Page 253 - Puhipi

Te Aitanga a Tumoana

899 M ii. Wapi Charlie Tatana Murray [634].
900 M iii. Steve Tumaomao Murray [644].
Steve marena Rahera Pita [4478] [MRIN: 1705], daughter of Heremaia Rihi Mare
Pita [2670] and Miriama Te Rehutai Te Maru [4444]. Other names for Rahera were
Hera and Sarah Robson.
901 M iv. Te Raroa Leef Murray [907] was born on 19 Jul 1918 in
Whangape, died on 18 Feb 1944 in Italy at age 25, and was buried in
Cassino War Cemetery, Italy IX.E.4. The cause of his death was
Killed in Action WW2 Cassino, Italy.
Rapunga Kupu Akoako: Raroa Leef; Lance Corporal #802425
enlisted 1942 in the 28th Maori Batallion, B Coy (adopted to Ria
Wata Murray and Wiri Riwhi Leef (refer RIN337). He was killed in
action at the battle of Monte Cassino, Italy and is buried in thier war
cemetry. He was issued the 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, the War
Te Raroa Leef Murray
Medal 1939-45 and the NZ Medal for his service.
Of all the battles involving the Maori Battalion in the Second World War, none was more
brutal or costly than the struggle for Cassino in early 1944. The towering 500-m Monte
Cassino, topped by a Benedictine monastery, dominated the route to Rome through the
Liri Valley. Below it lay the Rapido River and the heavily defended town of Cassino.
Several Allied attacks had failed before the New Zealanders arrived. On the night of
17/18 February 1944 the Maori Battalion attacked the town's railway station, but when
supporting tanks were unable to get through they were forced to withdraw under heavy
fire. A and B companies suffered terrible losses, with 128 out of 200 men killed,
wounded or captured. After another unsuccessful attack in March, which saw desperate
close-range fighting in the ruins of the town, the New Zealanders were withdrawn in
early April. Cassino eventually fell to Polish troops in mid May 1944.

Raroa was educated at the local Whangape Native School, he was a member of the
Whangape rugby senior team in 1938 and the Tauranga team in 1941, He was a keen
runner and all round athlete.
902 M v. Richard Tiki Murray [908].
+ 903 M vi. Christopher Takana Murray [909].
904 M vii. Ruka Luke Murray [911].
Rapunga Kupu Akoako: Ruka; played representative rugby for
Thames Valley province.

Ruka Luke Murray

Ruka marena Hemoata Walters [912] [MRIN: 33].

Hemoata Walters