22nd Battalion (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
The 22nd Battalion, also known as the "Wellington Battalion", was an infantry
battalion
of the New Zealand Military Forces, which served during the Second World War. Formed in November 1939, it was part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. After undertaking training at Trentham Camp the battalion sailed from New Zealand on the 1 May 1940. The battalion saw action in Greece
, Crete
, North Africa
, and Italy
. Upon formation, the battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Andrew
, a Victoria Cross
recipient from the First World War. Sergeant Keith Elliott
was the 22nd Battalion's sole Victoria Cross recipient during the Second World War, receiving the award for actions around Ruweisat, Egypt, on 15 July 1942. Other decorations bestowed upon members of the 22nd Battalion included two Distinguished Service Order
s, seven Distinguished Conduct Medal
s, one Member of the Order of the British Empire, 12 Military Cross
es and one bar
, 14 Military Medal
s and one Greek Military Cross. The battalion's casualties amounted to 282 men killed in action or died of wounds, 799 wounded and 511 captured as prisoners of war.
The battalion was redesignated the 2nd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment on 7 August 1947, while it was undertaking occupation duties in Japan. The battalion was disbanded in 1948.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
of the New Zealand Military Forces, which served during the Second World War. Formed in November 1939, it was part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. After undertaking training at Trentham Camp the battalion sailed from New Zealand on the 1 May 1940. The battalion saw action in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Upon formation, the battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Andrew
Leslie Andrew
Brigadier Leslie Wilton Andrew, VC, DSO was a soldier in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, during the First World War...
, a Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
recipient from the First World War. Sergeant Keith Elliott
Keith Elliott
Keith Elliott VC was a soldier in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, during the Second World War.-Biography:Elliott was born in Apiti, New Zealand...
was the 22nd Battalion's sole Victoria Cross recipient during the Second World War, receiving the award for actions around Ruweisat, Egypt, on 15 July 1942. Other decorations bestowed upon members of the 22nd Battalion included two Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
s, seven Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
s, one Member of the Order of the British Empire, 12 Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
es and one bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, 14 Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
s and one Greek Military Cross. The battalion's casualties amounted to 282 men killed in action or died of wounds, 799 wounded and 511 captured as prisoners of war.
The battalion was redesignated the 2nd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment on 7 August 1947, while it was undertaking occupation duties in Japan. The battalion was disbanded in 1948.