Hori Rautahi Teko

Hori is my koro on my fathers side. I lived with him and Nan at Ratana Pa for a few years while at high school. We talked once about his war experience during a television documentary screning about the Battle of Monte Cassino. Not long after I left to join the army and saw my koro twice again befor he died. He is buried at Ratana Pa alongside Nanny who passed away a week before he did. It was later to be my privilege to be part of the parade for the return of the Pioneer Battalions Colour to the 28Bn in Palmerston North and as we slow marched past the reviewing dias I am certain I saw my koro smiling back at me from the crowd. That may have been a blessing from him as I was later selected to go to Cassino for the 50th anniversary of the battle in 1994. It was there that as a soldier standing on the railway station platform to unveil a memorial plaque that I truly appreciated the struggle he and many others there faced trying to seize ground from a well dug in and protected enemy. As I stood there, in my minds eye I could see him fighting his way up the railway lines toward the station. I surged with pride and disbelief at the enormous courage they must have shown to assault such a potition. Today I have the decorations koro won for God, King Country and wear them with pride and tearfulness evey ANZAC Day so that he and his comrades will never be forgoten by their descendants.