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Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu

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Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Whareponga, Gisborne District, Gisborne, New Zealand
Death
27 Mar 1943 (aged 24)
Tunisia
Burial
Sfax, Ṣafāqis, Tunisia GPS-Latitude: 34.72051, Longitude: 10.7338539
Plot
X. E. 14.
Memorial ID
View Source
World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Ruatoria, New Zealand, he served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 28th Māori Battalion, New Zealand Military Forces. On the night of March 26, 1943, Second Lieutenant Ngarimu commanded a platoon during the attack at Tebaga Gap, Tunisia. He was the first to reach the crest of the hill and destroyed two enemy machine-gun posts. The enemy counter-attacked and in the course of hand-to-hand fighting, Lieutenant Ngarimu was twice wounded, but refused to leave his post. During the night the Germans succeeded in piercing the line, Lieutenant Ngarimu killed some of the enemy, drove back the rest with his tommy-gun and led his men back to their position. In the morning, he was killed while defying a further counter-attack. For gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross presented to his parents by the Governor General Sir Cyril Newall at Ruatoria, New Zealand, on October 6, 1943.
World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Ruatoria, New Zealand, he served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 28th Māori Battalion, New Zealand Military Forces. On the night of March 26, 1943, Second Lieutenant Ngarimu commanded a platoon during the attack at Tebaga Gap, Tunisia. He was the first to reach the crest of the hill and destroyed two enemy machine-gun posts. The enemy counter-attacked and in the course of hand-to-hand fighting, Lieutenant Ngarimu was twice wounded, but refused to leave his post. During the night the Germans succeeded in piercing the line, Lieutenant Ngarimu killed some of the enemy, drove back the rest with his tommy-gun and led his men back to their position. In the morning, he was killed while defying a further counter-attack. For gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross presented to his parents by the Governor General Sir Cyril Newall at Ruatoria, New Zealand, on October 6, 1943.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith


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