Tawake Matenga
Born 12 Feb 1918 - Died 1960
- Service number
- 1241 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Company Sergeant Major/Military AWMM
- War
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 12 Feb 1918 AWMM
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
- —
- Address before enlistment
- Unknown AWMM Seafront, Castlecliff, New Zealand AWMM
- Jayforce Unknown AWMM Seafront, Castlecliff, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- Mrs P.M. Matenga (wife), Seafront, Castlecliff, New Zealand AWMM
- Jayforce Mrs P.M. Matenga (wife), Seafront, Castlecliff, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Unknown AWMM Married AWMM
- Unknown AWMM Married/Jayforce AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- 1241 AWMM
- Military service
- Wellington-West Coast-Taranaki Regiment AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
14 Mar 1943 AWMM
"While acting as Platoon Commander during the action of 1/2 November 1942 at Point 29, showed outstanding courage and coolness and fine leadership. Frequently enemy machine-gun fire forced his platoon to go to ground, and he was always to be found on his feet encouraging his men and directing the fire of his light machine-guns. Throughout the advance he was tirelessly aggressive, personally rushing to the direction of the strongest enemy fire to lead his men. His courage and personal example has always been a source of inspiration to his men. (London Gazette 11/3/1943 (I)) The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Matenga, Tawake. (Ref. WO 373/24/169). Military Medal. 14 Mar 1943" AWMM - War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
- —
- Enlistment
- WW2 Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM
- Jayforce Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
- —
Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Second Echelon AWMM
- Jayforce Warrant Officer Class 2 AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion AWMM British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) Japan AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- Accidental Death, Cause of Death AWMM
Road accident AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Company Sergeant Major/Military AWMM
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Funeral held at Ratana Pa with full military honours AWMM
About death
- Death
- 1960 AWMM
- Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Accidental Death AWMM
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- Obituary: Te Ao Hou, No 31, Vol. 8. p. 3 AWMM
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- —
Sources
- External links
- Te Ao Hou
http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/index.html
Sources Used - Te Ao Hou. (1960). digital copy
http://teaohou.natlib.govt.nz/journals/teaohou/issue/Mao31TeA/full.html
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, 14 March 1943, p.1176.). Military Medal.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35934/supplements/1176
Further Reference - The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Matenga, Tawake. (Ref. WO 373/24/169). Military Medal.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7360921
Further Reference - 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
https://28maoribattalion.org.nz/
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 - J Force Wikipedia Page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J_Force
Further Reference - Romano, G. (2021, March 4). Jayforce: 75 years on. Auckland War Memorial Museum – Tāmaki Paenga Hira.
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/jayforce
Further Reference - 'Victory Parade Contingent: Three services sailing April 20' in the Gisborne Herald, 13 April, 1946.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HAWST19460413.2.103
Further Reference - 'Parading for Victory: Air Force Contingent' at the website of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.
https://airforcemuseum.co.nz/blog/parading-for-victory-air-force-contingent/
Further Reference
- Te Ao Hou
- 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 127 - Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1950). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 16 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1946 to 30th June, 1948). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 16: WW2 89 - Te Ao Hou
Obituary: Te Ao Hou, No 31, Vol. 8. p. 3 - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
p.254. - Brocklebank, L.W. (1997). Jayforce : New Zealand and the military occupation of Japan, 1945-48. Auckland, N.Z.: Oxford University Press.
- Parr, A. (2012). The occupiers : New Zealand veterans remember post-war Japan. Auckland, N.Z. : Penguin.
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1950). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 16 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1946 to 30th June, 1948). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
- 'Victory Parade Contingent.' Gisborne Herald, vol. 73, no. 21996, 13 April 1946, p.4. Identified with assistance from the Kippenberger Research Centre, National Army Museum Te Mata Toa (2026).
- 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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