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Cenotaph record

Kingi Areta Keiha

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Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Kingi Areta Keiha, taken at Maadi, Egypt, by G. Bull in August, 1943. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, DA-04458. Image is subject to copyright restrictions.

Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Kingi Areta Keiha, taken at Maadi, Egypt, by G. Bull in August, 1943. …

Identity

About

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Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    24 January 1900 AWMM Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW2 7 Lytton Road, Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Mr Pare Keiha (father), Disraeli Street, Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 1 May 1940 AWMM Married/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • 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

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Cross (MC) AWMM
      5 November 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

Training and Enlistment

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • 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
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    29 May 1961 AWMM
    Hexton, Gisborne AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • 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. AWMM
      WW2 2: WW2 100 AWMM
    • Soutar, M. (2008). Nga tama toa = The price of citizenship : C Company 28 (Maori) Battalion 1939-1945. Albany, N.Z.: David Bateman. AWMM
      Portrait published in Soutar (2008) AWMM
    • Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      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. AWMM
    • Stevens, W.G. (1962). Bardia to Enfidaville. Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch, Wellington, N.Z. AWMM
      p.344. AWMM
    • Walker, R. (1967). Alam Halfa and Alamein. Dept. of Internal Affairs, Historical Publications Branch, Wellington, N.Z. AWMM
      pp.134-5, 137-8, 142, 148-9, 151. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
11 November 2022Lorraine MonaGisborneResearcher
21 October 2022Lorraine MonaGisborneResearcher

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