Te hokowhitu-a-tu

Introduction

Kia ora my name is Price and I will be summrising about the journal of the maori battalion ( Te hokowhitu-a-tu).

on 4 august 1914 war was declared by the britsh (Germany) it was declared on the maori battalions. Some Pakeha were eager to help that maori battalions in the war so the goverment sent 8,000 men to fight but within for days, other pakehas volunteered to help fight with the moari battalion. Many Maoris wanted to join up, at first, but only a few did join. It was because the government said ” it was include a special group of soldiers called the maori contingent”. Boys as young as 15 was enlisted for the maori contingent. Some of the maori lied about their age to not be enlisted. The east coast and Rotorua gave enough men for the war. The maori contingent became known as Te Hokowhitu-a-Tu after training in Auckland in February 1915. Then in July ( same year), men were sent to Gallipoli because first reason is becuas ethey were sent to open the shipping route for Russia. Second reason is to knock Turkey out of the war and last reason is because to stop the deadlock at France. all although the britsh high command was uncomfortable with the idea. on August 6 the maori soliders  were ordered to attack the Turkish trenches along side the Chunuk Bair. 17 maori died on the slopes of Chunuk Biar. 89 more were wounded after the battle, maori soliders became known as brave soliders.