Edward Renata Muhunga Broughton

Born 6 Sept 1884 - Died 9 May 1955

Service number: South African 7277 AWMM
WWI 16/518 AWMM
Also known as: Tip AWMM
Edward Re-nata Mu-hunga Broughton AWMM
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: WW1 Captain/Military AWMM
WW2 Captain/Military Australian Dictionary of Biography
War: South African War, 1899-1902 AWMM
World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Edward Renata Muhunga Broughton — Officers of the N.Z. Pioneer Battalion, 1919. — This photograph of the officers of the Pioneer Battalion was taken in England shortly before return to New Zealand early in 1919. In the front rank (left to right): Chaplain Pene te U. Hakiwai, Lieut. Karauti, Captain P. Ferris, Captain P. Tahiwi, Lieut.-Col. W. O. Ennis (O.C.), Captain Broughton, Captain Mulholland (surgeon), Lieut. H. Wilson, Lieut. Hetet. Chamberlain is second row fourth from left. In Cowan, J. (1926). The Maoris in the great war : A history of the New Zealand native contingent and pioneer battalion. Auckland : Maori Regimental Committee, 1926 (PAGE IVA) No Known Copyright Restrictions

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Biographical information

Son of William Muhunga Broughton.

First served in South Africa with the 9th Contingent, New Zealand Mounted Rifles

Served in WWI at Gallipoli and the Western Front with the NZEF Maori (Pioneer) Battalion

Emigrated to Melbourne in the early 1920's and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in June 1940

Transferred to the Army Camp Service in October, 1942, he was assigned to command the 8th Employment Company, which was comprised of refugees from Nazi persecution, all of which had volunteered for Army Service.

A bust of Capt. Broughton is in the Jewish Museum of Australia

Father was named William Muhunga Broughton.

SuppNom: Ex First Maori Contingent.

"Te Hoko Whitu a Tu. Te Ope Tuawaru.

They assembled at the Narrow Neck Training Camp early in June, 1916. Whilst possibly not up to the physical standard of the Main Body, and on the average slightly younger in appearance, there was something about them that, to the keen, critical eye of the instructional staff, denoted intelligence and a keen desire to learn and assimilate what they were taught. Most of the leading tribes of Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island) were represented. The two notable exceptions were Waikato and Taranaki. Apparently, they still retained bitter memories of the alleged grievances which culminated in the Waikato campaign of the ’sixties, and their treatment subsequent thereto. There were members of Te Arawa, Maniapoto, Tūhoe and other tribes, but the best represented in point of numbers were the Ngāpuhi of the Far North and those who hail from the Tai Rāwhiti district. These latter include the Ngāti Porou (East Coast) and Ngāti Kahungunu (Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay) peoples. To the Māori of three generations ago, it would appear incredible that descendants of all these tribes should unite in one common take (cause)—that Ngāpuhi should be allied with their hereditary foes of the South, Tūhoe with Te Arawa, Maniapoto with Ngāti Porou. Omnipotent indeed is the mana of Ingarangi (England) and her māngai (mouthpieces) are verily tino tohunga (wise men).

Nevertheless, tradition dies hard, likewise tribal animosities and prejudices. At first there was a certain amount of aloofness on the part of individuals. Small signs of suspicion and mistrust were not entirely lacking. A week’s slow marching under the guidance of raucous-voiced but tactful instructors, a few jokes sandwiched in between the weary routine of verbal detail, and the native reserve soon thawed, new friendships were made, and they were soon literally a happy family of recruits. They were there for one common purpose: to go forth and uphold the mana (prestige) of their Upoko Ariki, Kingi Hori te Tuarima (Supreme Lord, King George V). Soon they would cross Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean) to fill up the gaps in the ranks of Te Hoko Whitu a Tu (the children of Tu, the god of war). Not in vain would the spirits of their dead whanaunga (relatives) call to them from far Gallipoli and from the plains of Armentières kia ngaki ai ngā mate (to avenge those fallen). Could they resist the call? E kore! (Never! No!) They were toa (warriors), descendants of toa, and gladly would they lay down their lives if in so doing the mana of their Upoko Ariki was upheld and utu (payments) taken. Hence their volunteering and their taking the oath of allegiance to Kingi Hori te Tuarima.

