Ngarimu World War Two exploits come to graphic novel

14 June 2012

Ngarimu World War Two exploits come to graphic novel

The story of how Second Lieutenant Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu of 28th Māori Battalion won the Victoria Cross during World War Two has come to life in a new graphic novel released in English and Māori editions by HUIA Publishers.

Titled 'Ngarimu - Te Tohu Toa'/'Victory at Point 209', the inspiring story tells how, on 26 March 1943 just before his 24th birthday, Ngarimu led a courageous attack on Point 209, a vital hill at Tebaga Gap in Tunisia. Under intense mortar and machine gun-fire, he led the assault up the hill personally destroying two German machine-gun posts on a crest of the hill. Despite being wounded twice during the night, he and his men defended their position from several counter-attacks.

The following morning during a particularly strong counter-attack, Ngarimu was killed. Later the same day, the Germans still on Point 209 surrendered.

View book trailer.

'Ngarimu - Te Tohu Toa'/'Victory at Point 209' is the second graphic novel released by HUIA featuring a World War Two hero. The previous graphic novel, 'Hautipua Rererangi'/'Born to Fly' released in April 2012, told the story of John Pohe, a Maori aviator who was shot down over Germany and participated in a mass escape from his prisoner-of-war camp, which was later immortalised in the film 'The Great Escape'.

Both graphic novels were illustrated by Andrew Burdan who had previously worked as a storyboard artist on the Peter Jackson-produced movie 'District 9'. An interview with Andrew is available at the Pikitia Press blog site.

'Ngarimu - Te Tohu Toa'/'Victory at Point 209' will be available in all good bookstores from Monday 18 June 2012.

ENDS

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