Hamuera Paul Te Punga
Born 27 May 1916
Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 29 December 2025 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202648667/hamuera-paul-te_punga
- Died 23 Sept 1944 - Service number
- WWII 4506 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- Major/Military Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e! 28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e!
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
- —
- Forenames
- Hamuera Paul AWMM
- Surname
- Te Punga AWMM
- Ingoa
- —
- Also known as
- —
- Service number
- WWII 4506 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
- Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
- Tainui, Māori AWMM
- Te Āti Awa, Ngā Iwi o Tokomaru, Tokomaru, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM
- Religion
- —
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- —
- Date of birth
- 27 May 1916Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 29 December 2025 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202648667/hamuera-paul-te_punga
- Place of birth
- HuntervillePublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 29 December 2025 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202648667/hamuera-paul-te_punga
- Birth notes
- Son of Rev Hamuera Hautuirinangi & Lydia Marie Hulda Te PungaPublic - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 29 December 2025 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202648667/hamuera-paul-te_punga
- Address before enlistment
- WW2 78 Raroa Road, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- —
- Next of kin
- WW2 Mr H. Te Punga (father), Halcombe, Manawatu, New Zealand AWMM
- Relationship status
- Pre 02 May 1940 AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- Libya AWMM
- 1941 AWMM Crete AWMM
- Greece AWMM
- Italy AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- WWII 4506 AWMM
- Military service
- 2nd Maori Battalion AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
- —
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 Clerk AWMM
- Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Vessel was Aquitania AWMM Major/Military AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, D Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Second Echelon AWMM
- WW2 Vessel was Mooltan or Willem Ruys AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, D Company AWMM Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
2nd Embarkation 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
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Major/Military Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e!
28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e! - Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Hamuera Paul Te Punga was born at Halcombe, Manawatū, the son of the Reverend and Mrs Te Punga. He was educated at Feilding Agricultural High School, where he was an outstanding scholar, dux of the school and president of the School Council. He subsequently pursued legal studies.
Te Punga enlisted with the 28th Māori Battalion and departed New Zealand with the Main Body. He served in Greece, Crete and North Africa, was mentioned in despatches and served for a period as battalion adjutant.
In August 1943, following his return to New Zealand, he was appointed commandant of the Māori Home Guard School at Ngāruawāhia. He had previously served with the 2nd Māori Battalion and been attached to the adjutant-general's branch at Northern Military District headquarters.
In February 1943, Te Punga was tried by general court-martial at Kaikohe on charges relating to the alleged ill-treatment and punishment of Private Seagar Kirkwood. He was acquitted of all charges.
Te Punga subsequently returned to overseas service and was promoted to temporary major on 6 June 1944. He was killed in action in Italy later that year.
His brother, Captain Roy / Roi Te Punga, also served overseas during World War II. A memorial service was held at St John's Lutheran Church, Halcombe, in October 1944, attended by a large congregation, with wreaths laid by the Lutheran congregation, local patriotic committee and Returned Services' Association. AWMM
About death
- Death
- 23 Sept 1944 AWMM
Age 28 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
- —
- Place of death
- —
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
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- Cemetery
- Cesena War Cemetery, Italy AWMM V, E, 4. AWMM
- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
- MAJOR TE PUNGA. Major Te Punga, who has been killed in action, was born at Lower Hutt and educated at the Feilding Agricultural High School and Victoria University College, where he took his L.L.B. degree. He had just completed his education there when he entered the Forces. He received a commission and left for overseas with the Second Echelon. He saw service in Grreece and Crete after being stationed in England and South Africa, and was seriously wounded in the Cretan campaign, being invalided home to New Zealand in consequence. On his recovery he again entered the Army and was in charge of the Maori reinforcements at Auckland, and later left again for overseas service with the Maori Battalion, as adjutant. He was mentioned in dispatches for his service in Crete. Major Te Punga was the eldest son of Rev H. H. and Mrs To Punga, of Halcombe, and has a brother in the Army, Lieutenant. R. C. Te Punga, who took part in the Libyan campaign. The latter was wounded and came home, but like his brother showed an indomitable spirit and once again is serving overseas. (Major Te Punga. Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 262, 3 October 1944, Page 5) AWMM
- Memorial name
- —
- Memorial reference
- —
Memorial
- Memorial name
- Halcombe War Memorial, Halcombe, Manawatu, New Zealand AWMM
Related Serviceperson
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 - Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1713888
Sources Used - Paterson, Lachy. (24 October 2020). The forgotten Maori Battalion. maorihomefront.nz
https://www.maorihomefront.nz/en/whanau-stories/the-forgotten-maori-battalion/
Further Reference - D Company, 28th Māori Battalion, Palmerston North, 1940. The soldiers were identified by D Company's Company Sergeant Major, Rangi Logan, in the 1990s. Names are listed from left to right in each row. Some identifications remain unconfirmed. Identifications: 28 Māori Battalion website, ‘D Company 1940, group photo’.
