Battalion members marching

Māori Battalion members on the march.

Left to right Monte Robson (39454), Joseph Tai Angell (39288) Colin Fisher (39317), Leslie Pirihi (39688), Edward(Ned) Nathan (2880), Joe Hoterene (39332)

[Site editor's note. The official history and other sources state this image was taken in Faenza, Italy in 1944. This includes the negative numbers in this series which indicate that this photo was taken near Faenza.

The men identified here either died on Crete in 1941 or were POWs from 1941. This suggests that either the photo was taken at another date/place - perhaps in Crete or marching through Athens on the way to Crete - or the soldiers are incorrectly identified.  However, the jeep in the background would indicate that this was not taken in Greece or Crete.  The jeep was not used by the British and Commonwealth forces until after the North African Campaign.  The jeep came to the men of the 2NZEF and the British Eighth Army courtesy of the Americans - its an American design and entered service with the US Army at the beginning of 1941.

If anyone can help with this conundrum please email info@28maoribattalion.org.nz ]

 

 

Reference:
Angell Family collection. Scanned from 2006 Year of the Veteran.

Takupu

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I will get the odd uniform

I will get the odd uniform IDed but the far RHS helmet looks US so if it is it will not be in Greece or Crete.