Corporal Tikitanu, V.C

In Short

This book offers a lighthearted, episodic account of Henare Tikitanu, a young Māori man from the Waikato who leaves his sweetheart, Kiri, to enlist in the Great War. Through a series of misadventures—ranging from comical travel blunders to a harrowing stint as a prisoner of war—Henare maintains an unwavering, albeit idiosyncratic, patriotism. Rooted in the vernacular and cultural pride of its protagonist, the narrative serves as both a wartime morale booster and a character study of a soldier who fights for the British Empire with distinct, colorful flair.

The Story

Henare Tikitanu enters the fray not out of grim necessity, but with the boisterous energy of a man looking for a "grand old picnic." Before shipping out, he attempts to elope with his sweetheart, Kiri, but his excitement leads him to board the wrong train, stalling the romance. Once enlisted, his eagerness to prove his worth against a local rival, Wiremu, carries him from the shores of New Zealand to the front lines of France.

Life on the troopship and in the trenches is filtered through Henare’s unique worldview. He finds the French landscape "like te kramble egg," adopts a charming French nurse named Marie Bouvard, and manages to send a direct, comical ultimatum to the Kaiser via an obliging airman. His journey takes a turn for the serious when a gas attack leaves him captured by German forces. Ever the conversationalist, Henare manages to frustrate his captors by providing them with absurd, tall-tale intelligence about New Zealand’s military might, all while keeping his true loyalties intact.

The narrative reaches its climax during a daring escape. After being rescued by a stranded Irish airman, Henare finds himself caught in No-Man’s-Land. Amid the chaos of shelling and searchlights, he abandons his own safety to rescue twenty wounded men, including his old rival, Wiremu. This act of profound bravery earns him the Victoria Cross.

Following his recovery, Henare travels to London, where he meets the King for his decoration. His genuine, if informal, reaction to the surroundings provides a final moment of humor before he returns to New Zealand. Back in his village, he receives a hero’s welcome. The arc closes with his marriage to Kiri and his new life as a community leader who uses his war stories to inspire others, bridging the gap between his experiences in Europe and his home in the Waikato.

How It Unfolds

The call to duty Henare decides to enlist to prove his worth and protect his relationship with Kiri from his rival, Wiremu. Despite a comical failure to reach his own secret wedding, he successfully departs for war, full of confidence and pride.

The crossing and the conflict The voyage to England is marked by the Maoris' adjustment to ship life and Henare’s prolific letter-writing. Upon reaching France, he quickly gains a reputation as both a hero and a wit, eventually sustaining a chest wound that lands him in a hospital under the care of Nurse Marie.

The prisoner’s game After returning to the lines, Henare is captured during a gas attack. He spends his time in captivity spinning outlandish tales for his German captors, effectively outsmarting them with his perceived simplicity.

The act of valor Henare escapes his captors, finds himself in the middle of a brutal battle, and dedicates himself to saving wounded soldiers. His heroic actions in the field lead to the V.C. and a reunion with a now-wounded Wiremu.

The final honor The story concludes with a trip to Buckingham Palace, where Henare receives his medal from the King. He returns home to a joyous celebration, marrying Kiri and settling into his role as a respected veteran.

The People

Henare Tikitanu is the heart of the book—a vibrant, talkative, and brave soldier whose primary motivations are his love for Kiri and his loyalty to the British cause. He views the war as an arena for personal honor, and his growth lies in his transition from a boisterous youth to a decorated, albeit still informal, man of the world.

Kiri serves as the moral anchor of the story. While she remains in New Zealand, her steadfastness and correspondence remind Henare of what he is fighting for. She represents the home he hopes to return to, and her eventual marriage to him marks his maturation.

Wiremu begins as a shallow antagonist, a "shirker" who tries to claim Kiri while Henare is away. However, his character arc is surprisingly redeemed; he eventually enlists, proves his courage in battle, and ends up in the same hospital as Henare, where their long-standing animosity dissolves into mutual respect.

Nurse Marie Bouvard is the "angel face" who fascinates Henare during his convalescence. She represents the civilian suffering of France and acts as a catalyst for Henare’s deeper realization of the war’s gravity, though she remains an object of his "pretty doll" admiration rather than a romantic rival to Kiri.

In Its Own Voice

"Py cripes, you te ploomin' ole taurekareka,--tinkin' fish--all right."

Henare uses this sharp, pidgin-English outburst to berate his rival, Wiremu, during an argument early in the story.

"Py korry, I tink I got to Heaven at lars ... t'that the angel face all right ... you bet."

Recovering in the hospital, Henare whispers this to the man in the next bed upon first seeing Nurse Marie.

"Te Pritis soldier no talk too much. He te man of the do things, not t'talk it."

In his final public speech at his homecoming, Henare offers this concise, humble summary of his wartime philosophy.

What It's Really About

The book explores the intersection of colonial identity and the global scale of the First World War. Through Henare’s eyes, the conflict is not just a strategic clash of nations but a personal test of character. The narrative argues that duty and courage are universal traits, transcending language and background. It poses the question of how an individual maintains their cultural identity while serving a distant empire. The story also touches upon the idea of "sporting" conduct in war—the notion that even in the face of brutal violence, a soldier should remain a "true sport" who prioritizes the welfare of others over his own safety.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical sketches or character-driven narratives will find a unique perspective here. The book is a fascinating window into the period’s colonial attitudes and the specific, rhythmic dialect used to depict the Māori soldiers of the era. It is an honest piece of its time, capturing both the earnest, patriotic fervor of 1918 and the casual, often blunt humor that soldiers utilized to cope with the horrors of the front.

Modern readers should be prepared for the period-typical racial caricatures and the simplified, phonetically written dialogue, which may feel jarring or outdated. However, beneath this, the story provides a genuinely moving look at the "Maori hero"—a figure who manages to retain his individuality and irrepressible humor despite the industrial scale of the war. It remains a quick, warm-hearted read that excels at balancing the grim realities of shell-holes and gas attacks with the simple, human desire to return home to one's loved ones. You will likely walk away from it with a vivid, if stylized, image of a soldier who faced the world’s greatest conflict with a grin and a story to tell.