Irvine Alfred Hart

Irvy Hart m.i.d, born 24 October 1904, was a barrister and solicitor before the war. He embarked with 22 Battalion (Wellington-Wairarapa-Hawkes Bay-Manawatu-Wanganui- Taranaki) as a captain and 2 i.c. of its D Company which drew men from Taranaki. He was a major in charge of C Company (Hawkes Bay Wairarapa men) when 22 Battalion first went into action at Mt Olympus, Greece. He was wounded in the back of the head on 27 Nov 1941 at Menastir but refused to leave his post. He died of wounds on 2 Nov 1942, having only recently been posted to the Maori Battalion and having just taken command of the unit.