5 Brigade Sports Day And War Again..

After the North African "Cease Fire" on the 13 of May 43 in Northern Tunisia the Fifth Brigade began its long and tedious journey back to Cairo and home at Maadi camp. It was now time to relax, refresh and briefly reform for the last North African Divisional  parade on the 15th June, where 182 men of the 28 (Maori) Battalion alone were given a deserved 3 month Furlough (Ruapehu draft) back home to New Zealand, with most not seeing home and whanau for some 3 years. For the rest of the Battalion it was 6 weeks of rest and recreation and a rotation of all to enjoy a 2 week leave pass..

Cricket,tennis,swimming, picnics and all manner of peacfull normality was enjoyed, including Battalion sports days leading ultimately  to the inter Divisional championships. The Maori Battalion were generally the swimming sport stars (mostly from Te Arawa lakes district) but with many B company on furlough our only winnings this time round was, and as mostly we were.. the "Tug o War" guns.

The photo above shot by Captain Edward Hayward of B Coy. is at the 5 Brigade sports day at Maadi camp on the 11th of August 43 and is of the Maori team with Captain Awatere leading it about to win this war..

With a new Pakeha commanding officer in Lt.Col. Fairbrother employed as the Maori Battalion boss, because the Maoris had virtually run out of senior and experienced officers of their own (mostly due to the Takrouna assault)with Lt.Col. Keiha in the Helwan NZ Division Hospital. It now became time to train the new arrivals and sharpen the existing members as Sicily had recently been invaded early in July by the American Seventh Army and our own Eighth British Army, and word was we were soon to be on our way as well..