Wiremu Te Tau Huata
Born 23 Sept 1917 - Died 20 Dec 1991
- Service number
- WWII 817470 AWMM
- Also known as
- Wi AWMM
- Wi Te Tau Huata AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- New Zealand Chaplains Department, 28 (Maori) Battalion AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Wiremu Te Tau AWMM
- Surname
- Huata AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- Wi AWMM
- Wi Te Tau Huata AWMM
- Service number
- WWII 817470 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
- Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Iwi o Tākitimu, Tākitimu, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 23 Sept 1917 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 Pre 01 Jun 1943 AWMM C/o Reverend W. Drake, St Matthews Vicarage, Hastings, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- WW2 Mrs R. Huata (mother), Frasertown, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Italy AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWII 817470 AWMM
- Military service
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- Military Cross (MC) AWMM
13 Dec 1945 AWMM
"Rev. Huata became padre of 28 (Maori) Battalion in September 1943 and since then he has done continuously outstanding work in the course of the battalion's war effort.During action at Orsogna on 23/24 December 1943, his first experience under shellfire, he helped to recover the bodies of soldiers from among minefields and carried wounded with the stretcher-bearers. Thereafter he made daily visits to the forward defended localities, holding prayers with and for troops, often under shellfire and enemy machine-gun fire. Ever since that battle and in every battle in which the battalion has since been engaged, the padre has continuously religiously done such deeds to a point of routine. After every battle he is always to be seen recovering bodies of soldiers and attending to their proper burials. His happy disposition both in and out of the line and his spiritual leadership are so inspiring, and high morals founded on spiritual worship contributes very largely to the fighting spirit and efficiency of the battalion. (London Gazette 13/12/1945 (P)) The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Huata, Wi Te Tau. (Ref. WO 373/14/537). Military Cross." AWMM - Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) AWMM
1991 AWMM - Queen's Service Medal (QSM) AWMM
1984 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 Jun 1943 AWMM Minister of Religion/Civilian AWMM
- Age on enlistment
- —
- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Chaplain Class IV (Captain)/Military AWMM New Zealand Chaplains Department AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), 10th Reinforcements 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
- New Zealand Chaplains Department, 28 (Maori) Battalion AWMM
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Son of Hemi Pititi Huata and Ropine Aranui. Attended Mohaka Native School, schools at Frasertown and Turiroa, and Te Aute College.
Elder brother of Te Okanga (Aussie) Huata (68385) who served with the 28 (Maori) Battalion.
Husband of Ringahora Heni Ngakai Ybel Tomoana.
1952 Huata was also president of the Te Rau o Te Aroha Society, which took its name from the YMCA van that had accompanied the battalion throughout the Italian campaign.
1972 Huata accompanied 26 Maori Battalion veterans to Mainz, Germany, to attend a reunion of the Afrika Korps. He toured again in 1977 and 1989.
He was awarded the Queen’s Service Order in 1984 and made a CBE in 1991. Source: Anglea Ballara, 'Huata, Wiremu Te Tau', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 2000. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
Rev W. Te T. Huata, MC; Hastings; born NZ 23 Aug 1917; Anglican minister. (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p.376.)
'Padre Wi Huata arrived in the Middle East in 1943 and served throughout the Italian campaign. He was a young man with many talents. Life, vitality, and enthusiasm flowed from him at all times, whether he was living in the front line or taking a choir on tour round the Base hospitals. Energetic in all things affecting the welfare of his men, he showed great courage and proved himself a worthy representative of a great battalion. He was awarded the Military Cross for his fine work with the battalion in Italy. His religious duties were performed with sincerity and love, and he presented over a hundred men for confirmation.' (Source: Waters, Sydney D.; Ross, Squadron Leader J. M. S.; Underhill, Rev. M. L.; Winhall, Rev. N. E. Chaplains. p. 64.) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 20 Dec 1991 AWMM
- 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
- Raamoto, Wairoa AWMM
- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
- Obituary: Wairoa Star, 9 January 1992, p. 5 AWMM
- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Sources
- External links
- Anglea Ballara, 'Huata, Wiremu Te Tau', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5h39/huata-wiremu-te-tau
Sources Used - 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
Sources Used - 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945. Roll of the 15th Reinforcements, Jayforce and other personnel who were closely associated with the 28th Māori Battalion.
http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/node/3775
Further Reference - 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.' (London Gazette, 13 December 1945, p.6076.). Military Cross.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37386/supplements/6076
Further Reference - The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Huata, Wi Te Tau. (Ref. WO 373/14/537). Military Cross.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7355974
Further Reference - Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q8026930
Further Reference
- Anglea Ballara, 'Huata, Wiremu Te Tau', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
- References
- Haigh, J. (1983). Men of faith and courage: the official history of the New Zealand Chaplains Department. Auckland, N.Z.: The Word Publishers.
- Gardiner, W. (1992). Te mura o te Ahi = The story of the Maori Battalion. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed.
- 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.
WW2 12: WW2 93 - Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
pp.318, 376, 409, 431-2, 455, 480, 483. - Rev. M. L. Underhill [et al.] (1950). New Zealand chaplains in the Second World War. Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch, Wellington, N.Z.
p.64. - Rev. M. L. Underhill [et al.] (1950). New Zealand chaplains in the Second World War. Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch, Wellington, N.Z.
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