George Katene

Born 27 Sept 1915 - Died 7 Dec 1943

Service number: WWII 6125 AWMM
Also known as: Te Oti Kerei Katene Jnr AWMM
Te Oti Kerei Katene Jnr
Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 17 November 2024 - https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/K24S-5HD/te-oti-kerei-katene-jnr-1915-1943
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: Lieutenant/Military AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, D Company AWMM
War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

George Katene — Lt. G. Katene, M.M., of Porirua, killed in action. Supplement to the Auckland Weekly News, 2 February 1944, p.22. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19440202-22-04. No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Biographical information

George Katene was the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Katene, of Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand.

Brother of Wikitoria Katene (72092) nurse WW2

Lieutenant G. Katene, MM; born Porirua, 27 Sep 1915; labourer; wounded 27 May 1941; killed in action 7 Dec 1943. (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p.57.)

'The morning of 16 April dawned grey with rain threatening. Lieutenant Urlich, looking down on the Katerini plains, wrote: ‘Could see road from katerine black with enemy vehicles. They advanced right under us and then our 5 Fd [Regiment] 25 pounders opened fire and picked vehicle-tank after vehicle-tank until Jerry found it too hot. Staff car came up part of the way and lasted one minute and a half before it was blown to Hell.’

The machine-gun section and the battalion 3-inch mortars joined the gunners, but the spotter plane still overhead directed fire on to them in retaliation and Sergeant Katene's mortar section was forced to move to alternative positions until ordered to withdraw in accordance with his instructions.

The enemy attempted to force the pass road with tanks supported by mortars, but 5 Field Regiment and 22 Battalion were equal to the occasion although, through a request from 22 Battalion, 15 Platoon (Lieutenant Tuhiwai) was sent down into support on the pass side of Petras Hill as a precautionary measure. It was not needed and returned to C Company.
' (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p. 57.)

Lieutenant George Katene, MM (27 September 1915 – 7 December 1943) was a soldier of the 28 (Maori) Battalion whose service spanned Greece, Crete, North Africa and Italy during World War II (1939–1945). Born in Porirua, he was the son of Te Oti (George) Katene and Te Arohi Marea (Rose) Poeneke, and was raised within Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Raukawa communities. He was educated locally and worked as a labourer for the Wellington Harbour Board before enlisting.

Katene joined the Territorials in 1933 and enlisted in the 28 (Maori) Battalion on 9 November 1939. He embarked overseas in May 1940 and served with the battalion’s mortar section. During the Greek campaign in April 1941, his leadership and skill under fire at Petras Pass earned him the Military Medal. He was wounded on Crete in May 1941 and later returned to active service, rising through the ranks to Lieutenant.

His sister, Sister Wikitoria Te Huruhuru (née Katene) (72092), also served in the Middle East as a nurse. During their respective postings in the Middle East, they were able to meet while on active service. An image of their meeting in the Middle East is held in the collection of National Army Museum Te Mata Toa.

In October 1943 the battalion deployed to Italy. On 7 December 1943, during operations near Orsogna, Lieutenant Katene was killed by enemy fire while coordinating mortar targets. He is buried at the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery. Katene is remembered in Porirua, within Ngāti Toa communities, and on national memorials for his service (Profile written for “A Flight to Remember”, an Anzac Day 2026 initiative by Online Cenotaph and Air New Zealand). AWMM

Sources

External links: George Katene profile, Porirua War Stories
https://www.poriruawarstories.com/katene-george
Further Reference
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
'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the undermentioned awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.' (London Gazette, 4 November 1941, p.6359.). Military Medal.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35333/supplements/6359
Further Reference
The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Katene, George. (Ref. WO 373/27/355). Military Medal.
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7362865
Further Reference
Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2204604
Sources Used
References: 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 100
Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
pp.57, 257, 307, 318, 332.
Information for this record was kindly provided by Allan Dodson, Porirua War Stories
Iwi, Hapū, Rohe and additional whakapapa information kindly provided from “Ngāti Raukawa and 20th century wars. Ngā Pakanga o Te Ao. Participation, Price, and Post-War Experience.” Research conducted by Te Kenehi Teira and Heeni Collins (2022). Report commissioned by Crown Forestry Rental Trust, Wellington (Wai 2200 Porirua ki Manawatu Inquiry).
Ngāti Raukawa in World War 2 - 1939-1945 & further (credit to Reuben Waaka, Diane Taylor, Te Kenehi Teira). Part of “Ngāti Raukawa and 20th century wars. Ngā Pakanga o Te Ao. Participation, Price, and Post-War Experience.” Research conducted by Te Kenehi Teira and Heeni Collins (2022). Report commissioned by Crown Forestry Rental Trust, Wellington (Wai 2200 Porirua ki Manawatu Inquiry).
This record was part of “A Flight to Remember”, an Anzac Day 2026 commemorative partnership between Online Cenotaph and Air New Zealand, where service stories were shared onboard a dawn flight from Auckland to Sydney.

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Online Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

George Katene

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