Victoria Cross at Takrouna: The Haane Manahi story
by Paul Moon, Huia Publishers, $45
Haane Manahi was a member of the 28th (Maori) Battalion, which enlisted in 1940 and fought with the battalion in the Greece/Crete and North African campaigns. His high profile in New Zealand military history results from his
part in the capture of Takrouna, a small hill town in Tunisia, in April 1943. He led a small party that climbed the hill under fire, overcame many defenders and eventually enabled other New Zealand reinforcements to successfully kill or capture the Italian-German garrison.
Manahi was recommended for the Victoria Cross. At a late stage in the process, the VC was reduced to a Distinguished Conduct Medal (the second-highest bravery award for a non-commissioned soldier). Shortly after, he came back to New Zealand among a large group of returning soldiers. He resumed civilian life in the Rotorua area and was killed in a road accident in 1986.
The award of Manahi's DCM instead of the VC has been a bone of contention, although not to the man concerned, apparently. There has been a campaign for many years, especially since Manahi's death, to have the award upgraded to the original recommendation. The Manahi VC Committee, supported by Te Arawa and the RSA, has so far been unsuccessful.
Moon's book is necessarily slim. In spite of family and ex-soldier involvement, the hard facts on Manahi's life amount to an essay. He apparently did not write home during the war and led an inconspicuous civilian life.
The battle at Takrouna is described but if the historian's role is to illuminate, then Moon does not succeed. The lack of a map makes the story difficult to follow and this confusing soldiers' battle is not made clearer by Moon. Several references suggest the author has little military history background.
Paul Moon has produced an attractive, well-referenced book, the purpose of which seems to be to highlight the controversy over the VC's non-award to Manahi. Whatever the target audience is, I suspect military readers will find this book somewhat unsatisfying.
