Hikutaia (the Maori name for "thrashing tail") lies on State Highway 26, south east of Thames and north of Paeroa on the Hauraki Plains of New Zealand

The area has a rich history of Maori settlement with several pa in the vicinity

The local iwi (people) are Ngati Maru and Ngati Paoa

EARLY HIKUTAIA SETTLEMENT (contains a lot of family information on the Alleys)

Below is a list of the men of Hikutaia who died or served in WWI and are mentioned on the Hikutaia War Memorial

The original list was taken from the site:
Hikutaia First World War Memorial

See also RELOCATION of WHAREPOA WAR MEMORIAL

A * means: not verified that it is the correct soldier

- can you please help to add info for these soldiers -

The men who died

ALLEY - Alfred William
- born in Hikutaia in 1891
- 4th of 12 children of Charles ALLEY & Emily NICHOLAS
- Alfred was a Boilermaker
- he enlisted from 144 Renwick Street, Redfern, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- he served as Private #9872 with the Australian Imperial Forces. 1 FAB [Field Artillery Brigade] - 12 to 16 Reinforcements (November 1915 - April 1916
- his NEXT OF KIN was: Mrs Clara Alley (Aunt, nee NICHOLAS), Hikutaia, Thames
- he was Killed in Action on 20 April 1917 at Belgium aged 26
- Grave Reference: Enclosure No. 21. D.11 at Bedford House Cemetery, Ieper, Belgium
- Alfred was killed 7 months after his brother Daved, below
... the 10 children of Charles & Emily were:
1886 Albert Henry Alley
1888 James Pakaurangi Alley
1890 Charles Robert Alley
1891 Alfred William Alley
1893 George Edward Alley
1895 David Clifford Alley
1897 Nora Ngahuia Alley
1898 Eric Alexander Alley
1900 Edna Helena Agnes Alley
1902 Hector John Alley
1903 Francis Nicholas Alley
1903 Leslie Walker Alley
- Emily died aged 39 giving birth to the twins

ALLEY - David Clifford
- born in Hikutaia, Thames in 1895
- 6th of 12 children of Charles ALLEY & Emily NICHOLAS (see above)
- he enlisted from Hikutaia, Thames
- he served as Private #12/2932 with the Auckland Infantry Battalion 7th Reinforcements
- his NEXT OF KIN was: C. Alley (father), Hikutaia, Thames
- Killed in Action on 26 September 1916 at Somme, France aged 21
- Memorial: Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial, Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France
- David was killed 7 months before his brother Alfred, above

ALLEY - Frederick
- born in 1894 in Hikutaia
- 6th of 13 children of Alfred ALLEY & Clara NICHOLAS
- Frederick was a Slaughterman
- he served as Rifleman #25/1196 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade 3rd Battalion, D Company
- his NEXT OF KIN was: Alfred Alley (father), Hikutaia
- Killed in Action on 13 December 1917 at Ypres, Belgium aged 23
- Grave Reference: II. C. 22 at Aeroplane Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium
... the 13 children of Alfred & Clara were:
1887 Frederick Alley (twin, died aged 3 days)
1887 Frank Alley (twin, died aged 2 days)
1889 Emily Ngahuia Alley
1890 Agnes Alley
1892 Clara Alley (married Prendiville)
1894 Frederick Alley
1896 Alfred Keith Alley
1898 Roy Nicholas Alley
1900 Alma Jean Alley
1901 Ernest Clifton Alley
1903 William Victor Alley
1907 Doris Lilian Alley
1910 Lucy Majory Alley

BROGAN - Francis
- born 1894 in Australia
- he served as Rifleman #24/1602 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Reinforcements 2nd Battalion, F Company. Embarked from Wellington on 8 January 1916 for Suez, Egypt
- his NEXT OF KIN was: R. Calvert (friend), Hospital, Hamilton
- Died of Wounds on 8 October 1917 in Belgium
- Cemetery Name: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

