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70 years ago this month

May 1942 the Battalion is still at Arsal in the Syrian foothills undertaking exercises and manoeuvres. Major Tiwi Love becomes the first Māori commander of the unit. Read the war diary for May 1942 here

Featured soldier

Edward Clayton Pohio

Donald Oliphant Stewart

Serial No:

26034

Surname:

Stewart

Forename(s):

Donald Oliphant

Next of kin on enlistment:

Mrs A. Stewart (mother), Toroa Street, Whakatane, New Zealand

Rank:

Second Lieutenant

Address on enlistment:

Toroa Street, Whakatane, New Zealand

Notes:

See Donald Oliphant in the programme Maori Battalion - March to Victory. His brother Second Lieutenant Horton Stewart also served with the Battalion. He died in Crete on 27 May 1941.

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Promoted to Major

Kerry James Goodhew commented:
Mon, 25 April 2011 - 02:38pm

Uncle Don was a Major overseeing ANZAC dawn parades that finished at the Wairaka Marae, Whakatane for many years. He died at the dawn parade "rallying the troops" 1993! KJG

Taiaha or Bayonetted rifle?

Kerry James Goodhew commented:
Mon, 25 April 2011 - 02:43pm

It was Uncle Don who lay down the now oft quoted challenge that a Maori with a Taiaha would defeat the best infantryman wielding a bayonetted rifle!

I agree

Te Ngakooterang... commented:
Wed, 27 April 2011 - 08:36am

I have a copy of that story he wrote on my great grandfathers page his name was Aubrey Rota from Matatā

Te Ngako-o-Te-Rangi

Hi Te N

Kerry James Goodhew commented:
Fri, 29 April 2011 - 11:55am

...my Theosophy friend!!!! Remember me? KJG!

So pleased to have you first to contact me here! I was in Whakatane June and October last year to help my Mum as one of the flooded houses, Douglas St. Not much time for anything else! But would like to catch up with you in person one day! ;-)

KJG

Te Ngakooterang... commented:
Thu, 22 December 2011 - 12:52pm

Hey mate I havent been on this site now for a while but it would be really good to make contact with you.

Te Ngakooterangi

Ferne WiesnerUncle Don's

Ferne Wiesner commented:
Wed, 25 April 2012 - 02:23pm

Ferne Wiesner

Uncle Don's sister Pauline Stewart-Shuker says that it was an expert Aubrey Rota who took up the challenge, mentioned above,in a duel~ taiaha vs bayonetted rifle