Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu

Forenames

Te Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa AWMM

Surname

Ngarimu AWMM

Service number

WWII 39784 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

• Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
• Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngā Iwi o Ara Tāwhao, Ara Tāwhao, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM

Birth

7 Apr 1918 AWMM

Date of birth

5th september 2011

Public - riley - 8 April 2024 - te moana-nui-a-kiwa ngarimu

Place of birth

murupara

Public - riley - 8 April 2024 - murupara

Birth notes

Hamuera Ngarimu and Marea Ngarimu of Ruatoria, East Coast

Public - Lorraine M - Researcher - 3 September 2015 - Research

Address before enlistment

Ruatoria, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

Mr Hamuera Ngarimu (father), Ruatoria, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

Single AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Campaign

North Africa AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

WWII 39784 AWMM

Medals and Awards

• Victoria Cross (VC) AWMM
  War Office, 4th June, 1943. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to: — Second-Lieutenant Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu(39784), New Zealand Military Forces. During the action at the Tebaga Gap on the 26th March, 1943, Second-Lieutenant Ngarimu commanded a platoon in an attack upon the vital hill feature, Point 209. He was given the task of attacking and capturing an underfeature forward of Point 209 itself and held in considerable strength by the enemy. He led his men with great determination straight up the face of the hill, undeterred by the intense mortar and machine-gun fire which caused considerable casualties. Displaying courage and leadership of the highest order he was himself first on the hill crest, personally annihilating at least two enemy machine-gun posts. In the face of such a determined attack the remainderof the enemy fled, but further advance was impossible as the reverse slope was swept by machine-gun fire from Point209 itself. Under cover of a most intense mortar barrage the enemy counter-attacked, and Second-Lieutenant Ngarimu ordered his men to stand up and engage the enemy man for man. This they did with such good effect that the attackers were literally mown down, Second-Lieutenant Ngarimu personally killing several. He was twice wounded, once by rifle fire in the shoulder and later by shrapnel in the leg, and though urged by both his Company and Battalion Commanders to go out, he refused to do so saying that he would stay a little while with his men. He stayed till he met his death the following morning. Darkness found this Officer and his depleted platoon lying on the rocky face of the forward slope of the hill feature, with the enemy in a similar position on the reverse slope about twenty yards distant. Throughout the night the enemy repeatedly launched fierce attacks in an attempt to dislodge Second-Lieutenant Ngarimu and his men, but each counter-attack was beaten off entirely by Second-Lieutenant Ngarimu's inspired leadership. During one of these counter-attacks the enemy, by using hand grenades, succeed in piercing a certain part of the line. Without hesitation this Officer rushed to the threatened area, and those of the enemy he did not kill he drove back with stones and with his tommy-gun. During another determined counter-attack by the enemy, part of his line broke. Yelling orders and encouragement, he rallied his men and led them in a fierce onslaught back into their old positions. All through the night, between attacks, he and his men were heavily harrassed by machine-gun and mortar fire, but Second-Lieutenant Ngarimu watched his line very carefully, cheering his men on and inspiring them by his gallant personal conduct. Morning found him still in possession of the hill feature, but only he and two unwounded other ranks remained. Reinforcements were sent up to him. In the morning the enemy again counter-attacked, and it was during this attack that Second-Lieutenant Ngarimu was killed. He was killed on his feet defiantly facing the enemy with his tommy-gun at his hip. As he fell, he came to rest almost on the top of those of the enemy who had fallen, the number of whom testified to his outstanding courage and fortitude. (London Gazette, 1 June 1943) VC. New Zealand Gazette 1941 No. 80 p. 1142 AWMM
• War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
• New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM

Enlistment

WW2 Shepherd/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

WW2 Private AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Second Echelon AWMM

Medical notes

Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last rank

Second Lieutenant AWMM
28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM

Second Lieutenant Ngarimu was the son of Hamuera Ngarimu and Marea Ngarimu of Ruatoria, Gisborne.

Victoria Cross held by the Tairawhiti Museum, Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM

Death

27 Mar 1943 AWMM
Age  24 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed in Action AWMM

Cemetery

Sfax War Cemetery, Tunisia AWMM Plot 10, Row E, Grave 14 AWMM

Memorial name

• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
• Dunedin, Victoria Cross winners' plaque, Queens Gardens, Dunedin, New Zealand AWMM
• Gisborne First World War Memorial, The Esplanade, Kaiti, Gisborne AWMM

Related objects

External links

• Military Personnel File
  https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R23523709
  Further Reference
• National Archives of New Zealand, National Collection of War Art. Portrait.
  http://warart.archives.govt.nz/node/99
  Further Reference
• 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945.
  http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
  Further Reference
• Essay, Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
  http://dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=5N9
  Further Reference
• Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand History online. Dunedin RSA building, formerly site of the VC winners' plaque.
  https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/dunedin-rsa-war-memorial
  Further Reference
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2183200
  Sources Used
• Wikidata Entity
  http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q6886394
  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

References

• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
• 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)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England.
• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 2 (Embarkations to 30th June, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  WW2 2: WW2 138
• Weekly News
  Article about VC award to Lieutenant Ngarimu. Weekly News, 9 June 1943.
• Harper, G., & Richardson, C. (2006). In the face of the enemy: The complete history of the Victoria Cross and New Zealand. Auckland, N.Z.: HarperCollins NZ.
  p.192-197
• The Register of the Victoria Cross. (1997). (3rd ed.). Cheltenham, England: This England.
  p. 260 F/N & text
• Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.