World War 2
Read a biography of Love, in English and te reo Māori, on the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography = Ngā Tāngata Taumata Rau website
This article appeared in the April 1990 NZ 28 Maori Battalion Golden Jubilee Reunion booklet.
3rd C.O. - LOVE, Edward Te Whiti, MID
Born 18 May 1905, at Picton, was the first of six Maori to command the Battalion. Before becoming a founding officer he had had 15 years experience as a Territorial Officer and some of that time as a Company Commander.
"Tiwi" Love was the original O.C. Headquarters Company, he served in Greece and Crete and during one stage of the 1942 Libyan campaign, after Colonel Dittmer had been wounded, was acting C.O. during two notable actions.
All soldier's deaths are untimely, but Tiwi Love's passing was particularly so. The Battalion's first Maori Colonel had already made his mark as a forceful personality, charming, and yet tough, a leader of men eager to be led by one of their own. Any yet it was probably these same characteristics that led him to put himself in a position of what could be considered unnecessary danger. Before dark he and the Adjutant 'Ace' Wood drove up to the forward positions to see how things were. An air-burst got them both - the Colonel fatally. And the war went on.
Comments (3)
Late Lieut.-Col. Love - Maori Padre's Tribute
Submitted by TeAwhi_Manahi on Wed, 10/11/2010 - 06:22
Farewell before departure overseas
Submitted by TeAwhi_Manahi on Tue, 07/12/2010 - 08:29
A soldier's beautiful letter to his mother
Submitted by TeAwhi_Manahi on Thu, 10/02/2011 - 16:43