Another M.C. Won By New Zealander

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30934, 15 December 1965, Page 1

Another M.C. Won By New Zealander

<Neu> Zcolond Preu AwociattoiU WELLINGTON, Dec. 14. A second New Zealander has been awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished services in Sarawak. He is Lieutenant Eru Ihaka Manuera, of the Ist Ranger Squadron, New Zealand Special Air Service, formerly of Kaitaia.

The award has been announced by the Governor-General (Sir Bernard Fergusson). Last week the first award of the Military Cross to a New Zealander since 1957 was announced. The recipient was Captain John Masters, Royal New Zealand Artillery. The Governor-General also announced that the Queen has approved the mention in dispatches of Corporal Niwa Kawha, of the Ist Ranger Squadron for gallantry in Sarawak. The citation for Lieutenant Manuera’s operational award says that on April 19 this

year his patrol was sent to locate an enemy camp in Sarawak. By careful movement the patrol was able to locate the camp and observe it for six hours, returning to its base with valuable Information on the enemy’s strength and equipment The citation says that on May 16, his patrol was engaged by an enemy force and killed four enemy soldiers before withdrawing. On the way out the New Zealand patrol was fired on at short range by a larger enemy party. Lieutenant Manuera immediately moved his patrol from the scene to higher ground, returning himself to a position where he could observe the enemy.

From this position he raw the enemy leader attempting to rally his men until ho was shot and seriously wounded by Lieutenant Manuera, who then directed his patrol’s fire until two more enemy soldiers were ki 'ed and the remainder forced to withdraw. In one month Lieutenant Manuera mounted two very successful patrols. The first provided useful information about the enemy, and the second resulted in the killing of six enemy soldiers and the wounding of three with no New Zealand casualties.

In the second engagement, says the citation, his quick thinking, personal example and forceful leadership not only saved the lives of the men under his command, but turned what could have been a dangerous situation into a successful action.

Lieutenant Manuera Is aged 27 and is married with one child. He was born at Kaitaia and educated at Kaitaia College. He was commissioned in 1959 in the Territorial Force, Ist Battalion Northland Regiment, and joined the Regular Force in 1962.

Corporal Kawha, formerly of Opotiki and now of Auckland, joined the Regular Force in 1958 after recruit training with the compulsory military training scheme.

He served with the Second New Zealand Regiment in Malaya, and was promoted to corporal. He contracted a severe illness and was invalided home.

After recovering in New Zealand, Corporal Kawha voluntarily relinquished bis rank to join the SAB. in 1962. Ho regsined his rank in the First Ranger Squadron.