Wore Maori Cloak Off Normandy Beaches

Chronicle (Levin), 23 February 1949, Page 5

Wore Maori Cloak Off Normandy Beaches

Press Association)

(Per

AUUlvLAAT, Feb. 22. A few "tricky occasions." off the Normandy beaches when he wore a Maori eloak presented to the ship by the Waikato Maoris, were recalled by Gaptain G. B. Morgan, D.S.O., D.S.C., -master of the Monowai, in an interview when the vessel made her first voyage to Auckland since her conversion. He added. with satisfaction that the ship was not damaged. The elaak, together with an 8ft model of the Tainui eanoe and a carved plaque, was presented to the Monowai by Princess Te Puea when the ship was commissioned as an armed merchant cruiser early in the Second World War. In 1943 the Monowai was requisitioned by the Ministry of War as a transport to carrv troops for the invasion of Europe and Captain Morgan, on taking eommand, suggested that the Maori emblems should be retained on the ship as she was still on war service. This was readily agreed to by the Maori donors and for three more years the canoe was mounted across the window of the captain 's fcabin. During this period the cloak made its appearances across the broad shoulders . of Captain Morgan somewhat to the amazement of the English gunners on duty on the bridge. Captain Morgan emphasised how.he had appreciated the honour done to the ship by such a gift from the Maoris. He would have liked to return the tokens himself in a cereniony at Auckland but when the Monowai was put in for refit at Sydney he packed them up and shipped them across to the Dominion. They were taken to, the Devonport naval base, being housed for a while in the chapel of H.M.N.Z.S. Philomel. They are now in the library at the base.