major general sir january known officer served second world wars born joined late saw action france western participating battle wound november saw repatriated new_zealand discharged qualified solicitor worked legal practice joined advanced rank lieutenant colonel following outbreak second world war appointed command 20th battalion led battalion years battles greece crete promoted brigadier taking command pinnacle military career commander 2nd wounded march stepped land result wounds lost feet recovery england fitted artificial limbs helped prepare assisted newly released new_zealand prisoners war appointed editor chief new_zealand largest publishing project second world war working project died wellington early life born january unusual surname came paternal great grandparents emigrated new_zealand germany oldest children received early education local schools nearby father father farmer moved family oxford continued schooling advanced age academically challenged school class low attendance rate led school authorities asking leave high school returning home oxford worked family farm interested military history joined local unit found enjoyed father approve interest regardless enlisted late age men ages required register service age ensure eligible duty overseas world war january april underwent basic training 12th reinforcement embarked europe join transit transport ship unexpectedly diverted egypt months contingent based training camp little hours training day 12th reinforcement left july camp england underwent intense training western finally arrived western september private 1st canterbury regiment arrival coincided offensive took battle began september remained lines weeks regiment withdrawn unit suffered heavy casualties time soldiers left platoon battle ended rest recovery regiment moved sector mid october volunteered sniper duty despite known accuracy served capacity badly wounded arm november eventually recovered wound time repatriated new_zealand discharged april civilian life appreciated need establish career end decided profession law early enrolled study law later year found job law clerk legal practice met secretary married couple children sons daughter working day studying evenings qualified solicitor moved manager partner branch legal firm immersed community serving local council involved committees retained interest military joined firmly believed large scale conflict occur europe wanted prepared built extensive military library studied theory warfare analysed past campaigns strategy tactics given situation noted influence landscape outcomes battles qualities successful military commander set large sand table office law practice war gaming learn studies practice training lieutenant colonel commanding 1st second world war outbreak second world war given command 20th battalion formed early october battalion 2nd period training departed middle_east january battalion arrived base egypt february involved training garrison duty months greece crete anticipating invasion greece germans decided send troops support greeks 2nd command major general allied units dispatched greece early march 20th battalion prepared manned western edge position particularly happy felt defensive line allocated battalion wide defend took care avenues retreat positions april expected german invasion began advanced rapidly threat apparent danger withdrawn pass manned defensive positions superior previous positions german attack commenced april brigade defended position days withdrawn battalion chosen rearguard personally intervened demolition bridges pass ensure possible collected demolition party later came artillery tank fire attempted catch main body brigade forced abandon vehicles rejoin battalion foot conducting delaying actions road leading athens command evacuated crete april crete promoted temporary colonel given command 10th brigade hoc formation included man composite battalion consisting mainly artillery men heavy equipment trucks machine gunners greek regiments assessed greek units limited use 20th battalion brigade strict controls place deployment use germans launched invasion crete like defenders island surprised sight hundreds descending quickly recovered making way headquarters burst gunfire directed way twisting ankle avoiding gunfire killed shot head brigade positioned east airfield plains positioned counterattack scattered beginning consolidate good starting position attack airfield launched request denied acting divisional commander brigadier attack launched later knowledge failed believed outcome different troops involved remaining days battle series attacks launched 10th brigade subordinate remained command forward troops brigade town days instrumental maintaining defensive discipline forward troops trained infantry fell germans quickly planned led executed successful counterattack recapture town despite notable success short lived brigade withdraw shorter defensive line town abandoned joined gradually retreated south coast island evacuated egypt arrival select number men remain rearguard rest battalion evacuated pleasure rearguard thought abandon crete able follow day result actions greece crete forged reputation leading officers 2nd division brigade commander recommended leadership infantry brigade time remain commander 20th battalion later year awarded distinguished service order leadership north_africa egypt short period rest set rebuilding battalion lost half original complement nearly replacements joined battalion continued arrive weeks way mediterranean small mid june strength weeks spent battalion previous positions engaged intensive desert training november 2nd division participated conducted offensive operations area enjoyed early successes campaign battalion engaged battles stage responded attack battalion rear frontal assault resulting capture prisoners later night november 18th battalion tasked night time capture hill adjacent units moved positions navigational error resulted headquarters company separated companies battalion took daylight establish contact remainder battalion located expected position having taken hill losses wounded machine gun fire exposed assessing battalion situation evacuated dressing station captured elements 15th division days later 20th battalion destroyed counterattack action observed distressed field glasses dressing station guard italians germans having moved italians began send captive senior officers prisoner war camps italy fate wanted avoid december party able station stealing truck making way ran group armoured cars forced truck stop relief armoured cars proved south african unit reaching met extremely pleased promptly promoted brigadier command spot brigade previous commander brigadier captured german convinced superiors send unit dressing station rescue remaining prisoners work campaign mentioned despatches consisted 21st 22nd 23rd battalions frequently attached command brigade numbered personnel regarded formation brigades division set rest 2nd division moved syria brigade remained worked defensive fortifications months april brigade moved syria complete 2nd division months brigade arrived syria attacked libya prompted recall 2nd defeated battle retreated egypt recalled new manned defensive position rebuffed attacks long division cut successfully forced breakout minimal losses june withdrew new positions july led known held enemy centre line