Maori Battalion
Encyclopedia
The 28th Battalion, more commonly known as the Māori Battalion, was an infantry
battalion
of the New Zealand Army
that served during the Second World War. It was formed following pressure on the Labour
government by some Māori MPs
and Māori organisations throughout the country wanting a full Māori unit to be raised for service overseas. The Māori Battalion followed in the footsteps of the Pioneer Battalion that served during the First World War which had been very successful, and was wanted by Māori to raise their profile, and to serve alongside their Pākehā
compatriots as citizens of the British Empire
. It also gave a generation of people with a well-noted military ancestry a chance to test their own warrior skills.
Raised in 1940 as part of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force
(2NZEF), the 28th (Māori) Battalion was attached to the New Zealand 2nd Division as an extra battalion that was moved between the division's three infantry brigade
s. The battalion fought during the Greek
, North African
and Italian campaigns
during the war and a contingent was sent to Japan
as an occupation force afterwards.
The unit was disbanded in January 1946.
began to discuss proposals for the formation of a military unit made up of Māori volunteers similar to the Māori Pioneer Battalion
that had served during the First World War. This proposal was furthered by two Māori members of Parliament, Eruera Tirikatene
and Paraire Paikea
, and from this support within the Māori community for the idea began to grow. Initially the New Zealand government was hesitant, but on 4 October, the decision was announced that the proposal would be accepted and that the battalion would be raised in addition to the nine battalions and support units that had already been formed into three brigades of the 2nd New Zealand Division. It was decided, however, that at least initially the battalion's key positions, including its officers
and non commissioned officers
(NCOs), would largely be filled by Europeans.
This decision was met with some consternation, however, assurances were made that over time suitable Māori candidates would take over these positions. In this regard, it was decided that the battalion's first commanding officer
would be a regular officer, Major George Dittmer—later promoted to lieutenant colonel
in January 1940—and that his second in command
would be a Reserve officer, Lieutenant Colonel George Bertrand, a part-Māori who would take up the position with the rank of major. Both men were veterans of the First World War and had considerable experience.
Almost immediately effort was focused upon selecting and identifying the officers and NCOs. To this end volunteers were called for amongst units that had already formed as part of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force and from new recruits. At the end of November, 146 trainees reported to the Army School at Trentham, where even serving officers and NCOs were required to prove their suitability for these positions in the new battalion. Concurrently, recruiting of men to fill the other ranks
positions began in early October and within three weeks nearly 900 men had enlisted. The process was carried out by recruiting officers who worked closely with tribal authorities, and the recruits were restricted to single men aged between 21 and 35, although later married men were allowed to join, but only if they did not have more than two children of similar ages.
On 26 January 1940 the battalion came together for the first time, marking its official raising at the Palmerston North
Show Grounds. Upon formation it was decided that the battalion would be organised upon tribal lines. The unit consisted of a headquarters
company
and four rifle companies, designated 'A' through 'D': 'A' Company was recruited from North Auckland; 'B' Company from Rotorua, Bay of Plenty and Thames-Coromandel; 'C' Company from the East Coast from Gisborne to East Cape and 'D' Company from Waikato, Maniapoto, Hawkes Bay, Wellington and the South Island, as well as some Pacific Islands and the Chatham and Stewart Islands.
February saw the issuing of equipment and the commencement of training, however, this was punctuated by medical inspections, dental treatment and ceremonial duties surrounding the commemoration of the Treaty of Waitangi
. A lack of previous experience in technical trades also hampered the training of the battalion, as the unit was short of men to serve in roles such as clerks, drivers, signallers, etc. as the majority of personnel were drawn from mainly rural backgrounds. Consequently men for these roles had to be trained from scratch. The organisation of the battalion was finally completed in March, when the men were allocated to their respective companies, and on 13 March 1940 the 28th (Māori) Battalion was declared on active service. After 14 days leave, the battalion conducted a five week concentration period before embarking on 1 May 1940. The battalion's strength at this time was 39 officers and 642 other ranks.
via Fremantle
and Cape Town
, the battalion arrived at Gourock
, Scotland
after six weeks at sea. Initially they had been destined to join the rest of the 2nd Division in the Middle East
, however, due to concerns about a possible invasion of the United Kingdom by the German
Wehrmacht
, the decision was made to divert the division's second elechon, a brigade
-sized force that included the 28th (Māori) Battalion, to Britain to help bolster the island's defences.
In June – July 1940 the 28th (Māori) Battalion were attached to a mixed brigade under Brigadier Harold Barrowclough
. During this time they manned defences in the south of England and undertook further training. The battalion suffered from a lack of equipment however, largely due to the priority given to re-equip British units following the losses suffered by the British Expeditionary Force
in France
. As a consequence, training was largely focused upon anti-gas and route marching. On 6 July they were inspected by King George VI and he was said to have been impressed by the "smartness of the close order and arms drill of the Māori Battalion" and "by the fine physique, keenness and determined demeanour" of the men.
Shortly afterwards the Mixed Brigade began quick deployment and defensive manoeuvres in earnest, as fears of invasion grew. In between exercises, further training was undertaken and the battalion also worked to improve fixed defences throughout July and into August and September. These exercises varied in size from company to battalion
-level, and involved differing scenarios and enemy forces. In September, a divisional
review was undertaken and amidst massive German air raids upon London
, the New Zealanders were declared to be ready for front-line service in the event of a German landing. Warning orders for deployment to Egypt
were cancelled and the New Zealanders were placed under command of XII Corps, taking up defensive positions in the Folkstone–Dover
region.
In October, the Māori Battalion was attached to "Milforce", under Dittmer's command, along with a squadron of tank
s, a squadron of cavalry
and a medium machine gun
company. The following month, with an invasion now considered unlikely, the battalion returned to Aldershot
for the winter, remaining there for two months. During this time limited training was undertaken, however, upon invitation they fielded a rugby
team against a Welsh
side at Langley Park, although they ended up losing 12–3. Later in the month, the battalion received the order to begin preparing for redeployment to Egypt and an advance party was dispatched in mid-December. On 7 January 1941 the rest of the battalion left for the Middle East, embarking from Liverpool
on the Athlone Castle.
and Durban
, the Athlone Castle sailed up the east coast of Africa and entered the Suez Canal
, arriving at Tewfik harbour on 3 March 1941. In the afternoon the battalion entrained and two days later they arrived in the desert, where they were met by motor transport which carried them to camp Garawi, about 20 miles (32.2 km) from Cairo
. At this point they were met by about 300 reinforcements which were used to replace men who had been laid down with influenza and to bring the battalion up to a higher establishment. Shortly afterwards they were moved to Alexandria
, where they embarked on the Cameronia
, bound for Greece
.
, where they were tasked to defend the strategic Olympus Pass to the south. During this time, the 28th (Māori) Battalion was attached to the 5th Infantry Brigade, which was later grouped with other Australian and New Zealand units to form the Anzac Corps. Vastly outnumbered, within two days the situation for the Allies was not good as the Germans had broken through the defences along the Bulgarian border and the Yugoslav resistance had collapsed. As the situation worsened, orders came down from brigade headquarters that the passes would be held "to the last man and last round".
On 9 April, the fall of Salonika precipitated the order for the battalion to withdraw from their positions at Katerini south to Olympus. As events unfolded elsewhere, the battalion remained in position, digging in and constructing defences until 12 April when they were ordered to withdraw behind the Mavroneri Gorge and reposition themselves on the western aspect. At this time the 5th Infantry Brigade's orders were changed from a holding action to a delay and withdrawal. It was in the Petra Pass, alongside the 22nd Battalion
that the 28th Battalion fought its first engagement of the war. In preparation for the coming attack, the Māoris built their position, running out barbed and concertina wire and digging in while German bombers droned overheard. During the night they carried out patrols along the Mavroneri riverbed, but no contact was made. The following morning, the divisional cavalry, which had been carrying out a rearguard
action, conducted a withdrawal through the battalion's position, making the Māori Battalion the most forward Allied unit. As German forces were halted at Platamon by the 21st Battalion, thrusts towards Larisa once again put the battalion's position in doubt and they were again order to withdraw. Meanwhile, the Anzac Corps decided to make its last stand 100 miles (160.9 km) south at Thermopylae
.
In the end, however, the Māoris remained in position until 17 April. Throughout the previous two days the battalion worked hard to repel repeated attempts by elements of the German 2nd Infantry Regiment to infiltrate their lines, before finally they received the order to fall back. With isolated platoons still in contact with the Germans and amidst high winds and a heavy downpour of rain, the New Zealanders had difficulty disengaging. Withdrawing over difficult terrain towards the pass, the manoeuvre continued into the night as the Germans continued to harass their rearguard units. The move was time critical because the intention was to blow a bridge up just after the battalion had withdrawn across it in order to delay the German advance. In the end it was a close run thing, for the engineers tasked with carrying out the demolition were about to call fire on when the battalion arrived shortly after 3:00 am.
