VICTORIA CROSS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1943, Page 4

VICTORIA CROSS

AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY TO MAORI OFFICER WARRIOR TRADITION VALIANTLY UPHELD. IN LONG & FIERCE ACTION AT TEBAGA GAP. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Prime Minister has received advice that the King has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the Victoria Cress to Second-Lieutenant Moana-Nui-a-Kaiwa Ngarimu, of the New Zealand Military Forces. Mr Fraser forwarded this morning a telegram to Hamuera Ngarimu, of Ruatoria, congratulating him on the great honour conferred on his son and expressing deep regret that the latter did not live to receive the award he had so gallantly won.

The official citation says: “During the action at Tebaga Gap, on March 26, Second-Lieutenant Ngarimu commanded a platoon in an attack upon a vital hill feature, Point 209. Fie was given the task of attacking and capturing an under-feature forward of Point 209 itself, and held in considerable strength by the enemy. He led his men with great determination straight up the face of the hill, undeterred by intense mortar and machinegun fire, which caused considerable casualties. Displaying courage and leadership of the highest order, he was himself the first on the hill crest, personally annihilating at least two enemy machine-gun posts. In face of such a determined attack, the remainder of the enemy fled, but a further advance was impossible, as the reverse slope was swept by ma-chine-gun fire from Point. 209 itself. Under cover of a most intense mortar barrage, the enemy counter-attacked and Lieutenant Ngarimu ordered his men to stand up and engage the enemy man for man. This they did, with such good effect that the attackers were literally mown down, Lieutenant Ngarimu personally killing seven. He was twice wounded, once by rifle fire in the shoulder and later by shrapnel in the leg. and though urged by both his commanding officer and battalion commander to go out, he refused to do so, saying that he would stay for a little while- with his men. He stayed till he met his death on the following morning. “Darkness found this officer and his depleted platoon lying on the rocky face of the forward slope of the hill feature, with the enemy in a similar position on the reverse slope, about 20 yards distant. Throughout the night the enemy repeatedly launched fierce attacks in an attempt to dislodge Lieutenant Ngarimu and his men, but each counter-attack was beaten off entirely by Lieutenant Ngarimu’s inspired leadership. During one of these coun-ter-attacks the enemy, by using hand grenades, succeeded in piercing a certain part of the line. Without hesitation Lieutenant Ngarimu rushed to the threatened area and those of the enemy he did not kill he drove back with stones and with his tommy-gun. During another determined counterattack by the enemy part Of his line broke. Yelling orders and encourage-: ment, he rallied his men and led them in a fierce onslaught back into their old positions. AH through the night, between attacks, he and his men were heavily harassed by machine-gun and mortar fire, but Lieutenant Ngarimu watched his line very carefully, cheering his men on and inspiring them by his gallant personal conduct. Morning found him still in possession of the hill feature, but only he and two unwounded other ranks remained. Reinforcements were sent up to him. “In the morning The enemy again counter-attacked ,and it was during this attack tfiat.Lieutenant Ngarimu was killed. He was killed on his feet, defiantly facing the enemy, with his tommy-gun at his hip. ’ As he fell he came to rest almost on top of those of the enemy who had fallen to his gun, a number of whom testified to his outstanding courage and fortitude.”