MAORI BATTALION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1942, Page 4

MAORI BATTALION

PART IN RECENT BATTLES DESIRE TO DEAL WITH TANKS. GALLANT BAYONET CHARGE. (Received his Day, 12.45 p.m.) (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, July 4. In a despatch dated from the Western Desert on July 1, a correspondent says: “Ten tanks and two battalions of German infantry approached from the north towards the Maori Battalion s section of the New Zealand line, southeast of Mersa Matruh. Our aitillery was ready to open fire, but the Maoris objected. For the first time they were armed with anti-tank guns and they intended to use them. • “Leave them to us; we can handle them,” was the message they sent to headquarters. A few minutes later, fearing their target might be turned away, they repeated the message. Headquarters agreed and the Maoris waited for the tanks to get within range. Their opportunity was lost when a machine-gunner behind them opened fire and the tanks headed away.

On patrol the Maori Battalion's Bren carriers collected ten prisoners. When it was known that a bayonet attack was to be made that night, the Maoris were keen for a foremost line in the charge. That honour was given to a Wellington battalion, but the Maoris did their usual thorough job on one flank. They bayoneted and bombed their way through a panzer division’s transport lines with little difficulty, suffering few casualties. When Headquarters had gone through a hail of cross-fire, directed at the gap the bayonet attack had cut in the German defences, they found the Maoris enjoying cigarettes while they waited for their transport. The Maori Battalion has been in action for the first time with a Maori as its commanding officer.