The dull routine of training, however, had its compensations. To the Māori mind the mannerisms and vocabulary of the instructors were at times a cause of both wonder and (I fear) silent amusement. Ofttimes of an evening the studied military gait or the flute-like words of command of some instructor proved the subject of subtle burlesque à la Māori, and never failed to draw generous applause. To some the passing of orders in English was a stiff obstacle. “Retire by sections alternately from the right” would be unrecognisable as “Retire by sections into eternity—it’s alright” by even the most advanced student of English classics! Yet, withal, good steady progress was made, and marked improvement showed each succeeding week.

After the musketry course came final leave. To a Māori, home in the strict Pākehā (white man) sense is not known. He is a member of a whānau (family), which in its turn is a member of a hapū (sub-tribe), which in its turn again is an integral part of an iwi (tribe) descended from some noted rangatira of the distant past. Their interests are his, and vice versa. He owes respect and allegiance to his elders and chiefs. Tribal and family interests are indissolubly interlocked. Ergo, a toa belongs to his tribe, and by tradition and upbringing is in honour bound to uphold the tribal prestige. Many were the gifts given to the young toa, stirring the tales of the deeds of his ancestors he imbibed, and finally came the advice of his elders: “Haere ki a koe, kia toa, kia māia, kia manawanui!” (“Go forth, be brave, be courageous, be generous to the foe!”)

Back in camp again, the final training was undergone, the day of departure from Aotearoa (New Zealand) drew near. Finally, they marched out with steady, swinging step, and with faces aglow with excitement. Unlike the Pākehā leavetaking on similar occasions, there were no loud hurrahs, no flag-waving; but there arose instead the farewell greeting of their race, like the roar of te taheke o Aratiatia (the rapids of Aratiatia): “Haere rā e hoa mā, mā tātou e haere atu!” (“Farewell, brothers! we shall follow!”), which was answered by “Hei konā koutou!” (“Salutation! Salutation!”)

A journey of 18 hours, and they disentrained at Pōneke (Wellington). A march through the city, and then aboard the transport. Forty-eight hours after leaving Narrow Neck they were on the bosom of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. Individually and collectively their destinies were in the keeping of Ihowa te Tino Atua (Jehovah, the Supreme God), who, to quote one of their elders, “would ever go before them.” In their keeping was the mana of their people and the honoured names of their forbears. Each in his inmost heart was a proud man. When the time comes, gladly will they grapple with the foe, knowing that in Te Rēinga (the Māori heaven) the spirits of the children of Tu (the god of war) will always await their coming and ever welcome them.

—E. R. Broughton.
*The Children of Tu (The Māori God of War).
†The Eighth Māori Reinforcements." (Pakeha : the journal of the Seventeenth Reinforcements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces - aboard H.M.N.Z. Transport 65 (S.S."Pakeha") AWMM

About death

Death: 9 May 1955 Australian Dictionary of Biography
Date of death: —
Age at death: —
Place of death: —
Cause of death: —
Death notes: —
Cemetery: Fawkner Cemetery Australia AWMM
Cemetery name: —
Grave reference: —
Obituary: Edward Renato Broughton

On Tuesday May 10, the remains of the late Edward Renato Broughton were conveyed to their final resting place at Fawkner Cemetery. A brief prayer in Latin, an equally brief prayer and Pater Noster in English, and without further comment by priest or press, almost unceremoniously, an extraordinary man passed away.

Some will remember him as Captain Broughton, M.I.D., Commanding Officer of the 8th Aust. Employment Company which was founded in 1942 by about 800 predominantly Jewish ex-internees.

Here was a unit which was extraordinary in itself. Its rank and file had one and all fled Hitler’s Europe only to be interned in England. Some of them had survived an attempt to ship them to Canada on the Anandora Star (this writer amongst them!) which was torpedoed, leaving 1,200 people in the Irish Sea for good.

Subsequently, some of the 800 survivors together with others were shipped to Australia on the Dunera on which they were robbed by the later court-martialled guards (the British Government paid compensation). In Australia they found themselves sitting between two chains on the floor. The British Government confessed its mistake. The Australian Government said they had never immigrated.

Finally (after two years’ incarceration) they were released and enlisted. The unit was thus remarkable for its historic background, but further than that the average educational background of its rank and file was high above that of most other regular units.

