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Cenotaph record

Te Matau Ote Rangi Rongoiti Tomoana

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Maori Veterans' Reunion in Gisborne in 1973Ian Ropitini, Matauoterangi Rongoiti Tomoana, Ossie Huata and William Ropitini.

Veterans' Reunion

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Te Matau Ote Rangi Rongoiti AWMM
  • Surname
    Tomoana AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    • Te Matau-o-Te Rangi Rangoiti Tomoana AWMM
    • Boy AWMM
    • Te Matua AWMM
  • Service number
    40459 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
    Iwi Māori AWMM
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    16 November 1919 AWMM Hastings, Hawkes Bay AWMM
    Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW2 Unknown AWMM 24 Mat Street, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Mr Paraire Henare Tomoana (father), Waipatu, Hastings, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    40459 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    Military Cross (MC) AWMM
    10 May 1945 AWMM
    On 25 July 1944 Capt. Tomoana was in command of a company which, after very heavy continunous fighting over two days had captured it's final objective on the outskirts of Poppiano. During the morning the enemy counter-attacked his company with infantry, tanks and mortar support. Without hesitation and wihtout regard for his own safety, Capt. Tomoana went from platoon to platoon under very havy mortar fire, rallying his men to fierce action. This battle lasted late into the afternoon when the enemy was successfully thrown back. Just before last light the enemy again counter-attacked whereupon he once more repeated his rallying action under heavy shell fire. Again the enemy was thrown back, there being heavy casualties inflicted on him and twenty-two prisoners taken. As the objective was to be the start line for an important operations of another battalion, Capt. Tomoana was ordered to hold it at all costs. Early the following morning the enemy once more counter-attacked with infantry and tanks. Again Capt. Tomoana rallied his threatened platoon, he himself being amond the men using his Bren. When the enemy fire became very heavy, Capt. Tomoana kept encouraging them. The enemy finally withdrew. Throughout the operation this officer displayed outstanding courage and determination and the succes of the action was due to his initiative and inspiring leaderhip. The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Tomoana, Te Matua-O-Te-Rangi Rongoiti. (Ref. WO 373/11/582). Military Cross. AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Unknown 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.354 Porter/Civilian 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.354
    Wellington, New Zealand 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.354
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
    Wounded twice AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Son of Paraire Henare and Kuini Ripeka Tomoana of Hastings.

    Listed as Te Matau-o-Te Rangi Rangoiti Tomoana on the Nominal Roll. Name spelled as Te Matua by Sutherland (1989)

    Capt Te M. R. Tomoana, MC; Hastings; born Hastings, 16 Nov 1919; railway porter; twice wounded. (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p.330.) AWMM

Death

About death

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  • 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

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Te Matau Ote Rangi Rongoiti Tomoana

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  • He Maumahara mōu - Uncle Boy Tomoana - He Tamatoa-a-Tūmatauenga. Lieutenant -D Company - 28th Māori Battalion. Much Loved - Always Remembered. One of My Two Most Favourite Uncles. Mentioned you ANZAC Day Ruahapia Marae - Tuesday 25th April 2017. Aroha tino nui Uncle Boy Ngatai
    Public - Ngatai - Other relative - 2 May 2017
    Report 
  • In Loving memory of our dear Father, Grandfather Great Grandfather and Uncle Arohanui Tomoana whanau Waipatu, Hastings
    Public - Waiora Numia - 18 April 2015
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
10 October 2022Lorraine MonaGisborneResearcher
02 May 2017NgataiHastings, Hawke's Bay, Aotearoa - New ZealandOther relative
18 April 2015Waiora NumiaHastings, New ZealandOther

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