12993 Sergeant Dominic Poli, 1915-27/11/1941.

Dominic Poli was the descendant of an Italian immigrant to Port Chalmers and was a waterside worker when he joined the army during the Second World War.

He was a Sergeant in the 26th Battalion when he died in action near Sidi Rezegh in Libya - one of 23 lost from the 26th Battalion.  A Platoon Commander recorded the scene which was described in the 26th's Official History: "Sidi Rezegh on that cold morning of Thursday, 27 November 1941, could never be forgotten. I knelt beside two men, gave one a cigarette and a drink from a water bottle. His right shoulder and arm were gone. He said of the still form beside him, ‘Cover my mate, sir. He's just died.’ He followed soon after. I remember thinking of an article by Quentin Reynolds which he titled ‘The Wounded Don't Cry.’ Here and there was a bayonet stuck in the ground. A steel helmet on the butt marked a casualty. Everywhere stretcher-bearers strained under their loads, keeping the trucks busy as they came up one after another. Amid the prostrate, khaki-clad figures were many wearing the blue uniform of Italy — I wanted to be sick. Padre Watson was a grand sight, doing all that was humanly possible. It started to drizzle. I looked for some of my platoon. I found…He would not need the trousers of his delight, those with the 26-inch bottoms — his legs were gone. We carried him to the RAP. There the Doc was hard at work. An injection put my lad to sleep. Not far away the first rays of the sun caught the domed mosque — a temple amid a bloody carnage."

The 26th fought that day against both German and Italian forces.  The Italians were members of the Bersaglieri Regiment - an exception to the usual run of the Italian forcces in being well trained and determined troops.  The circumstances of Dominic's death are not recorded in the "Official History" but the possibility of his death being caused by an Italian soldier would have made the loss to his Port Chalmers family no less of a tragedy.

In Memoriam

In The Empire's Cause

POLI. — In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Sgt. Dominic (Don), killed in action, Libya, on November 27, 1941.

Not a day do we forget you. In our thoughts you are always near; 

We who loved you sadly miss you At the dawn of another sad year. 

— Inserted by his loving parents, sisters, and Margaret. 

POLI. — In loving memory of our cousin, Sgt. Dominic Poli, killed in action in Libya on November 27, 1941. His duty nobly done. — Inserted by Denis and Eleanor. 

POLI. — In loving memory of our cousin, Sgt. Dominic Poli, killed in action in Libya on November 27, 1941. His duty nobly done. — Inserted by Uncle and Auntie Monti. 

POLI — In loving memory of “Dom,” killed in action, Libya, November 27, 1941. 

"He gave his life for our freedom.” — Inserted by Albert, May, Valerie, and Colin Cramond. Carey’s Bay, Port Chalmers.   -Evening Star, 27/11/1942.

Port Chalmers Cemetery.