Serial No: 802035
Surname: Larkins
Forename(s): Robert James
Next of kin on enlistment: Mrs M.E. Larkins (mother), Church Road, Kaitaia, New Zealand
Rank: Private
Address on enlistment: Kaitaia, New Zealand
Date of death: 11 Jan 1992
Approximately 3,600 Maori soldiers served in the 28th Maori Battalion during World War II.
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.
Created by the 28th Maori Battalion
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.
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 name Robert in Maori is translated as Repeata.
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.
in greece, crete, north africa, takrouna and el alamein
4 platoons 15,16,17,18th
The name "James" in Maori is translated to "Hemi."
NO. see link for more information. http://28bn.homestead.com/home.html
Yes 150 Niuean men joined the maori battalion.