This lovely family portrait was taken in 1928 at 10 Waverly Street, Te Hapara, Gisborne. In the centre front is 8 year old Eruera Dennis Hamon who would later enlist in the 28 (Maori) Battalion C Company. He was born in Te Karaka in 1920.
Dennis was 19 when he enlisted in 1939. His farewell was held here at their family home. He died on the 30 November 1941 and is buried in Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt.
From left: Wairarapa Hamon, Henare Hamon (Father), Hine Te Ata Hamon, Horiana Te Kaingahou Tupeka (Grandmother), Rawinia Hamon, young Eruera Dennis Hamon, Lydia Hamon (Mother), and Arapera Hamon. Hixon Hamon, his eldest brother, was married at this time. Sadly, there were other siblings who had passed away. They were Hoana, Eruera Rawhera, Rei and 18 year old Awanui who died 2 years before this photo was taken.
Dennis' mother Lydia died when he was only 14. Her parents were Hoana Te Amaru and John Sears from St Kitts in the West Indies. Henare's parents were Horiana Te Kaingahou from Waerenga a Hika and Joseph Hamon Jnr from Jersey in the Channel Islands. Horiana is also the Great Grandmother of John Pomare Horsfall of the 28 (Maori) Battalion. Another Great Grandson, Trevor Hamon served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during WWII.
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