Charlie Mohi, Part 7 - The death of a relative at war

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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.

Charlie recounts the death of his very close relative during the war.  They had grown up together in Wairoa.

Transcript

A, noho maua ko taku…mea… he tuakana noku no Te Wairoa.  Ka noho maua i runga i tona Bren Carrier, kei reira noho maua e korero ana, e kai paipa ana, oooo katahi a voomsh. Kare au e mohio he aha, engari i mua tonu o nga Bren Carrier he wahi paku nei mo to pu. Uru mai te hoata i roto i taua wahi, pa atu tetahi huri mai, pakaru katoa tenei waenga, hemo tonu atu.  Ka timata taku tangi, a, ka haere mai etahi o matou, a ka hikingia matou ki waho, ka maungia, takaingia i ro blanket, a tapukengia ia.

Tarai au ki te mahi tona waka kia haere.   Kare rawa atu e haere.  A, ka maungia atu au nga grenades.  E toru nga grenades tangongia nga pin, meingia atu au ki runga tonu te, te taake o nga penehini, taamingia atu he wahi ki runga, hei pupuri.  A, kua mahue koe, mahau pea, mo Amu(?) he Tiamana hei utu mo te, ma te tangata ko, taku tuakana. 


Reference:

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.

Submitter:
Submitted by mbadmin on

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