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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.