Haane Manahi

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Haane Te Rauawa Manahi
DCM
Haane Manahi in Maadi, Egypt, June 1943
Born(1913-09-28)28 September 1913
Ohinemutu, New Zealand
Died29 March 1986(1986-03-29) (aged 72)
Tauranga, New Zealand
AllegianceNew Zealand
Service/branchNew Zealand Military Forces
Years of service1939–1946
RankLance Sergeant
UnitMāori Battalion
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsDistinguished Conduct Medal

Haane Te Rauawa Manahi, DCM (28 September 1913 – 29 March 1986) was a Māori soldier from New Zealand. He fought in the Second World War. People wanted him to have the Victoria Cross (VC) for his work in the Tunisia campaign. He got the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), which is lower than the VC.[1] This made other soliders ask for Manahi's work to be more known. In 2007, he was given an award of an altar cloth, a sword to celebrate his work, and a letter from Queen Elizabeth II.[2]

Manahi was born in Ohinemutu, New Zealand. He worked in manual labour.[3] In November 1939, he joined the Māori Battalion.[4] In 1941, he was part of the Battle of Greece and fought in the Battle of Crete.[5] He was wounded in the Battle of Crete.[6] After he was better, he fought in the Western Desert and the Tunisian campaign. Some people wanted him to get a VC because of his work at Takrouna. However, he was given a DCM in April 1943.[7][8]

In June 1943, he came back to New Zealand after being gone for 3 months.[9] He did not have to come back to the Māori Battalion if he did not want to.[10] He was given a job as an inspector of traffic in 1946.[11] He died in a traffic collision in 1986.[12] After he died, a committee wanted the New Zealand Government to give him an award. This did not happen because the end of the Second World War was too long ago.[13]

References[change | change source]

  1. Moon 2010, p. 120.
  2. "Queen recognises Maori soldier's bravery". New Zealand Herald. 17 March 2007. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  3. Bennett, Norman (2000). "Manahi, Haane Te Rauawa". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture & Heritage. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. Moon 2010, p. 27.
  5. Moon 2010, pp. 49–50.
  6. Moon 2010, pp. 59–60.
  7. Moon 2010, p. 119.
  8. "No. 36102". The London Gazette. 22 July 1943. p. 3314.
  9. Moon 2010, pp. 109–110.
  10. McGibbon 2000, p. 189.
  11. Moon 2010, pp. 130–131.
  12. Moon 2010, pp. 132–133.
  13. Harper & Richardson 2016, pp. 268–269.