Phee Wanoa NZSAS

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I am confused about the entry for W Wanoa on Page 2 of SASNZ awards page. It states that his name was spelt incorrectly as Phee on his award. Well I served with Phee Wanoa in Borneo for a short time in the early/mid 1960's and we only knew him as Phee. The entry for him in the NZ Viet Nam Veterans archive reads. "697900 LCpl P Wanoa 4 Tp NZSAS"
 
Hello John,
I'm not sure what all the fuss is about regarding Phee Wanoa, but for what it's worth (and if we're speaking about the same fellow who came from around the East Cape region of NZ), I went to school with him, he was in my class for the best part of 3 to 4 years. I've got to admit I've not heard his name mention for the best part of 46 years! Can I help in any way?
Regards
Paul London
 
Hi Paul. I started this string only as a result of seeing the entry for "Phee" on the NZSAS page of this site. As I said in my opening comment I met him in Malaysia in the 1960's we were having a difference of opinion with Indonesia at the time and NZSAS provided a number of troops to give us a hand with the problem. I didn't get to know him all that well but I remember that the only name we knew him by and the name he used to introduce himself was "Phee". I was confused by the entry on this site he is listed as W Wanoa and on the NZ Viet Nam Veterans site he is listed as "697900 LCpl P Wanoa 4 Tp NZSAS".

This all assumes that the 2 listings are for the same person. I don't know where the P Wanoa that I knew came from in New Zealand. I do have an old Army friend that was with us at the time and would have met Phee at the same time who now lives in New Zealand. I will e-mail him to see if he can throw any light on the situation.
 
It is about phonetics between spoken Maori and the English spelling. No different to Irish, Scottish or American English. The correct Maori spelling is Whi but sounds like Phee or Fee in English. So Phee was written down on his decoration and roll call. The same thing happened with soldiers of 28th Maori Battalion WW2 where names were spelt incorrectly on decoration or death notices. Even the Maori Battalion soldier who Whi was named after had his name incorrectly spelt.. 802291 Pte Phee Wanoa, C Company 28 Maori Bn WW2. Children were named after brothers or sons who fought and died in battles.. Names like Crete Haami, Moana Ngarimu, Whi Wanoa etc.. There were 11 members from Wanoa family (brothers, cousins) who fought in the 28 Maori Bn. All the Maori Bn soldier were volunteers from small places like Te Araroa, Ruatoria, Ahipara, Waiomio. Not conscripted. They were the most battle deployed infantry battalion of NZ Army during WW2. 42 battle honours given under Royal Proclamation from King George VI. Maori Bn fighting roughly a major battle a month hence highest casualty rate of NZ Army (70% missing, wounded or KIA). On return to New Zealand, 28th Maori Bn was disbanded on 24 Jan 1946. No battle honours, some medals and no rehabilitation was given to Maori soldiers by NZ Government. Thank you for your service, Maori Battalion. Dismiss. They were given their final pay and a free train ticket home. So its no surprise that Whi Wanoa name was spelt LCpl Phee Wanoa 4 TP, NZSAS. Its not the first time. But NZArmy got a lot better with advent of NgatiTumatauenga the NZ Army Culture in July 1994. Now nearly 30 years. Lest we forget. Kia maumahara tonu tatou.
 
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