MAORI SUCCESS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20837, 16 July 1942, Page 5

MAORI SUCCESS

DESERT CAMPAIGN MANY PRISONERS TAKEN TALK BY MAJOR ROYAL The success of .the Maori Battalion in the last desert campaign and the respect which they earned from the enemy were told by Major Rangi Royal, M.C., in a talk to the Gisborne Rotary Club to-day, when there was a large attendance, including many visitors. Major Royal, who was accompanied by Sir Apirana Ngata, returned recently from Egypt. Major Royal said that the story of the desert campaign was a long one, and all he could do in the time was to give some sidelights of the actions, and particularly of the Maori Battalion. In order to illustrate his address. he used a military map which had been used during operations. After the campaign in Crete, the forces went through a rigorous and thorough training. When the campaign opened, they awaited the result of the aerial and tank battles, before moving forward. The British forces had superiority in tanks and aircraft, while an electric storm along the entire coast waterlogged enemy aerodromes, allowing the R.A.F. to clean up most of the enemy aerodromes. On November 22 the Maori Battalion was sent over a distance of 17 miles to take the Solium barracks. Debussing three miles from the objective and supported, by tanks in a silent attack without artillery support, they reached .their objective just as day was breaking, and while the enemy was asleep. A Tommy-gun opened up, however, and .the place was awake immediately. Tied down for a while, a platoon worked oyer the cliffs, and the forward companies into the attack with the bayonet. Tile barracks vere taken after an hour and a half of tough fighting. The Maoris suffered severe casualties, including, Captain Tureia, who was killed. Enemy Stopped One of the Maori companies was then ordered to dig in near Fort Capuzzo to stop the enemy from the (east. The enemy came on in a mass of 1 vehicles in the afternoon, the .vehicles being wheel to wheel. Whe» .they came close, the leading vehicle was shot up, and the troops debussed from the remainder —thousands of them. Here the Maoris found captured automatic rifles very valuable, and they opened up with everything they had. After an hour and a half, (the enemy returned to their vehicles, and went on their way towards Bardia. Tanks then attacked the Maori positions, first going into the dummy trenches made by the Maoris but eventually getting in among the real defences. The enemy withdrew after 7.30. p.m., the Maori casualties being three killed, four wounded; and two prisoners, but .they had captured and damaged many tanks and vhicles and- much valuable technical equipment. Shortly after this, a glowing tribute was paid’ to the Maoris by the enemy. A portion of them were caught by tanks in the desert, and having only their rifles charged the tanks with their bayonets. All 43 of the Maoris were captured, the Germans paying them the tribute of being brave men, but saying: that they were on the wrong side, and adding that if the Germans had a few divisions of men like that they would conquer the world. The Maoris were shown the direction in which they could return to their own lines and were freed. Use of Smoke Screen Brilliant use was made of a smoke screen, which earned the congratulations of the commanding officer, when tanks tied the Maoris down from 11 a.m. on one day to 3 p.m. Tired of: being shot at .the Maoris devised a smoke screen, and while a few of them made as much noise as they could with a haka the remainder, attacked under the protective smoke screen. The enemy promptly surrendered when .the Maoris appeared from the smoke screen, and when they found ou.t they had been fooled by only very small numbers it was too late to resist. In : that encoupter, the Maoris captured 289 prisoners; killed 265' and sent 70‘ to the R.A.P., so that a whole Panzer battalion was wiped out. Pushing on from Acroma, the (vehicles in convoy were shelled by the enemy artillery; and so the Maoris •debussed, two companies going, for the guns, one being on the flank. No one was hurt—not even a truck. The white flag went up and down several times in the enemy positions, until it eventually stayed up, and 365’ prisoners surrendered with' 33 guns. By then 'the artillery had turned- up, and the Maoris went forward- to another 'position. One of the companies' was badly handled, but a further 700 prisoners were captured with- 64 guns; That was on December 11. Dive-Bombing Attack On the next morning, 23 Stuka divebombers attacked the Maoris for 20 (minutes, the only result being two of the Maori Battalion wounded, these including the sergeant mechanic, Sergeant Turnbull, of Gisborne. Five of the Stukas were brought down. Going, on to the last defensive lino round Gazala, the Maoris ignored tactical principles, and attacked from two flanks as well as the centre. The Ngatiporous were on one flank giving a haka, and when they came to their objective they found the Ngapuhis doing a little silent bayonet work. They went on to capture a medical unit with five doctors and a colonel. The enemy kept on firing until the Maoris got up to within about arm s length, and then up would go the hands. A bayonet charge brought the same result. The campaign was finished off so far as the Maoris were concerned by Christmas festivities back in Egypt,' although on Christmas Day they had only bully beef and biscuits. On the motion of Mr. C. A. Smith, Major Royal was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, Mr. Smith saying that the talk had brought home the wonderful courage and resource of the Maori Battalion, which had won recognition as being among the finest fighting men in the world. In this thev were known to the enemy as well as to their own people. They had brought lustre to our country, and the club was proud to have Major Royal with them as a representative of thar wonderful battalion. Mr. H. L. Primrose was in the chair.