporal Tikitanu, V.C.,
BY
J. C. FUSSELL
(Author of "Letters from Private Henare Tikitanu.")
AUCKLAND:
Worthington & Co., Printers, Albert Street.
1918.
Cover design by permission of Proprietors Auckland Weekly News.
- FROM ELOPEMENT TO ENLISTMENT 5
- OFF TO THE WAR 10
- THE LITTLE FRENCH NURSE 15
- A CHAT WITH THE NURSE 21
- A LETTER TO THE KAISER 27
- A PRISONER 32
- EARNING THE V.C. 38
- HOME AGAIN! 46
I.
FROM ELOPEMENT TO ENLISTMENT.
The first time I remember catchingsight of Henare Tikitanu was whenhe was acting as referee at a dog-fightin a Maori village in the Waikatodistrict.
The dog-fight was no concern of mine.I was just ridingpast when myattention wasdrawn to Henare.He was endeavouringto seefair play for boththe combatants.He was very excitedover theaffair because another Maori, named Wiremu,was hampering one dog by pullinghis tail.
[pg 6]After fruitlessly yelling at Wiremu forsome time in classical Maori, Henare suddenlyrelapsed into pidgin-English, andfired this volley at him: "Py cripes, youte ploomin' ole taurekareka,—tinkin' fish—allright. You no good for te fight. Morebetter your ole woman drown you in te hotmud hole when you te piccanini. Gar!"
Then they flew into each other's armsand settled it that way. The dogs lookedup in surprise, retired to a safe distance,and watched the proceedings, giving anoccasional bark of encouragement.
Henare won. He deserved to, for hewas a clean fighter and a true sport.
This event happened about two yearsbefore the Great War broke out, whenHenare was eighteen. So it was not surprisingthat he should have been one ofthe first of the Waikato tribe to volunteerfor service at the front, when he hadreached twenty-three.
But he had his difficulties. You see[pg 7]he had a sweetheart named Kiri, a fineMaori maiden of twenty; and Wiremuwanted her. Henare and Kiri had beensweethearts from early school-days, andthey rather laughedat Wiremu's aspirations.But if Henarewent to the war, itmight be different.During their moonlightrambles