Kingi Areta Keiha
Born 24 Jan 1900 - Died 29 May 1961
- Service number
- WWII 39620 AWMM
- Also known as
- Reta AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Major/Military AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Kingi Areta AWMM
- Surname
- Keiha AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- Reta AWMM
- Service number
- WWII 39620 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
- Rongowhakaata, Ngā Iwi o Horouta, Horouta, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 24 Jan 1900 AWMM
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
- Mikaere Pare Keiha (Mikaera) Turangi and Maraea Hokiwi TurangiPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 2 July 2025 - https://www.geni.com/people/Maj-Kingi-Turangi/6000000077289870835
- Address before enlistment
- WW2 7 Lytton Road, Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- WW2 Mr Pare Keiha (father), Disraeli Street, Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 01 May 1940 AWMM Married/WWII AWMM
- His 1st wife was Whaiora COLLIER
In 1926 he married Mabel Ida Hinekauia PeakmanPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 2 July 2025 - https://www.geni.com/people/Maj-Kingi-Turangi/6000000077289870835
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWII 39620 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Military Cross (MC) AWMM
05 Nov 1942 AWMM
"During the attack on the Deir El Munassib Depression on the night of 3/4 September 1942 this officer commanded the company which provided protection for the battalion until the final assault was made. This company met with resistance from strong positions at various points over a distance of 3500 yards, but overcame the enemy, thus enabling the main force to move to it's forming-up line with very little interference. Capt. Keiha prepared for his difficult task well, and executed it excellently. At all times he was there to inspire, control and direct his men under heavy machine-gun, mortar and artillery fire, and it was largely due to his leadership that the whole operation was successful.(London Gazette 5/11/1942 (I)) The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Keiha, Kingi Areta. (Ref. WO 373/22/42). Military Cross. " AWMM - War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Military Cross (MC) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW2 Law Clerk/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Second Lieutenant AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Second Echelon AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
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Last known rank
- Last rank
- Major/Military AWMM
28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Commanding officer of C Company.
Temporary Colonel commanding the Battalion from 22 April to 11 September 1943.
Significant and lifelong work with rehabilitation and the welfare of returned soldiers.
Normally known as Reta.
Lt-Col K. A. Keiha, MC; Lower Hutt; born Gisborne, 24 Jan 1900; law clerk and interpreter; CO 28 Bn Apr-Sep 1943. (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion.
Son Wiremu (Bill) Keiha served in the Korean War as a Signaller. Source: Pip Desmond, 'The war that never ended', p232. AWMM
About death
- Death
- 29 May 1961 AWMM
- Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
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- Death notes
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- Cemetery
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- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Sources
- External links
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
Further Reference - Essay, Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
http://dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=5K6
Further Reference - 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.' (London Gazette, 5 November 1942, p.4796.). Military Cross.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35771/supplements/4796
Further Reference - The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Keiha, Kingi Areta. (Ref. WO 373/22/42). Military Cross.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7359829
Further Reference - Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6412766
Further Reference - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington: Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. Digital copy.
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210104000423/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Maor.html
Further Reference
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
- References
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 2 (Embarkations to 30th June, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 2: WW2 100 - Soutar, M. (2008). Nga tama toa = The price of citizenship : C Company 28 (Maori) Battalion 1939-1945. Albany, N.Z.: David Bateman.
Portrait published in Soutar (2008) - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
pp.11, 41, 85, 98, 100, 109, 113-14, 119, 189, 192, 203, 216-17, 219-20, 228, 243, 256, 263, 311-12, 314, 316-17. - Stevens, W.G. (1962). Bardia to Enfidaville. Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch, Wellington, N.Z.
p.344. - Walker, R. (1967). Alam Halfa and Alamein. Dept. of Internal Affairs, Historical Publications Branch, Wellington, N.Z.
pp.134-5, 137-8, 142, 148-9, 151.
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 2 (Embarkations to 30th June, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
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