Piopio (commonly sounded as pew pew) is a small town in the Waitomo District 23km south of Te Kuiti. The Piopio bird was a native Thrush - now extinct.
They were very tame forest omnivores. The South Island piopio was last seen at Lake Hauroko and Caswell Sound in 1947 and was declared extinct in 1963. The last North Island species was observed in 1949 at Te Aurora, Wanganui. Sir Walter Buller described the piopio as unquestionably New Zealand's best songbird, a title bestowed on the Kokako today
* All Streets in Piopio are named after NZ native birds

The Piopio war memorial is in the main street outside the hall. 'To the glory of God in everlasting remembrance of the men of this district who paid the Supreme Sacrifice in the Great War 1914-1918'

World War I 1914-1918
BARNETT Lewen Maughan PRIVATE #12/699 (database has Llewelyn)
- born 1894
- he was a son of a prolific composer who emigrated to Australia (circa 1890) where he was appointed organist and choirmaster at Hobart Cathedral. After a tour of New Zealand his father settled in Napier in 1893 where he became the organist at the Cathedral
- he had a sister Gladys Barnett born in 1895
- served with Auckland Infantry Battalion NZEF 16th (Waikato) Company
KILLED IN ACTION 25 April 1915 aged 21
- son of: John Maughan BARNETT (1867-1938) & Harriett Frances TUGWELL (1865-1925), 212 Remuera Rd, Auckland
- ALSO LISTED AS: John Barnett (father) Manukau Road, Auckland
- Lewen lived in Piopio at enlistment
Grave/Memorial Reference: 72. at Lone Pine Memorial Turkey

BRADLEY William George PRIVATE #12/2652 (database has William G)
- born 1885 in Waikouaiti Dunedin
- he was a Farm Hand in Piopio
- served with NZEF Auckland Infantry Battalion 6th Reinforcements
DIED OF JAUNDICE at sea from Gallipoli 19 Nov 1915 aged 30
- son of William Bradley
- Next Of Kin - R. Bradley (brother) of Piopio
- his parents lived in Motu, Gisborne at time of enlistment. Motu is about 84km north west of Gisborne. With the Motu River Valley covered with mature forest the settlers began to clear the land during the 1890's and it became a busy sawmilling settlement.
Grave/Memorial 72. at Lone Pine Memorial, Lone Pine Cemetery, Anzac, Turkey

BURROW (no S) Reginald Hadderton TROOPER #31065
(database has BURROWS)
- born 1887 in Staffordshire, England
- he was a farmer
- served with NZEF 21st Reinforcements Auckland Mounted Rifles Brigade DIED OF WOUNDS in Palestine 31 Oct 1917 aged 30
- Son of Richard Edward (1858-1939) & Emily Louisa (1858-1953) Burrow
- parents lived in Piopio at that time
Grave/Memorial B. 52. at Beersheba War Cemetery Israel

CANTLAY Cecil Francis PRIVATE #23969
- born 1884 in Ceylon
- he was a Farmer
- served with NZEF 13th Reinforcements Auckland Infantry Battalion, A Company
KILLED IN ACTION on Somme, France 31 Oct 1916 aged 32
- son of Charles (1851-1924) & Lillian Jane Aphrah (1860-1944) Cantlay of Bluff Hill, Napier
- his parents lived in Piopio at the time
Grave/Memorial IV. A. 26. at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres Nord, France

COUSTON George PRIVATE #12/709
- born 1889
- he was farming in Te Kuiti
- served with the Main Body, Auckland Infantry Battalion 16th (Waikato) Company
KILLED IN ACTION Gallipoli 25 April 1915 aged 26
- son of William COUSTON (1839-1927) & Fanny BAGLEY (1852-1930)
- his parents lived at 301 Rattray St, Dunedin at the time
children of William & Fanny Couston:
1875 - 1925 Benjamin Bagley Couston
1876 - 1952 Fanny Mary Whittingham Couston
1878 - 1939 Elizabeth Couston
1880 - 1971 Harriet Couston
1882 - 1941 Charles Kent Couston
1886 - 1980 Florence Couston
1888 - Lilian Couston
1889 - 1915 George Couston
Grave/Memorial 72. Lone Pine Memorial, Anzac, Turkey

