25th infantry battalion served second world war 6th 2nd formed new_zealand period training rest 6th brigade embarked middle_east joined 2nd moved greece help defend german invasion battalion participated evacuated conclusion fighting country fought suffered heavy losses effectively destroyed 15th division december february battalion brought strength transferred syria returned egypt march suffered heavy casualties fighting north_africa ceased 25th battalion participated fighting actions later finished war remained counter presence yugoslav partisans entered city withdrawal partisans weeks later battalion moved florence long serving personnel began returning new_zealand required service pacific theatre operations battalion late formation following outbreak second world war new_zealand government authorised formation 2nd service home abroad following consultation british government decided main new_zealand contribution war effort form infantry division 2nd require battalions infantry consequently infantry battalions formed new_zealand volunteers eighth unit raised formed personnel drawn largely wellington bay region establishment men organised rifle companies headquarters company consisting specialised personnel signals battalion headquarters infantry battalions initially known later designated 6th infantry brigades 2nd command lieutenant colonel served world war battalion embarked active service aboard liner august transferring orient liner bombay battalion arrived middle_east september immediately commenced intensive training base near town egypt greece anticipated invasion greece germans decided send troops support greeks engaged italians albania 2nd number allied units dispatched greece early march tasked defence coastal portion northern greece 25th battalion preparing manning defences april germans invaded greece advance rapid quickly threatened brigade abandon positions withdrawn april marked beginning gradual retreat country series rearguard actions fought elements division battalion fought sharp attack german positions april major engagement campaign greece successfully later day evacuated greece april rest 6th brigade 4th 5th brigades having taken beaches east athens brigades disembarked crete 6th brigade continued egypt casualties 25th battalion campaign greece amounted nearly killed wounded personnel captured prisoners war majority captured personnel battalion reinforcement company left athens 6th brigade moved retreat soldier managed escape eventually way turkey sea act later awarded distinguished conduct medal north_africa late period training strength moved near suez_canal rest 6th brigade battalion manned defences possible attack german recent events crete demonstrating threat forces pose battalion shifted near west alexandria september time commander promoted brigadier given command battalion new commander lieutenant colonel recently involved fighting crete evacuated battalion improved defences area underwent intensive training open desert warfare training preparation 2nd role upcoming planned lift siege new 8th army infantry divisions surround capture main strong points armoured divisions seek engage lieutenant general time garrison attempt breakout november 6th brigade moved starting positions libya held reserve initial offensive commenced brigade entered november moved 25th battalion leading alongside 24th battalion 4th brigade targeted 5th brigade area following day 6th brigade ordered advance point set perimeter contact 5th difficulty leaving early morning november 25th 26th battalions led advance stopped units later discovered headquarters element moved far end initiated battle battalion took prisoners 6th brigade moved quickly point held german forces point marked start kilometres arriving hours initial contact enemy earlier morning attempt capture point having received orders brigade commander initial impressions point lightly defended proved incorrect attack needed additional support companies squadron valentine tanks 8th called assist initially proceeding german counterattack caused significant casualties battalion remaining companies 24th battalion moved forward evening help secure little ground won lieutenant colonel commander 24th battalion took command overall position following wounding subsequent evacuation losses incurred day dead wounded prisoners war november control new little company strength following events november moved brigade reserve inflicted significant defeat british armour returning area pockets vulnerable counter attack elements 15th contact november november 6th brigade surrounded 15th began attacking midday tanks infantry despite support anti tank guns new overrun prisoner war surviving company commanders survivors commanded major sole surviving company commander moved reserve days previously managed withdraw overrun syria battalion reformed escaped capture odd personnel left battle replacements new_zealand battalion second command major left new moved libya promoted lieutenant colonel commander battalion stationed late january moved shortly called cairo days increase allied presence counter potential unrest civilian population city tensions decreased returned resumed training included practice amphibious operations late february mid march 2nd transferred syria allied high command concerned middle_east risk invasion germans new force tasked blocking likely route stationed close border turkey near town manned frontier posts weeks battalion later shifted fortress area prepare defences following attack 8th army line army africa 2nd recalled egypt end june rest 6th brigade setting camp area