To handle such a unit it took an extraordinary man and Captain Broughton certainly was that man. Keenly intelligent, well-read, endowed with a superb sense of humour, completely untainted by any racial prejudice (he was three quarters Maori), deeply interested in human beings, he did not only gain immediate respect and obedience but also the love and affection of the unit.

He enjoyed hugely being at the head of this unit, learned and meticulously respected Jewish custom, and was immensely proud of the unit because of the splendid work it did, humbly unaware of the fact that it was only he who could have turned these people into willing manual labourers.

He knew every member of the unit by name, knew their personal histories, helped many in the achievement of their non-military aims. For years after he had been retired from the Army (they found out his real age) he kept in touch with the boys like a benevolent father, triumphed with the successful and suffered with the failures.

He engaged in an incessant publicity war on behalf of the boys and fought hard to have our status changed, only to be booted out by the Army eventually.

But to us he did one important thing. After being shoved around as flotsam and jetsam for years he managed by his attitude, despite the unideal circumstances of army life, to make us feel like human beings again, he restored our faith in man as something more than 92% water and a few chemicals.

In Jewish traditional parlance he was a Ger-Zedek. In English parlance a scholar and a gentleman.

May he rest in peace.

(ERWIN FRENKEL)

The Australian Jewish News (Melbourne, Vic.: 1935–1999), Fri 13 May 1955, p. 2, “In Memoriam: Edward Renato Broughton”. AWMM
Memorial name: —
Memorial reference: —

Sources

External links: Military personnel file
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R21899513
Further Reference
Austalian Dictionary of Biography: Personal Page
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/broughton-edward-renata-tip-9595
Sources Used
New Zealand History online. New Zealand in the South (Boer) War Embarkation Database
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/new-zealand-in-the-south-african-boer-war/database
Further Reference
Casualty Department Nominal Rolls of Service Personnel Returning to New Zealand Index, Auckland Council Archives
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/CityArchives/FamilyHistory/ACC080/searchnominal.htm
Further Reference
National Archives Australia:Citizen Military Forces Personnel Dossiers, 1939-1947
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=6281475&isAv=N
Further Reference
Australian War Memorial: Shaping Memory: Sculpture at the Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/shapingmemory/post.asp
Further Reference
Military Personnel File
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R21899513
Sources Used
PHDS Site: Sydney Morning Herald: April 24,1992
http://www.phds.com.au/phds-articles/1992/4/24/how-a-maori-officer-became-a-father-figure-to-the-misfits/
Further Reference
Australian War Memorial: Sculpture of Captain Edward (Tip) Broughton
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ART90000/
Further Reference
Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q21537149
Further Reference
Cowan, J. (1926). The Maoris in the Great War. Auckland, N.Z.: Maori Regimental Committee by Whitcombe & Tombs.
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20201108000000/https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-CowMaor.html
Further Reference
Frenkel, E. (1955, May 13). In memoriam: Edward Renato Broughton. The Australian Jewish News, p. 2.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/262434670
Further Reference
References: McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers.
New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1914-1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume I. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
Vol1: 82
New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
41: 40
New Zealand. Army. 1st Maori Contingent. Scroll of the 1st New Zealand Maori Contingent, 1915. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-624.
Stowers, R. (2009). Rough riders at war : history of New Zealand's involvement in the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 and information on all members of the 10 New Zealand contingents. Hamilton, N.Z.: R. Stowers.
Soutar, M. (2019). Whitiki! Whiti! Whiti! E!: Maori In the First World War. New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd.
Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
Vol. 5: Includes portrait
Harper, G., Clements, C., & Johns., R. (2019). For King and Other Countries: The New Zealanders Who Fought in Other Services in the First World War. Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University Press.
Cowan, J. (1926). The Maoris in the Great War. Auckland, N.Z.: Maori Regimental Committee by Whitcombe & Tombs.
Pugsley, C. (1995). Te Hokowhitu a Tu : the Maori Pioneer Battalion in the first World War. Auckland, N.Z.: Reed.
HMNZT 65 - Pakeha : the journal of the Seventeenth Reinforcements H.M.N.Z. Transport 65 (S.S."Pakeha"). Pilling, E.G. (Ewen George), editor. McGhie, J.G. (John Gordon), editor. Bell, R.B. (Robert Brown), editor. -- At sea : Officers and men, 17th Reinforcements : 1916.

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Edward Renata Muhunga Broughton