Raroa Leef

Forenames

Raroa AWMM

Surname

Leef AWMM

Also known as

Leefe AWMM

Service number

802425 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

• Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
• Te Tai Tokerau (Northern Tribes), Māori AWMM

Birth

1919 AWMM

Birth notes

Son of Whiri and Ria LEEFE, of Whangape,

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 17 September 2026 - https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/roroa-leefe

Address before enlistment

Unknown AWMM Te Puna, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

Mrs R. Leef (mother), Herekino, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

Pre 01 Jul 1942 AWMM Single AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

802425 AWMM

Enlistment

WW2 Sawmill hand/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

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

Medical notes

Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last rank

Lance Corporal/Military Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e!
28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e!

Raroa Leef was the son of Whiri and Ria Leef, of Whangape

Educated at the local Whangape Native School. He was a member of the Whangape rugby senior team in 1938 and of the Tauranga team in 1941.

He was a keen runner and all round athlete.

He volunteered for military service in 1942 and went overseas in July of the same year.

Brother of Mr Tua Leef of Whangape.

Listed as Leefe by CWGC (February 2011). Listed as Leefe on the Hokianga Memorial AWMM

Death

18 Feb 1944 AWMM
Age  25 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed in Action AWMM

Cemetery

Cassino War Cemetery, Italy AWMM IX. E. 4. AWMM

Memorial name

• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
• Hokianga Arch of Remembrance, Kohukohu, Hokianga, New Zealand AWMM

Related objects

External links

• 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
  http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
  Further Reference
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2609084
  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
  Further Reference

References

• 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 112
• Leaf, J.M. (1990). Leaf family reunion, 1832-1990. Kaikohe, N.Z.: Author.
• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
• 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.