Moana Nui a Kiwa Ngarimu

Second Lieutenant, 28th Battalion. Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force

VC
Register No.
927 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
Unit
28th Battalion. Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force all 28th Battalion. Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force VCs →
London Gazette
4th June 1943 on this day → all of 1943 →
Born
7th April 1918 at Sir Apiraia Nata's Village, East New
Died
in action on 27th March 1943 near Tobaga Gap, Tunisia
Memorial / grave
at Sfax War Cemetery, Tunisia and at the HQ of the Dunedin RSA, New Zealand

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

NGARIMU, Moana Nui a Kiwa. (reg. No. 927).

Second Lieutenant. 28th Battalion. Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

London Gazetted on 4th June 1943.

Born on 7th April 1918 at Sir Apiraia Nata's Village, East New Zealand.

Killed in action on 27th March 1943 near Tobaga Gap, Tunisia.

Memorial on grave at Sfax War Cemetery, Tunisia and at the HQ of the Dunedin RSA, New Zealand. On the 26/27th March, 1943, Second Lieutenant Ngarimu was in command of a platoon in an action against a vital hill feature that was being fiercely held by enemy troops. He was first on the crest as he led his men in a charge up the hill, personally destroying two machine-gun posts. Several counter-attacks, by the enemy, were beaten back as he showed inspired leadership. Twice wounded, he refused to leave his men and by the following morning only two of his platoon remained without wounds. Reinforcements arrived and another counter-attack was launched, during which, Second Lieutenant Ngarimu was killed.

Alf's notes on his life

On the 26/27th March, 1943, Second Lieutenant Ngarimu was in command of a platoon in an action against a vital hill feature that was being fiercely held by enemy troops. He was first on the crest as he led his men in a charge up the hill, personally destroying two machine-gun posts. Several counter-attacks, by the enemy, were beaten back as he showed inspired leadership. Twice wounded, he refused to leave his men and by the following morning only two of his platoon remained without wounds. Reinforcements arrived and another counter-attack was launched, during which, Second Lieutenant Ngarimu was killed.

Zealand.

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Alf recorded the memorial as: at Sfax War Cemetery, Tunisia and at the HQ of the Dunedin RSA, New Zealand

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