DANKS William DRIVER/GUNNER #2/527
- born 1884 in Tasman Street Wellington
- he was living in Piopio on enlistment
- served with the Main Body NZ Field Artillery 1st Battalion
DIED OF WOUNDS 21 Oct 1916 aged 32
- son of John (1855-1928) and Emily (1850-1938) Danks of Marine Parade, Eastbourne, Wellington
- ALSO LISTED AS: John Danks (father) 88 Tasman Street, Wellington. John was a J.P., on the Wellington City Council and Representative of the Wellington Hospital Board of Trustees. He and his father Samuel Danks (1831-1893) were brass founders in Brandon Street Wellington. They had a patent for a invention for securing the efficient working of water meters on all descriptions of hydraulic motors. Samuel's brother John (the Director/Chairman of the Melbourne Bank in 1879) also had a brass foundry in Moray Street, Emerald Hill, Melbourne around the same time
- John and Emily are buried in Bolton St Cemetery with John's parents and other family members
children of John & Emily:
1880 - John Danks, a House, Land & Business Agent in Custom House Quay Wellington
1881 - 1948 Samuel Danks
1884 - 1916 William Danks
1886 - 1886 Sarah Danks
1893 - Fred Hilton Danks
1898 - Doris Emily Danks
- Grave/Memorial I. E. 26. at A.I.F. Burial Ground, Flers, Somme, France

FLOYD Samuel PRIVATE #64483
- born 1882 in Inglewood
- served with NZEF 32nd Reinforcements Otago Infantry Regiment, D Company NZ Entrenching Battalion
DIED 1 February 1921 aged 39
- son of George (1851-1928) and Maria (1852-1927) Floyd of Patea, South Taranaki
- husband of Gwendoline FROST (formerly Floyd) of Southleigh, Mylor, Cornwall, England
- his parents and brother Thomas are also buried in Patea
children of George & Maria:
1876 - Mary Katherine Floyd
1878 - 1963 Joseph Floyd
1880 - Matilda Floyd
1882 - 1921 Samuel Floyd
1883 - 1939 Ellen Floyd
1887 - 1963 Frank Floyd
1888 - 1969 Emma Floyd
1891 - 1969 Ada Floyd
1894 - 1959 Alice Floyd
1897 - 1955 Lilian Rose Floyd (named as Next of Kin, in Junction Rd Inglewood)
1900-1979 - General George Redvers Baden (full name given at birth) Floyd
1903-1940 - Thomas Floyd - buried at Patea with Maurice William Floyd (1937-1944)
Grave Old Plot 4, New Plot 763, Block 85 at Patea Cemetery, Scotland Street

HAMILTON Charles
- there was no soldier with first or second name Charles that (admitted to have) lived or worked in Piopio at that time on any database anywhere - your help would be greatly appreciated

HILL James McClintock PRIVATE #12546
- born 1891, brother of Oliver below
- he was a Bushman
- served with NZEF 12th Reinforcements Wellington Infantry Battalion, J Company
KILLED IN ACTION Somme France 30 March 1918 (3 months before Oliver) aged 26
- son of J. Hill (father) Haku, Te Kuiti
ALSO LISTED AS: son of Mr & Mrs Hill of Arthur St West, Onehunga
- parents were: James HILL & Elizabeth THOMAS
their known children were:
1879 - 1938 William John Hill
1881 - 1918 Oliver Hill KILLED IN ACTION see following soldier
1883 - Robert Hill
1891 - 1918 James McClintock Hill
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. C. 6. at Euston Rd Cemetery Colincamps, France

HILL Oliver RIFLEMAN #48719
- born 1881, brother of James above
- he was a Farmer
- served with NZ Rifle Brigade Reinforcements J Company 4th Battalion 3rd
KILLED IN ACTION in France 15 July 1918 (3 months after James) aged 37
- son of James HILL & Elizabeth THOMAS (see above at brother James bio)
- parents lived in Onehunga at the time
Grave/Memorial I. J. 2. at Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France