After meeting motor transport, the battalion moved back to Ay Dhimitrios, which they began to prepare to defend in order to help seal off the exit of the Olympus pass. The withdrawal continued, however, and on 19 April the Māori Battalion was called upon conduct a delaying action as the rest of the 5th Infantry Brigade pulled back through Larisa towards Lamia, 80 miles (128.7 km) south. Along roads packed with vehicles and civilian traffic they withdrew amidst considerable confusion. Upon arrival at Thermopylae the battalion had just enough time to complete its digging in before receiving the order to that they were to move their position in order to make way for the 6th Infantry Brigade. They completed this move by 21 April, taking up the same positions that Leonidas
and his army had defended against Xerxes
in 480 BC, according to legend. Here they took up position in a marsh and as they made preparations for its defence, on 22 April, in Athens
, the decision was made that the units of the British Commonwealth forces would be withdrawn from the country.
Over the course of the next two days, the battalion withdrew back towards Athens, where they arrived in the early morning on 24 April. They continued on to the beach at Porto Rafti, destroying their vehicles and other equipment as they went. In the confusion of orders and counter orders, the battalion's carrier
and mortar
platoons had gotten separated from the rest of the unit. By 9.00 pm on 24 April when the final move to the beach commenced they still had not arrived. The operation went according to plan however, and by 3.00 am on 25 April the transports embarked. Of the various groups that had become detached from the battalion, some of them were able to make their own way to the embarkation beaches, but a number of them were ultimately captured. The battalion's casualties in Greece were 10 killed or died of wounds, six wounded, 83 captured, 11 wounded and captured.
and was taken to Crete
where they formed part of the island's hastily formed garrison. The 5th Infantry Brigade was allocated to the area surrounding the airfield and the battalion was positioned on the north coast at Platanias, on the brigade's right flank. On 20 May 1941, the Germans launched the opening stages of their campaign
with large-scale glider and parachute drops of troops from Maleme
to Canea. The landings were focused in the area around the airfield and no troops landed in the area being held by the Māoris, nevertheless, a small force of glider troops were found to be occupying a house on the beach about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km). A platoon was dispatched to carry out an attack upon them and after a brief fire-fight in which two New Zealanders were wounded and eight Germans were killed, the 10 remaining men in the house surrendered.
The main German attack was focused upon the 22nd Battalion who was defending the airfield. Late in the day, hard pressed, the 22nd requested reinforcements and the 5th Infantry Brigade commander, Brigadier J. Hargest, sent one company from the 23rd
and one from the 28th. The task was given to 'B' Company and, as the company commander only knew the direct route, they had a night approach march of over 8 miles (12.9 km) to cover. During the march they came in contact with a platoon-sized force of Germans which briefly held up the company before reinforcements could arrive. The German force surrendered, however, in doing so one of their number threw a grenade
at the New Zealanders, wounding two men. In response the Māoris fixed bayonets and carried out the first bayonet charge by a New Zealand force during the war, killing 24. A short while later they killed another eight in a separate engagement. Continuing on towards the 22nd Battalion, they bumped into a number of small pockets of Germans before eventually linking up with the 22nd Battalion's headquarters where they were told to return to their own lines as the decision had been made to withdraw from airfield. 11 hours later the company reported back to the 28th Battalion's lines.
Over the course of the next ten days the battalion was involved in a series of engagements as they fought to defend the island, with the most notable probably being the bayonet charge that they undertook with the Australian 2/7th Battalion at 42nd Street on 27 May in which 280 Germans were killed, with the Māori accounting for 100. However, it soon became clear that the garrison on Crete would need to be evacuated and on 28 May the bulk of Creforce began to disengage the Germans and begin the retreat towards Sfakia
. The 5th Infantry Brigade took turns with two Australian battalions and the commandos of Layforce
to carry out a rearguard action to guard the pass through which the troops had to traverse in order to escape.
On 30 May the final order was received, however, due to shipping losses it was not possible to evacuate everyone. In order to maintain fairness, each battalion was allotted a certain number of men who would have to remain and defend the embarkation beaches to allow the others to get away. The 28th Battalion was allocated 230 men to embark, while six officers and 144 men would have to stay behind. A large number of men volunteered to stay behind however, and at midnight the remainder headed down to the beach and were taken off on a landing ship two hours later. The battalion suffered 243 casualties during the brief defence of the island, including 74 men killed and 102 men wounded. A further 67 were captured, of which 46 were wounded. For his leadership of the battalion during the fighting on Crete, Dittmer received the Distinguished Service Order
.
and Queen, and the commander of the New Zealand 2nd Division, Lieutenant General
Bernard Freyberg. Throughout July, the battalion undertook desert familiarisation training and sports parades before moving to Kabrit where they concentrated with the rest of the 5th Infantry Brigade for a three week combined operations exercise. Later, in August, they moved to a position 20 miles (32.2 km) west of El Alamein
, known as the "Kaponga Box" where throughout September and into October they undertook the unfamiliar task of road construction. In October, however, the brigade received orders to link up with the rest of the division in preparation for their commitment to the battle along the frontier.
On 11 November 1941, the 5th Infantry Brigade concentrated near Mersa Matruh. Three days later the division had assembled and began the advance into Libya
. Their first task was to capture the seaside town of Sollum, which was taken on 23 November from its Italian garrison with only a few casualties. Follow-up artillery inflicted 18 killed and 33 wounded however, including the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel George Dittmer and two company commanders. 247 Italian prisoners were taken. Following this, the 5th Infantry Brigade was placed under the command of the 4th Indian Division and the 28th Battalion took up positions near Bardia
.
Three days later the battalion attacked a column of tanks and motorised infantry before ambushing a column at Menastir on 3 December. Later, notable actions were undertaken at Sidi Magreb where over 1,000 Italians prisoners were captured, and at Gazala. Following this, the battalion was deployed to Syria
before returning to Egypt in June 1942. Now officially under the command of a Māori for the first time—Lieutenant Colonel Eruera Love having taken over from Dyer in May—the Māoris took part in the New Zealand Division's breakout from Minqar Qaim, undertaking a successful bayonet charge. At this time, the battalion's skills with the bayonet earned them a reputation as "scalp hunters" among German commanders, including Rommel.
In September and October the battalion took part in important actions as part of the offensive in the Munassib Depression and at Miteiriya Ridge during the Second Battle of El Alamein
. On 2 November the battalion supported the final breakthrough by Allied forces that decided the outcome of the battle. Casualties were high during this time and three of its commanding officers were either killed or wounded between July and November 1942. Nevertheless, the battalion remained in the fighting and in March 1943, at Medenine it undertook a defensive role before switching to the offensive at Point 209 in the Tebaga Gap, where it was responsible for almost completely destroying a German panzer grenadier
battalion. It was during this action that Second Lieutenant Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu
performed the deeds that led to him being posthumously decorated with the Victoria Cross
. The battalion's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bennett also received the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership during the attack.
Two weeks later, on the night 19/20 April 1943, the battalion took part in the 5th Brigade's attack on the Tunisian village of Takrouna. The village was situated atop a steep slope, and due to heavy concentrations of indirect fire and landmines, which wounded a number of men, including the commanding officer, the attack stalled. However, two sections under the command of Sergeant Haane te Rauawa Manahi
, managed to scale the western side of the escarpment and gain a foothold on the pinnacle in the early dawn. Following heavy shellfire and hand-to-hand combat with the Italian defenders, the Māoris were forced off the pinnacle twice, however, each time Manahi led his small force in a counterattack. In the afternoon, Manahi and two other men captured a number of machine gun and mortar positions, encircling the Italians and forcing them to surrender. For these actions, Manahi was also recommended for a Victoria Cross, however, the nomination was not approved and he received a Distinguished Conduct Medal
instead.
in July – August, the 2nd New Zealand Division was committed to battle again in late-1943 as part of Eighth Army during the Italian Campaign
. The Māori Battalion subsequently arrived in Italy on 22 October, landing at Taranto
. 5th Brigade undertook a period of training in close-country tactics, remaining in camp at Taranto until 18 November when it was ordered to move north 250 miles (402.3 km) to join the Eighth Army.
The 2nd New Zealand Division had moved into the front line in November in order to relieve the 8th Indian Division and would take part in the advance across the Sangro
planned for the end of the month. The brigade subsequently occupied positions around Atessa
, with the Māori Battalion in brigade reserve, occupying a series of low hills which formed the Sangro River
valley. Eighth Army's forward units had reached the Sangro in early November and General Harold Alexander—commander of the 15th Army Group—had planned for Montgomery to strike across the river on its coastal plain on 20 November with V Corps
. Montgomery in secrecy shifted the Indian division to the right to narrow the V Corps front and concentrate its power, bringing the newly arrived 2nd New Zealand Division into the gap. Heavy rain flooded the river, forcing the postponement of the offensive and giving the Germans time to move in reinforcements. In the early hours of 28 November the Eighth Army attack began, supported by heavy artillery concentrations. The New Zealanders advanced steadily, capturing the bulk of their objectives. The Māori Battalion, still in brigade reserve, stood to during the attack but was not required.
