Tepene Heka

Born 15 Nov 1915 - Died 12 Nov 1980

Service number: 67620 AWMM
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: —
War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

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Private Tepene Heka, of Kaitaia, awarded the D.C.M. Taken from the supplement to the Auckland Weekly News 25 AUGUST 1943 p020. Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19430825-20-44.

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Wars and conflicts

War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
Campaign: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Service number: 67620 AWMM
Military service: —
Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers: —

Military decorations

Medals and Awards: Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) AWMM
67620 Private Tepene Heka DCM Pte HEKA was a member of 'A' Coy detailed to attack and take an objective to the right of TAKROUNA Village on night 19/20 April, 1943. Under heavy enemy shelling, A/Tk, mortar and MG fire the Coy had to go to ground. Entirely regardless of his own personal safety Pte HEKA dashed from cover and attacked an A/Tk post single-handed, killed the leader of the post while other members of the gun crew quickly surrendered. Then he attacked three MG posts and succeeded in putting these out of action and taking fourteen prisoners in all. By his aggressiveness, initiative and courage our troops were able to continue their advance. London Gazette 02/07/1943 AWMM
War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
1943 - Distinguished Conduct Award - Courageous Maori Private. The citation of the award to Private Tepene Heka says that under heavy shelling and anti-tank, mortar and machine gun fire Private Tepene Heka's company attacked to the right of Takrouna village and was forced to the ground. Entirely regardless of his own safety, Private Heka dashed from cover and attacked an anti-tank post single-handed. He killed the leader of the gun crew and captured others. He then attacked three machine-gun posts so as to put them out of action and captured 14 prisoners. By his aggressiveness, initiative and courage our troops were able to continue their advance
Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 22 January 2017 - Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 156, 3 July 1943

Training and Enlistment

Military training: —
Branch Trade Proficiency: —
Enlistment: WW2 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 AWMM

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Tepene Heka

Tepene Heka

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