Letter · 12 Jan 1917 · Flanders Fields, Belgium
Great sportsmen
IWI: Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Tuhourangi HAPŪ: Ngāti Rauhoto WAKA: Te Arawa. Harry was born at Taupo, went to primary school in Rotorua, then studied in Auckland at Auckland Grammar. He completed his degree in engineering at Canterbury University. For his full bio, see: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d2/dansey-harry-delamere Here is Te Ara's summary of his war service: Harry Dansey was nearly 40 years old when war broke out. Despite having a reserved occupation, he enlisted. He sailed in the second draft of the Maori Contingent, and held the rank of second lieutenant. On arrival in Egypt he was posted to the Otago Infantry Regiment as a machine-gun specialist. In the reorganisation that followed the Gallipoli campaign, he was transferred to the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion. Promoted to lieutenant, he served as a Lewis machine-gun officer in France. By January 1917 Harry had been mentioned in dispatches and was appointed second-in-command of a company in the field. His engineering qualifications were to prove invaluable. The following month, seconded for duty as II ANZAC Corps (later XXII Corps) tramway superintendent, he was placed in charge of railway construction and transport organisation for the battle area. The evacuation of wounded troops was also his responsibility. He was promoted to captain in April, and in January 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross for 'distinguished services in the field'. From 2 October until 26 December 1918 he performed the duties of bridging officer, XXII Corps.
Extracts from this letter
"I am the only officer in camp this afternoon. I let the others off to see a team of our Boys play a game of football against representatives of ‘B’ Company… We try as much as possible to interest our fellows in sport and thus in a measure to take their minds off and lessen the strain which is inseparable from the life we have to put up with. These lads of ours [Maori men and Pacific men of NZPB] are great footballers and they take the keenest delight in all manly sport."
"What I like about them in sport is the exalted way they indulge in sport, nothing of an unsportsmanlike action is dreamt of or perpetrated. They play a terrifically hard game and if one has the ball, well he takes all the beneficent (?) responsibilities. It is really great and does one good to watch them – the discipline, the regular life and everything has made wonderful fellows of these Maori boys."
