The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2176) Private Karanema Pohatu, 3rd Battalion, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Robyn Siers, the story for this day was on (2176) Private Karanema Pohatu, 3rd Battalion, First World War.

2176 Private Karanema Pohatu, 3rd Battalion
KIA 26 April 1915
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 6 August 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Karanema Pohatu, who served in the 3rd Battalion as Private Robert Stone.

Karenema Pohatu was one of nine children of Henare and Mahue Meriana Pohatu from Hawke’s Bay on New Zealand’s North Island. He had been in Australia working as a shearer for four years and was 21 years old when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces in October 1914. Pohatu’s brother described him as “fair for a Maori”, which enabled him to enlist despite enlistment of Aboriginal and Islander people not being officially allowed. To further disguise his Maori heritage he took the name Robert Stone – “pohatu” being Maori for “stone”.

Pohatu did not communicate with his family in New Zealand beyond sending home a photograph of himself in camp with his mates from the 1st reinforcements to the 3rd Battalion. After the war they searched for him, which revealed his Maori identity and informed his family of his fate.

The 3rd Battalion arrived off the shore of Gallipoli shortly after 4 am on 25 April 1915. They landed under heavy fire around 5.30 am, taking around three hours to get everybody ashore. They rushed the second ridge and attacked the Turkish trenches, succeeding after a difficult fight, and they held on through the night, though sorely pressed by Turkish counter-attacks. The following day was spent defending their position on the ridge against vigorous counter-attacks that died down only during the night. But it was too late for Private Robert Stone, who was killed and buried in the field on 26 April 1915.

Stone’s grave was lost in subsequent fighting, though he is known to be buried at Quinn’s Post, and he is commemorated on a special memorial in the cemetery.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War. There is no photograph in the Memorial’s collection to display beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Karanema Pohatu, known as Robert Stone, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.