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New Zealand Broadcasting Unit commentator Arch Curry reports from Tunisia on action by the 28 (Māori) Battalion in taking the enemy stronghold of Takrouna.
"The capture of Takrouna, the high rock feature which overlooked the positions gained by our troops in the central sector, carries Eighth Army's assault onto more favourable ground.
I am able to tell you the extraordinary sequel to the dramatic incident which directed all eyes to the towering height of Takrouna, where a small Māori party had scrambled up the impossible height. Where 12 men for a day and a night and daylight again, held on incredibly outnumbered.
Their exploit in climbing hand-over-hand up the 600-foot face and disputing ownership with a garrison which numbered hundreds, gave a stimulus of suppressed excitement along the whole line where the steady advance was being grimly held. Up on Takrouna we had now established an observation post, but little use could be made of it because of the danger of shelling the holders of one end of the fort. The Māori party in the original attack had forced the surrender of the garrison, and later reinforcement brought our numbers to about 30, all of whom had to climb up the same tortuous way.
A surprising situation developed when these men found themselves attacked from the centre of the fort itself. After the surrender of the last of the garrison, the only enemy approach to the position was carefully picketed. Our men were therefore compelled to wonder if the enemy had accomplished a similar feat in rescaling the heights. They didn't think it likely, and they were right. Meantime, they were being vigorously attacked, not only from the new besiegers, but from mortar fire. A lively engagement followed with grenade exchanges over the battlements of the fortress. Active Bren and Tommy gunfire was kept up from our company under the protection of stone walls and buildings. The enemy was at last confined to one section where he had gathered in overwhelming strength.
By this time, line communication had been established with our artillery, and a remarkable shoot followed. Calling for a single 25 pounder gun, the observation post decided he could direct the fire gradually up the face of the cliff and so on to the last occupied building, only 50 yards from his post. This amazing shoot with a 25 pounder began, and when the series of shells reached near the top, the O-pip [observation post] called for a correction, and the second of two shells hit the building.
Our men rushed to position, and the puzzling problem of how the enemy had been able to reoccupy the fort was revealed. The house contained a trap door which led through a tunnel and out under the overhanging rock, where a rope ladder carried his force up or down the cliff face.
We were now again in possession of the top of Takrouna, but the enemy was in strong force in the village below on the slopes. However, we were able to direct deliberate artillery fire on his remaining strong point, and shelling was also adroitly used from an anti-tank gun. The small infantry force prepared to follow up with an attack, but active reconnoitring by three Māoris [sic] who preceded the attacking formation, led to some confusion amongst the enemy, who readily surrendered without further fight, and another 18 officers and 300 men fell to a force of not over 40.
Thus ended the epic of Takrouna, which began with the valiant band of 12 Māori soldiers and ended with capture of a vital strong point which was necessary to consolidate the advance made on the whole sector. Now it is possible to say that consolidation is well underway. Possession of the feature gives us command of the rising ridges ahead. The first phase of this bitter assault has ended successfully. The enemy still holds advantages of natural cover and height ahead and the future fighting is likely to be hard".
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.