GALLANT MAORIS

Southland Times, Issue 25704, 13 July 1943, Page 4

GALLANT MAORIS

STORY OF TAKROUNA ASSAULT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 12. “The job had to be done,” was all that Sergeant H. Manahi, of the .Maori Battalion, wljo won the D.C.M. in the famous assault on Takrouna village, Tunisia, had to say about his part in the action. “Nine of us from B Company carried out the first assault and one was wounded during the half-hour climb of the cliff at the top of which the village stood,” he said. “It was a very hot scrap at the top. The Italians fought violently. Men of the Folgore Division were trying to hold the village. After a time our ammunition ran out and we had to use captured Italian and German rifles, machine-guns and ammunition. We managed to hold on for the best part of the day and then we were joined by men from C Company. Only three of use were left, the other two being Private H. Grant, who was recommended for the Military Medal, and Lance-Corporal H. Ruha. Six were killed in the fighting at the village.” Lieutenant A. Mcßae, who found himself commanding B Company in the Takrouna village engagement when the company commander and platoon commanders had been killed, had more to say about the feat. “Takrouna was the hottest scrap the Maori Battalion in the whole fighting from Greece onwards. El Alamein was a picnic compared with it,” he declared. “The Italians fought really hard. The Folgore Division was a crack parachute division. The climb up the cliff face, which was almost perpendicular, would take about half an hour in normal conditions, so you can judge what it was like under fire. When the action ended there were scores of enemy lying in a ring round the spot the boys had been holding and 395 prisoners were taken. That ■illustrates what the assault party had been up against.” GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE The Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, sent the following message to Brigadier H. K. Kippenberger and all ranks of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force who have returned to the Dominion on furlough: “As you are so soon to be separated I am taking the earliest opportunity of sending this message of welcome to you all. Arrangements are being made for you to reach your homes, where a great welcome is awaiting you, as quickly as possible, and although I shall have no chance of seeing you all together I hope to see many of you while you are in New Zealand. We are all very proud of you and very grateful. You have added fresh lustre to the fair name of your country and Empire. The fame of your valour in Greece, Crete, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia will live in history. After the King’s visit to North Africa last month his Majesty sent the following message: ‘lt was a source of deep regret to me that I did not have the opportunity of seeing the New Zealand troops who have fought so magnificently in the recent campaign.’ I hope,” continued the Governor-Gen-eral, “that you will all find your families and your friends well and I wish each one of you every happiness during your well-earned furlough.