Te Tohara (Charlie) Mohi grew up in Pakipaki. He embarked for war in 1941 and served with the Maori Bren-carrier platoon. Charlie returned on furlough in 1945, see the photo here.
Here, Charlie talks about the hard and bad things about war, such as the deaths of his comrades.
Transcript
Te Tohara Mohi: Te mea kino ki au o te whawhai, ka titiro koe, a, kei whea o hoa? Ko nui te aroha ki to hoa, a, kua ngaro! Tetahi hoa, tino hoa noku, no te kainga nei, no, no to matou kainga. Mai rano i a maua e tamariki ana. A, e haere ano maua i te whawhai, a, taku kitenga i a ia i whara i te, i te bomb. Kua tata ke, kua pora ke ngia te ringa, hei pupuri ana tona ringa. Meingia atu ki runga i te ambulance, a ka korero mai ki au, “Maku e whanga mai i te kainga”. That’s him, ringi atu ki a matou – kua mate ke. Engari tera tangata kare au i rongo tetahi tangata kae mo te play piano. Ko Charlie Kunz tonu, ka purei mai e ia a Charlie Kunz’s i te record, kei kona ia – rite tonu! A, ki toku whakaaro, mohio tonu a ia ka makere tona, ka poroa tona ringa, ka mate tonu atu. Kare ke e pai ki a ia.
Sound file from Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision, ref: 139356. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.
Image
Crop of full photo - Bren-carrier platoon leads the Maori Battalion into Tripoli, 23 January 1943. Sgt Te Whiu Purei (standing) and Charlie Mohi, seated.
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