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70 years ago this month

February 1942 was spent re-equipping and training, the Battalion regaining its vitality. Read the war diary for February 1942 here

Charles Moihi Te Arawaka Bennett

Serial No: 
6121
Surname: 
Bennett
Forename(s): 
Charles Moihi Te Arawaka
Next of kin on enlistment: 
Bishop Bennett (father), Box 300, Hastings, New Zealand
Rank: 
Lieutenant Colonel
Address on enlistment: 
16 Hawkestone Street, Wellington, New Zealand
Date of death: 
26-Nov-98
Place of death: 
Tauranga, New Zealand
Notes: 

Read a biography of Bennett, in English and te reo Māori, on the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography = Ngā Tāngata Taumata Rau website 

This article appeared in the April 1990 NZ 28 Maori Battalion Golden Jubilee Reunion booklet.   

5th C.O. - BENNETT, Charles Mohi, DSO

Born 27th July 1913, at Rotorua, was one of the original officers of the Battalion who had had no previous military experience. However, his service in Greece and Crete and the Libyan campaign together with his already well trained mind and appropriate staff courses, prepared him admirably to become the Maori Battalion's 5th C.O.

His abilities as a C.O. are well epitomised by this quote from the citation for his DSO.

"Throughout this very severe action (Point 209) he displayed initiative and determination of a high order and qualities of leadership and courage which were an inspiration to his Battalion".

At that time Charles Bennett was the youngest C.O. in the New Zealand Division.

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LT.-COL. C. M. BENNETT news report

Te Awhi Manahi commented:
Thu, 10 February 2011 - 08:50am

This article appeared in The Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 104, 4 May 1943, Page 5:

LT.-COL. C.M. BENNETT

Lieut-Colonel Charles M. Bennett, commanding the Maori Battalion overseas, has been wounded, according to advice received by his father, the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, Lieut.-Colonel Bennett, who will be 30 years old in July, enlisted at the outbreak of war and joined up with the Maori Battalion. He left New Zealand as a lieutenant, and went to England. After arriving in the Middle East he went through the campaigns in Greece and Crete and following his appointment as captain he completed a staff training course in Palestine. He was promoted major under the late Lieut.-Colonel Love. When the officer commanding the Maori Battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Baker, was wounded Major Bennett was appointed to the command of the Battalion and was promoted Lieut.-Colonel.

Click here to view the full page.

'Lt.-Col. C. M. Bennett'. Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 104, 4 May 1943, p5 URL: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz

 

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