Watene Pahau

Forenames

Watene AWMM

Surname

Pahau AWMM

Service number

39123 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM

Birth

4 Aug 1912 AWMM

Birth notes

Son of Wiremu PAHAU & Merearihi PAHAU (nee' Tinotahi)

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 28 July 2023 - https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/947J-FZJ/watene-pahau-1912-1998

Address before enlistment

• Unknown AWMM Public Works Department, Opotiki, New Zealand AWMM
• Unknown AWMM Public Works Department, Opotiki, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

• Mr Wi Pahau (father), Ruatoria, New Zealand AWMM
• Mr W. Pahau (father), Ruatoria, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

• Unknown AWMM Single AWMM
• Unknown AWMM Single AWMM
• In 1946 Watene PAHAU married Hinetiurangi SWANN
  Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 28 July 2023 - https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/947J-FZJ/watene-pahau-1912-1998

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

39123 AWMM

Medals and Awards

• Military Medal (MM) AWMM
  09 Sep 1942 AWMM
  WO II Pahau was in command of the leading platoon in the attack by C Company on Gazala Box Point 152 during which action he displayed great gallantry. Even when at a range of only 300 yards from the front line of trenches of the fortified zone that was being attacked with utter disregard for his own personal safety he walked slowly and deliberately up and down his line of men encouraging them and giving them their orders. In the face of withering machine-gun and rifle fire and fire from four French 75mm guns and two 2.pdrs. at point-blank range he initiated a vigorous bayonet attack that completely dislodged a well-entrenched enemy. During the hours of darkness he volunteered to evacuate all our wounded and prisoners back to battalion across srange and unknown territory and returned in the early hours of the following morning with food for the men. (London Gazette 9/9/1942) The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Pahau, Watene. (Ref. WO 373/20/361). Military Medal. 09 Sep 1942 AWMM
• War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
• New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM

Enlistment

• WW2 Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM
• WW2 Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

• WW2 Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Second Echelon AWMM
• WW2 Lieutenant/Military AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
  2nd Embarkation AWMM

Related Serviceperson

External links

• 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
  http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
  Further Reference
• 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period November 1941 to April 1942.' (London Gazette, 9 September 1942, p.3950.). Military Medal.
  http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35697/pages/3950
  Further Reference
• The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Pahan, Watene. (Ref. WO 373/20/361). Military Medal.
  http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7359270
  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

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 143
• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 14 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1944 to 31st December, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  WW2 14: WW2 75
• 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.