Part of a series of tapes containing an oral history interview with Major Rangi Logan (Ngāti Kahungunu) about his service with D Company of the 28 (Māori) Battalion during World War II.
This recording begins part-way through Major Logan retelling a story about action at Acroma near Tobruk, Libya in December 1941. [This is a continuation from ID139417]
He recalls how the Māori Battalion's vehicles charged the enemy, taking over 1,000 prisoners. He was ordered to secure a nearby hill. A South African major arrived and addressed them in very racist language. Major Logan defied his order to move and the South African left after seeing the large German artillery weapon they possessed. Next they moved on towards Gazala.
Ewan Gillies was with them on a motorbike. He tells a story about picking up a lone South African soldier who thought they were the enemy, as Major Logan was in a vehicle which the Germans had previously captured and painted with an Iron Cross, and he was wearing a German greatcoat.
The Battalion launched a night attack at Gazala, at which Charlie Shelford was recommended for decoration after wiping out a machine gun nest. He got a DCM although Major Logan feels he should have a got a Victoria Cross.
He talks about fighting with Polish units at Gazala around 17-18 December 1941.
They were ordered back to a railway at Bir el Thalatha near the Egyptian-Libyan border, where they encountered a colossal sandstorm. On Christmas Day they were at an airstrip and got a message to go and pick up their Christmas rations. George Tawhai and Ponchy Hunter went to fetch them but were disappointed to receive only bread, rice and blackcurrrant jam. However whent hey moved back to Bir el Thalatha their mail and supplies were waiting and they had a great feast. Ted Pohio managed to acquire two cartons of beer but Major Logan says they found they couldn't drink very much. When they got back to base at Baggush they had a Christmas hāngi.
[Speed distortion affects the audio quality from this point.]
He recounts the weapons they had at this point, including many acquired from the Germans. They were ordered to hand them over when they got back to the Canal Zone, as General Freyberg wanted them to arm more men who had arrived from Greece. Major Dyer refused to hand over the weapons and was relieved of his command and Tiwi Love became Battalion commander.
He comments at the end about General Rommel's opinion of the New Zealanders and notes the respect they felt for Rommel.