Robert Gillies has been awarded the Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit For services to Māori and war commemoration. He is the last remaining member of the 28th Māori Battalion and served in B Company during World War 2 from 1942 to 1945, across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and primarily in Italy.
Sir Gillies is a reluctant recipient of the honour, but says he has accepted it on behalf of all the members of the battalion. Sir Rob Gillies spoke to media at Ohinemutu marae in Rotorua earlier this week.
Photo: RNZ / Jamie Tahana
