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<p>Christmas Day 1942: Lieutenant-Colonel <a href="/node/267">Charles Bennett</a>, Te Arawa, recounts the Battalion's preparation for the day, the fortuitous arrival of Christmas food supplies and mail but, alas, no tītī or muttonbirds. They had fallen into enemy hands. This provoked a wry comment from the German forces! The track ends with the Battalion singing <em>Tapu te pō</em> (<em>Silent night, holy night</em>).</p><h2>Transcript</h2><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>

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<p>Ever since
Alamein we had been more or less in constant touch with the enemy.  I had the honour to command the Māori
Battalion.  On Christmas eve I pondered
about tomorrow. Christmas day was a sacred day. 
I decided if its sanctity were to be violated it would not be by the
Māori Battalion. I therefore told my troops that in circumstance were shots to
be fired except in self defence. I felt sure that the Germans would rationalise
things in the same way.  We all expected
a cheerless kind of Christmas, deep in enemy territory, far from supply bases
and after all in war ammunition and petrol are more important than special
tucker for Christmas.  We expected the
usual hard rations of the last two months, bully beef and dog biscuits.  But like a miracle things began to happen,
vehicle after vehicle arrived with special supplies.  By Christmas day we had such luxuries as fresh
pork, potatoes, tin fruits, cigarettes and General Montgomery's promised one
bottle of beer for every man.  But alas,
a special consignment of muttonbirds from our kinsfolk back home fell into
German hands.  The Germans from then on
derided the Kiwis as uncivilised consumers of salted seagulls.  </p>

<p>On
Christmas day we held an early church parade and away in the distance we could
see a concentration of German troops. 
They too were probably having their own church service on this holy day.  Preparing Christmas dinner was underway when
we struck a problem how to make a hangi without rounded stones and wood to heat
them.  These things just didn't exist in
the desert.  Some bright spark however
pointed out where there's a beach there's bound to be stones and
driftwood.  The Mediterranean coastline
was only about 10 miles to the North of us, so why not send trucks up to carry
out a reconnaissance.  We did.  Cruising off through enemy territory, hand
collected not only stones and driftwood but four German prisoners as well.  Surprised and captured while bathing in the
nude in the cool Mediterranean waters. Needless to say we made them stay to
share our Christmas dinner with us.  </p>

<p>For pūhā or
raureki our foragers gathered up some kind of a weed in one of the moist
waddies close by.  Plant life in the
desert is rare.  This stuff smelt like
nothing on earth, but into the boiling pots this desert greenery went, stalks
and all. Incredibly nobody suffered afterwards. 
Around 1 o'clock the hangis were uncovered and there at Nephilia,
thousands of miles from our homes and from our civilisation we sat down in the
desert sun to one of the most sumptuous and memorable Christmas celebrations I
have ever shared in.  At least for that
one day there was peace and content amongst friend and foe alike.  </p>

<p>The 28<sup>th
</sup>Māori Battalion then sings a version of <em>Silent Night</em> in Māori</p>

 <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Track six from <em>Ake, Ake Kia Kaha E! Songs of the 28 (Māori) Battalion</em></p>
<p><strong>Sound file</strong> from <a href="https://www.ngataonga.org.nz">Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision</a>. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright.</p>

<p>Interview between <a href="/node/555" title="See Patira Edwards' record">Patira Edwards</a> (25844) and Megan Hutching.</p><p>Patira Edwards describes life at Maadi Camp before joining the Battalion. Patira had sailed for Egypt with the 4th Reinforcements on the Polish liner-turned-troop ship <em>Batory</em> in November 1940.</p>

<p>Patira Edwards, Ngāpuhi (1919-2005), interviewed by Megan Hutching, 27 November 2000, for the <em>Second World War oral history project - Crete</em></p>

<p>From the collections of the Alexander
Turnbull Library Oral History and Sound collection, OHInt-0729-08. All rights reserved. Permission of the <a href="http://www.mch.govt.nz/">Ministry for Culture and Heritage</a>
must be obtained before any re-use of this sound file </p>
<p>Image: Patira Edwards. </p>