JACKSON George Covell TROOPER #13/372
- born 1889
- he was a Lawyer
- served with Auckland Mounted Rifles, Main Body
DIED OF WOUNDS at Gallipoli when he was struck by shrapnel on 5 June 1915 aged 26
- he died 3 years before the birth of his nephew, and namesake, George Covell Jackson, who himself became a victim of war in 1941 on the Western Desert (see WWII below)
- son of George Ernest JACKSON (1862-1944) & Ellen BRYCE (1864-1918) of Wanganui & Piopio
- George (soldier) lived in Frankton Rd, Hamilton at enlistment
children of George & Ellen:
1889-1918 - George Covell Jackson
1890 - Charles Ernest - Charles was to marry Cecilia Josephine LAWSON in 1913 and they became the
parents of George Covell Jackson who died in WWII on the Western Desert (see below at WWII)
1895 - Elizabeth Anne
1898 - Evelyn
Grave/Memorial - D. 18. at Ari Burnu Cemetery, Anzac, Turkey
- see also George Covell Jackson WWII below
AUCKLAND WEEKLY NEWS, 24 June 1915 - JACKSON, Trooper George Covell who is reported to have died of wounds received at the Dardanelles, was the elder don of Mr George E Jackson of Hamilton and Piopio and a grandson of the late Hon John Bryce. He was born in 1890 and was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and at Victoria University College. He graduated BA in 1912 and was admitted a solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1913, when he commenced practice in Hamilton in partnership with Mr De La Mare

JOHNSTON William Eli SECOND LIEUTENANT #10069
- born 1870 in Hokitika, West Coast
- he was a Farmer in Piopio at enlistment
- served with NZEF 11th Reinforcements, J Company
- also served on the Western Front and in the South African Campaign
DIED 21 January 1918 aged 48
- son of John JOHNSTON & Elizabeth CLARK
- husband of Annie C. Johnston of 26 Lochiel Rd, Remuera, Auckland. ALSO LISTED AS: Mrs Annie C. Johnston (wife) Piopio
This was Annie Christina GEBHARST, they married in 1896
their known children:
1896 - William Eli Johnston
1899 - Mavis Elizabeth Johnston
1904 - Mary Hammond Johnston
1908 - George Johnston
Grave, Soldiers Area A, Row 1, Grave 1. at Waikumete Cemetery Auckland

PETCH George Alfred #25582
- born 1898
- he was a farmer at Te Kuiti prior to enlistment
- served with NZEF 17th Reinforcements Wellington Infantry Battalion, B Company
KILLED IN ACTION France 8 May 1918 aged 20
- son of Phoebe Rebecca (1876-1948) and the late William (1865-1899) Petch
- his mother was by then living in Fitzroy, New Plymouth
- he had a brother Reginald William (1899-1975) and a sister Annie Alice (1896-?) There were possibly other siblings
Memorial VI.G.8. at Perth Cemetery (China Wall) Ieper, West-Vlaanderen Belgium

RIDDLE Ewing Stevens PRIVATE #32067
- born 1894
- he was a farmer prior to enlistment
- served with NZ Rifle Brigade 13th Reinforcements 1st Battalion, E Company
KILLED IN ACTION Le Quesnoy, France 4 Nov 1918 aged 24 (2 years 2 months after his brother John below)
- son of Walter RIDDLE (1836-1914) & Marian Campbell STEVENS (1852-1922)
- his mother was living in Pio Pio at the time
children of Walter & Marian:
1878 - Stevens Riddle
1879 - Robert Riddle
1881 - Collin John Riddle (of Rira, Te Kuiti was listed as Next Of Kin for both brothers Ewing & John)
1883 - Marian Stevens Riddle
1885 - John Riddle KILLED IN ACTION see following soldier
1886 - Patrick Alexander Riddle
1887 - Amy Ewing Riddle
1889 - Sarah Campbell McPherson Riddle
1890 - Ann Margaret Riddle
1892 - Hormah Riddle
1894 - 1918 Ewing Stevens Riddle
1900 - Campbell Frederick Theodore Riddle
Grave I. A. 25. Le Quesnoy Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France

RIDDLE John PRIVATE #12/3140
- born 1885
- he was at Rira, Te Kuiti at enlistment
- served with Auckland Infantry Battalion 7th Reinforcements
KILLED IN ACTION Somme, France 30 Sep 1916 aged 31
- son of Walter (1836-1914) Riddle & Marian Campbell (1852-1922) Stevens
- his mother was living in Piopio at the time
- see his siblings above
Memorial at Caterpillar Valley (NZ) Memorial Somme, France

ROWE Alfred
- there was no soldier named Alfred Rowe that (admitted to have)lived or worked in Piopio at that time and died in WWI on any database anywhere - your help would be greatly appreciated

