The Battle of Manners Street

In 1943 large numbers of American troops were stationed in New Zealand to guard against Japanese invasion and to get a little R&R. Unfortunately on the third of April 1943 a riot broke out between service personnel of both the US and NZ, resulting in two American dead and a number of injuries. The riot may have been sparked after American troops from the southern states, where segregation was most rigidly enforced, objected to native New Zealand Maori servicemen from entering the Allied Services’ Club in Manners Street.

Here’s a link with a little more information. https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/riots/page-7

I find this story fascinating as it shows a massive cultural difference between the two Allied nations.

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Something very similar happened here in Australia too. See the Battle of Brisbane.

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