Book says Maoris massacred captives

Press, 29 August 1984, Page 28

Book says Maoris massacred captives

PA Auckland New Zealand soldiers who fought in the Western Desert cannot believe an allegation that Maori soldiers massacred, prisoners during World War

The claim, by the German commander, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, appears in a recent edition of the book, “The Rommel Papers.”

The book claims the allegation was confirmed by the commander of the 6th New Zealand Brigade, the late Brigadier George Clifton. Brigadier Clifton was said to have pointed the finger at Maori soldiers who fought in the campaign. In the book, Rommel says he asked Brigadier Clifton about “repeated” cases of prisoners and wounded

being massacred by New Zealand soldiers.

According to Rommel, Brigadier Clifton replied, “It was probably due to the large number of Maoris which the division contained.”

An Auckland returned serviceman, Mr Noel Gardiner, who has written about New Zealand’s part in the war, could not believe the claims or that Rommel would have made them. Such a claim would have been out of character for Rommel, who was “not that type of fellow.” Rommel “treated our prisoners well and expected us to do so,” Mr Gardiner said.

.Mr Ben Porter, a major in the Maori Battalion, said yesterday that he could not recollect any time that the

battalion shot a prisoner. He fought Rommel’s army for two years. Labelling the statement ascribed to Brigadier Clifton as “unfair,” he said, “Why put it on the Maoris? I just can’t understand it.” The president of the Auckland Returned Services Association, Mr Peter Campbell, said he could not believe Rommel’s statement or the one allegedly made by Brigadier Clifton, or see any basis for them. Mr Campbell said he fought in North Africa, and knew the brigadier was a “very brave, humane man.” Brigadier Clifton, who won the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Order with two bars during the war, died at Taupo in 1971, aged 71.