Gallant Maori

Wins Vc

IN last “PIM” there was described the extraordinary heroism of a number of men of a Maori Battalion, with the New Zealand forces, in Tdnisia.

When the British were held up by the enemy on a steep hill near El Hamma met, they stormed the hill, and held it, in the face of many counter-attacks.

It since has been disclosed that the gallant leader of that gallant band was Second Lieutenant M. L. A. Ngarimu.

He personally led his men to the top, and personally wiped out two enemy machine-gun posts. He was twice wounded, but refused to leave his men.

Next day, he was killed, while firing his tommy-gun from his hip.

Lieutenant Ngarimu has been post humously awarded the Victoria Cross— the first Maori, and the first Polynesian, to receive what probably is the world’s most coveted medal for bravery.