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 Das_Colonel, on Jun 17 2012 - 05:22, said:

Thank you. I have heard of the Bren gun carrier since I was a teen, now I know.

thank you Maori Battalion for your services

I am probably related by marriage to a number of members of the Maori Battalion, although I have never really looked into it so far.

However I am, as are most Kiwis, incredibly proud of the Maori Battalion and how they fought with distinction for King and Country. They punched above their weight. I would have been proud to fight along side them in any war.

Thank you to all who served, not only in the Maori Battalion, but all Kiwi soldiers, sailors and air force, past or present, in combat, peace keeping or disaster relief. You all make your nation immensely proud.

Kia kaha!

These bites of info are amazing, very fascinating to read about New Zealand's part in the war.

 whukid, on Jun 17 2012 - 02:41, said:

Partially correct - The germans massively understaed what their casulalties were, for much the same reason - The body counts reported by the Brits were correct, as they captured doccuments showing which groups landed where

42nd Street - The Allies were retreating towards the coast, and as a rearguard effort managed to cut a swathe through the German advance.

The battle of Crete probably would have failed had the Allied command not given the order to abandon the airfield.

 Taktische, on Jun 17 2012 - 06:08, said:

Not quite correct :P
Johnny Upham was from the UK, wife was one of the early English settlers


Only COMBATANT soldier ever to win the V.C twice.

Kippenberger and Freyburg merged two citations for his 2nd V.C - for Minqar Qaim & Ruweisat Ridge.- Yes, there were throughts of giving him 3,.

While trying to escape from Colditz, The Kommandant was told by the senior british officer in the camp "This man is the Ace soldier of the British Empire"



Semple tank.  Oh dear, what were they thinking.  Tractor + tin shed = tank!?


The New Zealanders have a tradition of being awesome, just look at our SAS

Hi all,
Two Items I'ld like to share:
1.  Haane Manahi recommended for VC (epic read).
http://www.listener....ting-for-haane/
2.  WWII Timeline for NZ,
http://www.nzhistory...ld-war/timeline

 Taktische, on Jun 17 2012 - 06:08, said:

 markoshark, on Jun 18 2012 - 10:31, said:

Are you fucking kidding me? Have either of you heard of Wikipedia or at least Google? Yes, Taktische you are definitely wrong, as are you markoshark.
http://en.wikipedia....i/Charles_Upham

Basic Points:
CAPTAIN (Not Sergeant)
CHARLES (not Johnny) Upham,
CAUCASIAN (Not Maori)

Do some bloody research before you open your internet mouth, and yes I am a New Zealander/Kiwi.

Back on subject: I greatly admire the 28th and all that they did (did an essay at Uni on them, fascinating unit) however I am puzzled over why an INFANTRY unit is being discussed on a strictly speaking ARMOURED website for an ARMOURED game.
Edited by LtJimmy, Jun 19 2012 - 05:29.

I o7 them.....my respect.

Thank you so much, I am a proud Kiwi and very much thank you for this.

 LtJimmy, on Jun 19 2012 - 05:24, said:

Um, Johnny was Charles Upham's FATHER.

Yes, the internet is a very powerful mouth, I should have refuted the comments made by Taktische in a slightly different manner.  However, still stands
Edited by markoshark, Jun 19 2012 - 10:25.

Charles Upham

from: http://en.wikipedia....i/Charles_Upham
Upham enlisted in the 2nd NZ Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) at the age of 30 in September 1939 and was posted to the 20th Canterbury-Otago Battalion, part of the New Zealand Division.^[1] Despite the fact that he already had five years experience in New Zealand's Territorial Army, in which he held the rank of sergeant, he signed on as a private.^[4] He was soon promoted to temporary lance corporal, but initially declined a place in an Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU). In December he was promoted to sergeant and a week later sailed for Egypt. In July 1940 he was finally persuaded to join an OCTU.

Sometimes it pays to read more than the 1st line of Wiki....  Hopefully this solves the Sgt/Capt issue.

Please also note the link below of the only tank in the Maori Battalion

http://www.28maoriba...nk-going-action

I knew that Maoris fought in WW2 for the New Zealanders but I never knew there was seperate battlion of Maori troops.
I was greatly impressed with the article and was particularly amused by the though of German troops trying to wade ashore in ever-sunny Scotland coming across a bunch of cold,wet miserable Maoris looking for fight...it wouldn't have been pretty.

The Maori's have always had and continuue to exemplify what can only be described as a warrior culture and was one of the reasons for the treaty of Waitangi in the first place. The British for all of the colonial might knew well those 'natives' whose ferociousness was better used against the enemies of empire than by fighting it. The Maori wars were long and bloody affairs. The Gurkhas and Maoris can stand proud of their acheivements. Hats off.

Incidentally: I know that Gurkhas in the British Army use their own language in certain specialist commmunications and especially at battlaion level without bothering with BATCO most of the time. Did the /do the Maori speakers in New Zealand do the same? (akin to the rather oft-stated 'Wind-talkers' using the Navajo language for the US in the Pacific Campaign)

Edit: Rather than post another thread. I know that there is a tattoo culture amongst Maoris as well. Does/did the military make any special rules regarding facial tattoos for the Maoris?
Edited by Vollketten, Jun 19 2012 - 17:05.

I have always been impressed by the Maori BN. Their exploits are legendary, from taking over a German hill top with stones when they ran out of bullets, to ordering in Mutton Birds for Christmas. The Germans thought the British troops were running low on food, and had resorted to eating  seagulls. They had no idea that the Maori and indeed New Zealand soliders considered Mutton  Birds a special treat from home.
Edited by seaeagle, Jun 19 2012 - 23:03.

 markoshark, on Jun 18 2012 - 10:31, said:

Hey, the bloke's shed has iconic status in New Zealand. Just imagine what it could achieve if it was put on tracks.

I never knew this of these men fighting as their own unit, I knew of my own people who served in the Canadian ranks and of the Gurkhas.

If only the King allowed an entire division of conquered warriors of the Commonwealth.

That photo is pretty damn sweet..