Marines@Mahia 1943-2013

[Rob Beale]

In October 1943, the US 2 Marine Division carried out a series of Regimental sized practice landings at Mahia on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. They had already served on Guadalcanal for about six months alongside the 1 Marine Division, and returned to the USMC camps near Paekakariki north of Wellington NZ to rest, recuperate and reinforce.

Their final exercise in NZ was the Mahia landings, and a planned divisional landing exercise at Whakaki lagoon, just south of Mahia, was in fact a cover for the assault on Betio Island at Tarawa Atoll. This was the first opposed landing by US forces in the Pacific Campaign, and many lessons were hard learned there.

Three Kiwi blokes set out to commemorate the 70th anniversary of these practice landings.

We included 3 NZ Division in our commemoration event. They fought in the Solomons and became experts at amphibious landings. Manpower shortages in NZ lead to the disbandment of the Division to supply reinforcements to the 2 NZ Div in Italy, and to man the meat works and food industry, as NZ was supplying fresh veges and meat to US forces in the Pacific, and frozen meat and dairy products to Britain.

The NZ Military Collectors Club supplied vehicles, and collectors and re-enactors brought a variety of uniforms, weapons and equipment. Car and motorcycle clubs were invited along too, plus station engine people.
It was a low budget event with no entry fee charged. We three called in favours and sought sponsorship from local business people and contractors. The response was great and we were able to cover most costs, and got three free transporters to take museum vehicles from Gisborne to Mahia and back. A searchlight display was held on two evenings.

Ten days out I received word that three serving US Marines were coming, and they flew from Southern California to take part! They were joined by a Counselor from the US Embassy and his family. We kept the event low key and informal, except for the commemoration service which was similar to an ANZAC Day service with the blessing and unveiling of a memorial stone and plaque to all the Allied service people who gave their lives in the Pacific Campaign.

A catered meal at a local marae was a first for many, and we fed the Marines at our Motor camp unit with breakfast and a BBQ.

Press coverage was amazing with a series of articles leading up to the event, and good reporting of the day, and as they say the rest is history! The event grew like topsy and attracted a thousand odd visitors to this remote seaside community. I even got on national TV for a sound bite!

Rob
PS pics will follow once I learn to compress them!