This photograph of Te Rua Aroha (a token of love) was signed on 30 November 1946 by Charles Basil Bennet, MBE. He was attached to the Māori Battalion from the YMCA, and was also known as Charlie YM to distinguish him from one of the commanding officers of the Battalion, Lieut-Colonel Charles M. Bennett.

This canteen truck was purchased with donations from children at Māori schools, and it was used to provide food and drink to soldiers of the 28th Māori Battalion during the second World War. Charlie ran the truck, together with Norm Perry. He procured supplies, and often found himself under fire, as witnessed by the bullet holes and shrapnel scars across the body of the truck. The truck “served” in the western desert, and in Italy, including Monte Cassino. After the war ended it was shipped back to New Zealand, and toured the Maori Schools that had provided the funding for it. It is now housed in the National Army Museum.

This framed photograph is among the records transferred to Archives New Zealand Auckland Regional Office from Queen Victoria Maori Girls School.

Archives reference: ADAE 14952/2j

Further information from ‘Te Rau Aroha' - The Mobile Canteen article from the April 1984 The Battalion Remembers booklet. <a href="https://28maoribattalion.org.nz/memory/te-rau-aroha-the-mobile-canteen" rel="noreferrer nofollow">28maoribattalion.org.nz/memory/te-rau-aroha-the-mobile-ca...</a>