Puna rauemi

Oro

<p>Members of B Company sing <em>Te rēo pōwhiri</em> (The voice of greetings) to the tune of <em>You are my sunshine</em>, composed by Jimmie Davis, and <em>Te Arawa e</em>, a song about tribal identity.</p>

<p>Track nine from <em>Ake, Ake Kia Kaha E! Songs of the 28 (Māori) Battalion</em></p>
<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>Captain <a href="/node/3687">Matarēhua (Monty) Wikiriwhi</a> (Te Arawa) of 'B' Company speaks on behalf of his men. Two songs follow: <em>Te Arawa</em>, about the arrival of the tribal waka at Maketu (based on the Ngāti Porou song <em>Paikea</em>), and <em>Haere ra ngā hoia e </em>(Farewell you soldiers).</p>

<p>Track eight from <em>Ake, Ake Kia Kaha E! Songs of the 28 (Māori) Battalion</em></p>
<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>In 1943, Captain <a href="/node/927">James Hēnare</a> (Ngāti Hine), later the Battalion's last Commanding Officer (1945-46), speaks on behalf of A Company in a message to the people of Tai Tokerau, Northland. The traditional Northland song <em>Hāruru te Reinga </em>follows.</p>

<p class="field-item odd">Track seven from <em>Ake, Ake Kia Kaha E! Songs of the 28 (Māori) Battalion</em></p>
<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>From an interview between Maiki Parkinson (<a href="/node/2199">Jules Vern Parkinson</a>, 67603) and Megan Hutching.  </p><p>Maiki
Parkinson, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, remembers approaching the front lines at El Alamein and coming under a terrifying attack by German Stuka dive-bombers. He describes it as a 'baptism of fire'. </p>

<p>Jerome
(Maiki or Jules) Parkinson (1924-2006), interviewed by Megan Hutching, 23 March
2004, for the <em>Second World War oral
history project - North Africa</em></p>

<p>From the collections of the Alexander
Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHInt-0798-12.   All rights reserved. Permission of the <a href="http://www.mch.govt.nz">Ministry for Culture and Heritage</a>
must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file. </p><p>Image: Maiki Parkinson. </p>

<p>From an interview between Maiki Parkinson (<a href="/node/2199">Jules Vern Parkinson</a>, 67603) and Megan Hutching.  </p><p>Maiki
Parkinson, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, describes being accepted into the army at Papakura Camp and the exciting train trip to Wellington. </p>

<div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><p>Jerome (Maiki or Jules) Parkinson (1924-2006), interviewed by Megan Hutching, 23 March
2004, for the <em>Second World War oral
history project - North Africa</em></p>

<p>From the collections of the Alexander
Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHInt-0798-12.   All rights reserved. Permission of the <a href="http://www.mch.govt.nz/">Ministry for Culture and Heritage</a>
must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Image: Maiki Parkinson. </p></div></div>

<p>From an interview between Maiki Parkinson (<a href="/node/2199">Jules Vern Parkinson</a>, 67603) and Megan Hutching.  </p><p>Maiki Parkinson, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, was born at Ōpōtiki in 1924. Here he describes hearing about the war and enlisting at Papakura Camp as a 16 year old. He talks about how sad it was that he only had 10 minutes to say goodbye to his parents. </p>

<div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><p>Jerome (Maiki or Jules) Parkinson (1924-2006), interviewed by Megan Hutching, 23 March
2004, for the <em>Second World War oral
history project - North Africa</em></p>

<p>From the collections of the Alexander
Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHInt-0798-12.   All rights reserved. Permission of the <a href="http://www.mch.govt.nz/">Ministry for Culture and Heritage</a>
must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Image: Maiki Parkinson. </p></div></div>

<p>Christmas Day 1942: Lieutenant-Colonel <a href="/node/267">Charles Bennett</a>, Te Arawa, recounts the Battalion's preparation for the day, the fortuitous arrival of Christmas food supplies and mail but, alas, no tītī or muttonbirds. They had fallen into enemy hands. This provoked a wry comment from the German forces! The track ends with the Battalion singing <em>Tapu te pō</em> (<em>Silent night, holy night</em>).</p><h2>Transcript</h2><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>

Normal
0

false
false
false

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>

</xml><![endif]-->

<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->

</p>

<p>Ever since
Alamein we had been more or less in constant touch with the enemy.  I had the honour to command the Māori
Battalion.  On Christmas eve I pondered
about tomorrow. Christmas day was a sacred day. 
I decided if its sanctity were to be violated it would not be by the
Māori Battalion. I therefore told my troops that in circumstance were shots to
be fired except in self defence. I felt sure that the Germans would rationalise
things in the same way.  We all expected
a cheerless kind of Christmas, deep in enemy territory, far from supply bases
and after all in war ammunition and petrol are more important than special
tucker for Christmas.  We expected the
usual hard rations of the last two months, bully beef and dog biscuits.  But like a miracle things began to happen,
vehicle after vehicle arrived with special supplies.  By Christmas day we had such luxuries as fresh
pork, potatoes, tin fruits, cigarettes and General Montgomery's promised one
bottle of beer for every man.  But alas,
a special consignment of muttonbirds from our kinsfolk back home fell into
German hands.  The Germans from then on
derided the Kiwis as uncivilised consumers of salted seagulls.  </p>