egypt 2nd dispatched lines 4th 5th brigades went south 6th brigade commanded initially held reserve ordered man box arriving june 25th battalion guarded western box 24th 26th battalions responsible northern southern sides respectively brigade remained watching retreating british stream germans distance days moving missed action july saw destruction large 4th 5th brigades securing ridge armour available defend counterattack germans recalled lines relieve left days later involved night time attack aim secure depression create route british armour penetrate brigade reserve successfully achieved objective consolidating positions attacked july daylight german tanks caught 24th 25th battalions positioned relatively shallow headquarters surprise firing edge low cliff overlooking depression germans caused heavy losses 24th 25th battalions passing positions pursuit british armour george battalion commander captured men killed wounded survivors command burton senior surviving company commander lack armoured support 6th brigade moved southern section line manned defensive positions failed attempt cut 8th army battalion time numbered personnel included company left brought forward rejoin survivors battle burton promoted lieutenant colonel commanded battalion september time went leave replaced lieutenant colonel 8th army command general planning offensive operations formed defensive position minus incurred significant losses withdrawn converted armour 2nd play major role forthcoming attack phases beginning october new advanced artillery barrage commenced quickly attained objectives began consolidating wounded bombing raid day attack later awarded role battle new withdrawn positions days later remained fighting australian 9th division took offensive northern sector british infantry brigades 2nd resumed fight november intended break south german defences collapsed november began retreating new pursuit attached 2nd support led initial advance 6th brigade rain turned ground halted advance temporarily resume november mid november division withdrawn rest organisation shortly recovered wounds received october resumed command advance libya tunisia month engaged reorganisation training new entered campaign mid december attempt trap december division carried flanking south west led 6th brigade 25th battalion right advance unopposed days evening december reconnaissance element included brigade commander came fire ridge supported 24th battalion subsequent attack ridge found trap failed germans slipping gap 5th 6th brigades second attempt trap germans days later failed rearguard prevented 5th brigade closing road retreat advance continued january 2nd entered tripoli shortly reaching city given command lieutenant colonel taking 25th battalion initially stationed outside tripoli moved city proper later february rest 6th brigade occupying force meantime withdrawn tunisia following failed attack germans 8th army early march allied response new british free french forces drive forward gap south line march 6th brigade mounted night time attack feature known point defended italian forces attack battalion frontage left tasked capture point 26th battalion making corresponding movement forward objective achieved casualties killed incurred following day artillery fire point exposed breach attacking battalions exploited supporting british armour attempt capture gap mounted march infantry 5th brigade 6th brigade supported regiment british 8th armoured brigade 25th battalion played minor role securing extreme left flank carrying operations generally supporting 24th battalion advance attack total success day 2nd moved forward 25th battalion bringing rear 6th brigade coming days 2nd briefly halted advance week rest maintenance vehicles advanced town kilometres north minor opposition encountered moved forward 25th battalion leading 6th brigade outskirts reached battalion carriers april resistance prevented rifle companies entering town day preparations scale attack town begun 6th brigade relieved implemented 25th battalion moving kilometres rear focus shifted 2nd objective operation corps offensive reserve attack north road flanking attack attack commenced evening april 6th brigade easily secured objectives struggled took days fall shortly temporarily attached relieved 23rd battalion remained pressure enemy allied units broke early axis forces north_africa surrendered 2nd began return egypt italy close north african campaign allies attention turned despite preference sections new_zealand government 2nd decided division having served 8th army desert campaign remain europe fighting italy having based camp early june battalion left egypt october division shift italy reached taranto days later 2nd including fully armoured regiments tanks moved banks later month scheduled mount night crossing november companies crossed previous night opposite bank attack postponed bad weather brigade eventually crossed centre november river foot personnel crossing briefly disturbed crossing german casualties battalion pushed forward seized objective range hills metres river following weeks battalion involved 6th brigade attack initial attack evening december launched use supporting armour brigadier commander 6th brigade difficulty leading penetrated town square soon robust defence supported german tanks forced infantry captured tank troops 18th armoured regiment ordered forward time reached outskirts infantry withdrawing town battalion supported attacks following days german defences strong attack soon faded stalemate number forth actions winter set offensive operations ceased late december 6th