Maori War Hero’s family receives WW1 Citation [fr]
On Saturday the 25th of April 2015, Mr Alain Douylliez, Honorary Consul of France in Napier had the honour of presenting a replacement Croix de Guerre citation to the descendants of Toi Karini, a distinguished WW1 veteran.
On behalf of the French Government, Mr Douylliez made the presentation during the ANZAC 100 Year Commemoration 2015 in Tolaga Bay.
Toi Karini was wounded in battle at Cambrai, France, as a member of the 22nd Reinforcements, in 1917. He was later awarded the Croix de Guerre Medal, but his original citation was lost in the 1963 East Coast floods. Mr Karini passed away in 1974.
According to his granddaughter, Angela Karini, “My grandfather did not speak much of his time in the war but when he did we felt his compassion for the French people. It is absolutely awesome that we will be receiving another copy of his official citation from the French Government.”
