UPDATED STORY 28 July 2020
The answer was in my files all the time, too quick to post and connect the dots.
A photo taken some years back by Pauline (copy at The Treasury) had a plaque still on this plot estimated to be around the 3030s at Shortland Cemetery. The name was TAOHO REWIRI #16/352.
Plot 3034 Thomas Davis aka Taoho Rewiri (circled in blue, centre left)
Rewiri's military file is online at Archives New Zealand, and con\firms the death details at Tapu, Thames Coast. He was born at the Hokianga 16th February 1880, and worked as a bushman on enlistment.
Private Taoho Rewiri served four years and 130 days overseas in WWI
REST IN PEACE - LEST WE FORGET
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This grave is at Shortland Cemetery. The plot reference is 3PUBL-PLOT-3034.
So whats so special? The clue is in the small broken headstone - which once had an inset plaque, which has long gone. These small headstones are typical of a World War One soldiers grave at Thames.
At present I don't have Thomas recorded in our list of Thames WWI soldiers, so it is urgent that we find the regimental number!
The Thames Star newspaper provides some information.
THAMES STAR, VOLUME LXV, ISSUE 19001, 9 JANUARY 1934
Another report gives the name as Tom Davis, whereas the report above gives the firstname as Allan.
So we now know that Davis was a member of the First Contingent of the Pioneer Battalion NZEF.
Regimental Number? This is an ongoing investigation, hopefully with the help of readers we will find the match for Thomas / Allan Davis who may well have taken on an english version of his 'proper' name. I have checked the rolls in Monty Soutar's book Maori in the First World War - but no exact matches so far. No luck also on Auckland War Memorial cenotaph under "Thomas Davis".
Hopefully we will find more soon - let me know if you have solved the mystery!
