Battle of Manners Street
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Manners Street refers to a riot involving American servicemen and New Zealand servicemen and civilians outside the Allied Services Club in Manners Street, Wellington, New Zealand
in 1943. The club was a social centre, open to all military personnel.
In 1942-44 there were many American troops, both soldiers and Marines stationed in New Zealand. Some of the American
servicemen from the American South in the Services Club objected to Māori soldiers also using the Club, and on 3 April 1943 began stopping Māori soldiers from entering. Many New Zealand soldiers were in the area, both caucasian
and Māori, and combined in opposition. Other versions are that three or four merchant seamen who had been drinking made no secret of their intention to clean up the visiting servicemen, or that Māori in a steak house objected to some "Yanks" being served first.
At least a thousand men were involved in the subsequent fracas, which was broken up by civil and military police
. The major brawl lasted from 6 pm to 8 pm, with some brawls lasting for perhaps another two hours. Dozens of people were injured. At the time, hotel bars closed at 6 pm, the six o'clock swill
, and inebriated patrons were then ejected into the streets.
News of the riot was censored at the time, hence much of the mythology about the event, including the claim that two Americans were killed.
It was twenty years before the finding of the Court of Inquiry was released. Postwar, the Club building was used as a Post Office, which operates to this day.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1943. The club was a social centre, open to all military personnel.
In 1942-44 there were many American troops, both soldiers and Marines stationed in New Zealand. Some of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
servicemen from the American South in the Services Club objected to Māori soldiers also using the Club, and on 3 April 1943 began stopping Māori soldiers from entering. Many New Zealand soldiers were in the area, both caucasian
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
and Māori, and combined in opposition. Other versions are that three or four merchant seamen who had been drinking made no secret of their intention to clean up the visiting servicemen, or that Māori in a steak house objected to some "Yanks" being served first.
At least a thousand men were involved in the subsequent fracas, which was broken up by civil and military police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
. The major brawl lasted from 6 pm to 8 pm, with some brawls lasting for perhaps another two hours. Dozens of people were injured. At the time, hotel bars closed at 6 pm, the six o'clock swill
Six o'clock swill
The six o'clock swill was an Australian and New Zealand slang term for the last-minute rush to buy drinks at a hotel bar before it closed. During a significant part of the 20th century, most Australian and New Zealand hotels shut their public bars at 6 p.m. A culture developed of heavy drinking...
, and inebriated patrons were then ejected into the streets.
News of the riot was censored at the time, hence much of the mythology about the event, including the claim that two Americans were killed.
It was twenty years before the finding of the Court of Inquiry was released. Postwar, the Club building was used as a Post Office, which operates to this day.