Lieut.-Col. Love

Gallant Maori Officer Killed in Action

IT was officially announced in New Zea land on July 17 that Lieutenant- Colonel E. T. W. Love, commander of the Maori Battalion in the Middle East, had been killed in action. Grief

for the untimely loss of a very gallant officer was expressed by the New Zealand Minister for Defence, and other promi nent people.

It is only a few w T eeks since it was reported that Mr. Love, a full-blooded Maori, had been appointed to the com mand of this battalion, and various people commented upon the high honour thus paid to the Polynesian race. Soon afterwards, word came from Egypt of the courage and initiative shown by Colonel Love in leading his men in the bitter fighting then in progress.

He left New Zealand with the battalion as Captain Love, and he fought in Greece and in Crete, where he was at one period reported missing. He later rejoined his company, and then was promoted to the rank of major, and fought in the Libyan campaign last Christmas.

Colonel Love was of very high native rank. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Hapi Love, of Petone, New Zealand.

Colonel Love’s wife, Mrs. Takau Rio Love, is paramount Chieftainess, or Makea Nui Ariki, of Raratonga, popu larly known as the Queen of Raratonga.

Lieut.-Colonel Love.