Roland Anaru

Private 815272 · 28th (Māori) Battalion · Italy 1944–45 · Jayforce

Early life

Roland David Pahira Anaru, also known as Rorana Te Ewe Pahira Poua, came from Carterton in the Wairarapa. His father was Poua Pahira and his grandfather Pahira Anaru, and his mother, Mrs M. E. Anaru, lived in Pembroke Street, Carterton. He was single and working as a labourer when he enlisted.

War

Roland sailed in 1944 as an infantry reinforcement and served with the 28th (Māori) Battalion in Italy. After the war in Europe ended he went on to Japan with Jayforce, serving at the 2NZEF Base headquarters from 1946.

After the war

Roland married and had four daughters, and he later worked as a brick and tile maker. He died on 14 September 1990. His war medals are on the 2022 list of unclaimed medals for the 28th (Māori) Battalion, so his whānau are able to claim them.

Sources

Online Cenotaph C128885; 28th Māori Battalion website; NZDF list of unclaimed medals, 28th (Māori) Battalion (2022).

Are you whānau? If you can add to his story, correct anything here or share a photograph, please get in touch.