 After being evacuated from Greece , the Māori Battalion embarked upon the landing ship , infantry HMS Glengyle and was taken to Crete where they formed part of the island 's hastily formed garrison . The 5th Infantry Brigade was allocated to the area surrounding the airfield and the battalion was positioned on the north coast at Platanias , on the brigade 's right flank . On 20 May 1941 , the Germans launched the opening stages of their campaign with large @-@ scale glider and parachute drops of troops from Maleme to Canea . The landings were focused around the airfield and no troops landed in the area being held by the Māoris , nevertheless , a small force of glider troops were found to be occupying a house on the beach about 0 @.@ 5 miles ( 0 @.@ 80 km ) from them . A platoon was dispatched to attack them and after a brief fire @-@ fight in which two New Zealanders were wounded and eight Germans were killed , the 10 remaining men in the house surrendered . 