During December the 2nd New Zealand Division took part in the Moro River Campaign. By this time the attacking battalions had exploited forward towards the Winter Line
and the Māori Battalion moved forward by truck on 1 December, crossing the Sangro. Heavy congestion on the road delayed the battalion's movements, and although scheduled to assault towards Elici, they arrived to find 23 Battalion and the Division Cavalry had already completed the task. The Māori's were again ordered into reserve, occupying positions 1 miles (1.6 km) east of Castelfrentano. Meanwhile on 3 December 6 Brigade assaulted Orsogna
, and was involved in heavy fighting there, first capturing and then losing it following a counter-attack by German armour. A subsequent attack against Orsogna was planned by the New Zealanders utilising both the 5th and 6th Brigades. The attack was scheduled for 7 December, with both brigades to advance on a one battalion front. The Māori Battalion would lead the assault in the 5th Brigade section, up the Pascuccio spur to cut the Orsogna–Ortona road east of the 6th Brigade's objective. Fairbrother planned to assault with two companies forward, one in depth and one in reserve. Meanwhile the difficult terrain prevented tracked vehicles from moving across the Moro and up on to Pascuccio, posing problems for supply, and denying the New Zealanders support from armour or anti-tank guns.
The attack on Orsonga began at 13:30, following a half hour artillery bombardment, and marking the battalion's first battle on Italian soil. Although initially some progress was made, the Germans managed to hold Orsonga throughout December amidst intense hand to hand fighting. Finally the Māoris were withdrawn from the line on the night of 15/16 January 1944 when they were relieved by an Indian unit. Over the course of the battle, they had lost 11 men killed and 222 wounded.
After this the New Zealanders were transferred to the Fifth Army for its advance up the west coast of Italy towards Rome
. Leaving behind the bitter cold on the other side of the peninsula, the battalion undertook a period of training and reorganisation near Sant' Angelo d'Alife. At this time Fairbrother was replaced by another Pakeha officer, Major Russell Young, who was promoted to lieutenant colonel and subsequently led the battalion until July 1944.
As part of the Fifth Army's advance up the Liri valley
, the Māori Battalion's next main engagement came in early 1944 when they took part in the fighting around Monte Cassino
. The position at Cassino was dominated by an historic Benedictine
monastery
. Throughout January the Allies continued their advance, but as they were checked by the German positions at Cassino the advance stalled. On the night of 17/18 February 1944, as part of an attempt to establish a bridgehead into the German lines, the Māoris were tasked with attacking the railway station in Cassino. They met very stiff resistance, and although they managed to reach the railway station they were unable to wrest control of it from its defenders. Lacking armoured support, which had failed to arrive, they fought through the morning and into the afternoon, but when their position was assaulted by two German tanks they were forced to withdraw. The two assaulting companies, 'A' and 'B', suffered over 60 per cent casualties, losing 128 men killed or wounded. In March they were again involved in fighting around Cassino, however, it was not until May that the position was eventually captured, by which time the New Zealanders had been withdrawn from the line, and transferred back to the Eighth Army.
Due to these losses, the battalion did not return to the front until July 1944. It subsequently took part in the Allied advance towards Florence
and is believed to have been first to reach the city on 4 August. During this time Major Arapeta Awatere led the battalion as its acting commanding officer after Young was hospitalised with jaundice
, however, Young returned in late August and subsequently led them through the fighting around Rimini
in September. In November, Awatere took over command substantively, and in December the battalion launched an attack around Faenza
, for which its commanding officer later received a Distinguished Service Order. The winter snow set in after this, however, and as Allied attentions were temporarily focused elsewhere offensive action died down. Thus, throughout January, February and into March the battalion undertook defensive duties, before being withdrawn from the line in mid-March.
In April 1945 the battalion returned to the front line to take part in the final stages of the war. On 1 April the battalion entered the line near Granarolo
along with the rest of the 5th Brigade and for the next month they were involved in five main battles along the Senio
, Santerno
, Sillaro
, Gaiana and Idice
rivers as the Allies pursued the Germans back towards Trieste
. It was in Trieste that the Māori Battalion's war came to an end. Their involvement in the final stages of the fighting in Italy had cost them 25 killed and 117 wounded, while losses for the entire Italian campaign were 230 men killed, and 887 wounded.
meant that the 28th (Māori) Battalion remained on high alert. This continued until early June when an agreement was reached and Yugoslavia withdrew its troops east of the Isonzo River.
Following this life settled down for the Māoris and time was found for the men of each company to spend a fortnight at a hotel on the Lignano beach. Afterwards, preparations began for the battalion's return to New Zealand. The war with Japan
continued however, and at the time it was believed that the Māoris would take part in further operations in the Pacific
. New Zealand policy at the time was that long serving men were to repatriated and their places taken by men with less time in service. In this regard, commencing in late May, drafts of men were farewelled from the battalion in order of their arrival at the battalion, and this included the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Arapeta Awatere, who was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel James Henare.
Throughout July the battalion undertook garrison duties in Trieste
before the 2nd New Zealand Division was withdrawn to Lake Trasimene. On 15 August 1945 news was received of Japan's unconditional surrender, ending plans for the battalion to take part in further combat in the Pacific. In September it was decided that as part of the departure of New Zealand troops from the theatre, memorial services would be held at the locations of the division's major battles. As a part of this program services were held at Cassino and Sangro and on Crete, while smaller parties were sent to Coriano Ridge, Faenza, Forli, Padua, Monfalcone and Udine.
The last batch of long service men had departed shortly after the battalion's arrival at Lake Trasimene, and so after this it was decided that the battalion would return to New Zealand as a formed unit. As such their return was to be delayed and so they found winter quarters in Florence
. At this time it was decided that men from the battalion would be included within the New Zealand contribution
to the occupation of Japan. In this vane, a 270-strong contingent from the battalion was sent to Japan under the designation of 'D' Squadron, 2nd Divisional Cavalry Battalion, under the command of Major J.S Baker. Finally, on 6 December the battalion entrained at Florence and embarked upon the Dominion Monarch at Taranto
on Boxing Day. Sailing through the Suez Canal, they sailed via Fremantle, arriving in Wellington
on 23 January 1946, where they were met by the acting Prime Minister, Walter Nash
, at Aotea Quay for an official Māori welcome home ceremony. Afterwards the men were sent back to their homes and the battalion was disbanded.
Throughout the course of the war, 3,600 men had joined the battalion. Of these, 649 were killed or died of wounds while another 1,712 were wounded. Another 29 died as a result of service following discharge, while two were killed by accident during training in New Zealand. The Māori Battalion's service against the Germans in North Africa earned them a distinguished reputation. Such was the respect that Allied commanders had for the Māori Battalion that they were frequently used as a spearhead unit. Bernard Freyberg, the General Officer Commanding of the 2NZEF, commented, "No infantry had a more distinguished record, or saw more fighting, or, alas, had such heavy casualties, as the Maori Battalion."
The battalion's reputation was also acknowledged by their opponents. The Afrika Korps commander, Erwin Rommel
is reputed to have remarked,"Give me the Maori Battalion and I will conquer the world". However, the attribution of this remark has been called in to question, as Rommel never mentioned the Māori Battalion in his memoirs. As such, it is believed to have actually come from Rommel's former Chief of Staff, General Westphal at a post-war meeting with former Māori Battalion chaplain Reverend Canon W. T. Huata at the Afrika Korps reunion dinner in Mainz, Germany, in 1972.
, was awarded the Victoria Cross during the war, while another member, Sergeant Haane Manahi
, was also recommended for the award. During the fighting around Takrouna in 1943, Manahi led a section of men up a sheer limestone escarpment to capture a number of Italian positions; the following day he set out to capture Italian outposts. Four generals, including Harold Alexander, Bernard Freyberg, Howard Kippenberger
and Bernard Law Montgomery had recommended that Manahi receive the Victoria Cross but this recommendation was downgraded in London to the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
In 2000, iwi
Te Arawa
lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal for Haane Manahi to have his award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal upgraded to a Victoria Cross. In December 2005 the Waitangi Tribunal released their findings supporting the claim, however, in October 2006 the New Zealand Minister of Defence (New Zealand)
announced that the award could not be made as King George VI had ruled in 1949 that no further awards from the Second World War ought to be made. Instead, it was decided that Manahi would be recognised by the presentation of an altar cloth, a personal letter from The Queen acknowledging his gallantry and a sword. The award was presented to Manahi's son by The Duke of York
on 17 March 2007 at a ceremony in Rotorua
.