CORBETT - Thomas Joseph
- born in 1896
- son of Thomas CORBETT & Mary REOHANE of Ireland
- served as Rifleman #31951 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade 13th Reinforcements 1st Battalion, E Company. Embarked at Wellington for Plyouth Englad on 15 November 1916
- his NEXT OF KIN was: Mrs T. Corbett (mother), Hikutaia, Thames
- Died of Wounds on 2 September 1918 in Somme, France aged 22
- Grave/Memorial Reference: V. E. 21. at BAGNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY, GEZAINCOURT, Somme, France
... the (known) children of Thomas & Mary were:
1885 Anne Corbett
1887 Mary Corbett
1889 James Corbett
1892 John Vincent Corbett
1893 Julia Corbett
1896 Thomas Joseph Corbett
1900 Frances Mary Corbett

ENSOR - Henry George Herbert
- born in 1889
- 5th of 8 children of Samuel ENSOR & Cecelia GOLLOP
- enlisted from Wharepoa, Thames
- served as Private #12/345 with the Auckland Infantry Battalion, 6th Hauraki Company
- his NEXT OF KIN was: Mrs W. Payne (mother) Pollen St, Thames and the late Samuel Ensor
- Killed in Action on 30 April 1915 at Gallipoli, Turkey aged 25
- Memorial Reference: 72. at LONE PINE MEMORIAL
... the 8 children of Samuel & Cecilia Ensor were:
1876 Samuel John Ensor
1878 William Henry Ensor
1880 Herbert George Ensor
1887 Victor Leslie Ensor
1889 Henry George Herbert Ensor
1892 Olive Ida Louise Ensor
1893 Sidney Ensor. Sidney married Margaret Elizabeth Isobel BILLMAN (her parents were Charles Edward Billman and Jessie Priscilla Jane DAYSH of Taratahi, Carterton). Sidney M.B.E. became Mayor of Thames from 1931-1959
1895 Clarence Charles Ensor
- Cecilia remarried in 1901 to William Charles PAYNE

GURNETT - Thomas
- born in ?
- son of ?
- Thomas was a Farmer
- served as Rifleman #15364 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade 9th Reinforcements 1st Battalion, E Company. Embarked at Wellington on 29 July 1916 for Plymouth England
- NEXT OF KIN was: Mrs M.A. Ellis (friend), Hikutaia, Thames
- Killed in Action on 12 October 1917 at Ypres, Belgium
- Grave/Memorial Reference: XV. B. 23. at PASSCHENDAELE NEW BRITISH CEMETERY

LOWRY - Samuel Thomas Alexander
- born in ?
- son of James LOWRY senior &
- enlisted from Hikutaia, Thames Valley
- served as Private #12/394 with the Auckland Infantry Battalion 6th Hauraki Company. Embarked at Auckland for Suez, Egypt on 16 Oct 1914
- NEXT OF KIN was: James Lowry (father) Hikutaia, Thames Valley
- Killed in Action 8 May 1915 at Gallipoli, Turkey aged
- Memorial: TWELVE TREE COPSE (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL

RAE - Thomas Handley
- born in 1892 in Herekino, North Auckland
- son of Thomas & Ann RAE of Beresford St, Pukekohe, Auckland
- Thomas was a Clerk
- served as Private #12/3453 with New Zealand Expeditionary Force 9th Reinforcements Auckland Infantry Battalion, A Company
- NEXT OF KIN was: Mrs A. Rae (mother), Hikutaia, Thames
- Killed in Action on 4 November 1918 at Le Quesnoy, France aged 26
- Grave Reference: I. A. 23 at Le Quesnoy Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France

SCOTT - H (not found)

SCOTT - Victor Richard Stanley
- born in 1887 in Thames
- son of William Greer SCOTT (1839-1912) & Elizabeth WALMSLEY of Ngaroa
- married Ruby Wynne COOPER in 1916
- Victor was a Farmer in the Waikato
- served as Second Lieutenant #10275 with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force 12th Reinforcements Wellington Infantry Battalion, J Company. Embarked at Wellington on 6 May 1916 for Suez, Egypt
- NEXT OF KIN was Herbert John Walmsley Scott (brother) of Ngarua, Waitoa, Thames Valley
- Killed in Action on 4 October 1917 at Ypres, Belgium aged 30
- Grave/Memorial Reference: IX. H. 18. at TYNE COT CEMETERY
... William & Elizabeth were married in 1864 so there were probably many more than these known children:
1876 Edith Augusta Emily Scott
1881 Robert Henry Victor Scott
1883 Herbert John Walmsley Scott
1885 Harold Isaac Walter Scott
1887 Victor Richard Stanley Scott

