HOW HE DIED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 40, 15 April 1942, Page 4

HOW HE DIED

•» A MAORI SOLDIER IN LIBYA! TRIBUTE TO PTE. S. MOEKE The following letter has been received by Mrs S. Moeke of Poroporo who son, Sam, was killed in action at Gazala in the first phases of the Libyan campaign. The letter is from |j the deceased's commanding officer and breathes something of the unconquerable spirit which, is dominating the splendid soldiers of the Maori Battalion in all their fighting to date. It reads:—■ I am writing this letter to you to tell you of Sam's last moments. I was in command of the Arawa boys during our action at Gazala and I was the last person to see your son alive. One and all, the Arawa boys fought all the Avay like true Maori warriors and Sam Avas one of those who had to paj r the supreme , sacrifice. I had sent him off with a message to some pakeha New Zealanders B who were on cur left. There was particularly heavy fighting at the time and Sam lost his life just a I'eAv minutes after leaA r ing me. He was a fine soldier and it Avas with no hesitation at all that he leered 'to take this important message for me. We returned to him later after we'd Aviped out the enemy and he was buried alongside other AraAva boys who also paid the great sacrifice. Please accept mj T deepest sjft£> v¥ pathy and rest assured that Sam, was a happy contented soldier right up to the , end and he died asj the rest of us Avould like to die if Ave -jj£ must —Avith his face to the evening and absolutely unafraid of death. He died for a cause that is priceless beyond all wealth and therefore you may Avell say that your son has not ; lived and died in A'ain. God bless you and all cur Maori, people at home. Ka Avhawhai matou ake! ake! ake!