Ex-soldier, 92, eyes Anzac centenary

LONG YEARS: Epineha Ratapu at the Masterton Dawn Parade yesterday. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Epineha (Pine) Ratapu is no longer capable of marching but he remains staunch and true to the memory of the 28th Maori Battalion.

Mr Ratapu, 92, is the sole survivor of the World War II battalion in Masterton and has one over-powering remaining ambition - to be at the dawn service again next year when Anzac turns 100.

"I've seen this one out so I only have to wait 12 months to see the next one," he said.

The old soldier, who was a member of the Maori Battalion's C Company, not only saw action in the desert campaigns and Italy but also joined J Force which occupied a beaten Japan at the war's end, remaining until 1948.

"To my mind this year's Dawn Parade was the best Masterton has had in many years.

"The people are really returning and showing the true feeling of Anzac and for the old soldiers.

"It's great to see the young kids wearing their grandfathers or great-uncles medals," Mr Ratapu said.

His thoughts while at the service were on his old battalion mates.

"I was one of the lucky ones to come back."

He said although he doesn't know Greytown's Kingi Matthews very well he wanted to acknowledge him, being also a survivor from the Maori Battalion.

Mr Ratapu returned from Japan to live in Masterton working at "every job you can name.

"I did scrub cutting, fencing shearing and worked at the freezing works."

Although he claims he was never a great singer with the battalion he said many others were and the words of the famous Maori Battalion marching song were spot on.

"For God, For King and For Country, well those words say it all."