New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy

ASC Drivers Join 10 Infantry Brigade

ASC Drivers Join 10 Infantry Brigade

On 17 May all except a few of the ASC drivers attached to the field ambulances were marched out to join a composite battalion being formed as part of 10 Infantry Brigade. This new brigade was formed on 14 May under the command of Colonel Kippenberger, 1 and consisted of 20 Battalion, the Composite Battalion of drivers and artillerymen, a Divisional Cavalry detachment, and 6 and 8 Greek Regiments. The brigade was to defend the high ground in the Galatas area, protecting the approach to Canea from the west and covering the Canea valley to the south-west, including the area around Lake Aghya.

1 Maj-Gen Sir Howard K. Kippenberger, KBE, CB, DSO and bar, ED, m.i.d., Legion of Merit (US); Wellington; born Ladbrooks, 28 Jan 1897; barrister and solicitor; 1 NZEF 1916–17; CO 20 Bn Sep 1939–Apr 1941, Jun–Dec 1941; comd 10 Bde ( Crete) May 1941; 5 Bde, Jan 1942–Jun 1943, Nov 1943–Feb 1944; 2 NZ Div, 30 Apr–14 May 1943, 9 Feb–2 Mar 1944; 2 NZEF Prisoner-of-War Reception Group in UK, 1944–45; twice wounded; Editor-in-Chief, NZ War Histories.