Other awards to members of the 28th (Māori) Battalion included: seven DSO
s;Lt-Col A.Awatere, MC; Lt-Col F.Baker
; Lt-Col C.M.Bennety; Lt-Col G.Dittmer, MBE, MC; Lt-Col R.R.T. Young; Maj J.C.Henare; and Lt M.Wikiriwhi. Cody 1956, p. 502. one MBE;Mr C.B Bennet (attached from YMCA). Cody 1956, p. 502. 21 MCs
and three bars
;MCs: Maj W.S.L.Mcrae; Maj H.W.Northcroft; Maj W.Reedy; Capt A.Awatere; Capt C.N.D'Arcy (attached from NZMC); Capt I.G. Harris; Capt K.A. Keiha; Capt H.C.A.Lambert; Capt J.Matehaere; Capt P.F.Te H.Ornberg; Capt R.Royal; Capt Te M.R.Tomoana; Capt M.Wikiriwhi, DSO; Lt W.Porter; Lt Te R.W.Tibble; Lt J.P.Tikao-Barrett; 2 Lt J.S.Baker; 2 Lt B.G.Christy; 2 Lt A.Huata; 2 Lt P.O.Lambly and Rev W.Te T.Huata (Chaplain, attached). Bar to the MC: Capt J.S.Baker, MC; Capt W.Porter, MC; and Capt R.Royal, MC. Cody 1956, p. 502. and 13 DCMs
;WO I M.T.Mcrae; WO I A.C.Wood; Sgt R.Davis; Sgt J.W.Mataira; L-Sgt H.Manahi; Cpl H.K.Barrett; Cpl P.Rakena; Cpl W.Teneti; Cpl N.Tuakti; Pte T.Heka; Pte L.Helmbright; Pte P.Maangi; Pte C.Shelford. Cody 1956, p. 502. 51 MMs
;WO II K. Harawira; WO II W. Pahau; S-Sgt K. Rangitauira; Sgt J. August; Sgt R. Cullen; Sgt G. Katene; Sgt R. C. H. Kirkwood (EME, attached); Sgt M. Kupa; Sgt H. Mackey; Sgt T. Matenga; Sgt T. Pitama; Sgt W. Te Waiti; Sgt J. I. Walker; Sgt P. Walters; Sgt I. Weepu; L-Sgt T. Trainor; Cpl N. B. Cook; Cpl J. Heke; Cpl J. Pirihi; Cpl J. Tainui; Cpl T. Tamou; Cpl P. R. Te Rito; Cpl J. Tupene; Cpl R. Waaka; L-Cpl D. Alex; L-Cpl B. Hardiman; L-Cpl G. D. King; L-Cpl H. Ruha; Pte C. T. Apihai; Pte R. H. Bidois; Pte R. Bluett; Pte A. N. Carroll; Pte T. E. Duncan; Pte K. Edward; Pte H. Grant; Pte R. Hemi; Pte R. Hoani; Pte F. Jones; Pte J. Kira; Pte R. McLean; Pte G. Matthews; Pte T. T. Nathan; Pte J. M. Ngapo; Pte G. Nia-Nia; Pte W. Panoho; Pte M. R. Potae; Pte K. Rangi; Pte G. Sutherland; Pte F. Te Namu; Pte T. H. Tuhi and Pte P. Wilson. Cody 1956, p. 503. one BEM
Sgt A. B. Goodwillie. Cody 1956, p. 503. and one US Silver Star.Pte J. Taua. Cody 1956, p. 503.
s received by the 28th (Māori) Battalion:
s:
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
of the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
that served during the Second World War. It was formed following pressure on the Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
government by some Māori MPs
Maori seats
In New Zealand politics, Māori electorates, colloquially also called Māori seats, are a special category of electorate that gives reserved positions to representatives of Māori in the New Zealand Parliament...
and Māori organisations throughout the country wanting a full Māori unit to be raised for service overseas. The Māori Battalion followed in the footsteps of the Pioneer Battalion that served during the First World War which had been very successful, and was wanted by Māori to raise their profile, and to serve alongside their Pākehā
Pakeha
Pākehā is a Māori language word for New Zealanders who are "of European descent". They are mostly descended from British and to a lesser extent Irish settlers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, although some Pākehā have Dutch, Scandinavian, German, Yugoslav or other ancestry...
compatriots as citizens of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. It also gave a generation of people with a well-noted military ancestry a chance to test their own warrior skills.
Raised in 1940 as part of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight for Britain during World War I and World War II. Ultimately, the NZEF of World War I was known as the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force...
(2NZEF), the 28th (Māori) Battalion was attached to the New Zealand 2nd Division as an extra battalion that was moved between the division's three infantry brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s. The battalion fought during the Greek
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece is the common name for the invasion and conquest of Greece by Nazi Germany in April 1941. Greece was supported by British Commonwealth forces, while the Germans' Axis allies Italy and Bulgaria played secondary roles...
, North African
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and Italian campaigns
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
during the war and a contingent was sent to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as an occupation force afterwards.
The unit was disbanded in January 1946.
Formation
The 28th (Māori) Battalion has its origins before the start of the Second World War. In mid-1939, as war in Europe began to be seen as inevitable, Sir Apirana NgataApirana Ngata
Sir Apirana Turupa Ngata was a prominent New Zealand politician and lawyer. He has often been described as the foremost Māori politician to have ever served in Parliament, and is also known for his work in promoting and protecting Māori culture and language.-Early life:One of 15 children, Ngata...
began to discuss proposals for the formation of a military unit made up of Māori volunteers similar to the Māori Pioneer Battalion
New Zealand (Māori) Pioneer Battalion
The New Zealand Pioneer Battalion or Native Contingent and Pioneer Battalion was a battalion of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force that served during World War I. The battalion was first raised in 1915 and served at Gallipoli and the Western Front and largely served as pioneers...
that had served during the First World War. This proposal was furthered by two Māori members of Parliament, Eruera Tirikatene
Eruera Tirikatene
Sir Eruera Tihema Te Aika Tirikatene, KCMG was a New Zealand Māori politician of the Ngai Tahu tribe. Known in early life as Edward James Te Aika Tregerthen, he was the first Ratana Member of Parliament and was elected in a by-election for Southern Maori in June 1932 after the death of Tuiti...
and Paraire Paikea
Paraire Karaka Paikea
Paraire Karaka Paikea was a New Zealand politician who captured the Rātana Movement's third Māori electorate of Northern Maori from Taurekareka Henare in 1938. He was Minister without portfolio representing the Māori race from 1941 to 1943 and was also Māori Recruiting Director on the War...
, and from this support within the Māori community for the idea began to grow. Initially the New Zealand government was hesitant, but on 4 October, the decision was announced that the proposal would be accepted and that the battalion would be raised in addition to the nine battalions and support units that had already been formed into three brigades of the 2nd New Zealand Division. It was decided, however, that at least initially the battalion's key positions, including its officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
and non commissioned officers
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
(NCOs), would largely be filled by Europeans.
This decision was met with some consternation, however, assurances were made that over time suitable Māori candidates would take over these positions. In this regard, it was decided that the battalion's first commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
would be a regular officer, Major George Dittmer—later promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in January 1940—and that his second in command
Second in Command
Second in Command is a 2006 action film directed by Simon Fellows, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. It was released direct-to-video in the United States, Belgium, and Germany on May 2, 2006. It has been rated R by the MPAA for violence and some language. The film was made in Bucharest, Romania.-Plot...
would be a Reserve officer, Lieutenant Colonel George Bertrand, a part-Māori who would take up the position with the rank of major. Both men were veterans of the First World War and had considerable experience.
Almost immediately effort was focused upon selecting and identifying the officers and NCOs. To this end volunteers were called for amongst units that had already formed as part of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force and from new recruits. At the end of November, 146 trainees reported to the Army School at Trentham, where even serving officers and NCOs were required to prove their suitability for these positions in the new battalion. Concurrently, recruiting of men to fill the other ranks
Other Ranks
Other Ranks in the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force are those personnel who are not commissioned officers. In the Royal Navy, these personnel are called ratings...
positions began in early October and within three weeks nearly 900 men had enlisted. The process was carried out by recruiting officers who worked closely with tribal authorities, and the recruits were restricted to single men aged between 21 and 35, although later married men were allowed to join, but only if they did not have more than two children of similar ages.
On 26 January 1940 the battalion came together for the first time, marking its official raising at the Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
Show Grounds. Upon formation it was decided that the battalion would be organised upon tribal lines. The unit consisted of a headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
and four rifle companies, designated 'A' through 'D': 'A' Company was recruited from North Auckland; 'B' Company from Rotorua, Bay of Plenty and Thames-Coromandel; 'C' Company from the East Coast from Gisborne to East Cape and 'D' Company from Waikato, Maniapoto, Hawkes Bay, Wellington and the South Island, as well as some Pacific Islands and the Chatham and Stewart Islands.
February saw the issuing of equipment and the commencement of training, however, this was punctuated by medical inspections, dental treatment and ceremonial duties surrounding the commemoration of the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
. A lack of previous experience in technical trades also hampered the training of the battalion, as the unit was short of men to serve in roles such as clerks, drivers, signallers, etc. as the majority of personnel were drawn from mainly rural backgrounds. Consequently men for these roles had to be trained from scratch. The organisation of the battalion was finally completed in March, when the men were allocated to their respective companies, and on 13 March 1940 the 28th (Māori) Battalion was declared on active service. After 14 days leave, the battalion conducted a five week concentration period before embarking on 1 May 1940. The battalion's strength at this time was 39 officers and 642 other ranks.
United Kingdom
Sailing upon the AquitaniaRMS Aquitania
RMS Aquitania was a Cunard Line ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown & Company in Clydebank, Scotland. She was launched on 21 April 1913 and sailed on her maiden voyage to New York on 30 May 1914...
via Fremantle
Fremantle
Freemantle is a suburb of Southampton in England.Fremantle or Freemantle may also refer to:- Places :* Fremantle, the port city to the capital Perth, Western Australia...
and Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, the battalion arrived at Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
after six weeks at sea. Initially they had been destined to join the rest of the 2nd Division in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, however, due to concerns about a possible invasion of the United Kingdom by the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, the decision was made to divert the division's second elechon, a brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
-sized force that included the 28th (Māori) Battalion, to Britain to help bolster the island's defences.
In June – July 1940 the 28th (Māori) Battalion were attached to a mixed brigade under Brigadier Harold Barrowclough
Harold Eric Barrowclough
Major-General Sir Harold Eric Barrowclough, KCMG, CB, DSO & Bar, MC was a New Zealand military leader, lawyer, and Chief Justice....
