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An Exceptional Assortment of World War II Nz Officers'…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Auckland
Date:
29-Jul-2009
Lot No.
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Description:
An Exceptional Assortment of World War II Nz Officers' Autographs, including those of the 28th Maori Bn., 27th machine Gun Bn. And 9th Armoured. Included is the only Maori Vc winner of World War II, second Ltd. Moana-Nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu. Sold with a letter of provenance from the late 7829 Sgt. Jack Clouston 27 Nz Mgc Bn. 1st Echelon 2NZEF who explains that the pages came from the Officer's Mess at the Composite Officer's Training Depot at Maadi Camp, Western Desert, where, in 1942 he was Sgt in Charge of the Officer's mess. For some reason he has souvenired pages from the mess book showing where officers have signed for their meals. In addition to the pages of the mess book (12 double sided pages) there is the message from the King dated 1940 welcoming the Nz Division, on the reverse of which the men of the Signal Platoon 27th Mg Bn, Western Desert 1940-41 have signed, including Clouston. A few of the names, Major Cooper, Capt. Bennett (Lt. Col. Dso), Lt. Waaka, Padre McCaskill, Lt. Foley (William Foley, later Lt. Col. Commanding Nz Forces in Vietnam), Lt. Aperahama, Lt. Ngarimu to name but a few. There are numerous examples of the signature of Ngarimu. He generally signs 'Lt. Ngarimu' however, on occasions signed 'M.N. Ngarimu'. Within weeks of signing this mess book he was killed in action on 27th March 1943 in the action for which he won the Vc Citation for Victoria Cross, 'During the attack at Tebaga Gap on 26 March 1943, second Lieutenant Ngarimu commanded a platoon. He was first to reach the crest of the hill and himself destroyed two enemy machine-gun posts. The enemy counter-attacked, and in the course of hand-to-hand fighting, Lieutenant Ngarimu was twice wounded, but refused to leave his post. During the night the enemy succeeded in piercing the line; Lieutenant Ngarimu ran to the spot, killed some and drove back the rest with his tommy-gun and with stones, and led his men back to their old position. In the morning he was killed while defying a further counter-attack'. (London Gazette, 1 June 1943). There would be few if any other documents in public hands signed by Ngarimu. As his Vc was posthumous there would have been little reason for him to be asked for an autograph prior to his death. Equally, there would be little other documentation in private or public hands signed by such an important array of 28th Maori Bn. Officers. As such this document is surely unique
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified