George Nia Nia
Born 7 May 1924
- Service number
- 817636 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- —
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 7 May 1924 AWMM
could be 1923 AWMM - Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- GreytownPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 3 March 2025 - https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KFR4-YWV/george-tawhao-tawhirimatea-niania-1924-2000
- Birth notes
- Son of Matiu Ereatara NIANIA & Pare Ihaka Ranapia nee' ISSACPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 3 March 2025 - https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KFR4-YWV/george-tawhao-tawhirimatea-niania-1924-2000
- Address before enlistment
- Unknown AWMM Care of Mrs V. Tapine, Bag 113, Wairoa, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- Mrs A. Niania (wife), Te Reinga, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Unknown AWMM Married AWMM
- Husband of Apikara Kokiri NianiaPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 3 March 2025 - https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/KFR4-YWV/george-tawhao-tawhirimatea-niania-1924-2000
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- 817636 AWMM
- Military service
- 28 (Maori) Battalion, D Company AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
18 Oct 1945 AWMM
"Pte. Niania was a member of a company which encountered heavy opposition at the Scolo Fratturo Canal on 11 April 1945, where four German machine-gun commanded the banks, making further advance impossible. The platoon on the right of Pte Niania's platoon went to ground and a company of the battalion on the left was pinned down. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety Pte. Niania (who was acting as a section leader) led his section forward, charging the forward bank of the canal. He himself wiped out the two forward posts and his section the two remaining posts. Eleven Germans in all were killed, Pte. Niania killing five himself. After the bank had been cleared he charged on for five hundred yards, clearing houses and taking four prisoners. This gallant action by Pte. Niania was in great measure a vital factor in allowing the advance of the company to continue, thus permitting them and the troops on the rear bank to advance to their final objective, the river Santerno.(London Gazette 18/10/1945(I) The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Niania, George. (Ref. WO 373/14/307). Military Medal.18 Oct 1945." AWMM - War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Military Medal (MM) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- —
- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 Unknown AWMM Labourer/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
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Last known rank
- Last rank
- —
- Last rank
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Biographical information
- Biographical information
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About death
- Death
- —
- Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
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- Death notes
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- Cemetery
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- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- —
Sources
- External links
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
http://www.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 - 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.' (London Gazette, 18 October 1945, p.5103.). Military Medal.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37310/supplements/5103
Further Reference - The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Niania, George. (Ref. WO 373/14/307). Military Medal.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7355744
Further Reference
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
- References
- 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 73 - Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e! : Forever brave! : B Company 28 (Maori) Battalion, 1939-1945. Auckland : Bateman Books.
- Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
- 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.
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