dominating surrounding area tasked capture centre ridge western end ridge 5th eastern end british armour form armoured brigades protect flanks support deal expected counterattack little thought given communication liaison infantry armoured brigades clear chain command established implications outcome battle attack required night time advance miles yards decided battalions 21st 23rd battalions attack 22nd battalion reserve artillery anti tank units follow decided use unreliable short range radios failed clear inexperienced commander lieutenant colonel expected cover frontal advance advance elements battalion spread far apart lost bypassed numerous strong points leaving german line ridge largely intact morning supporting british armour seen artillery anti tank units unable break leaving new_zealand brigades position exposed ridge inspected brigade position found battalions fire german tanks unable contact nearby units radio realising degree men exposed raced fire carrier locate british armour coming armoured brigade miles away commander bring unit forward refused meaningful support intervention commander british 1st armoured division time tanks arrived men 22nd battalion largely killed captured headquarters element 23rd battalion prisoners war nightfall overrun asked received permission withdraw brigade ridge awarded bar dash help british bitter poor planning operation admitted errors judgement opening day second battle led brigade spent previous weeks defensive lines attack achieved objectives contrast months earlier took care establish headquarters far forward possible prior commencement battle communication difficulties units brigade despite lost contact leading 23rd battalion quickly overwhelmed opposition fact battalion advanced quickly arrived final objective far ahead schedule believed reached objective advanced battalion commander blamed unit rapid advance inspirational pre battle speech particularly men tunisia home leave retreated libya tunisia pursuit series engagements enemy followed occupying men battle 5th brigade withdrawn having lost strength remained highly regarded officer commander occasional absence field higher commands july decided send group long serving veterans new_zealand months leave ranking officer group high public profile exploits crete north_africa spent leave extensive speaking engagements seriously ill september originally expected return egypt return command november italy stage war 2nd fighting italy 5th brigade attack central italy arrival conducted survey terrain recommended attack plan modified include additional brigade recommendation concurred reorganised attack successfully executed evening november light casualties attempted times capture town second attack town december involve 5th brigade despite brigade achieving objectives flank town attack successful failure brigade tasked capture achieve goals left elements 5th brigade exposed partially withdraw attack involving mounted december failed despite armoured support found close fighting mountainous terrain italy marked contrast open campaign north_africa despite remained best division afraid voice concerns given difficult orders superiors commander lieutenant general ordered regarded attacks ground pleased twice voiced concerns early commander newly formed promoted temporary major general commander pinnacle military career division moved line replacing attacking strongly defended german positions attack new february unsuccessful despite bombing abbey supported second attack planned february delayed bad weather march climbed slopes nearby gain overview battlefield near mountain triggered land exploded injured legs extent foot severed blast evacuated medical centre foot lower portions legs news injuries spread men 2nd met disbelief shock greatly affecting morale england april transferred queen mary hospital london fitted artificial limbs discharged hospital early september month period wartime services recognised month commander order british empire december appointed companion order bath graded medical board fit administrative duties hopes returning named replace brigadier killed france august commander organisation formed arrange accommodation social medical services new_zealand military personnel expected released prisoner war camps germany war ended personnel evacuated england await new_zealand recognised transition harsh life captive normal life difficult provided needed support individuals threw new role setting facilities accommodation centres dover prisoners war began arriving late march point personally meet group arrivals following october overwhelming majority released personnel returned new_zealand need later life offered position editor chief new_zealand largest publishing project second world war new_zealand government initial plans published record new_zealand involvement war early respected branches new_zealand services championed new_zealand prime minister person coordinate project resulting series books covering campaign unit histories volumes new_zealand people war published war history branch work largely complete returned new_zealand new position initially contracted seven years july involved project rest life capacity editor chief guided planning production volumes dedicated specific campaigns units war effort general set high standard official histories censorship read draft volume produced providing extensive feedback authors took special interest unit history command 20th battalion stressed need struggled views battles personally involved volume proved particularly difficult produce requiring critical analysis leadership personal friends battle commander took offence account handling battle official histories occasion threatened political interference particularly change government person high standing government ordinary strong advocate project able convince new government merits official histories encouraged positive atmosphere war history branch despite tight budget times crowded work conditions proud rate output exceeded efforts better official histories australia great_britain war history branch presided life produced nearly major volumes found time write book account wartime service work began worked largely complete late published proved critical commercial success translated seven languages appointed editor chief official histories intended write volumes hopes negotiating extension contract war history branch knight commander order british empire elected dominion president position hold serving president courted controversy outspoken opposition black tour south_africa basis exclusion players team forced remarks received support veterans april wife health deteriorated hospitalised seriously ill recovered sufficiently moved home preparing wife homecoming complained collapsed taken hospital coma died day cerebral buried wellington military honours watched funeral procession husband hospital window died years later legacy death extensive library purchased keen reader military studies books margins read notes insight thinking warfare strategy collection housed research library books covering wide range military subjects emphasis major wars involving new announced creation sir strategic studies receives support provides support holder chair teach conduct research strategic studies operates known scheme allows officer cadets based near north chance study commissioned
Howard Kippenberger