Te Matau Ote Rangi Rongoiti Tomoana
Born 16 Nov 1919
- Service number
- 40459 AWMM
- Also known as
- Te Matau-o-Te Rangi Rangoiti Tomoana AWMM
- Boy AWMM
- Te Matua AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Lieutenant/Military 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.354 28 (Maori) Battalion, D Company 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.354
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 16 Nov 1919 AWMM
Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand AWMM - Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- WW2 Unknown AWMM 24 Mat Street, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
- WW2 Mr Paraire Henare Tomoana (father), Waipatu, Hastings, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Unknown AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
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- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- 40459 AWMM
- Military service
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- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- 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 - War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Military Cross (MC) AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 Unknown 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.354 Porter/Civilian 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.354
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Private 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.354 Infantry Reinforcements 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.354 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
- Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
Wounded twice AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Lieutenant/Military 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.354
28 (Maori) Battalion, D Company 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.354 - Last rank
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Biographical information
- 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
About death
- Death
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- 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
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Sources
- External links
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
Sources Used - Births, Deaths and Marriages (New Zealand) Historical Records online
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
Sources Used - Military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R20952026
Further Reference - 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945. Personal page
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/soldier/te-matau-o-te-rangi-tomoana
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, 10 May 1945, p.2455.). Military Cross.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37072/supplements/2455
Further Reference - The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Tomoana, Te Matua-O-Te-Rangi Rongoiti. (Ref. WO 373/11/582). Military Cross.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7353872
Further Reference
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
- References
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 4 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1941 to 30 June, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 4: WW2 354 - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
pp.319, 330–2, 334, 353–4, 391, 396, 399–400. - Phillips, N.C. (1957). Italy. Volume 1 : The Sangro to Cassino. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
p.190. - Information kindly provided by family
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 4 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1941 to 30 June, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
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