Kani Rangitauira

Born 13 Mar 1919

Service number: 65197 AWMM
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: Staff Sergeant AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM
War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

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Wars and conflicts

War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
Campaign: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Service number: 65197 AWMM
Military service: —
Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers: —

Military decorations

Medals and Awards: Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) Three Times AWMM
Military Medal (MM) AWMM
18 Oct 1945 AWMM
S/Sgt Rangitauira went forward on evening 12 April 1945 to take food to his Company which was holding the left flank of the Battalion near Massa Lombarda. As it became darker visibility decreased where upon he missed our Forward Defence Lines and found himself on the very outskirts of the Village. On making a reconnaissance he saw some eighteen armed German soldiers coming toward his jeep. Immediately he moved behind cover and when these enemy soldiers were near him he dashed up behind them, ordering them to surrender. He called and made signs as if calling up more infantry to help him. When the enemy saw this they surrendered. He immediately disarmed them and shepherded to his lines. By his daring and cunning this soldier contributed to the Battalion's effort to reduce enemy resistance on the front as much as possible. (London Gazette 18/10/1945 (I)) The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Rangitauira, Kani. (Ref. WO 373/14/261). Military Medal.18 Oct 1945 AWMM
War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM

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, B Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM

Medical history

Medical notes: Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
Wounded June 1944 AWMM

Last known rank

Last rank: Staff Sergeant AWMM
28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM
Last rank: —

Biographical information

Staff Sergeant K. Rangitauira, MM, m.i.d.; Murupara; born Rotorua, 13 Mar 1919; labourer; wounded 3 Jun 1944 (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p.469.)

'It was now nearly six o'clock. The Colonel had been informed of a brigade conference in a couple of hours' time, and the battalion was ordered to stand on the pause line until he returned. The CO took his company commanders with him to the conference, the upshot of which was the relief of the Maoris by 21 Battalion after dark that night, whereupon they withdrew to Sant' Agata, now cleared and well behind 23 Battalion's line.

It was while waiting for the return of the CO and his commanders that B Company had an anxious interlude; a hot meal due to arrive did not turn up at the expected hour. The citation for Staff-Sergeant Rangitauira's MM explains the situation that arose and his method of overcoming the slight difficulty in which he found himself:

S/Sergeant Rangitauira went forward on evening 12 April 1945 to take food to his coy which was holding the left flank of the Battalion near Massa Lombarda. As it became darker visibility decreased whereupon he missed our FDLs and found himself on the very outskirts of the village. On making a recce he saw some eighteen armed German soldiers coming towards his jeep. Immediately he moved behind cover and when these enemy soldiers were near him he dashed up behind them, ordering them to surrender. He called and made signs as if calling up more infantry to help him. When the enemy saw this they surrendered. He immediately disarmed them and shepherded them back to his lines. By his daring and cunning this soldier contributed to the Battalion's effort to reduce enemy resistance on the front as much as possible. S-Sergeant K. Rangitauira, MM, m.i.d.; Murupara; born Rotorua, 13 Mar 1919; labourer; wounded 3 Jun 1944.; Italy II - At the cemetery A Company had ‘a short sharp fight’ with about 30 enemy. ‘They fought until they were all killed. The Germans were apparently on the point of pulling out for their gear was neatly stacked and ready for removal.’ This was the only infantry clash. While taking the evening meal to B Company at the objective, Staff-Sergeant Rangitauira went too far in his jeep and entered the outskirts of Massa Lombarda. He took shelter when 18 Germans approached, dashed out behind them and, by pretending to call up others to help him, persuaded them to surrender and hand over their arms. AWMM

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Kani Rangitauira