. During this time they manned defences in the south of England and undertook further training. The battalion suffered from a lack of equipment however, largely due to the priority given to re-equip British units following the losses suffered by the British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. As a consequence, training was largely focused upon anti-gas and route marching. On 6 July they were inspected by King George VI and he was said to have been impressed by the "smartness of the close order and arms drill of the Māori Battalion" and "by the fine physique, keenness and determined demeanour" of the men.
Shortly afterwards the Mixed Brigade began quick deployment and defensive manoeuvres in earnest, as fears of invasion grew. In between exercises, further training was undertaken and the battalion also worked to improve fixed defences throughout July and into August and September. These exercises varied in size from company to battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
-level, and involved differing scenarios and enemy forces. In September, a divisional
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
review was undertaken and amidst massive German air raids upon London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the New Zealanders were declared to be ready for front-line service in the event of a German landing. Warning orders for deployment to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
were cancelled and the New Zealanders were placed under command of XII Corps, taking up defensive positions in the Folkstone–Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
region.
In October, the Māori Battalion was attached to "Milforce", under Dittmer's command, along with a squadron of tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s, a squadron of cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
and a medium machine gun
Medium machine gun
A medium machine gun or MMG, in modern terms, usually refers to a belt-fed automatic firearm firing a full-power rifle cartridge.-History:...
company. The following month, with an invasion now considered unlikely, the battalion returned to Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
for the winter, remaining there for two months. During this time limited training was undertaken, however, upon invitation they fielded a rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
team against a Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
side at Langley Park, although they ended up losing 12–3. Later in the month, the battalion received the order to begin preparing for redeployment to Egypt and an advance party was dispatched in mid-December. On 7 January 1941 the rest of the battalion left for the Middle East, embarking from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on the Athlone Castle.
Middle East
After sailing via Freetown, Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
and Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, the Athlone Castle sailed up the east coast of Africa and entered the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
, arriving at Tewfik harbour on 3 March 1941. In the afternoon the battalion entrained and two days later they arrived in the desert, where they were met by motor transport which carried them to camp Garawi, about 20 miles (32.2 km) from Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. At this point they were met by about 300 reinforcements which were used to replace men who had been laid down with influenza and to bring the battalion up to a higher establishment. Shortly afterwards they were moved to Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, where they embarked on the Cameronia
HMT Cameronia
Cameronia was a British ocean liner which was built in 1920 by William Beardmore & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow for the Anchor Line . She was requisitioned for use as a troopship in the Second World War, surviving a torpedo attack. In 1953 she was requisitioned by the Ministry of Troop Transport and...
, bound for Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Greece
On 6 April the German invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia began. In order to help defend Greece a composite force of three divisions of Australian, British and New Zealand troops were to be deployed, and were grouped together under the title of 'W' Force. However, by the time the invasion began only two of the three divisions had arrived, and the New Zealanders were consequent spread thin, holding a position to the north of KateriniKaterini
Katerini is a town in Central Macedonia, Greece, the capital of Pieria regional unit. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mt. Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude of 14 m. The town, which is one of the newest in Greece, has a population of 83,764...
, where they were tasked to defend the strategic Olympus Pass to the south. During this time, the 28th (Māori) Battalion was attached to the 5th Infantry Brigade, which was later grouped with other Australian and New Zealand units to form the Anzac Corps. Vastly outnumbered, within two days the situation for the Allies was not good as the Germans had broken through the defences along the Bulgarian border and the Yugoslav resistance had collapsed. As the situation worsened, orders came down from brigade headquarters that the passes would be held "to the last man and last round".
22nd Battalion (New Zealand)
The 22nd Battalion, also known as the "Wellington Battalion", was an infantry battalion of the New Zealand Military Forces, which served during the Second World War. Formed in November 1939, it was part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. After undertaking...
that the 28th Battalion fought its first engagement of the war. In preparation for the coming attack, the Māoris built their position, running out barbed and concertina wire and digging in while German bombers droned overheard. During the night they carried out patrols along the Mavroneri riverbed, but no contact was made. The following morning, the divisional cavalry, which had been carrying out a rearguard
Rear guard
A rear guard or rearguard is that part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or withdrawal...
action, conducted a withdrawal through the battalion's position, making the Māori Battalion the most forward Allied unit. As German forces were halted at Platamon by the 21st Battalion, thrusts towards Larisa once again put the battalion's position in doubt and they were again order to withdraw. Meanwhile, the Anzac Corps decided to make its last stand 100 miles (160.9 km) south at Thermopylae
Thermopylae
Thermopylae is a location in Greece where a narrow coastal passage existed in antiquity. It derives its name from its hot sulphur springs. "Hot gates" is also "the place of hot springs and cavernous entrances to Hades"....
.
In the end, however, the Māoris remained in position until 17 April. Throughout the previous two days the battalion worked hard to repel repeated attempts by elements of the German 2nd Infantry Regiment to infiltrate their lines, before finally they received the order to fall back. With isolated platoons still in contact with the Germans and amidst high winds and a heavy downpour of rain, the New Zealanders had difficulty disengaging. Withdrawing over difficult terrain towards the pass, the manoeuvre continued into the night as the Germans continued to harass their rearguard units. The move was time critical because the intention was to blow a bridge up just after the battalion had withdrawn across it in order to delay the German advance. In the end it was a close run thing, for the engineers tasked with carrying out the demolition were about to call fire on when the battalion arrived shortly after 3:00 am.
After meeting motor transport, the battalion moved back to Ay Dhimitrios, which they began to prepare to defend in order to help seal off the exit of the Olympus pass. The withdrawal continued, however, and on 19 April the Māori Battalion was called upon conduct a delaying action as the rest of the 5th Infantry Brigade pulled back through Larisa towards Lamia, 80 miles (128.7 km) south. Along roads packed with vehicles and civilian traffic they withdrew amidst considerable confusion. Upon arrival at Thermopylae the battalion had just enough time to complete its digging in before receiving the order to that they were to move their position in order to make way for the 6th Infantry Brigade. They completed this move by 21 April, taking up the same positions that Leonidas
Leonidas I
Leonidas I was a hero-king of Sparta, the 17th of the Agiad line, one of the sons of King Anaxandridas II of Sparta, who was believed in mythology to be a descendant of Heracles, possessing much of the latter's strength and bravery...
and his army had defended against Xerxes
Xerxes I of Persia
Xerxes I of Persia , Ḫšayāršā, ), also known as Xerxes the Great, was the fifth king of kings of the Achaemenid Empire.-Youth and rise to power:...
in 480 BC, according to legend. Here they took up position in a marsh and as they made preparations for its defence, on 22 April, in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, the decision was made that the units of the British Commonwealth forces would be withdrawn from the country.
Over the course of the next two days, the battalion withdrew back towards Athens, where they arrived in the early morning on 24 April. They continued on to the beach at Porto Rafti, destroying their vehicles and other equipment as they went. In the confusion of orders and counter orders, the battalion's carrier
Universal Carrier
The Universal Carrier, also known as the Bren Gun Carrier is a common name describing a family of light armoured tracked vehicles built by Vickers-Armstrong. Produced between 1934 and 1960, the vehicle was used widely by British Commonwealth forces during the Second World War...
and mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
platoons had gotten separated from the rest of the unit. By 9.00 pm on 24 April when the final move to the beach commenced they still had not arrived. The operation went according to plan however, and by 3.00 am on 25 April the transports embarked. Of the various groups that had become detached from the battalion, some of them were able to make their own way to the embarkation beaches, but a number of them were ultimately captured. The battalion's casualties in Greece were 10 killed or died of wounds, six wounded, 83 captured, 11 wounded and captured.
Crete
After being evacuated from Greece, the Māori Battalion embarked upon the GlenglyeHMS Glengyle
HMS Glengyle was a Landing Ship, Infantry of the Royal Navy. She saw service in the Second World War-Design and conversion:Glengyle was built by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Dundee, for the Glen Line...
and was taken to Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
where they formed part of the island's hastily formed garrison. The 5th Infantry Brigade was allocated to the area surrounding the airfield and the battalion was positioned on the north coast at Platanias, on the brigade's right flank. On 20 May 1941, the Germans launched the opening stages of their campaign
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
with large-scale glider and parachute drops of troops from Maleme
Maleme
Maleme is a town and airport to the west of Chania, in North Western Crete, Greece. It is located in Platanias municipality, in Chania prefecture....
to Canea. The landings were focused in the area around the airfield and no troops landed in the area being held by the Māoris, nevertheless, a small force of glider troops were found to be occupying a house on the beach about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km). A platoon was dispatched to carry out an attack upon them and after a brief fire-fight in which two New Zealanders were wounded and eight Germans were killed, the 10 remaining men in the house surrendered.
