MAORI BATTALION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1942, Page 2

MAORI BATTALION

COMMANDED BY MEMBER OF NATIVE RACE APPOINTMENT OF MAJOR LOVE. LEADER WITH DISTINGUISHED RECORD. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The appointment of Major E. T. W. Love, Wellington, to .command the Maori Battalion, was announced yesterday by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones. A cable message containing advice of the appointment has been received by the Minister from Lieuten-ant-General Freyberg. This reads as follows: — “Feel you would like to know that on recommendation of brigade commander and with my full concurrence, Major E. T ,W. Love has been appointed, with temporary rank, lieuten-ant-colonel, to command the Maori.. Battalion. First time Maori has commanded the battalion. As you know, the battalion has done excellently in Greece, Crete and Libya. Maori officers have been good leaders in field, and Major Love has done particularly well while in temporary command. I feel confident his appointment will be justified.” . “I am sure the Maori people wilt learn with considerable pleasure of Colonel Love’s appointment and promotion,” said Mr Jones. “The Maori Battalion has earned a high place in the splendid fighting record of the New Zealand soldiers in this war, and the people of this country, both Maori and pakeha, have read with pride of the splendid performance of the battalion in the Middle East compaigns. I feel sure that under a Maori leader, who has a distinguished record in the field, the battalion will enhance the high reputation it gained under LieutenantColonel (now Brigadier) G. Dittmer, D. 5.0., M.8.E.” Colonel Love has been associated with the Maori Battalion from its earliest beginnings. His first job during the present war was a staff appointment at Army Headquarters for . duty in connection with the formation of a Maori Battalion.”