SLINES William James PRIVATE #12/864
- born 1892 POSSIBLY before parents immigration
- he left for Suez, Egypt on the Star of India or Waimana on 16th October 1914
- served with the Main Body of the Auckland Infantry Battalion
WOUNDED 10 June 1915, admitted to the Deaconess Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt on 17 June 1915 and on the 21 Oct 1915 was returned, wounded on the TOFUA
DIED 17 Nov 1918 aged 26. Not mentioned anywhere as dying of wounds but date suggests he may have been a victim of the Flu Pandemic (died 3 years after returning to NZ)
- son of James (1865-1931) & Margaret (1872-1951) Slines of Paemako, via Te Kuiti
- he lived in Kawhia at time of enlistment, was listed as being from Piopio on his death details
- he is buried in Hamilton West
known children of James & Margaret Slines:
1892-1918 - William James Slines
1895 - Mary Theresa Slines
1897 - Margaret Emma Slines
1899 - Fanny Slines
1902 - 1967 Norah Evelyn Slines
1904 - Martin Joseph Patrick Slines
1906 - 1970 Robert Desmond Slines
1909 - Eileen Margaret Slines
Grave: Location A3-XX-21 at Hamilton West Cemetery
NOTE there was also a John Sline, farmhand from Piopio, who served in WWI with the NZEF 36th Reinforcements A Company as Private #70750. His Next Of Kin was listed as Mrs I. Slines (mother) Piopio, King-country

STACEY William PRIVATE #45564
- born 1889 in Burnie, Tasmania, Australia
- he was a Bushman
- served with NZEF 25th Reinforcements E Company 2nd Battalion
DIED 11 Oct 1918 in Le Cateau, France aged 29
- son of Robert J. and Henrietta Stacey of Nubeena, Tasmania
Grave/Memorial II. A. 6. at Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France

World War II 1939-1945
ARMSTRONG Richard Clyde FLIGHT SERGEANT #405770 (database has R G Armstrong)
- born 1912 in Te Kuiti
- served with Royal New Zealand Air Force, 228 Squadron
MISSING PRESUMED DEAD on 12th July 1943 aged 31
- son of Albert Harold ARMSTRONG (1882-1958) & Florence Daisy NICHOLSON (1888-1957)
- his parents lived in Brown's Bay, Auckland at that time
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 198. at Runnymede Memorial Surrey UK

BATTLEY Thomas Herbert PRIVATE #64441 (database has BATLEY)
- born 1913
- served with New Zealand Infantry
DIED 21 November 1945 aged 28
- son of Herbert William BATTLEY (1875-1928) & Christina Allan McMILLAN (1887-1953) of Piopio
- Herbert & Christina were married on 17-3-1909 in St Davids Parish, Kyber Pass Auckland
Grave/Memorial 2. 57. at Piopio Cemetery

BUCKERIDGE Clifford Herne CORPORAL #8815
- born 1917
- served with NZ 27th Machine Gun Battalion
DIED OF WOUNDS Western Desert 4 July 1942 aged 25
- son of Edmund Herne BUCKERIDGE (1886-1962) & Violet ROLTON (1887-1953) Pio Pio, Te Kuiti
Grave/Memorial - XXVIII. F. 8. at El Alamein War Cemetery Egypt

DEMPSEY Dennis James SERGEANT (PILOT) #405240
- served with Royal New Zealand Air Force, 11 Operational Training Unit
DIED in United Kingdom 15 Dec 1941 aged 22
- son of James and Annie Dempsey of Te Kuiti
Grave/Memorial - Row DD. Grave 9. at Bassingbourn Cum Kneesworth Cemetery Cambridgeshire

DOWNARD Henry William Manfred SERGEANT #NZ41315
- born 1914
- served with Royal New Zealand Air Force
DIED 18 Dec 1942 over the Pacific aged 28
- son of Henry DOWNARD & Maria BLUMHARDT
- husband of Doreen Downard of Pio Pio
Grave/Memorial - Panel 7. at Bourail Memorial, New Caledonia

FARRER Matthew Cameron LANCE CORPORAL #13/102 OR #13/1023
- born 4 June 1922 in Hamilton, Waikato
- he was a student
- served with Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, Fleet Air Arm, HMS Victorious
DIED an accidental death, on active service, west of Treugga, Cornwall, United Kingdom 27 Aug 1945 aged 23
- Son of Matthew Roland & Dorothy Lucy Clare Farrer of Te Kuiti
- received the Distinguished Service Cross
Grave/Memorial - Panel 8. at NZ Naval Memorial, Devonport Auckland

