A PROUD RECORD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 94, 21 August 1942, Page 5

A PROUD RECORD

B' (HAURAKI) COMPANY

HISTORY DURING PRESENT WAR

(III) Lieut. Col. Dawe, Area Commander (Paerou) h&s kindly forwarded us a brief official account of the activities of B (Hauraki) Company in the present war. The record is made by Major R. G. Webb up to the opening- of the Libyan campaign and is carried on from; there by Oapt. Jack Conotlly (since posted as wounded). The history will be published in column form from; issue to issue.

On the night 28/29 April, the Company rejoined the Battalion, and moved south through Sparta and turned east to Moloi, about 10 miles from Monemvasia on the east coast of the Pelopponese. Here we concealed ourselves on 29th April, and although bombers were constantly over the area loolking for us, we 1 had a day of quietness, although the roar of planes gave us little real rest.

1 hat night AA'e moved to Monemvasia, and epibarked, the Battalion being the last formed body of troops to leave Greece. On the morning of 30th April, Ave arrived in Sucla Bay, left General Freyberg there, and at mid-day set out for Alexandria in the Ajax, the ship that had taken us to Greece six Aveeks before. We landed at Alexandria at 1700 hours on 31 st April, and on 2nd May returned to Hehvan Avhere Ave Avere. delighted to find 2/Lieut. Carroll and his party. Their transport had broken down on the Avay back from Molos and they had been brought out by another Unit by a different route. A check up now showed us that nearly 40 men had failed to return, and we deeply regretted the loss of so many sterling fellows.

After a short spell of garrison duty we woved to Suez where we took up the preparation of Canal defences. Here we lost Capt. Collins, who was detailed for a tour of duty at depot and from there returned to New Zealand without rejoining the Unit. His: departure was a distinct loss to the Battalion. Just prior to his leaving 2/Lieut. Carroll Avas seconded to the staff of MpE.T.S., and that left onty Capt. Webb and Lieut. Nicholson, of tho original officer group. Capt. Webb took over the Company, and shortly afterwards, we moved to Ismailia Avhere Ave undertook Canal defence. "While Ave were here 2/Lieut. G. B. Nelson and 2/Lieut H. B. Ashton joined the Company at subalterns and Capt. T. M. Wallace came as second-in-Command. Early in July, Capt Webb Avas appointed Chief Instructor of the tactical wing at the NeAV Zealand Divj School of Instruction, and Capt C. D. Brown M.M. (Opotiki) took over the Company Avhile Lieut Nicholson transferred to the Pay Corps. With the formation of. the New -Zealand Armoured Brigade, 2/Lieut Nelson transferred and 2/Lieut J. R. Breen Avas appointed to the Company. Some months of training saAV the Company fit to fight again, and with the approach of the Libyan Campaign, the Division moved to the Western Desert. The Company now had as officers: Capt C. D. Brown (0.C.), Capt T. M. Wallace (Second in Command), 2/Lieut G. V. Turnbull, 2/Lieut. H. B. Ashton and 2/Lieut J. R. Breen. With the opening of thecampaign, 2/Lieut G. V. Turnbull, as having Tiad campaign experience, Avas left as battle casualty replacement. Capt Conollv and Lieut Carroll had just completed tours of duty, but Avere too late to go into action with the Unit, while Capt Webb went on attachment to 13. Corps. Prior to the Libyan Campaign, the Company put in several months of desert training terminating in Brigade manoeuvres which lasted over a period of three days. The men were lit and eager to go into, action.