september march new_zealand soldier descent served second world war member born new_zealand worked volunteered service newly raised following outbreak second world war participated fought wounded recovering wounds returned fought nominated victoria_cross actions despite support generals nomination downgraded award distinguished conduct medal june returned new_zealand month completed required return active duty discharge employed traffic inspector killed car crash death representations tribe buckingham palace posthumous award representations ultimately unsuccessful period time war eventually received special citation bravery queen early life youngest son farm born september village shores lake new_zealand descent little scottish mother attended local schools area secondary school level leaving school worked road construction undertook farm work spent time timber building industries alongside uncle served contingent raised military duty world war second world war following outbreak second world war men enlist november newly formed battalion composed headquarters company rifle companies organised tribal lines assigned largely men period training battalion embarked middle_east second route convoy carrying second diverted england remain january engaged training defensive duties greece crete march battalion having spent months egypt arrived greece assist defence anticipated german invasion initially took defensive positions pass days following beginning invasion april rebuffed initial contact advancing germans battalion withdraw flanks allied positions threatened company battalion units abandon positions rest allies withdrew following days boarded transport ship crete crete allies dug expected airborne attack german positioned near town reserve tasked defence attack commenced returning trench having breakfast planes flew overhead fighting airfield wounded chest despite wounds remain company forced withdraw southwest following days eventually evacuated crete north_africa period returned normal routine training desert warfare constructing defensive positions box november rest 2nd division participated involved near constant fighting libya month captured german tank stuck company trenches early new withdrawn syria period rest garrison duty late attacked libya rushed syria dug encircled germans division forced breakout june withdrew positions suffering regular artillery dug await expected attack late august attack launched decided raid prisoners undertaken companies company successfully executed august month battalion taken line brief period rest returning second battle fourth stage battle company involved bayonet charge dug germans resisted previous attack battalion clear germans retreat allies pursued libya tunisia battle gap battalion won victoria_cross planning began push tunisia capital city achieved defensive line needed broken april 2nd division advanced mountainous country overlooking hill metres high held soldiers battalion german platoon village situated summit hill prominent tasked major general commander capture company main assault april companies flanks initial attack heavy gunfire enemy bennett ordered lance sergeant platoon men attack remainder linked platoon split sections command dawn began attack steep times near sheer slope successfully able italians defending capturing prisoners new dug prepared counterattack artillery mortar fire killed half platoon including commander left command attempts contact battalion having failed way locate reinforcements supplies ignoring officer advice abandon returned section ammunition platoon arrived consolidate position expected counterattack commenced successfully beaten having hours left section withdrew leaving platoon hold position despite reinforcements counterattack launched italian soldiers april new control lost ordered send reinforcements situation returned platoon recapture lost position artillery support attack successful midday new village summit remained hands italians later afternoon april led attacking party working party captured village took prisoners battle assisted recovery bodies dead comrades exploits quickly known division days actions nomination prepared commander battalion commander endorsed nomination generals montgomery alexander general commander chief likewise endorsed award considering evidence nomination reached london award downgraded likely lord immediate distinguished conduct medal duly july decision disappointment 2nd division reports men killed italians attempting surrender thought historians factor award official new_zealand history stated surrendering soldiers shot thrown cliff italian grenade thrown building wounded new reports emerged time killings alleged occurred reportedly dealing advance italian soldiers factor recent nomination weeks earlier subsequent nomination like battalion led perception easily awarded return new_zealand surrender axis forces tunisia left allies control north_africa withdrew base egypt announced personnel return new_zealand month original members selected shipped june return war later decided soldiers exempt active duty returning entered course began working carpenter war selected destined england celebrate commonwealth role war contingent participated london june fulfilled military obligations discharged august later life following discharge returned work force employed traffic inspector involved traveling keen involved swimming coaching golf fishing wife died moved away nearby coast spend time local branch evening march way home involved car crash received severe chest abdominal injuries rushed died later evening funeral held tribal meeting area home village attended members survived sons buried cemetery situation recommendation members alive bring attention meant interested changing situation following death established comrades lobby upgrade award committee lobbied new_zealand government representations buckingham palace posthumous grant queen father king ruled awards second world war ought new_zealand government reluctant formal approach took prime minister formally subject buckingham palace feedback indicated time events likely barrier awarding finally lodged claim supported new_zealand alleged failure new_zealand government consideration award constituted breach treaty required government act good faith grievances december tribunal reported breach treaty making formal conclusions recommendations tribunal suggested work new_zealand government making approach buckingham palace october dialogue buckingham palace new_zealand minister defence announced recognised presentation altar cloth personal letter queen acknowledging gallantry sword award presented prince andrew sons ceremony march sword later presented chief lieutenant general war club memory
Haane Manahi