Back row: Unidentified, Tim Pahau, unidentified, possibly Katene, Bunny Hawkins (Wakatu), Johnson Whare, unidentified, Major Rewi, George Tawhai, Willy Rupe, Eddy (Kapai) Ngapuhi (unconfirmed), unidentified, Eddie Ngapuhi (unconfirmed), unidentified, unidentified, Joe Larkins (Rangitāne), unidentified, Rangi Mateparae, Norman Tane (Te Kuiti), Noble Carroll, Bill Tauri, unidentified. Third row: Unidentified, Jack Tainui, unidentified, Jim Koti, J. J. Taha, Kiwa Pomare Hura, Joe Te Rangi (Chatham Islands), unidentified, Bill Rangitawa, Nelson Carroll, unidentified, Iriwhata (Ponchey) Hunter, Don Mitchell (Wairoa), Waki Lewis (Ngāti Kauwhata), William Heperi, Bill Iwihora, Tuakana (Tew) Nikora, John Rangi (Waitōtara), George (Old Horse) Martin, John (Swanne) Collins, Philip Parahi, Nirai Apatu, George Cook, Bob Ropiha, Tom Ormond (Māhia), unidentified, Taake Karetu, Jim Tahau. Second row: Bill Kurupo (Le Bas), Barney Kingi, Willy Tamaki, Te Raetea Kahu Paku, Felix Edwards, Boy Tamaki, Lemuel Mahanga (Wairoa, Hawke's Bay), Jim Roach, Walla West, Jack Rewiti, Bob Mangere, Jim Kihi (Ngāti Maniapoto), Willie Komene, Maurice Anderson, unidentified, Pat Wright, unidentified, Les Wipiti, Peter Tapine (Piha), Jim Bailey (Whanganui) or Boss Pineaha, Peter Tahatu, Joe Hiroti (Whanganui), Robert Fowler, Boyce Te Mana, Joe Manaena, John Parata (Pehi), Mat Bailey (Pūtiki). Front row: Hori Tauroa Roa, Fraser Goodnight, Paul Kurupo, Bill Tukere Te Anga, Dean (Hati) Paipa, Martin Murphy, George Te Hau, Bill Mohi, Jackson Martin, Tom Pitama (identified as Petaina), Rangi Logan, George Te Kuru, Teri Gilroy, Captain Ces Blomfield, Major Humphrey Dyer, Paul Te Punga, Wally McKay, Sergeant Ted Pohio, Whiti Mane (Hastings), Jerry Smith (Whanganui), Barney Manawatu, Stan Cooper, Tom Smiler, Stanley Rangi Martin, Sam Komene, Henry Skipper, George Turner, Howe Iwihora. 'Maori Battalion, D Company, Palmerston North’. Photograph by Richard John James Thomson, 1940. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PA.000038.
https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/213178
Further Reference - OFFICER ACQUITTED Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 50, 1 March 1943, Page 4
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19430301.2.69
Further Reference - Feilding’s Target Must Be Realised To-day. Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 235, 4 October 1944, Page 8
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19441004.2.59
Further Reference - Halcombe, Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 249, 20 October 1944, Page 6
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19441020.2.45
Further Reference - Major Te Punga. Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 262, 3 October 1944, Page 5
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19441003.2.78
Further Reference
- 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
- References
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 13 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1944 to 31st March, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 2: WW2 183 - 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 13: WW2 123 - Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e! : Forever brave! : B Company 28 (Maori) Battalion, 1939-1945. Auckland : Bateman Books.
- Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
- Ko te Reo Huringa Tau o te Ope Maori Tuarua, i noho ki Remuera, Ohaeawai, 1942-43: The Anniversary Magazine of the Second Maori Battalion, Remuera, Ohaeawai 1942-1943. Patrick Smyth Papers, MS-2002-147, Auckland War Memorial Museum.
- Nominal Roll of Members of the 2nd Maori Battalion, 26th January 1943. Part of the 2nd Maori Battalion Anniversary Magazine. (MS-2002-147). Auckland War Memorial Museum.
- Davin, D. (1953). Crete. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
- Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 13 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1944 to 31st March, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
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