brigade maintained sector battalions rotating 24th 25th 26th battalions line day spells time fell ill medically evacuated battalion second command major commander new withdrew area altogether january following withdrawal area 2nd number divisions transferred engaged western overall strategy breach break italian supporting british american artillery division newly formed command new_zealand divisional commander lieutenant general sir corps moved defenders resisted american forces weeks interim rested days valley miles time received reinforcements bring strength mid february recovered illness resumed command battalion rest division moved forward south taking sector 6th brigade reserve initial attack involved 4th indian division 28th new_zealand engineers mounted february failed lack air armoured support days later 5th brigade attempted capture town railway station failed soon 6th brigade turn moved reserve positions relieved positioned nearly kilometres north 24th manned lines exposed fire overlooking ridge planned 6th brigade mount attack february rainfall delayed weeks interim command 25th battalion passed lieutenant colonel replaced major norman turn taken earlier month fallen ill evacuated 6th brigade attack finally commenced march town thoroughly shelled bombed intervening period supported 19th armoured regiment 25th battalion pushed tasked capturing western town 26th battalion advance unable achieve objectives germans defended strongly assisted rubble hampered easy movement supporting armour spending march consolidating gains day attempt largely unsuccessful 25th battalion rifle companies strengths men battalions 6th brigade similar state commanding 2nd reluctant commit infantry battle finally ordered 5th brigade town march withdrawn secondary defensive position successful 6th brigade reduced simply holding ground gained rubble march disbanded reverted command division days later began withdrawn april 25th battalion moved kilometres south casualties battalion amounted personnel killed wounded action left capture mid june commander advance base norman promoted lieutenant colonel took permanent command 2nd held reserve july having spent intervening period assigned infantry brigades advanced florence duly entered city august 2nd transferred advanced advance 25th battalion formed battalion battle group included squadron 20th platoon heavy mortars anti tank troop similarly expanded battle groups alternated advance guard 6th brigade turn led division series river crossings september 5th brigade took advance end september withdrawn reserve rest week battalion entered lines taking positions preparation assault 24th 26th battalions 25th held reserve weather delayed attack abandoned altogether canadians took sector later october new relieved sent rest time division reorganised infantry brigades expanding battalions near town late november corps following month battalion crossed joined infantry battalions 6th brigade attacks rest 2nd remaining march advance april 2nd crossed crossing carried 5th right 6th brigade frontage alongside 24th battalion battalion armoured support including squadron 20th armoured regiment direct command crossing covered artillery fighter bombers achieved minimal opposition nearly germans captured leading companies despite suffering casualties accidentally bombed allied bombers battalion continued lead advance 6th brigade crossed april ordered continue advance battalion established tanks able cross relieved 23rd battalion april leaving brigade reserve beginning attack battalion advanced kilometres taken prisoners war inflicted numerous casualties enemy loss men killed action days line battalion resumed advance april 6th brigade reserve days later vehicle norman battalion commander travelling ran norman wounded medically evacuated replaced second command major promoted lieutenant colonel advance continued effectively unopposed 25th battalion leading despite expecting worst crossed minimal difficulty april traversed day relative ease took advance 6th brigade taking divisional reserve war nearly care required battalion moved forward towns surrender german forces italy 25th battalion moved village north elements 2nd battalion remained weeks counter presence yugoslav partisans laid claim city mid june partisans withdrew city weeks later new_zealand government decided division required service early august battalion began long serving men leaving new_zealand remaining personnel withdrew positions near florence october took command left 6th brigade left command battalion final days oversaw disbandment december war 25th battalion lost personnel killed action later died wounds nearly prisoners war honours personnel 25th battalion highly decorated including lieutenant colonel received bar time battalion personnel battalion including commanders awarded officers including norman awarded non commissioned officers awarded distinguished conduct medal awarded military medal awarded following battle honours greece crete 42nd street withdrawal middle_east defence line north_africa point roman wall north africa advance florence salute italy commanding officers following officers commanded 25th battalion war lieutenant colonel september lieutenant colonel september november lieutenant colonel november december july september lieutenant colonel december july lieutenant colonel september october november january major october november lieutenant colonel january december february lieutenant colonel december february march june april lieutenant colonel march june lieutenant colonel april october october disbandment
25th Battalion (New Zealand)