Maori Battalion

 Good afternoon my lovely readers,

Yesterday me and my class were working on the Maori Battalion. Here is my work from what I wrote in my work book. Enjoy

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?

The Maori Battalion was brave for sneaking behind enemy lines and taking enemy guns and stuff. Then using them in their attacks. The Maori Battalion was also brave because  they helped in the war to save lives

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?

The war was 1939 to 1945, It was world war 2. Corporal John Tupene was awarded the MM. John Tupene was brave because he went out on the front line saving friends and foes lives.

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?

The leaders of the war had to try to win against the enemy and most of their soldiers weren’t killed. John Tunpene is a hero because he saved friends and foes lives. Leaders worked super hard to plan enemy attacks and to make sure most of their soldiers weren’t killed. General Kipperbuger was a hero because he went out on the front line to spot places to attack the enemy to make sure his men didn’t die. But sadly on the front line he lost his feet. Though he lost his feet he was a hero to his troops.

Thank you for reading my blog post please comment and have a wonderful day.