Te Ao Māori

Home sought for war memorabilia

18:54 pm on 15 October 2014

The great-granddaughter of a soldier in the 28th Maori Battalion is trying to find a permanent home to house her great-uncle's war memorabilia.

Brigadier George Dittmer. Photo: Auckland War Memorial Museum

Adele Parson's great-uncle Brigadier George Dittmer was one of four Pakeha soldiers who were part of the battalion. He was a commanding officer from 1939 until 1942, when he was injured.

She is currently displaying his collection in a motel in Foxton, but hopes to move the items to a new community and cultural centre when it opens.

Mrs Parson said the Te Awahou Niuewe Stroom Cultural Centre would be ideal, but if for some reason it can't be done, she would approach the Te Manawa museum in Palmerston North.

She believed Palmerston North is an appropriate place to keep and the display her great-uncle's collection because that's where the 28th Maori Battalion started on the 26 January 1940.