<p>On
Christmas day we held an early church parade and away in the distance we could
see a concentration of German troops. 
They too were probably having their own church service on this holy day.  Preparing Christmas dinner was underway when
we struck a problem how to make a hangi without rounded stones and wood to heat
them.  These things just didn't exist in
the desert.  Some bright spark however
pointed out where there's a beach there's bound to be stones and
driftwood.  The Mediterranean coastline
was only about 10 miles to the North of us, so why not send trucks up to carry
out a reconnaissance.  We did.  Cruising off through enemy territory, hand
collected not only stones and driftwood but four German prisoners as well.  Surprised and captured while bathing in the
nude in the cool Mediterranean waters. Needless to say we made them stay to
share our Christmas dinner with us.  </p>

<p>For pūhā or
raureki our foragers gathered up some kind of a weed in one of the moist
waddies close by.  Plant life in the
desert is rare.  This stuff smelt like
nothing on earth, but into the boiling pots this desert greenery went, stalks
and all. Incredibly nobody suffered afterwards. 
Around 1 o'clock the hangis were uncovered and there at Nephilia,
thousands of miles from our homes and from our civilisation we sat down in the
desert sun to one of the most sumptuous and memorable Christmas celebrations I
have ever shared in.  At least for that
one day there was peace and content amongst friend and foe alike.  </p>

<p>The 28<sup>th
</sup>Māori Battalion then sings a version of <em>Silent Night</em> in Māori</p>

 <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Track six from <em>Ake, Ake Kia Kaha E! Songs of the 28 (Māori) Battalion</em></p>
<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>Two popular action songs: <em>Pā mai tō reo aroha</em> (Let your aroha flow on to the marae of the M<em>ā</em>ori people) and the plaintive song of return, <em>Hoki, hoki, tonu mai</em>. Recorded in 1943.</p>

<p>Track two from <em>Ake, Ake Kia Kaha E! Songs of the 28 (Māori) Battalion</em></p>
<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>From an interview between Tautini Glover (<a href="/node/1279" title="See his record">Tautini Moana Karawa</a>, 802006) and Megan Hutching.  </p><p>Tini Glover describes the attitude of Māori soldiers and the meaning of the phrase 'the price of citizenship'. </p>

<div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><p>Tautini (Tini) Glover , Te Aitanga a Hauiti, born 1923, interviewed by Megan Hutching, 16 August 2003, for the <em>Second World War oral history project - Italy</em></p>

<p>From the collections of the Alexander
Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHInt-0748-02.   All rights reserved. Permission of the <a href="http://www.mch.govt.nz/">Ministry for Culture and Heritage</a>
must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file </p><p>Image: Tautini Glover.</p></div></div>

<p>From an interview between Tautini Glover (<a href="/node/1279" title="See his record">Tautini Moana Karawa</a>, 802006) and Megan Hutching.  </p>
<p>Tini Glover describes the food in Italy and receiving the Red Cross food parcels. </p>

<div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><p>Tautini (Tini) Glover , Te Aitanga a Hauiti, born 1923, interviewed by Megan Hutching, 16 August 2003, for the <em>Second World War oral history project - Italy</em></p>

<p>From the collections of the Alexander
Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHInt-0748-02.   All rights reserved. Permission of the <a href="http://www.mch.govt.nz/">Ministry for Culture and Heritage</a>
must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file </p><p>Image: Tautini Glover.</p></div></div>

<p>From an interview between Tautini Glover (<a href="/node/1279" title="See his record">Tautini Moana Karawa</a>, 802006) and Megan Hutching.  </p><p>Tini Glover describes fighting at Faenza, Italy, and reflects on his war service.</p>

<div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><p>Tautini (Tini) Glover , Te Aitanga a Hauiti, born 1923, interviewed by Megan Hutching, 16 August 2003, for the <em>Second World War oral history project - Italy</em></p>

<p>From the collections of the Alexander
Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHInt-0748-02.   All rights reserved. Permission of the <a href="http://www.mch.govt.nz/">Ministry for Culture and Heritage</a>
must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file </p><p>Image: Tautini Glover.</p></div></div></div></div>

<p>From an interview between Tautini Glover (<a href="/node/1279" title="See his record">Tautini Moana Karawa</a>, 802006) and Megan Hutching.  </p><p>Tini Glover describes how he was seriously injured in Italy before he had even seen any Germans.</p>

<div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><p>Tautini (Tini) Glover , Te Aitanga a Hauiti, born 1923, interviewed by Megan Hutching, 16 August 2003, for the <em>Second World War oral history project - Italy</em></p>

<p>From the collections of the Alexander
Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHInt-0748-02.   All rights reserved. Permission of the <a href="http://www.mch.govt.nz/">Ministry for Culture and Heritage</a>
must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file </p><p>Image: Tautini Glover. </p></div></div>