Takrouna Epic

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 211, 6 September 1943, Page 6

Takrouna Epic

SURVIVOR NOW IN TE KUITI TE KUITI, Aug. 29. 1 Two of the surviving three Maoris of J the original nine responsible for the epic capture of Takrouna Hill during the Tunisian campaign, belong to the Te, Kuitl district. They are Private Pat Wilson, M.M., son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Wilson, of Mahoenui, and Private George | Rata, nephew of Mrs. Jack Hetet, of Te Kuiti. Private Wilson is at present on ; furlough. These two Maoris, tog-ether with three , other infantrymen, climbed hand over hand in daylight 600 feet up ' the mountain stronghold of Takrouna, thus commencing one of the fiercest epi- , sodes of close-quarter lighting witnessed , in this war by New Zealanders. ; Acting on his own initiative while the : lighting was confused, Seregant Manahi. i of Rotorua, took Private Wilson and two ; other men and commenced scaling the • precipitous southern end of the heights, > at the top of which enemy pockets were holding out in a fort and among a group i of stone buildings. Steadily climbing, I with the enemy trying to shoot them, the 1 men of the Maori aßttalion, now in- ; creased In number to nine, rapidly went . into action on gaining the top. They forced into submission about 100 Italians, ; who were quickly sent back behind the • lines. Throughout the rest of the day, i the enemy shelled the pinnacle or kept it I under mortar lire, but they could not disi lodge the Maoris. Takrouna was then in i the position of being shelled at the same t time by both sides, for the enemy still ' held the remainder of the village on the slopes to the north. Towards dusk, the • original storming party was relieved by } fresh troops. The New Zealand Artillery I gave excellent support, but it was a 5 deadly struggle on the pinnacle and t several hours lighting continued before i t- -* advantage was finally gained. private Wilson believes that lie earned i the M.M. in connection with the capture of 450 prisoners. In this he was ably as- 1 I sisted by Private George Rata, who was . recommended for the M.M. Private' r Wilson, as senior private, took over when - his sergeant was wounded. He instruct--1 ed two machine-gunners to cover himself t and Private Rata. Arming themselves - with revolvers and tommy-guns, the two 2 men took 20 German and Italian prison - 1 ers as a screen against gunfire, and - operated so as to give the enemy the f impression that a large force was ad--3 vancing against them. After that they s took prisoner 200 Germans and later 250 e Italians, including 6G officers. t Having volunteered for service with i - the Second Echelon, Private Wilson has j seen service in Greece, Crete and J throughout the whole African campaign. I After being captured by the enemy in I Greece, and held for 24 hours, he and 37 others escaped. Prior to enlistment, he was in the employ of the Public' Works Department at Te Kuiti. He was I educated at the Thames School.