GRIFFITHS Gordon Neil Ross CORPORAL #81843
- born 1918
- he was a Truck Driver prior to enlistment
- served with NZ Armoured Corps, 18th Armoured Regiment 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force
KILLED IN ACTION 25 July 1944 in Italy aged 26
- son of Robert Ross GRIFFITHS & Amy GRASON of Rotorua
- husband of Mrs E.R. Griffiths (wife) c/o A. Dodunski, Otewa Road, Otorohanga
- enlistment address: c/o Mrs E. Brooks, Huntly South
Grave/Memorial - VII. G. 2. at Florence War Cemetery, Italy

JACKSON George Covell #24097
- born 1918 in Piopio and named after his uncle who was killed in action in Gallipoli 3 years before he was born
- served with NZ Infantry 24th Infantry Battalion
DIED in the Western Desert 30 Nov 1941 aged 23
- son of George Ernest JACKSON (1862-1944) & Ellen BRYCE (1864-1918) of Piopio
- see also George Covell Jackson at WWI above
Grave/Memorial - 6. G. 19. at Knightsbridge War Cemetery Acroma, Libya

JONES D. L. (database has D L Jones)
POSSIBILITIES ARE:
- Douglas Loftus Jones OR David Lloyd Jones OR David Llewellyn Jones
- there was also just D. L. Jones who served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, 57 Squadron, took off 2000 Feltwell in a Wellington IC, Operation Berlin and was captured as POW - no other information but I believe this is probably the one mentioned

KELSO Francis PRIVATE #66829
- born 1913
- served with 21st NZ Infantry Battalion
DIED Western Desert 22 July 1942 aged 29
- son of Son of James and Margaret Kelso
Grave/Memorial - I. C. 21. at El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt

NEWTON Hautapu CORPORAL #25960
- born 1908
- he was a Labourer in Te Kuiti
- served with 28th (Maori) Battalion Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force
KILLED IN ACTION in the Western Desert 5 July 1942 aged 34
- son of Te Wharangi Ngarotata & Marama Ngarotata Newton of Piopio
- husband of Eliza Newton of Otorohanga
- he was a widower at time of enlistment
Grave/Memorial - VIII. F. 12. at El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt

O'MALLEY (database has N. O'MALLEY)
- only N killed in WWII was LANCE CORPORAL Nui O'MALLEY #16372
- born 1910
- served with New Zealand Armoured Corps and Long Range Desert Group DIED in the Western Desert 18 Nov 1942 aged 32
- son of James O'MALLEY & Agnes MabelPULLMAN
- husband of Ethel Dorothy O'Malley of Wairoa, Hawke's Bay
Grave/Memorial 12. D. 4. at Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya
* confirmation of Nui would be appreciated

SMALE Victor Edwin TROOPER #434617
- born 1922
- served with New Zealand Armoured Corps 20th Armoured Regiment
DIED in Italy 15 Dec 1944 aged 22
- son of Thomas Philip SMALE (1894-1966) & Margaret MAY (1890-1964) of Gisborne, Hawke's Bay
- husband of Anne Smale of Gisborne
Grave/Memorial VI, A, 10. at Forli War Cemetery, Italy

TARRANT Roy Maurice Warrant Officer Class 2 #NZ40729
- born 1916
- served with Royal New Zealand Air Force 3rd Squadron
KILLED ON ACTIVE SERVICE 9 June 1944 over the Pacific aged 28
- son of Fred Rudman Tarrant and his 1st wife Edith Mary GREY of Onehunga, Auckland
- his father remarried in 1929 to Eliza Hibbert SHEPHERD
- husband of Hilda Adelaide Tarrant of Taunton, Somerset, England
Grave/Memorial 5. 28. at Bourail NZ War Cemetery

VIPOND Alfred Henry PRIVATE #36887 (database has H Vipond)
- born 24 January 1915
- served with New Zealand Infantry Brigade 22nd (Motor) Infantry Battalion
DIED OF WOUNDS 15 July 1942 in the Western Desert aged 27
- son of William Henry VIPOND (1877-1952) & Elizabeth May WOODCOCK of Avondale Auckland
Grave/Memorial XXVIII. F. 23. El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt


PHOTO from
PIOPIO WAR MEMORIAL