This article appeared in the April 1990 NZ 28 Maori Battalion Golden Jubilee Reunion booklet.   

7th C.O. - FAIRBROTHER, M.C. (Monty), CBE, DSO, ED, MID

Born Carterton, 21st September 1907. Brigade Major of 5th Brigade during some of its toughest fighting June 1942 - April 1943 - was successively C.O. of 21, 23 and 28 Battalions April - December 1943, when after leading the Maori Battalion in its first action in Italy, he was ordered out of the line to catch a furlough draft bound for New Zealand. Monty had been an original of 20 Battalion. He was C.O. of 26 Battalion when hostilities ended.