Posthumous award for Kura Edwards

kuraedwards.jpg

Posthumous Military medal awarded to Private Kura Edwards during the investiture ceremony on 13th of September 1947 at Uepohatu marae. His mother received the award on his behalf. Seventeen decorations were presented to service men and women who had served abroad and on the home front.

The marae hosted events held on the 12th and 13th of September that included cultural competitions with local school children and the opening of the Uepohatu War Memorial Hall.  The hall was built to commemorate East Coast soldiers who died during the two World Wars. A reunion of ex-service people (including members of the Maori Battalion) was also held. 

The gathering was an important one, attended by thousands including the Prime Minister Peter Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition Sidney Holland and other members of Parliament.  Sir Bernard Freyberg, the Governor General opened the hall and unveiled two memorial tablets inside.

Reference:

Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: 43116. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.

Image Bull, George Robert, 1910-1996. Private K Edwards of the 28th New Zealand (Maori) Battalion, Military Medal winner, Egypt - Photograph taken by George Robert Bull. New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch :Photographs relating to World War 1914-1918, World War 1939-1945, occupation of Japan, Korean War, and Malayan Emergency. Ref: DA-04141-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22736292

Submitter:
Submitted by mbadmin on

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