Haane Manahi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Haane Manahi
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Haane Manahi in Maadi, Egypt, June 1943
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| Birth name | Haane Te Rauawa Manahi |
| Born | 28 September 1913 Ohinemutu, New Zealand |
| Died | 29 March 1986 (aged 72) Tauranga, New Zealand |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Service/ |
New Zealand Military Forces |
| Years of service | 1939–1946 |
| Rank | Lance Sergeant |
| Unit | Māori Battalion |
| Battles/wars | Second World War
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| Awards | Distinguished Conduct Medal |
Haane Te Rauawa Manahi (born 28 September 1913 – died 29 March 1986) was a brave Māori soldier from New Zealand. He fought in the Second World War. During the Tunisian campaign, his amazing courage led to him being suggested for the Victoria Cross (VC). This is the highest award for bravery in the British military.
However, he was instead given the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). This made his fellow soldiers very disappointed. After he died, they worked hard to get him more recognition for his bravery. In 2007, a special award was given to his family. This included an altar cloth for a church, a special sword, and a letter from Queen Elizabeth II. These items recognized his incredible courage.
Haane Manahi was born in Ohinemutu, New Zealand. He worked as a labourer before joining the Māori Battalion in November 1939. This battalion was a special unit created for the war. In 1941, he fought in the Battle of Greece and was wounded during the Battle of Crete. After he got better, he rejoined his unit. He then fought in the Western Desert and Tunisian campaigns.
It was during the fighting at Takrouna from 19 to 21 April 1943 that he showed such bravery. Four generals supported his nomination for the Victoria Cross. But the award was changed to a DCM instead. It is thought that a very senior British general, General Alan Brooke, might have made this change.
In June 1943, Haane Manahi returned to New Zealand for a three-month break. He was not required to go back to the war after this. Many Māori soldiers who had served a long time were allowed to stay home. After the war, he worked as a traffic inspector. He died in a car crash in 1986. After his death, a group was formed to try and get him the Victoria Cross. But because so much time had passed since the war, they were not successful.
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Early Life and Family
Haane Te Rauawa Manahi was born on 28 September 1913. His father, Manahi Ngākahawai Te Rauawa, was a farm worker. His mother was Neti Mariana Insley. Haane was born in Ohinemutu, a village near Rotorua in New Zealand's North Island.
He was a Māori man. His family came from the Te Arawa and Ngāti Raukawa iwi (tribes). His mother also had some Scottish heritage. Haane went to local schools, including secondary school. After school, he worked building roads and on farms. He also worked in the timber and building industries. His uncle, Matiu Te Rauawa, had also been a soldier in the First World War.
Serving in the Second World War
In November 1939, the Second World War began. Haane Manahi was one of the first to join the new Māori Battalion. This battalion had a main headquarters and four rifle companies. Each company was made up of soldiers from different Māori tribes. Haane was in B Company, mostly with men from the Te Arawa tribe.
The Māori Battalion was part of the 2nd New Zealand Division. They started training in January 1940. Before leaving for training, Haane married Rangiawatea Te Kiri. They already had a son, born in 1936.
Training and Travel
In May 1940, Haane and his fellow soldiers had two weeks of leave. Then, the battalion left New Zealand for the Middle East. But Italy joined the war on Germany's side. So, their ship was sent to England instead. In England, there was a fear that Germany might invade.
The New Zealand soldiers trained and helped defend the country. The Māori Battalion was based in Kent and then Aldershot. Haane's company was briefly at Waverley Abbey House in Surrey. By late 1940, it was decided the New Zealanders could go to the Middle East. In January 1941, Haane and his battalion sailed to Egypt.
Battles in Greece and Crete
On 27 March 1941, Haane's battalion arrived in Greece. They were there to help defend against a German invasion. They took up positions around Olympus Pass. When the invasion began on 6 April, they fought back against the Germans.
But the Allied forces had to pull back. Haane's B Company was the last unit to leave its position. They withdrew to Porto Rafti and boarded a ship for Crete. On Crete, the Allies prepared for a German attack from the air. The Māori Battalion was near Platanias, ready to help defend Maleme Airfield.
