condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Cenotaph record

Joseph Whakekura Mataira

Lay a poppy

Identity

About

Contribute ›
  • Title
  • Forenames
    Joseph Whakekura AWMM
  • Surname
    Mataira AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWII 802053 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
    Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

Contribute ›
  • Birth
    20 December 1914 AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW2 Ngongotaha, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Mrs K.T. Mataira (wife), Porangahu, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 21 July 1943 AWMM Married AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

Contribute ›

Military decorations

Contribute ›
  • Medals and Awards
    • Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) AWMM
      "In the attack on Cassino on the night 18/19 March, Sgt. Mataira displayed outstanding initiative and determination. He led his platoon in the attack on the western side of the town, engaged in a hand-to-hand struggle with the enemy of whom he killed at least two, and then became cut-off from his men and was taken prisoner behind a wall guarding an enemy position. Completely disregarding his own safety, and despite having already been wounded, he repeatedly called out to his men to hurl grenades over the wall. They finally complied, wounding several of Sgt Mataira's captors and scattering them. Sgt Mataira then picked up a Thompson sub-machine gun and accounted for two more of the enemy before rejoining his men. (London Gazette 3/8/1944 (I))" AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

Contribute ›

Embarkations

Contribute ›

Prisoner of war

Contribute ›
  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

Contribute ›
  • Medical notes

Last known rank

Contribute ›
  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

Contribute ›

Death

About death

Contribute ›
  • Death
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

Contribute ›
  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Joseph Whakekura Mataira by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Joseph Whakekura Mataira

Leave a note

Contribute ›

Sources

Sources

Contribute ›
  • External links
  • References
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 12 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1943 to 31st December, 1943). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 12: WW2 131 AWMM
    • Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • Ko te Reo Huringa Tau o te Ope Maori Tuarua, i noho ki Remuera, Ohaeawai, 1942-43: The Anniversary Magazine of the Second Maori Battalion, Remuera, Ohaeawai 1942-1943. Patrick Smyth Papers, MS-2002-147, Auckland War Memorial Museum. AWMM
    • Nominal Roll of Members of the 2nd Maori Battalion, 26th January 1943. Part of the 2nd Maori Battalion Anniversary Magazine. (MS-2002-147). Auckland War Memorial Museum. AWMM

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Creative Commons LicenseOnline Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.