To mark the 70th anniversary of the 28 Māori Battalion's part in the Second World War we're providing a detailed monthly account of their activities derived from the original war diaries. These have never been published before.

May 1942

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

April 1942

At Aarsal in Lebanon,the Battalion train, strengthen defences and carry out reconnaissance.  Their rifle companies guard ammunition and bomb dumps and prisoners.  Read the Battalion's war diary from April 1942 here.

March 1942

The Battalion has left Egypt for Syria travelling through Palestine and Lebanon.  At Arsal they improve their defences.  Read the Battalion's war diary from March 1942 here.

February 1942

Like the previous month February 1942 was spent re-equipping and training, the Battalion regaining its vitality.  Read the Battalion's war diary from February 1942 here.

January 1942

The Battalion returns from Libya to Egypt, celebrating New Year's Eve at Baggush. They return to Kabrit and resume training.  Read the Battalion's war diary from January 1942 here.

December 1941

As part of a renewed offensive to breach the enemy cordon surrounding Tobruk the Battalion was in action again at Menastir, before joining the Eighth Army's pursuit of Rommel’s force as it pulled back to Gazala.  Read the Battalion's war diary from December 1941 here.

November 1941

Operation Crusader, in which the Eighth Army was to make a third attempt to lift the siege of Tobruk in Lybia, saw the Māori Battalion take the military barracks above the township of Sollum, and hold it against constant enemy shell fire from the Halfaya escarpment. Read the Battalion's war diary from November 1941 here.

October 1941

The whole of 5 Brigade, including the Maori Battalion, moved 80 miles (130 km) west across roadless desert to 'Baggush Box'. Training consisted of night and day mobile attacks, assaults on wire defences, mine clearing and navigation exercises – a hint of things to come. Read the Battalion's war diary from October 1941 here.

September 1941

The Battalion relocated from Tahag to an area near El Alamein where they assisted in building a fortress called the Kaponga Box. The Battalion’s task was to construct a 10-mile (16 kms) stretch of road connecting the Box with similar defensive work at Alamein. Read the Battalion's war diary from September 1941 here.

August 1941

The first half of August was spent at Kabrit along the Suez Canal, the Battalion undergoing three weeks’ combined operations training.  During the second half of the month the Battalion was at Tahag training for desert warfare, while 20% of the men went on daily leave to Cairo or Port Said.  Read the Battalion's war diary from August 1941 here.

July 1941

The Battalion began training for a new kind of war ― highly mobile fighting across the huge spaces of the North African desert.  Inter-unit sports activities were introduced to improve fitness and to create further cohesiveness within and between battalions.  Read the Battalion's war diary from July 1941 here.

June 1941

June was a recovery month for those who had been evacuated to Egypt from Greece and Crete and a chance to review the lessons learnt from their first campaign. Read the Battalion's war diary from June 1941 here.

May 1941

The New Zealanders suffered heavy losses in the Battle for Crete that began on 20 May 1941, but in ferocious hand-to-hand fighting at Maleme and 42nd Street, the legend of the Māori Battalion was born. Read the Battalion's war diary from May 1941 here.

April 1941

The Battalion first faced the Germans in Greece after they were sent there from Egypt in late March 1941. After the the British command decided to abandon Greece and most of the Battalion was evacuated to Crete aboard the Glengyle. They left behind 10 dead and 81 prisoners of war. Read the Battalion's war diary from April 1941 here.

March 1941

The Battalion reach Port Tewfik after leaving England in January.  Most of the month is spent adjusting to the new environment including getting fit enough to cope with the hotter climate.  Read the Battalion's war diary from March 1941 here.