Haane Manahi (1913–1986) was a New Zealand
Māori soldier who served in the Second World War with the
Māori Battalion. He joined the battalion in 1939 and fought in the
German invasion of Greece, the
Battle of Crete and the
North African campaign. In April 1943, during the
Tunisian campaign, his gallantry in an action at
Takrouna resulted in a recommendation, supported by four generals, that he be awarded the
Victoria Cross. This was downgraded to an award of the
Distinguished Conduct Medal, which disappointed many of his fellow soldiers. After his death in a car crash in 1986, representations were made for a posthumous award of the Victoria Cross for his valour at Takrouna. These representations were unsuccessful but eventually resulted in a special award in 2007 of an altar cloth for use in a local church, a ceremonial sword, and a personal letter from
Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his gallantry. This June 1943 photograph of Manahi was taken in
Maadi, Egypt, by George Robert Bull, the official photographer of the New Zealand armed forces.
Photograph credit: George Robert Bull; restored by Adam Cuerden