Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu VC was a New Zealand soldier and posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
16 Facts About Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu was the first Maori person to be awarded the VC while serving with New Zealand forces.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu was killed in action during Operation Supercharge II; part of the Tunisian campaign of World War II.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu was one of ten children of Hamuera Meketu Ngarimu, and his wife Maraea.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu was initially educated at Whareponga Native School but when the family moved to Pohatukura, near Ruatoria, he attended Hiruharama Native School.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu served through the battles of Greece and Crete after which he participated with the battalion during the North African Campaign.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu's company was allocated the objective of the capture of Point 209.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu's position reinforced the following morning, he was killed during the next counter-attack.
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The citation for Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu's VC was published in the London Gazette and read:.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu was given the task of attacking and capturing an under-feature forward of Point 209 itself and held in considerable strength by the enemy.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu led his men with great determination straight up the face of the hill, undeterred by the intense mortar and machine-gun fire, which caused considerable casualties.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu was twice wounded, once by rifle fire in the shoulder and later by shrapnel in the leg, and though urged by both his company and battalion commanders to go out, he refused to do so, saying that he would stay a little while with his men.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu stayed until he met his death the following morning.
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All through the night, between attacks, he and his men were heavily harassed by machine-gun and mortar fire, but 2nd Lieutenant Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu watched his line very carefully, cheering his men on and inspiring them by his personal conduct.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu was killed on his feet defiantly facing the enemy with his tommy-gun at his hip.
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Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu is commemorated by a scholarship promoting education of Maori, and in the World War II Hall of Memories at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.