On 20 May, the Germans began their invasion of Crete. Haane was returning to his trench when German paratroopers started landing. On 23 May, he was shot in the chest. Even with his wound, he stayed with his company. They had to retreat, and he was evacuated from Crete on 31 May. He was then taken to Egypt.
Fighting in North Africa
By mid-June 1941, Haane Manahi had recovered. He returned to the Māori Battalion. They were now training for desert warfare. They also built defenses near the Baggush Box in Egypt. During this time, Haane won a 50-yard freestyle swimming race.
In November, his division took part in Operation Crusader. They crossed into Libya and fought for over a month. During this time, Haane and two others captured a German tank. It had gotten stuck in their trenches. On 26 November, Haane drove the tank during a fight. He helped capture an enemy field gun. In early 1942, the New Zealanders went to Syria for a break.
In May 1942, German forces attacked Libya. The 2nd Division rushed back from Syria. They dug in at Minqar Qaim. The Germans surrounded them, and the division had to fight its way out on 26 June. They pulled back to El Alamein in Egypt. Here, they faced heavy artillery fire and waited for an attack.
In late August, a raid was planned to capture prisoners. Haane's B Company was one of the units involved. They successfully captured over 40 enemy soldiers on 26 August. The next month, the battalion rested briefly. Then they returned for the Second Battle of El Alamein. During a part of the battle called Operation Supercharge, Haane and his company made a successful bayonet charge. They fought against Germans who were strongly dug in.
The Germans were now retreating, and the Allies chased them into Libya and Tunisia. After a battle at Tebaga Gap, plans began to push into Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. First, they needed to break through a defensive line near Enfidaville.
The Battle for Takrouna
By April 1943, the 2nd New Zealand Division was in mountains overlooking Enfidaville. Takrouna was a hill about 300 meters high. Italian and German soldiers held it. There was a village on top and a ledge on one side. The Māori Battalion was ordered to capture Takrouna.
B Company made the main attack on 19 April. But heavy machine gun fire stopped them. The battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bennett, ordered Haane Manahi to take 12 men. They were to make a fake attack while the rest of B Company joined C Company. Haane, who had just been promoted to lance sergeant, led one part of the group.
At dawn, they attacked up a very steep slope. They managed to surprise the Italians defending the ledge. They captured 60 prisoners. The New Zealanders then dug in, ready for a counter-attack. Artillery and mortar fire killed half of their group, including their officer. This left Haane, as the most senior non-commissioned officer, in charge.
Two attempts to contact the battalion failed. So, Haane went down Takrouna himself to find help and supplies. An officer told him to leave the ledge, but Haane ignored this advice. He returned with more soldiers, ammunition, and medics. Another group of soldiers arrived to help hold the position. The expected counter-attack began, but they fought it off successfully. After being on Takrouna for 16 hours, Haane and his remaining men finally pulled back. They left the new soldiers to hold the ledge.
However, on 21 April, Italian forces launched another counter-attack. They pushed the New Zealanders off the ledge. Brigadier Howard Kippenberger, the acting commander, ordered the Māori Battalion to get it back. Haane Manahi was specifically asked to help because he knew the area well. He went with a group of volunteers to recapture the lost position. With artillery support, their attack worked. By midday, the New Zealanders were back on the ledge. But the village on the summit was still held by the Italians.
Later that afternoon, Haane Manahi led seven soldiers in an attack. Working with another group, they captured the village. They took 300 prisoners. After the battle, with Takrouna secure, Haane helped recover the bodies of his fallen friends.
Haane's brave actions quickly became known. Within days, his battalion commander nominated him for the Victoria Cross. Brigadier Ralph Harding and four senior generals supported this nomination. These included Lieutenant General Bernard Freyberg and General Bernard Montgomery. Even General Harold Alexander, the army group commander, supported it.
But when the nomination reached London, the award was changed to a Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). It's not clear who made this change. But historians believe only a very senior officer, like General Alan Brooke, could have done it. Haane Manahi's DCM was officially announced on 22 July 1943.
Many in the New Zealand Division were very disappointed by this decision. Even a British general, Brian Horrocks, who saw the fighting, was upset. Some historians thought reports about how prisoners were treated might have been a reason for the downgrade. The official history of the Māori Battalion said that some surrendering soldiers were killed. But this happened only after an Italian grenade was thrown into a building where wounded New Zealanders were. Also, Haane himself was reportedly busy fighting at the time. Another reason for the downgrade might have been that another Māori soldier from the same battalion, Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, had just won the VC a few weeks earlier. Perhaps some thought too many VCs were being given out.
