

Tauranga Hauraki Regiment member Warena Mokopapaki Tapsell died from influenza at Narrow Neck Military Camp Hospital on 4 November 1918 during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic (Spanish 'flu). Story researched and written by Debbie McCauley.
Warena Mokopapaki Tapsell was born in Tauranga on 24 January 1899. His parents were Kiri Rotohiko and Pirihia Mokopapaki Tapsell from Maketu.
Warena was a farmer, a 6th Hauraki Regiment Volunteer and an Auckland Grammar Old Boy.
On 18 October 1918 he enlisted to fight in World War I from Devonport in Auckland (Service No: 84744).
Warena attended the New Zealand Training Unit as part of the Maori Reinforcements. He fell ill during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic (Spanish 'flu) and was admitted to hospital on 28 October 1918.
Warena died of influenza at the Narrow Neck Military Camp Hospital in Devonport, Auckland on 4 November 1918. He was aged 19. Warena was buried in the Otukopiri Urupa in Welcome Bay, Tauranga.
References:
Archives New Zealand: Military Personnel File.
Auckland War Memorial Museum: Cenotaph Record.
Births, Deaths and Marriages Online (New Zealand).
Evening Post (8 November 1918): Soldiers' Deaths.
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A version of this article was archived in August 2016 at Perma CC https://perma.cc/W4F8-K2WH.
Year: | 1918 |
Note: | Service Number: 84744 |
First Names: | Warena Mokopapaki |
Last Name: | Tapsell |
Date of Birth: | 24 January 1899 |
Place of Birth: | Tauranga |
Country of birth: | New Zealand |
Date of death: | 4 November 1918 |
Place of death: | Narrow Neck Military Camp, Auckland, New Zealand |
Place of burial: | Otukopiri Urupa, Welcome Bay, Tauranga |
Occupation: | farmer |
Fathers name: | Kiri Rotohiko Tapsell |
Fathers date of birth: | 1873 |
Fathers place of birth: | New Zealand |
Fathers date of death: | 22 May 1939 |
Fathers place of death: | Maketu, New Zealand |
Mothers name: | Pirihia Mokopapaki |
Military Service: | World War I (1914-1918) |