James Pirihi

Forenames

James AWMM

Surname

Pirihi AWMM

Service number

WWII 25982 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM

Birth

17 Nov 1915 AWMM

Address before enlistment

Whakatutu, Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

Mr James Taia (nephew), Tererepa, Opotiki, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

Unknown AWMM Single AWMM

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

WWII 25982 AWMM

Medals and Awards

• Military Medal (MM) AWMM
  14 Mar 1943 AWMM
  T/Cpl. Pirihi is a stretcher bearer who has continually shown outstanding courage and unswerving devotion to duty. In the action of 23/24 October 1942 at Miteiriya Ridge he dressed and splinted a fractured limb under heavy shell fire and machine gun fire. Throughout the night and for the best part of the following day he worked cheerfully and untiringly treating, evacuating and burying casualties until none remained on the field. In the action 1/2 November 1942 at Point 29 he again showed great devotion to duty administering to friend and foe alike. In one instance, in the face of enemy machine-gun fire, he dressed the wounds of a German soldier and finally carried him out to safety personally. His behaviour and courage is of the highest order and is a source of inspiration to all his comrades. (London Gazette 11/3/1943 (I)) The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Pirihi, James. (Ref. WO 373/24/173). Military Medal. 14 Mar 1943 Medal. 14 Mar 1943 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 AWMM

Medical notes

Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Last rank

Corporal/Military AWMM
28 (Maori) Battalion, C Company AWMM

Son of Teuanga and Teaurek Pirihi, of Opotiki. AWMM

Death

5 Jan 1943 AWMM
Age  32 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed in Action AWMM

Cemetery

Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya AWMM 12. D. 11. AWMM

Memorial name

Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Related objects

External links

• 28th Maori Battalion Website 1941-1945
  http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/
  Further Reference
• 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.' (London Gazette, 14 March 1943, p.1176.). Military Medal.
  http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35934/supplements/1176
  Further Reference
• The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Pirihi, James. (Ref. WO 373/24/173). Military Medal.
  http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7360925
  Further Reference
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
  https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2169065
  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

• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 3 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1940 to 31st March, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  WW2 3: WW2 380
• 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)
• Cody, J. (1956). 28 (Maori) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.