Skip to main content
  • English
  • Māori
  • About this site
  • Contact us
  • School resources
  • Search
  • Home
  • Story of the 28th
  • Map
  • Battalion Roll
  • Photos
  • Video
  • Audio
  • Resources

Story of the 28th

  • About the 28th
  • Call to Arms
  • Greece and Crete
  • Desert Fighters
  • Italian Campaign
  • Life in the Battalion
  • Home Front
  • After the War
  • Battalion Diary
  • Battalion Letters

Contribute

Add your stories, photos, audio and more...

Start contributing now

Already a contributor?

Log in here

Latest comments

  • Andrew M Kusabs (not verified) commented on Kepa Hamuera Anaha Ehau
  • Amber-Lee Seve (not verified) commented on Tumanako Pokai
  • Robyne Wiringi (not verified) commented on Kepa Hamuera Anaha Ehau
  • Joyce Hine Te A... commented on James Hallett
  • Lynsday Elliott (not verified) commented on Raroa Murray
See all comments
Home > Story of the 28th

Their Stories

178 related Battalion stories have been added at the bottom of the page.

  • The 28th (Māori) Battalion was part of the 2nd New Zealand Division, the fighting arm of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) during the Second World War (1939-45). A frontline infantry unit made up entirely of volunteers, the Battalion usually contained 700-750 men, divided into five companies.

    The NZ Division

    The NZ Division was made up of 15,000-20,000 men, divided into three infantry brigades (the 4th, 5th and 6th Brigades), plus artillery, engineers, signals, medical and service units. Each brigade initially had three infantry battalions (numbered from 18th to 26th). The 28th (Māori) Battalion was a specially formed battalion that was at times attached to each of the Division's three brigades. Each battalion was commanded by a lieutenant-colonel.

    The Māori Battalion

    Battalion Company boundaries

    Like the other infantry battalions, the Māori Battalion was divided into five companies: four rifle companies of about 125 men each and a headquarters (HQ) company of around 200 men. Each company was commanded by a major or captain. The Battalion's four rifle companies (named A, B, C and D) were organised along tribal lines, while HQ Company drew its personnel from all over Māoridom.

    Each rifle company was divided into three platoons led by a lieutenant. Each platoon was in turn made up of three sections of about 10 men led by a non-commissioned officer (NCO). HQ Company was made up of six specialist platoons: signals, anti-aircraft, mortars, Bren Gun Carriers, pioneers and transport.

    Reinforcements

    The main body of the Māori Battalion left New Zealand as part of 2NZEF's 2nd Echelon in May 1940. To maintain its strength throughout the war, especially when heavy losses were suffered, groups of new recruits were regularly sent from New Zealand. 2NZEF's 3rd Echelon sailed for the Middle East in August 1940, followed by the 4th Reinforcements in November and the 5th, 6th and 7th Reinforcements in 1941. The last Māori recruits to see action, part of 2NZEF's 14th Reinforcements, arrived in Italy in April 1945 (the 15th Reinforcements did not reach Egypt until May 1945, after the war in Europe ended).  Read more about the Māori Reinforcements.

    Counting the cost

    Takrouna Cemetery

    In total, almost 3600 men served overseas with the Māori Battalion between 1940 and 1945. Of these, 649 were killed in action or died on active service – more than 10% of the 6068 New Zealanders who lost their lives serving with 2NZEF in the Middle East and Europe. In addition, 1712 men were wounded and 237 were prisoners of war.

    In the words of Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberg, who commanded the 2nd NZ Division, 'no infantry battalion had a more distinguished record, or saw more fighting, or, alas, had such heavy casualties as the Maori Battalion.'

    Māori in other services

    Many Māori also served with other units in the 2nd NZ Division, with the 3rd NZ Division in the Pacific, in New Zealand-based army units and in the Home Guard. Others served with the Air Force, Navy and Merchant Navy. Some Māori women served in the Army Nursing Service and the women's army, air force and navy auxiliaries. Between 1939 and 1945 almost 16,000 Māori volunteered for war service, out of a total population of fewer than 100,000.

Their Stories

  • Ngata writes to Reverend Rangi

    Ngata writes to Reverend Wharetini Rangi, 14 May 1943
    Read more
  • C Company officers write to Ngata about their concerns

    C Company officers write to Ngata about their concerns for the Māori Battalion
    Read more
  • Māori Battalion diary - December 1942

    The Battalion is now integrated into 5 Brigade. Early December they set out on the next step of Eighth Army's plan – to capture Tripoli.
    Read more
  • Māori Battalion diary - November 1942

    November 1942 the Battalion is part of Operation Supercharge under the British 151 Brigade.
    Read more
  • Manoel Santos

    Manoel Santos was Tongan and Portugese and served with the Maori Battalion.
    Read more

Pages

  • « first
  • ‹ previous
  • …
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • …
  • next ›
  • last »
Memories of the Battalion from those who were there.
Back to top
COPYRIGHT | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY
Te Kawanatanga o Aotearoa