23rd Battalion (New Zealand)
The 23rd Battalion, also known as the Canterbury-Otago Battalion, was a infantry battalion of the New Zealand Military Forces during the Second World War. Formed in November 1939 as part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. After undertaking training at...
and one from the 28th. The task was given to 'B' Company and, as the company commander only knew the direct route, they had a night approach march of over 8 miles (12.9 km) to cover. During the march they came in contact with a platoon-sized force of Germans which briefly held up the company before reinforcements could arrive. The German force surrendered, however, in doing so one of their number threw a grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
at the New Zealanders, wounding two men. In response the Māoris fixed bayonets and carried out the first bayonet charge by a New Zealand force during the war, killing 24. A short while later they killed another eight in a separate engagement. Continuing on towards the 22nd Battalion, they bumped into a number of small pockets of Germans before eventually linking up with the 22nd Battalion's headquarters where they were told to return to their own lines as the decision had been made to withdraw from airfield. 11 hours later the company reported back to the 28th Battalion's lines.
Over the course of the next ten days the battalion was involved in a series of engagements as they fought to defend the island, with the most notable probably being the bayonet charge that they undertook with the Australian 2/7th Battalion at 42nd Street on 27 May in which 280 Germans were killed, with the Māori accounting for 100. However, it soon became clear that the garrison on Crete would need to be evacuated and on 28 May the bulk of Creforce began to disengage the Germans and begin the retreat towards Sfakia
Sfakia
Sfakiá is a mountainous area in the southwestern part of the island of Crete, in the Chania peripheral unit. It is considered one of the few places in Greece to never have been fully occupied by foreign powers...
. The 5th Infantry Brigade took turns with two Australian battalions and the commandos of Layforce
Layforce
Layforce was an ad hoc military formation of the British Army consisting of a number of commando units during the Second World War.Formed in February 1941 under the command of Colonel Robert Laycock, after whom the force was named, it consisted of approximately 2,000 men and served in the Middle...
to carry out a rearguard action to guard the pass through which the troops had to traverse in order to escape.
On 30 May the final order was received, however, due to shipping losses it was not possible to evacuate everyone. In order to maintain fairness, each battalion was allotted a certain number of men who would have to remain and defend the embarkation beaches to allow the others to get away. The 28th Battalion was allocated 230 men to embark, while six officers and 144 men would have to stay behind. A large number of men volunteered to stay behind however, and at midnight the remainder headed down to the beach and were taken off on a landing ship two hours later. The battalion suffered 243 casualties during the brief defence of the island, including 74 men killed and 102 men wounded. A further 67 were captured, of which 46 were wounded. For his leadership of the battalion during the fighting on Crete, Dittmer received the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
.
North Africa
After their escape from Crete, the 28th (Māori) Battalion were evacuated to Egypt where they were re-issued with summer uniforms and began to receive reinforcements. In June they carried out a ceremonial parade for The KingGeorge VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
and Queen, and the commander of the New Zealand 2nd Division, Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Bernard Freyberg. Throughout July, the battalion undertook desert familiarisation training and sports parades before moving to Kabrit where they concentrated with the rest of the 5th Infantry Brigade for a three week combined operations exercise. Later, in August, they moved to a position 20 miles (32.2 km) west of El Alamein
El Alamein
El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :...
, known as the "Kaponga Box" where throughout September and into October they undertook the unfamiliar task of road construction. In October, however, the brigade received orders to link up with the rest of the division in preparation for their commitment to the battle along the frontier.
On 11 November 1941, the 5th Infantry Brigade concentrated near Mersa Matruh. Three days later the division had assembled and began the advance into Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. Their first task was to capture the seaside town of Sollum, which was taken on 23 November from its Italian garrison with only a few casualties. Follow-up artillery inflicted 18 killed and 33 wounded however, including the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel George Dittmer and two company commanders. 247 Italian prisoners were taken. Following this, the 5th Infantry Brigade was placed under the command of the 4th Indian Division and the 28th Battalion took up positions near Bardia
Bardia
Bardia is a geographic region in the Democratic Republic of Nepal.Bardia comprises a portion of the Terai, or lowland hills and valleys of southern Nepal. The Terai is over 1,000 feet in elevation, and extends all along the Indian border...
.
Three days later the battalion attacked a column of tanks and motorised infantry before ambushing a column at Menastir on 3 December. Later, notable actions were undertaken at Sidi Magreb where over 1,000 Italians prisoners were captured, and at Gazala. Following this, the battalion was deployed to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
before returning to Egypt in June 1942. Now officially under the command of a Māori for the first time—Lieutenant Colonel Eruera Love having taken over from Dyer in May—the Māoris took part in the New Zealand Division's breakout from Minqar Qaim, undertaking a successful bayonet charge. At this time, the battalion's skills with the bayonet earned them a reputation as "scalp hunters" among German commanders, including Rommel.
In September and October the battalion took part in important actions as part of the offensive in the Munassib Depression and at Miteiriya Ridge during the Second Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
. On 2 November the battalion supported the final breakthrough by Allied forces that decided the outcome of the battle. Casualties were high during this time and three of its commanding officers were either killed or wounded between July and November 1942. Nevertheless, the battalion remained in the fighting and in March 1943, at Medenine it undertook a defensive role before switching to the offensive at Point 209 in the Tebaga Gap, where it was responsible for almost completely destroying a German panzer grenadier
Panzergrenadier
is a German term for motorised or mechanized infantry, as introduced during World War II. It is used in the armies of Austria, Chile, Germany and Switzerland.-Forerunners:...
battalion. It was during this action that Second Lieutenant Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu
Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu
Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu VC was a New Zealand soldier and posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross. A Māori of Ngati Porou and Te Whanau-a-Apanui descent, he grew up in Ruatoria, where he attended Hiruharama School.-Details:...
performed the deeds that led to him being posthumously decorated with the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. The battalion's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bennett also received the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership during the attack.
Two weeks later, on the night 19/20 April 1943, the battalion took part in the 5th Brigade's attack on the Tunisian village of Takrouna. The village was situated atop a steep slope, and due to heavy concentrations of indirect fire and landmines, which wounded a number of men, including the commanding officer, the attack stalled. However, two sections under the command of Sergeant Haane te Rauawa Manahi
Haane Manahi
Haane Manahi was a member of the Māori Battalion from New Zealand in World War II who was nominated for a Victoria Cross, but eventually received a special citation for bravery from the Queen....
, managed to scale the western side of the escarpment and gain a foothold on the pinnacle in the early dawn. Following heavy shellfire and hand-to-hand combat with the Italian defenders, the Māoris were forced off the pinnacle twice, however, each time Manahi led his small force in a counterattack. In the afternoon, Manahi and two other men captured a number of machine gun and mortar positions, encircling the Italians and forcing them to surrender. For these actions, Manahi was also recommended for a Victoria Cross, however, the nomination was not approved and he received a Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
instead.
Italy
The battalion returned to Egypt with the 5th Brigade in late-May and underwent a period of refit and retraining, during which the bulk of the original unit was given three months leave and returned to New Zealand. Following the evacuation to hospital of Lieutenant Colonel Kingi Keiha, there were no suitable senior Māori officers available and he was replaced as commanding officer by Lieutenant Colonel Monty Fairbrother on 11 September. Having taken no part in the Allied invasion of SicilyAllied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...
in July – August, the 2nd New Zealand Division was committed to battle again in late-1943 as part of Eighth Army during the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
. The Māori Battalion subsequently arrived in Italy on 22 October, landing at Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
. 5th Brigade undertook a period of training in close-country tactics, remaining in camp at Taranto until 18 November when it was ordered to move north 250 miles (402.3 km) to join the Eighth Army.
The 2nd New Zealand Division had moved into the front line in November in order to relieve the 8th Indian Division and would take part in the advance across the Sangro
Bernhardt Line
The Bernhardt Line was a German defensive line in Italy during World War II. Having reached the Bernhardt Line at the start of December 1943, it took until mid-January 1944 for U.S. 5th Army to fight their way to the next line of defenses, the Gustav Line. The line was defended by XIV Panzer Corps...
planned for the end of the month. The brigade subsequently occupied positions around Atessa
Atessa
Atessa is a town in Abruzzo, Italy, administratively part of the Province of Chieti.The Sevel Sud Italo-French consortium plant, manufacturing Fiat Ducato and PSA's equivalent vans, is located in Atessa's territory.-Main sights:...
, with the Māori Battalion in brigade reserve, occupying a series of low hills which formed the Sangro River
Sangro River
The Sangro is a river in eastern central Italy, known in ancient times as Sagrus from the Greek Sagros or Isagros, Ισαγρος....
valley. Eighth Army's forward units had reached the Sangro in early November and General Harold Alexander—commander of the 15th Army Group—had planned for Montgomery to strike across the river on its coastal plain on 20 November with V Corps
V Corps (United Kingdom)
V Corps was an army corps of the British Army in both the First and Second World War. It was first organised in February 1915 and fought through World War I on the Western front...
. Montgomery in secrecy shifted the Indian division to the right to narrow the V Corps front and concentrate its power, bringing the newly arrived 2nd New Zealand Division into the gap. Heavy rain flooded the river, forcing the postponement of the offensive and giving the Germans time to move in reinforcements. In the early hours of 28 November the Eighth Army attack began, supported by heavy artillery concentrations. The New Zealanders advanced steadily, capturing the bulk of their objectives. The Māori Battalion, still in brigade reserve, stood to during the attack but was not required.
