Whakaeke at Tebaga Gap, Tunisia

Descendants of 28th Maori Battalion men ascend 'Hikurangi' guided by kaitaki Abraham Karaka (Ngati Maui, Ngati Putaanga, Te Whanau a Hinerupe, Te Whanau a Tuwhakairiora). The group held a service on Hikurangi and then paid tribute with song and haka atop Pt 209.

In May 2014 descendants of 28th Maori Battalion men visited places their ancestors fought, lived and in some cases died in Tunisia, Italy, Greece and Crete. Tebaga Gap is the first battle site visited by the group. This was also the first Maori group to have visited the site since Bully Jackson and other soldiers returned to bury the bodies of their comrades who had died there in 1943. Tebaga Gap is hugely significant and synonymous with the deeds of Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, gaining him the highest military honour, the Victoria Cross. Descendants of the Ngarimu family and of the other men who fought and died there were present.

Reference:

Nga Taonga a Nga Tama Toa Trust
Photographer, Siobhan Houkamau
No reproduction without permission

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Submitted by mbadmin on

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