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Cenotaph record

Wiremu Te Tau Huata

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  • Service number
    WWII 817470 AWMM
  • Also known as
    • Wi AWMM
    • Wi Te Tau Huata AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Last rank
  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
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Portrait of Captain Reverend Wi Te Tau Huata in Egypt during the Second World War. Taken by George Robert Bull, 21 August 1943. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, DA-04461-F. Image is subject to copyright restrictions.

Portrait of Captain Reverend Wi Te Tau Huata in Egypt during the Second World War. Taken by George R …

Identity

About

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Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    23 September 1917 AWMM Mohaka, Wairoa AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    WW2 Pre 1 June 1943 AWMM C/o Reverend W. Drake, St Matthews Vicarage, Hastings, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    WW2 Mrs R. Huata (mother), Frasertown, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Cross (MC) AWMM
      13 December 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

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Jun 1943 AWMM Minister of Religion/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

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

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Son of Hemi Pititi Huata and Ropine Aranui. Attended Mohaka Natve 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
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    20 December 1991 AWMM
    Hastings, Hawkes Bay AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Raamoto, Wairoa AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
    Obituary: Wairoa Star, 9 January 1992, p. 5 AWMM
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
  • References
    • Haigh, J. (1983). Men of faith and courage: the official history of the New Zealand Chaplains Department. Auckland, N.Z.: The Word Publishers. AWMM
    • Gardiner, W. (1992). Te mura o te Ahi = The story of the Maori Battalion. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed. AWMM
    • 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 93 AWMM
    • Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
      pp.318, 376, 409, 431-2, 455, 480, 483. AWMM
    • 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. AWMM
      p.64. AWMM
    • 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. AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
11 November 2022Lorraine MonaGisborneResearcher

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