Maori Battalion Fought in Every Battle

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 160, 8 July 1943, Page 4

Maori Battalion Fought in Every Battle

GENERAL FREYBERG’S TRIBUTE (Special to “Times.”) ROTORUA, July 7. “The Maori Battalion is the only unit of the New Zealand Division in the Middle East to have taken part in every one of the battles * over there,’ from first to last. They have never failed and have taken every one of their objectives no matter now difficult it was.” This statement was made by Lieu-tenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C., during his address at the civic reception accorded him at the Rotoxua Municipal Buildings to-day. Continuing, General Freyberg said: * * The Maori Battalion has produced a very good lot of officers, including Colonel Bennett, Colonel Baker and others, i wish to extend my thanks to the Battalion for the very great help it was to us in the Middle Bast. ’ ’ General Freyberg said that it was gratifying when he was able to cable to the Prime Minister saying that Maoris were fully trained to take over command of their own battalion. The first commander was Colonel Tui Love. The Maoris themselves would also recall the great debt they owed to Colonel Dittmer, the commander of the battalion, when it was taken overseas, for his care and skill in directing the initial work of training the battalion.