Returning Home
In May, the Axis forces in Tunisia surrendered. The 2nd New Zealand Division went back to Egypt. It was announced that 6,000 soldiers would return to New Zealand for a three-month break. Haane Manahi was one of about 180 original members of the Māori Battalion chosen to go home. He left on 15 June 1943.
He did not return to the war. Many soldiers on leave did not want to go back to fighting. They felt that other healthy men had not yet served. So, the New Zealand Government decided to let long-serving soldiers, like Haane, stay home.
When he returned to Rotorua, Haane took a woodworking course. He then worked as a carpenter at the local hospital. On 18 December 1945, he received his DCM. Cyril Newall, the Governor-General of New Zealand, presented it to him. Haane was later chosen to go to England for the Victory Celebrations. He took part in the Victory Parade in London on 8 June 1946. This was his last military duty, and he was officially discharged in August.
Life After the War
Haane Manahi settled back in Rotorua. He worked for the Ministry of Works as a traffic inspector. This job involved traveling around the Bay of Plenty. He and his wife became separated, but they never divorced.
He loved sports, especially swimming, golf, and fishing. He also coached swimming. When his wife died in 1976, he moved to Maketu, a town on the coast. He still went to Rotorua to visit the local New Zealand Returned Servicemen's Association (RSA) club.
After retiring in 1978, he spent even more time at the RSA. On the evening of 29 March 1986, he was driving home to Maketu from the club. His car went over the center line and hit another vehicle. He was badly hurt and taken to Tauranga Hospital, where he died later that night. His tangi (funeral) was held at the marae (tribal meeting area) in his home village of Ohinemutu. Many former Māori Battalion soldiers attended. He was buried at Muruika cemetery and was survived by his two sons.
The Manahi VC Committee
Many members of the Māori Battalion were still upset that Haane Manahi did not receive the Victoria Cross. But while he was alive, Haane was a modest person. He did not want to draw attention to himself, so he was not interested in trying to get the award changed.
After his death, his former comrades and iwi formed the Manahi VC Committee. They wanted to get his award upgraded. The committee felt that the downgrade happened because Haane was Māori. They asked the New Zealand Government to talk to Buckingham Palace. They hoped Queen Elizabeth II would reconsider and give Haane the VC after his death.
However, the Queen's father, King George VI, had decided in 1949 that no more awards from the Second World War should be given. The New Zealand Government was careful. They did not want to make a formal request and be rejected. So, they supported two informal requests to the Queen in the early 1990s. These were not successful. The long time since the war was given as a reason.
The committee kept pushing for an official request. In late 1993, they made a formal application to the Government. This was rejected. One reason given was the reports about how Māori soldiers treated Italian prisoners at Takrouna. This made the committee gather more evidence. They showed proof against the claims about the prisoners. They also stressed that their goal was to correct a mistake made by the military. It was not about trying to get a medal for someone who had been overlooked.
Finally, in 1997, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jenny Shipley, officially spoke to Buckingham Palace. The answer was still that too much time had passed since the events at Takrouna.
The campaign for Haane Manahi continued. In 2000, his iwi, Te Arawa, made a claim to the Waitangi Tribunal. The New Zealand RSA supported them. Te Arawa said that the government's failure to fully consider the VC for Haane was a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi. This treaty requires the government to act fairly towards Māori concerns. In December 2005, the tribunal said there was no breach of the treaty. But they suggested the Manahi VC Committee work with the government to talk to Buckingham Palace again.
In October 2006, after more talks with Buckingham Palace, the New Zealand Minister of Defence, Phil Goff, made an announcement. Haane Manahi's bravery at Takrouna would be recognized. His family would receive an altar cloth for St. Faith's Church in Ohinemutu. They would also get a personal letter from the Queen and a special ceremonial sword.
Prince Andrew presented these awards to Haane's sons, Rauawa and Geoffrey. The ceremony took place in Rotorua on 17 March 2007. The sword was later given to the Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae. A patu (war club) was also given in Haane Manahi's memory.
