'On the 7th June Pte Te Patu was a working party who were digging a Communication Trench from Calgary Avenue to the German 2nd Line. The party came under very heavy shell fire and Te Patu was wounded in the neck, shoulder and arm. Though he was bleeding profusely and was told that he might go back to the Dressing Station, he declined to do so and insisted that he must finish his work so that his comrades should not have to remain behind and complete it for him. He thus set a very fine example of pluck and devotion to duty, which was of the greatest value at such a trying time.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 16 August 1917