The men who served

ALLEY - Alfred Keith
- 7th of 13 children of Alfred ALLEY & Clara NICHOLAS (see above)
- sered as Private #38330 with the NZEF 22nd Reinforcements Auckland Infantry Regiment, A Company/ Embarked for Plymouth England on 16 Feb 1917 on the NZETC 76, Aparima

ALLEY - A W (probably Alfred WIlliam above)

ALLEY - Charles Robert
- 3rd of 12 children of Charles ALLEY & Emily NICHOLAS (see above)
- served as Private #12/1541a with Auckland Infantry Battalion 3rd Reinforcements. Embarked on 14 February 1915 for Suez,Egypt (26 March 1915)

ALLEY - C E (not found)

ALLEY - R (not found)

ALEXANDER - A K (not found)

ANGEL - D (not found)

CLAY - Ralph
- born 14 October 1894 - died in 1978 aged 83
- 2nd of 3 children of Frederick Allan CLAY (1858-1915) & Jane Marietta LIGHTOLLER (1865-1928)
- served as Trooper #66089 with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force 35th Reinforcements Mounted Rifles Brigade
- NEXT OF KIN was: Mrs J.M. Clay (mother), Hikutaia
- Ralph married Ada Maria BLOOMFIELD in 1921
... the 3 known children of Frederick & Jane were:
1891 Mary Clay
1895 Ralph Clay
1904 Gwendoline Clay

CORBETT - Patrick
- born in 1893 - died in 1865 aged 72
- 7th of 9 children of James CORBETT & Julia REOHANE (1861-1933)
- served as Private #75119 with New Zealand Expeditionary Force 42nd Reinforcements A Company
- NEXT OF KIN: Mrs J. Corbett (mother), Hikutaia, Thames
... the 9 children of James & Julia were:
1882 John Corbett
1884 Mary Corbett
1885 Julia Corbett
1887 Margaret Corbett
1889 Catherine Corbett
1890 James Corbett
1892 Patrick Corbett
1894 Winifred Corbett
1901 Nora Corbett

CROMBIE - Roy Alexander
- born in 1883 - died in 1959 aged 75
- 6th of 6 children of James CROMBIE & Susan SMITH
- enlisted from Hikutaia, Thames
- served as Private #12/2258 with the Auckland Infantry Battalion 5th Reinforcements
- NEXT OF KIN: James Crombie (father), Franklin Road, Ponsonby, Auckland
... the 6 children of James & Susan were:
1875 James Crombie
1876 Lilly Gould Crombie
1878 Gertrude Crombie
1880 Stanley William Crombie
1882 Olive May Crombie
1883 Roy Alexander Crombie

DICKSON - R (not found)

DOWNES - C (not found)

GIBB - S C (not found)

GIBB - T C (not found)

HILL - Frederick
- born in 1892
- 3rd of 5 (known) children of Robert HILL & Anna Maria CORNISH
- Frederick was a Labourer
- served as Sergeant #26/1190 with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force 42nd Reinforcements C Company
- NEXT O KIN: Mrs A.M. Hill (mother), Hikutaia, Thames
... the 5 chldren of Robert & Anna were:
1887 Robert Thomas Hill
1889 Arthur George Hill
1892 Frederick Hill
1894 Leslie Gordon Hill
1907 Albert William Hill

LAMING - Francis Henry

LOWRY - A J (not found)

McCORMICK - R (not found)

MORRISON - R (not found)

MOYLE - W J (not found)

OLIVER - James Victor
- born in 1895 - died in 1945 aed 50
- son of James Victor OLIVER (1866-1915) & Elizabeth RIPLEY
- enlisted in Hikutaua, Thames
- served as Private #12/2426 with the Auckland Infantry Battalion 5th Reinforcements
- NEXT OF KIN: James Oliver (father), Hikutaia, Thames

REID - C (not found)

*ROYAL - Te Rangiataahua Kiniwe

TAYLOR - F (not found)

THOMAS - H (not found)

WALTERS - M (not found)

* YOUNG - Vivian
- born in 1885
- 1 of 4 children of William Spearman YOUNG & Elizabeth 'Eliza' HORNE
- William was a farmer at Kaipara, Taranaki & a Surveyor of the South Island
- Vivian was a farmer
- he served as Lance Sergeant #40697 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade Reinforcements J Company