"On 24 November 1969 one of these New Zealand-South Vietnamese patrols, returning from a night ambush position, walked into a Viet Cong ambush, Sapper Jerry Barrett was killed, and Private Peter Rauhihi was mortally wounded, victims of the enemy's claymore mine." [McGibbon 2010 p427]

"43648 Private Peter Rauhihi RNZIR killed in action in Vietnam on the 24 November 1969.

He died of wounds from shrapnel from claymore mine explosion.

One of 10 children, Pete grew up in Shannon and became a prefect at his local primary school.

After completing his infantry training at Burnham, he was posted to 1RNZIR at Terendak, Malaysia in November 1968, and then to Vietnam with V4 Company in May 1969.

On 24 November 1969 he and three other members of V4 were on patrol with an ARVN platoon when they were ambushed. In the ensuing contact, Pete (who was the M60 machine gunner) was mortally wounded and Jerry Barrett killed.Two other New Zealanders – Ray Davidson and Patrick Smith – were wounded. [Simon Strombom Nov 2020]