Hur 1: HEROES 28 (Maori) Battalion
Reference: Gardiner, W. (2019) Ake Ake Kia Kaha E! Forever Brave! B Company 28 (Maori) Battalion 1939-1945. Bateman Books.
1 Read the following two quotations with the teacher, discuss the meanings, and then answer the question.
..”Walter (Waata) Heretini, ‘was as blind as a bat. He couldn’t hit a barn if it was 50 metres away from him’. Like a number of others who joined the battalion, Heretini persuaded a mate to do the medical for him so he could ‘get away’.” (pp. 60-61).
“Lieutenant-Colonel Leckie ordered (Captain) Love to send a company to Musaid to strengthen the position… Love assigned the task to B Company, allocating Bren carriers to provide mobile reconnaissance. B Company was armed to the teeth, having ‘raided the enemy arms depot to some purpose. The return showed six spandaus, three anti-tank rifles, one 2-inch mortar, six tommy guns, and fifty stick grenades from this source’.” (pp. 165-166)..
Question 1. Why were the soldiers of 28 (Maori) Battalion heroes?
They volunteered and sometimes fought countries with enemy weapons they did not know how to use.
2 Read the following account of the actions of stretcher-bearers (medics) with the teacher, discuss the meanings. And then answer the question::
“Two B Company stretcher bearers won immediate Military Medals for their bravery in this action. Corporal John Tupene ‘worked unceasingly throughout the night scouring the battlefield administering to and personally evacuating friend and foe alike… In one instance under heavy enemy fire he dressed and splinted the limb of a soldier of another unit and carried him out to safety’. Temporary Corporal James Pirihi worked cheerfully and untiringly treating, evacuating and burying casualties until none remained on the field.’ A week later, Pirihi ‘again showed great devotion to duty administering to friends and foe alike. In one instance in the face of enemy MG fire he dressed the wounds of a German soldier and finally carried him out to safety personally.” (p. 210).
Question 2 Why were the stretcher bearers heroes?
Medics scoured the field searching and carried many people and even won medals like the M,M (Military Medal)
3 Read this account from a hard-working officer, and his concern for the soldiers with the teacher, discuss the meanings, and answer the question:
“B Company, commanded by Major Bennett, started 15 minutes after the forward companies….. With his company having lost contact with the others, Bennett dug in and awaited developments. The prospect of a German counter-attack was uppermost in his mind. ‘I was fearful for the forward troops’ welfare… We were like a little finger poked out into the enemy positions and likely to be nipped off with ease. I was not apprehensive of enemy troops but I was of his tanks. Without anti-tank defences I knew I was absolutely at the mercy of tanks should they have attacked.’ Going back to Battalion Headquarters, he found that Baker had been wounded and the temporary commanding officer, Major Hart, mortally wounded. Bennet assumed command of the battalion, a position in which he would soon be confirmed.” (pp. 212-213).
Question 3: Why were hard working soldiers’ leaders heroes?
They instructed them. They risked their lives on information and plans trying to win each battle.
