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New Zealand Broadcasting Unit commentator Arch Curry reports from Enfidaville, Tunisia on action by the 28 (Māori) Battalion in taking the enemy stronghold of Takrouna. The unnamed sergeant mentioned in the report is Haane Manahi, D.C.M. (Te Arawa, Ngāti Raukawa).
"Eighth Army is holding firmly to yesterday’s gains and during the night brought down another heavy barrage against positions delaying the left flank. By midday today, the position there had improved and our guns went into vigorous counter battery on the central sector where our troops gained important territory in the initial attack.
On the eastern flank, north along the road from Enfidaville, we are carrying out successful armoured patrol. Although on favourable ground the enemy did not attempt any important counterattack, but he is active with shell and mortar fire from commanding country to the northeast. The exchanges have been furious at times, and I have not seen more sustained fire by our 25 pounders since Alamein.
Meantime, all eyes, and I mean that quite literally, all eyes, are turned towards Takrouna, where one of the most dramatic episodes of the Middle East campaign is being enacted. Takrouna is the enemy strong point in the centre of what we may call The Front. It rises menacingly high above the positions occupied by our advance. The original attack did not carry us completely around this dominating feature and its possession by the enemy actually placed an almost impregnable rock height, square in the middle of our line. Further advance and consolidation may be held up until the enemy is shaken from the top.
Well, the process of shaking him out has been given a good start by a remarkable action carried out by a handful of Māoris [sic.]. At first light after the main night attack, just when a light mist was melting away around formidable looking Takrouna, five Māoris, one of them a sergeant set out to do the impossible.
Takrouna could not be scaled, it was said, except on the side occupied by the enemy. But these men were Māoris, and so, it was otherwise. On their own initiative, they began a most daring hand-over-hand ascent under fire. Seven of their comrades, for there were only 12 in this little party, watched from below. Halfway up, still climbing by foot and hand with tommy guns fastened to their backs, the little vanguard signalled by signs to the remaining seven that the Bren guns could be scrambled up. Four more set out on a laborious and dangerous climb, hampered by the heavier weapons. By the time they reached the top, a climb of 600 feet, the expedition was complete with its compliment of 12 men. They had escaped casualties.
Their objective was the old Berber fort, a massive stone ruin which sits prominently on top of the eroded rock face of Takrouna. The Māori sergeant disposed his tiny force with such skill that their attack with grenades and light fighting equipment, completely out-generalled the strong, occupying enemy and these 12 men forced the surrender of nearly 100 Italians.
The next move was to get communication with our main infantry below, and this was done. The party has been successfully reinforced. And today, as I have said, all eyes are turned towards Takrouna, where the Māori party and remaining enemy forces are fighting it out, there on the height above us, in hand-to-hand encounters. A daring act by a few lightly armed men has played a vital part in a major operation. Their story rises clear above the heavier news of shells and metal, as a tale of personal skill and initiative, which has always been a characteristic of the Māori soldier".
This item is part of a collection of recordings made by the Mobile Broadcasting Units, which travelled overseas with New Zealand forces between 1940-1945. They recorded New Zealanders' experiences of war and messages to their families and friends, which were sent back home to be played on a weekly radio programme. Reports on military action, like this recording, were often transmitted via the BBC shortwave Overseas Service.