Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu VC

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....

 (7 April 1918 - 27 March 1943) was a New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 soldier and posthumous recipient of the Victoria Cross

Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....

. A Māori of Ngati Porou

Ngati Porou

Ngāti Porou is a Māori iwi traditionally located in the East Cape and Gisborne regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Ngāti Porou has the second-largest affiliation of any iwi in New Zealand, with 71,910 registered members in 2006...

 and Te Whanau-a-Apanui

Te Whanau-a-Apanui

Te Whānau-ā-Apanui is a Māori iwi located in the eastern Bay of Plenty and East Coast regions of New Zealand's North Island. In 2006, the iwi registered 11,808 members, representing 13 hapu.-Early history:Apanui Ringamutu is the founding ancestor of the iwi...

 descent, he grew up in Ruatoria

Ruatoria

The town of Ruatoria is located in the East Coast region of New Zealand's North Island. It is the second largest centre of population in the sparsely populated region, yet has a population of only 900 .- Geography :...

, where he attended Hiruharama School.

Details

He was 24 years old, and a Second Lieutenant

Second Lieutenant

Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...

 in the 28th Battalion, 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force

New Zealand Expeditionary Force

The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight for Britain during World War I and World War II. Ultimately, the NZEF of World War I was known as the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force...

—known as "Māori Battalion

Maori Battalion

The 28th Battalion, more commonly known as the Māori Battalion, was an infantry battalion of the New Zealand Army that served during the Second World War. It was formed following pressure on the Labour government by some Māori MPs and Māori organisations throughout the country wanting a full Māori...

"—during the Second World War

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 when the following deed took place—

"On 26/27 March 1943 during the action at Tobaga Gap, Tunisia

Tunisia

Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...

, Second Lieutenant Ngarimu, who was commanding a platoon in a vital hill feature strongly held by the enemy, led his men straight up the face of the hill and was first on the crest. He personally destroyed two machine-gun posts and owing to his inspired leadership several counter-attacks were beaten off during the night. He was twice wounded but refused to leave his men. By morning when only two of his platoon remained unwounded, reinforcements arrived. When the next counter-attack was launched, however, Second Lieutenant Ngarimu was killed".

An essay competition has been set up in his name, known as the Ngarimu VC Māori essay competition which comprises both Māori and English categories and is open to students New Zealand-wide.

The medal

The medal was presented to his parents by the governor general, Sir Cyril
Newall

Cyril Newall, 1st Baron Newall

Marshal of the Royal Air Force Cyril Louis Norton Newall, 1st Baron Newall GCB OM GCMG CBE AM , was a British soldier and airman, who headed the Royal Air Force as the Chief of the Air Staff during the early part of the Second World War before serving as the sixth Governor-General of New Zealand...

, at a hui

Hui (Maori assembly)

A hui is a New Zealand term for a social gathering or assembly.Originally a Māori language word, it was used by Europeans as early as 1846 when referring to Māori gatherings - but is now increasingly used in New Zealand English to describe events that are not exclusively Māori....

 at Ruatoria on 6 October 1943 attended by government leaders, diplomatic representatives and local people. The second of only three Victoria Crosses awarded to Māori, it was displayed in Gisborne

Gisborne, New Zealand

-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...

 in the Tairawhiti Museum’s Prize of Citizenship Gallery during 2004 and 2005.

See also

• Willie Apiata
• William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse
  William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse
  William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse VC, born William Barnard Moorhouse, was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
  
  
• Victoria Cross
  Victoria Cross
  The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
  
  
• Victoria Cross for New Zealand
  Victoria Cross for New Zealand
  The Victoria Cross for New Zealand is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the New Zealand Armed Forces. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command, and is presented to the recipient by the...
  
  
• List of New Zealander Victoria Cross recipients

External links

• Portrait by Peter McIntyre
  Peter McIntyre (artist)
  Peter McIntyre OBE was a New Zealand painter and author. He was the son of Peter McIntyre, a lithographic artist, and his wife, Isabella Edith Cubitt.He was New Zealand's official war artist during World War II....
  
   from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
  Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
  The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography contains biographies for over 3,000 New Zealanders. It is available in both English and Maori. All volumes of the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography are available online....
  
  
• Entry in the Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966)
  Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966)
  An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand was an official encyclopedia about New Zealand, published by the New Zealand Government in 1966. The editor was Dr Alexander Hare McLintock, the parliamentary historian, who was assisted by two others. The encyclopedia included articles written by 359 other authors...
  
  
• Full citation
• Other Heroes at www.edgenz.com
• Second Lieutenant M.N.K. Ngarimu in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives
• New Zealand Troops who have won the Victoria Cross (brief biography details)
• http://www.tki.org.nz/r/maori/wharekura/whare14_st4_e.php, article in te reo
• New Zealand Army