22^nd Battalion 2NZEF

"Vrai et Fort"

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Home War Diary Introduction War Diary Monthly Index War Diary Battle Reports Unit History in Syria Surname Index Roll of Honour Introduction Roll People The Full Roll The "Originals" Formal Group Photos Officers & Awards Leslie Andrew VC - first CO David Russell GC Ian Holms - first casualty "Scotch" Paterson Private "Borax" Publications & Links Mclean Version of History Books by 22 Bn Men Ship-board Publications Association Newsletters All the Official Histories Thanksgiving Service Links Photographs Photographs Boseley Collection Burns Collection Collett Collection De Lisle Collection Froggatt Collection Harrison Collection Kinsey Collection McIvor Collection Merrylees Collection O'Leary Collection Paterson Art Collection "Pinny Collection" Southall Collection Thomas Collection Towgood Collection Vause Collection Waller Collection Commemorations Commemorations Crete 2016 Cassino 2014 Cassino 2004 Cassino 1994 Cassino 1944 El Alamein 2012 Passchendale 2007 Trieste 2005 VJ Day 1995 Trieste Arrival in Trieste 1945 Return to Trieste 2005 Sprigge's Diary 1945 Reunions Christmas Reunions Hollingbourne 2010 National Reunions National Reunions Contact Contact Me Acknowledgements ☰

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Commanding Officers, Honours, Awards and People of the 22^nd Battalion

Commanding Officers

The 22^nd Battalion had 10 Commanding Officers between December 1939 and August 1947. There is information about some of them here.

Lt-Col L. W. Andrew, VC	10 Jan 1940-7 Feb 1942
Lt-Col J. T. Russell	7 Feb 1942-6 Sep 1942
Lt-Col T. C. Campbell	6 Sep 1942-18 Apr 1944
Lt-Col D. G. Steele	18 Apr 1944-11 May 1944
Lt-Col H. V. Donald	11 May 1944-22 Nov 1944
Lt-Col A. W. F. O'Reilly	22 Nov 1944-24 Mar 1945
Lt-Col H. V. Donald	24 Mar 1945-7 Aug 1945
Maj R. H. Spicer	7 Aug 1945-19 Oct 1945
Lt-Col W. B. Thomas	19 Oct 1945-29 Nov 1946
Lt-Col G. M. McCaskill	29 Nov 1946-7 Aug 1947

Unofficial Roll of the 22^nd Battalion Men

After searching through many archives, files and other sources, I have compiled a list of all the men who served in the 22nd Battalion. It is not complete, so if you know of someone who is missing, please let me know.

The Complete Roll of the 22nd Battalion

John Bowker's Roll of the "Originals" of the 22^nd Battalion

An official roll of all men who were posted to the 22^nd Battalion does not exist. However, one of the "originals" - Pte John Bowker - compiled a list of the "originals" who sailed from Wellington on the Empress of Britain on 2 May 1940.

John's Roll can be viewed here.

David Russell - awarded the George Cross for Bravery

David Russell was awared the George Cross posthumously for bravery in the face of the enemy. His life and story are told here.

Pte Ian Holms - the first casualty

Ian Holms was the Battalion's first casualty caused by enemy action. He was killed by a rogue bomb dropped on the battalion's billets at Hollingbourne. Read Ian's story here.

"Borax" - the Battalion Mascot

"Borax", a small black and white terrier, was adopted by the Battalion during early 1940 in Trentham. He applied to enlist, but was declined. Nor was he provided with an official regimental number. When the Battalion sailed in May 1940, Borax was smuggled aboard but was found a few days later. However he accompanied the Battalion to England where he was provided with a regulation uniform and turned out on parades.

More information about Borax is here

Honours and Awards

Many members of the battalion were decorated, and these are listed in the Official History publication. Regretably, that list omits the George Cross awarded to Lance Corporal David Russell for his actions as a prisoner of war in Italy, presumably because he was not an active member of the Battalion at the time. The list also omits the Distinguished Conduct Medal awared to CPL Ronald Henry DIXON (633741) for "his courage, determination and leadership near the River Senio, Italy, for the assault of the Casa Alta (a well defended strong point) on the night of 14-15 December 1944".

Victoria Cross Sgt K. Elliott George Cross L. Cpl D. Russell Distinguished Service Order Lt-Col L. W. Andrew, VC Lt-Col H. V. Donald, MC Member of the Order of the British Empire WO II W. G. Jude Bar to Military Cross Capt C. N. Armstrong Military Cross Maj T. C. Campbell Maj J. L. MacDuff Maj A. W. F. O'Reilly Maj R. H. Spicer Capt R. R. Knox Lt H. V. Donald Lt I. L. Thomas 2 Lt C. N. Armstrong 2 Lt G. M. Bassett 2 Lt J. W. C. Craig 2 Lt R. Mollier 2 Lt E. B. Paterson Greek Military Cross Maj H. G. Wooller Distinguished Conduct Medal Sgt A. E. Eades Sgt G. H. Palmer L-Sgt L. F. Seaman Cpl R. H. Dixon Cpl R. F. Garmonsway Cpl L. T. McClurg Cpl H. J. Whelch L-Cpl J. H. Garwood Military Medal WO I T. G. Fowler WO II R. L. Craig Sgt R. J. Bayliss Sgt E. D. Bougen Sgt N. F. Callesen L-Sgt M. N. Reeve L-Sgt S. N. Tsukigawa Cpl F. J. Blackett Cpl A. G. Clark Cpl A. G. Gordon L-Cpl B. C. D. Smaller Pte R. H. Dixon Pte R. J. H. Hawley Pte H. McIvor

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Last updated: 16 January 2024