Service in First World War

Te Ao Hou, March 1966, Page 4

Service in First World War When World War I broke out, Bill enlisted straight away. He says, ‘I was only nineteen at the time, so while I was waiting for my 21st birthday to turn up, I sat and passed my exams for a commissioned officer. This required a further six months’ service in New Zealand to complete. I was a platoon sergeant then and had just attained my majority. ‘My mates were ready to leave for overseas and I just couldn't bear to be left behind.’ So Bill applied for and was granted permission to accompany his mates. From then on he was with the Battalion, which took part in all the major battles in France. With his out-going personality and his helpfulness to others, Bill was an obvious choice for the budgeting counselling scheme when this was started some years back in Otorohanga. As vice-president of the committee he has worked closely with the president, Mr P. Phillipps, and the secretary-treasurer, Mr Murray Hunt; all are foundation members of the scheme, and have helped to establish other Mr Bill Kohi budgeting counselling schemes in Hamilton. Taumarunui, Rotorua. Te Awamutu and Te Kuiti. In Otorohanga 21 families are at present enrolled. ‘We have no failures with families, that stick,’ Bill says happily. ‘But,’ he adds, Those families which pull out, do fail. Inevitably they sink further into debt.’ ‘I remember one hard nut,’ Bill chuckles. ‘I nearly deflated myself persuading him to sell his money-eating vehicle. Somehow I talked him into walking and not jumping a taxi unless it was the last extremity. Today that man is coming up on top.’