Approximately 3,600 Maori soldiers served in the 28th Maori Battalion during World War II.
Created by the 28th Maori Battalion
4 platoons 15,16,17,18th
There is no battalion named Ngati Walkabout. It is possible that you may be referring to a different unit or group that is not a recognized military battalion.
•The 28th (Maori) Battalion was part of the 2nd New Zealand Division, the fighting arm of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. during World War 2 . A frontline infantry unit made up entirely of volunteers, the Battalion usually contained 700-750 men, divided into five companies.
They were first posted to Greece and then fought in the battle for Crete. They then fought in the North African campaign including the battles for Takrouna and El Alamein, and the legendary Breakout from Minqar Qaim. After the end of the fighting in Africa they were sent to Italy and took part in the bloody battle at Monte Cassino.
The Maori Battalion of New Zealand was evacuated from Crete to Egypt. I found an article for you to read about them. See the link below.
The Maori Battalion was composed of Maori volunteers from New Zealand. They were a unit of the New Zealand Army during World War II and fought in several campaigns in North Africa and Italy. The battalion gained a reputation for their bravery and skill in battle.
The Māori Battalion was part of the second New Zealand Expeditionary Force during World War II. It was formed as the 28th Battalionfollowing pressure on the Labour government of New Zealand by the Māori MPs and Māori organisations throughout the country who wanted a full Māori unit to be raised for service overseas. The battalion was organized with its Companies formed along tribal lines. The battalion went into action for the first time in Greece on April 15, 1941. It served in the breif battle of Crete. It then went to Italy, where at the Battle of Monte Cassino, the Maori Battalion took part in some of its fiercest fighting of the war and incurred 300 of its men being killed there. The 28th Battalion were pulled out of the frontline on December 21 1944. It was pulled out of the frontline on December 21 1944.
There were four Companies of the Maori Battalion. A Company from Far North and Auckland areas was known as Nga Kiri Kapia, the Gumdiggers. B Company from the Arawa-Mataatua area were given the moniker Nga Rukukapa, the Penny Divers. D Company, from the South Island, was not so easy to label and was landed with Ngati Walkabout. C Company, from the Tairawhiti, was known as Nga Kaupoi, the Cowboys.
1941
The NZ 28 (Maori) Btn was a battalion of Maori soldiers, organised into divisions as per tribal ties. It was formed on the insistence of Maori leaders to show that they are worthy of fighting any war. The 28 (Maori) Btn was first used in WWII in Nth Africa, Italy, Greece (the Mediterranian Theatre of war)... although there were a couple of individual units of Maori soldiers in WWI, but not in the form of a Btn.