Libyan campaign, Part 5 - Captain Charles Bennett

Captain Charles Bennett sends messages of condolences to Sir Apirana Ngata and the Ngāti Porou people.  He pays special tribute to those who have fallen in the Second Lybian Campaign (November-December 1941), noting C Company's commander, Captain Parekura Tureia, and Lieutenant John Green.  Padre Kahi Harawira follows with a further acknowledgement to those who have also fallen in battle.  He mentions casualties which included the CO, Lieutenant-Colonel Dittmer, who was replaced by Major Love. He notes that all the officers of the Battalion at that time are Māori.  

This recording in Māori is part five of a fuller broadcast made by the Māori Battalion about the Libyan campaign.

Transcript

[Macrons are not shown as users have the advantage of listening to the recording to see which vowels require emphasis.] 

Charles Bennett:
E Api, tena koe i a Ngati Porou.  Hoatu te aroha me te tangi ki a Ngati Porou nui tonu.  Kahore e taea te korero te toa me te manawanui o a koutou tamariki, mokopuna.  Kore rawa i wehi, kore rawa i hoki whakamuri.  Nga mea i hinga i hinga whakamua, te hinga rangatira, te hinga a o tatou tupuna.  He aroha, nga tangi kei nga pouaru, kei nga pani.  Haere e Pare, haere korua ko John Green me ta korua whanau.  Kahore he aroha i nui atu i tena, kia tuku koutou i a koutou kia mate, mo te iwi, mo te ao. Haere ki te Atua.  

Padre Kahi Harawira:
Kati ra, e penei ana te whakatauki a o tatou matua, a o tatou tipuna - i hinga atu ana he tetekura, e ara mai ana he tetekura.  Kua takatu ano a Ngati Porou inaianei.  Koianei o ratou apiha:  ko Reta Keiha te pakeke i raro i a ia ko Te Hati Rangiuia, Waipaina Awarau me Walton Haig.  Kua hoki ano a Charles Bennett ki tona iwi ki a Te Arawa.  Ko Tuhiwai i noho tonu i waenganui i te Battalion i etahi o nga mahi.  No taua kokiri ano ki Sollum ka tu to matou kanara a whakahokia ki te hohipera.  Ka riro ko Major Love hei kaiarahi i te ope Maori.  Ka Maori katoa ai nga apiha i tenei wa.  

Translation

Charles Bennett:
O' Api, greetings to you and Ngāti Porou.  Pass on our love and sympathies to the greater Ngāti Porou.  We cannot say enough about the bravery and courage of your children and grandchildren.  They never flinched, they never retreated.  Those who fell [in battle] did so while they were advancing, a chiefly death, the death of our ancestors.  Our compassion and empathy goes out to the widows and orphans.  Farewell O' Pare, go thy way you and John Green and your men.  There is no greater love than that, that you gave your lives for your people and for the world.  Depart to the Lord.
 
Padre Kahi Harawira:
Well, there is a proverb of our parents and ancestors that goes like this - when one warrior falls, another warrior takes his place. Ngāti Porou (i.e. C Company) are ready again now (i.e. have had their numbers restored through reinforcements).  These are their officers: Reta Keiha is in command and under him are Te Hati Rangiuia, Waipaina Awarau and Walton Haig.  Charles Bennett has returned to his Te Arawa people (i.e. B Company). [Jim] Tuhiwai is still with the Battalion in another role.  Also, during that attack on Sollum our colonel was wounded and taken back to hospital.  Major [Tiwi] Love was given command of the Māori Battalion.  At this time all the officers are Māori.