During December the 2nd New Zealand Division took part in the Moro River Campaign. By this time the attacking battalions had exploited forward towards the Winter Line
Winter Line
The Winter Line was a series of German military fortifications in Italy, constructed during World War II by Organisation Todt. The primary Gustav Line ran across Italy from just north of where the Garigliano River flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, through the Apennine Mountains to the...
and the Māori Battalion moved forward by truck on 1 December, crossing the Sangro. Heavy congestion on the road delayed the battalion's movements, and although scheduled to assault towards Elici, they arrived to find 23 Battalion and the Division Cavalry had already completed the task. The Māori's were again ordered into reserve, occupying positions 1 miles (1.6 km) east of Castelfrentano. Meanwhile on 3 December 6 Brigade assaulted Orsogna
Orsogna
Orsogna is a comune and town in the province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy....
, and was involved in heavy fighting there, first capturing and then losing it following a counter-attack by German armour. A subsequent attack against Orsogna was planned by the New Zealanders utilising both the 5th and 6th Brigades. The attack was scheduled for 7 December, with both brigades to advance on a one battalion front. The Māori Battalion would lead the assault in the 5th Brigade section, up the Pascuccio spur to cut the Orsogna–Ortona road east of the 6th Brigade's objective. Fairbrother planned to assault with two companies forward, one in depth and one in reserve. Meanwhile the difficult terrain prevented tracked vehicles from moving across the Moro and up on to Pascuccio, posing problems for supply, and denying the New Zealanders support from armour or anti-tank guns.
The attack on Orsonga began at 13:30, following a half hour artillery bombardment, and marking the battalion's first battle on Italian soil. Although initially some progress was made, the Germans managed to hold Orsonga throughout December amidst intense hand to hand fighting. Finally the Māoris were withdrawn from the line on the night of 15/16 January 1944 when they were relieved by an Indian unit. Over the course of the battle, they had lost 11 men killed and 222 wounded.
After this the New Zealanders were transferred to the Fifth Army for its advance up the west coast of Italy towards Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Leaving behind the bitter cold on the other side of the peninsula, the battalion undertook a period of training and reorganisation near Sant' Angelo d'Alife. At this time Fairbrother was replaced by another Pakeha officer, Major Russell Young, who was promoted to lieutenant colonel and subsequently led the battalion until July 1944.
As part of the Fifth Army's advance up the Liri valley
Liri
The Liri is one of the principal rivers of central Italy, flowing into the Tyrrhenian Sea a little below Minturno under the name Garigliano....
, the Māori Battalion's next main engagement came in early 1944 when they took part in the fighting around Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, Italy, c. to the west of the town of Cassino and altitude. St. Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order, here around 529. It was the site of Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944...
. The position at Cassino was dominated by an historic Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. Throughout January the Allies continued their advance, but as they were checked by the German positions at Cassino the advance stalled. On the night of 17/18 February 1944, as part of an attempt to establish a bridgehead into the German lines, the Māoris were tasked with attacking the railway station in Cassino. They met very stiff resistance, and although they managed to reach the railway station they were unable to wrest control of it from its defenders. Lacking armoured support, which had failed to arrive, they fought through the morning and into the afternoon, but when their position was assaulted by two German tanks they were forced to withdraw. The two assaulting companies, 'A' and 'B', suffered over 60 per cent casualties, losing 128 men killed or wounded. In March they were again involved in fighting around Cassino, however, it was not until May that the position was eventually captured, by which time the New Zealanders had been withdrawn from the line, and transferred back to the Eighth Army.
Due to these losses, the battalion did not return to the front until July 1944. It subsequently took part in the Allied advance towards Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and is believed to have been first to reach the city on 4 August. During this time Major Arapeta Awatere led the battalion as its acting commanding officer after Young was hospitalised with jaundice
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellowish pigmentation of the skin, the conjunctival membranes over the sclerae , and other mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia . This hyperbilirubinemia subsequently causes increased levels of bilirubin in the extracellular fluid...
, however, Young returned in late August and subsequently led them through the fighting around Rimini
Rimini
Rimini is a medium-sized city of 142,579 inhabitants in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and capital city of the Province of Rimini. It is located on the Adriatic Sea, on the coast between the rivers Marecchia and Ausa...
in September. In November, Awatere took over command substantively, and in December the battalion launched an attack around Faenza
Faenza
Faenza is an Italian city and comune, in the province of Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, situated 50 km southeast of Bologna.Faenza is noted for its manufacture of majolica ware glazed earthenware pottery, known from the name of the town as "faience"....
, for which its commanding officer later received a Distinguished Service Order. The winter snow set in after this, however, and as Allied attentions were temporarily focused elsewhere offensive action died down. Thus, throughout January, February and into March the battalion undertook defensive duties, before being withdrawn from the line in mid-March.
In April 1945 the battalion returned to the front line to take part in the final stages of the war. On 1 April the battalion entered the line near Granarolo
Granarolo dell'Emilia
Granarolo dell'Emilia is a comune in the Province of Bologna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 10 km northeast of Bologna. It has c. 9,000 inhabitants....
along with the rest of the 5th Brigade and for the next month they were involved in five main battles along the Senio
Senio
The Senio is a 92 km river of Romagna in Italy, the final right-sided tributary of the river Reno. The mean discharge at its mouth is about 10 m³/s; however this can vary from a minimum of 0.3 m³/s to a maximum of 500 m³/s....
, Santerno
Santerno
The Santerno is a river of Romagna, in northern Italy, the major tributary of the Reno River. In Roman times, it was known as the Vatrenus , although, in the Tabula Peutingeriana, it was already identified as the Santernus....
, Sillaro
Sillaro
The Sillaro river is a 66 km-long Italian stream, whose headwaters are by the village of Piancaldoli , in Tuscany. It runs northeast through the city of Castel San Pietro Terme, Province of Bologna in Emilia Romagna and ends as a tributary of the Reno River by the village of San Biagio di Argenta,...
, Gaiana and Idice
Monterenzio
Monterenzio is a town and comune in the province of Bologna .-Geography:The territory of the municipality rises on the ridge between the valleys of the Idice and Sillaro streams. The eleven rural units that make up the territory date back to the Pre-Napoleonic era...
rivers as the Allies pursued the Germans back towards Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
. It was in Trieste that the Māori Battalion's war came to an end. Their involvement in the final stages of the fighting in Italy had cost them 25 killed and 117 wounded, while losses for the entire Italian campaign were 230 men killed, and 887 wounded.
Disbandment
On 2 May 1945 news was received that all German forces west of the Isonzo River had surrendered. While this did not officially end the fighting in Italy, it was all but over. Five days later, on the night of 7 May, the battalion received the momentous news that Germany had surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, and that the war in Europe was over. Nevertheless, tensions remained high and concerns about the intentions of Yugoslavia regarding the disputed province of IstriaIstria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
meant that the 28th (Māori) Battalion remained on high alert. This continued until early June when an agreement was reached and Yugoslavia withdrew its troops east of the Isonzo River.
Following this life settled down for the Māoris and time was found for the men of each company to spend a fortnight at a hotel on the Lignano beach. Afterwards, preparations began for the battalion's return to New Zealand. The war with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
continued however, and at the time it was believed that the Māoris would take part in further operations in the Pacific
South West Pacific Area
South West Pacific Area was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific theatres of World War II, during 1942–45...
. New Zealand policy at the time was that long serving men were to repatriated and their places taken by men with less time in service. In this regard, commencing in late May, drafts of men were farewelled from the battalion in order of their arrival at the battalion, and this included the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Arapeta Awatere, who was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel James Henare.
Throughout July the battalion undertook garrison duties in Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
before the 2nd New Zealand Division was withdrawn to Lake Trasimene. On 15 August 1945 news was received of Japan's unconditional surrender, ending plans for the battalion to take part in further combat in the Pacific. In September it was decided that as part of the departure of New Zealand troops from the theatre, memorial services would be held at the locations of the division's major battles. As a part of this program services were held at Cassino and Sangro and on Crete, while smaller parties were sent to Coriano Ridge, Faenza, Forli, Padua, Monfalcone and Udine.
The last batch of long service men had departed shortly after the battalion's arrival at Lake Trasimene, and so after this it was decided that the battalion would return to New Zealand as a formed unit. As such their return was to be delayed and so they found winter quarters in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
. At this time it was decided that men from the battalion would be included within the New Zealand contribution
J Force
J Force was the name given to the New Zealand forces that were allocated to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force which occupied Japan following the end of the Second World War...
to the occupation of Japan. In this vane, a 270-strong contingent from the battalion was sent to Japan under the designation of 'D' Squadron, 2nd Divisional Cavalry Battalion, under the command of Major J.S Baker. Finally, on 6 December the battalion entrained at Florence and embarked upon the Dominion Monarch at Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
on Boxing Day. Sailing through the Suez Canal, they sailed via Fremantle, arriving in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
on 23 January 1946, where they were met by the acting Prime Minister, Walter Nash
Walter Nash
Sir Walter Nash, GCMG, CH served as the 27th Prime Minister of New Zealand in the Second Labour Government from 1957 to 1960, and was also highly influential in his role as Minister of Finance...
, at Aotea Quay for an official Māori welcome home ceremony. Afterwards the men were sent back to their homes and the battalion was disbanded.
