Flanders to Rome
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DedicationThis page is dedicated to the life of Charles Rangiwawahia Sciascia, seventh child of Nicola Sciascia and Riria McGregor. As a child of 6-7 yrs Charles was living on Portland Island off the coast of Mahia where is father Nicola was lighthouse keeper. It was there on March 29th 1898 that his father died after being gored by a bull in the farm paddock. He then left with his mother Riria along with his brothers and sisters to return for a time to Koputaroa. As a teenager Charles moved to Porangahau in 1908 to help his uncle Hokowhitu in the construction and carving of the meeting house (Te Poho o Kahungunu) there. With his brother John, Charles was a very successful Rugby player and they were both selected for the 1913 Maori All Black team. In August of 1914 Charles enlisted in the New Zealand army where he rose to the rank of Sgt. Charles served and fought in Gallipoli before being transferred to France and finally to Flanders in Belgium. He left for battle on July 31st 1917 and was reported missing in action the following day. A copy of Charles' map of Gallipoli can be found here. (0.2MB) A bigger copy of Charles' map of Gallipoli can be found here. (1.0MB) An even bigger copy of Charles' map of Gallipoli can be found here. (2.4MB) The biggest copy of Charles' map of Gallipoli can be found here. (10.9MB)
(above) Charles with Wellington Officers
(above) Charles on the donkey on right
Painted portrait as used to hang in Aunty Polly's home Some information here on the Memorial to Charles Rangiwawahia Sciascia (as supplied by Linda Fletcher) The impressive memorial to Uncle Charlie at La Basse
Ville, which had been kept secret from the New Zealand family, was a joint
project by Dominique and Paolo Fulci. Linda Fletcher |
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Alan Sciascia © 2007 |
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Whakapapa Portrait image kindly edited by Bluesman VROC #15914 |