Petera Maangi
Born 20 Mar 1920 - Died 12 Dec 1997
- Service number
- 68097 AWMM
- Also known as
- Bee Maangi Maangi AWMM
- Pita AWMM
- Maangi-Matiu AWMM
- William Petera AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 20 Mar 1920 AWMM
- Date of birth
- —
- Place of birth
- —
- Birth notes
- —
- Address before enlistment
- Unknown AWMM Cape Runaway, East Coast, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- Mrs T. Maanga (mother), Cape Runaway, East Coast, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Unknown AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- 68097 AWMM
- Military service
- —
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) AWMM
Pte. Maangi was a member of a forward platoon of a forward company during the attack on Scola Fratturo on 11 April 1945. During the attack both forward platoons were forced to ground by heavy machine-gun and mortar fire, both platoons receiving heavy casualties. The wireless sets with the platoons were knocked out of action and there was no means of communication to HQ other than by runner. Every burst of enemy machine-gun and shell fire was inflicting casualties on the two pinned-down platoons. Pte. Maangi realising that any further delay without support would mean more casualties to his comrades acted on his own initiative and walked across the area swept with machine-gun and mortar fire to an area where he knew that there were tanks available to support them. During the whole time that Pte. Maangi was walking across the danger area the enemy increased his fire but Pte. Maangi regardless for his own personal safety walked on. Contacting the tanks he walked ahead of the armour guiding them to the two pinned down platoons. The enemy on seeing the tanks approaching increased the rate of his mortar fire to such an extent that nothing could be seen due to dust and smoke. As the dust and smoke cleared Pte. Maangi could still be seen walking on in front of the tanks and by this time was only 100 yards away from the enemy strong points. By directing the fire of the tanks on to several of the enemy's dug in positions and machine-gun nests many of the enemy either surrendered or were killed. The advance was then resumed and the objective taken, Pte. Maangi taking part in the charge with a forward section. Throughout this operation Pte. Maangi displayed courage and devotion to duty and initiative of the very highest order. This courage and devotion to duty was an inspiration to all those who fought with him. (London Gazette 18/10/1945 (I)) AWMM - War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
- New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
- Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) 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, C Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), 8th Reinforcements AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- —
- Days interned
- —
- Liberation date
- —
- POW liberation details
- —
- Liberation Repatriation
- —
- POW serial number
- —
Medical history
- Medical notes
- —
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Private AWMM
28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Listed on the Nominal Roll as Pita and in Soutar (2008) as Petera (aka Pita) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 12 Dec 1997 AWMM
- Date of death
- —
- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- —
- Death notes
- —
- Cemetery
- —
- Cemetery name
- —
- Grave reference
- —
- Obituary
- —
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
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
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
- References
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 9 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1942 to 31st December, 1942). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 9: WW2 239 - Soutar, M. (2008). Nga tama toa = The price of citizenship : C Company 28 (Maori) Battalion 1939-1945. Albany, N.Z.: David Bateman.
Portrait published in Soutar (2008) - 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. 9 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1942 to 31st December, 1942). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
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.
Online Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.