Throughout the course of the war, 3,600 men had joined the battalion. Of these, 649 were killed or died of wounds while another 1,712 were wounded. Another 29 died as a result of service following discharge, while two were killed by accident during training in New Zealand. The Māori Battalion's service against the Germans in North Africa earned them a distinguished reputation. Such was the respect that Allied commanders had for the Māori Battalion that they were frequently used as a spearhead unit. Bernard Freyberg, the General Officer Commanding of the 2NZEF, commented, "No infantry had a more distinguished record, or saw more fighting, or, alas, had such heavy casualties, as the Maori Battalion."
The battalion's reputation was also acknowledged by their opponents. The Afrika Korps commander, Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel
Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....
is reputed to have remarked,"Give me the Maori Battalion and I will conquer the world". However, the attribution of this remark has been called in to question, as Rommel never mentioned the Māori Battalion in his memoirs. As such, it is believed to have actually come from Rommel's former Chief of Staff, General Westphal at a post-war meeting with former Māori Battalion chaplain Reverend Canon W. T. Huata at the Afrika Korps reunion dinner in Mainz, Germany, in 1972.
Decorations
One member of the Māori Battalion, Second Lieutenant Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa NgarimuMoana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu
Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu VC was a New Zealand soldier and posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross. A Māori of Ngati Porou and Te Whanau-a-Apanui descent, he grew up in Ruatoria, where he attended Hiruharama School.-Details:...
, was awarded the Victoria Cross during the war, while another member, Sergeant Haane Manahi
Haane Manahi
Haane Manahi was a member of the Māori Battalion from New Zealand in World War II who was nominated for a Victoria Cross, but eventually received a special citation for bravery from the Queen....
, was also recommended for the award. During the fighting around Takrouna in 1943, Manahi led a section of men up a sheer limestone escarpment to capture a number of Italian positions; the following day he set out to capture Italian outposts. Four generals, including Harold Alexander, Bernard Freyberg, Howard Kippenberger
Howard Kippenberger
Major-General Sir Howard Karl Kippenberger, KBE, CB, DSO, ED, , known as Kip, served as a New Zealand soldier in both World Wars.-Personal life:Howard Kippenberger married Ruth Isobel Flynn, of Lyttelton in 1922...
and Bernard Law Montgomery had recommended that Manahi receive the Victoria Cross but this recommendation was downgraded in London to the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
In 2000, iwi
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
Te Arawa
Te Arawa
Te Arawa is a confederation of Māori iwi and hapu based in the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty areas of New Zealand, with a population of around 40,000.The history of the Te Arawa people is inextricably linked to the Arawa canoe...
lodged a claim with the Waitangi Tribunal for Haane Manahi to have his award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal upgraded to a Victoria Cross. In December 2005 the Waitangi Tribunal released their findings supporting the claim, however, in October 2006 the New Zealand Minister of Defence (New Zealand)
Minister of Defence (New Zealand)
The Minister of Defence is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility for the New Zealand armed forces and the Ministry of Defence.The present Minister is Dr...
announced that the award could not be made as King George VI had ruled in 1949 that no further awards from the Second World War ought to be made. Instead, it was decided that Manahi would be recognised by the presentation of an altar cloth, a personal letter from The Queen acknowledging his gallantry and a sword. The award was presented to Manahi's son by The Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
on 17 March 2007 at a ceremony in Rotorua
Rotorua
Rotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns...
.
Other awards to members of the 28th (Māori) Battalion included: seven DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
s;Lt-Col A.Awatere, MC; Lt-Col F.Baker
Fred Baker
Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Baker led the NZ 28 Battalion in World War II, from 13 July to 2 November 1942, and was injured at the commencement of the Battle of El Alamein.-External links:***...
; Lt-Col C.M.Bennety; Lt-Col G.Dittmer, MBE, MC; Lt-Col R.R.T. Young; Maj J.C.Henare; and Lt M.Wikiriwhi. Cody 1956, p. 502. one MBE;Mr C.B Bennet (attached from YMCA). Cody 1956, p. 502. 21 MCs
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and three bars
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
;MCs: Maj W.S.L.Mcrae; Maj H.W.Northcroft; Maj W.Reedy; Capt A.Awatere; Capt C.N.D'Arcy (attached from NZMC); Capt I.G. Harris; Capt K.A. Keiha; Capt H.C.A.Lambert; Capt J.Matehaere; Capt P.F.Te H.Ornberg; Capt R.Royal; Capt Te M.R.Tomoana; Capt M.Wikiriwhi, DSO; Lt W.Porter; Lt Te R.W.Tibble; Lt J.P.Tikao-Barrett; 2 Lt J.S.Baker; 2 Lt B.G.Christy; 2 Lt A.Huata; 2 Lt P.O.Lambly and Rev W.Te T.Huata (Chaplain, attached). Bar to the MC: Capt J.S.Baker, MC; Capt W.Porter, MC; and Capt R.Royal, MC. Cody 1956, p. 502. and 13 DCMs
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
;WO I M.T.Mcrae; WO I A.C.Wood; Sgt R.Davis; Sgt J.W.Mataira; L-Sgt H.Manahi; Cpl H.K.Barrett; Cpl P.Rakena; Cpl W.Teneti; Cpl N.Tuakti; Pte T.Heka; Pte L.Helmbright; Pte P.Maangi; Pte C.Shelford. Cody 1956, p. 502. 51 MMs
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
;WO II K. Harawira; WO II W. Pahau; S-Sgt K. Rangitauira; Sgt J. August; Sgt R. Cullen; Sgt G. Katene; Sgt R. C. H. Kirkwood (EME, attached); Sgt M. Kupa; Sgt H. Mackey; Sgt T. Matenga; Sgt T. Pitama; Sgt W. Te Waiti; Sgt J. I. Walker; Sgt P. Walters; Sgt I. Weepu; L-Sgt T. Trainor; Cpl N. B. Cook; Cpl J. Heke; Cpl J. Pirihi; Cpl J. Tainui; Cpl T. Tamou; Cpl P. R. Te Rito; Cpl J. Tupene; Cpl R. Waaka; L-Cpl D. Alex; L-Cpl B. Hardiman; L-Cpl G. D. King; L-Cpl H. Ruha; Pte C. T. Apihai; Pte R. H. Bidois; Pte R. Bluett; Pte A. N. Carroll; Pte T. E. Duncan; Pte K. Edward; Pte H. Grant; Pte R. Hemi; Pte R. Hoani; Pte F. Jones; Pte J. Kira; Pte R. McLean; Pte G. Matthews; Pte T. T. Nathan; Pte J. M. Ngapo; Pte G. Nia-Nia; Pte W. Panoho; Pte M. R. Potae; Pte K. Rangi; Pte G. Sutherland; Pte F. Te Namu; Pte T. H. Tuhi and Pte P. Wilson. Cody 1956, p. 503. one BEM
British Empire Medal
The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service, usually known as the British Empire Medal , is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown...
Sgt A. B. Goodwillie. Cody 1956, p. 503. and one US Silver Star.Pte J. Taua. Cody 1956, p. 503.
Battle honours
The following is a list of battle honourBattle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
s received by the 28th (Māori) Battalion:
- Second World War: Olympus Pass, Crete, El Alamen, Tebega Gap, Takrouna, North Africa 1942–43, Orsogna, Cassino 1, The Senio, Italy 1943–45, Mount Olympus, Greece 1941, Maleme, Canea, 42nd Street, Withdrawal to Sphakia, Middle East 1941–44, Tobruk 1941, Sidi Azeiz, Zemla, Alem Hamza, Mersa Matruh, Minqar Qaim, Defence of Alamein Line, El Mreir, Alam el Halfa, Nofilia, Medinine, El Hamma, Enfidaville, Djebibina, The Sangro, Castel Frentano, Monastery Hill, Advance to Florence, San Michele, Paula Line, Celle, Saint Angelo in Salute, Santerno Crossing, Bologna and Idice Bridgehead.
Commanding officers
The following is a list of the 28th (Māori) Battalion's commanding officerCommanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
s:
- Lieutenant Colonel G. Dittmer (29 January 1940 – 7 February 1942)After Dittmer was wounded on 23 November 1941 Captain Love commanded the battalion in an acting capacity until 7 December 1941 when Dyer took command, although Dyer was not officially given that appointment until 7 February 1942. Cody 1956, p. 504.
- Lieutenant Colonel H.G. Dyer (7 February 1942 – 13 May 1942)
- Lieutenant Colonel E. Te W. Love (13 May 1942 – 12 July 1942)
- Lieutenant Colonel F. BakerFred BakerLieutenant-Colonel Frederick Baker led the NZ 28 Battalion in World War II, from 13 July to 2 November 1942, and was injured at the commencement of the Battle of El Alamein.-External links:***...
(13 July 1942 – 2 November 1942) - Lieutenant Colonel C.M. Bennett (2 November 1942 – 20 April 1943)
- Lieutenant Colonel K.A. Keiha (22 April 1943 – 11 September 1943)
- Lieutenant Colonel M.C. Fairbrother (11 September 1943 – 27 December 1943)
- Lieutenant Colonel R.R.T. Young (27 December 1943 – 27 July 1944)
- Lieutenant Colonel A. Awatere (27 July 1944 – 29 August 1944)
- Lieutenant Colonel R.R.T. Young, DSO (29 August 1944 – 18 November 1944)
- Lieutenant Colonel A. Awatere (18 November 1944 – 21 June 1945)
- Lieutenant Colonel J.C. Henare (21 June 1945 – 23 January 1946)