Taha Ria

Forenames

Taha AWMM

Surname

Ria AWMM

Also known as

• Meta AWMM
• Meto AWMM

Service number

802172 AWMM

Gender

Male AWMM

Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe

• Iwi Māori, Māori AWMM
• Tākitimu, Waka o Ngā Iwi, Ngā Iwi, Māori AWMM

Date of birth

b. 1911

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 2 August 2023 - https://www.geni.com/people/Meta-Ria-te-Ota/6000000046058963018

Birth notes

Son of Ria (The Bishop) Te Ota and Keriana Ria

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 2 August 2023 - https://www.geni.com/people/Meta-Ria-te-Ota/6000000046058963018

Address before enlistment

Unknown AWMM 163 Lowe Street, Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM

Next of kin

Mrs R.K. Ria (wife), Ohinemutu, Rotorua, New Zealand AWMM

Relationship status

• Unknown AWMM Married AWMM
• 1939 Meta Te Ota RIA married Rawinea Kiwha RIA
  Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 2 August 2023 - https://www.geni.com/people/Meta-Ria-te-Ota/6000000046058963018

War

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Armed force / branch

Army AWMM

Service number

802172 AWMM

Military service

2nd Maori Battalion AWMM

Enlistment

WW2 Waterside worker/Civilian AWMM

Embarkation details

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

Medical notes

Killed on Active Service, Cause of Death AWMM

Last rank

Private Soutar, M. (2008). Nga tama toa & Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e!
28 (Maori) Battalion, B Company Soutar, M. (2008). Nga tama toa & Gardiner, W. (2019). Ake ake kia kaha e!

Listed as Meta Ria in Nominal Roll. Listed as Taha (Meto) Ria in Soutar (2008)

Identified as B and C Company (Soutar, 2008) AWMM

Death

7 Dec 1943 AWMM
Age  32 AWMM

Cause of death

Killed on Active Service AWMM

Cemetery

Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy AWMM IX. E. 18. AWMM

Obituary

Ria. —In memory of our dear brother Meto (Kuki) Ria, killed in action at Pescara, Italy, December 7, 1943.
He sleeps beside his comrades,
In a grave to us unknown,
But his name on a grave
Written in letters of gold,
In the hearts he left at home.
—Always remembered by his loving brothers Bud and Darkie (overseas).

Ria.—ln loving memory of our dear husband and father, Meto Ria (Kuki). killed in action December 7. 1943.
You are always in our thoughts.
—Inserted by his wife and sons, Glennie, Ti and Rangi.
Ria.—ln loving memory of our loving son and brother, Private M. J. Ria, who was killed in action at Orsogna, December 7, 1943.
Often there our thoughts do wander,
To the spot so far away,
Where they laid our loving brother.
Just a year ago to-day
—Inserted by his loving father, sisters Mary and Nuki. brothers Rongo. Colin, Bud and Pte. D’arcy (overseas).
Ria. —Treasured memories of our dear brother and uncle, who was killed in action in Orsogna, December 7, 1943.
Resting where no shadows fall,
In perfect peace he awaits us all;
God will link the broken chain,
As one by one we meet again.
—Inserted by his loving brother Nehe and family.

Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 2 August 2023 - ROLL OF HONOUR IN MEMORIAM
GISBORNE HERALD, VOLUME LXXI, ISSUE 21581, 7 DECEMBER 1944, PAGE 1

Memorial name

• Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
• Gisborne First World War Memorial, The Esplanade, Kaiti, Gisborne 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/2376094
  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
• 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. 11 (Embarkations from 1st April, 1943 to 30th June, 1943). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
  WW2 11: WW2 109
• 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)
• 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.
• Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.