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The 35th Battalion

Foreword

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Foreword

The writing of this history of the 35th Battalion serves a dual purpose. First, to members of the battalion it stands as a record of their service in the Second Great World War from their early training in New Zealand in 1941 through Fiji, New Caledonia, Vella Lavella and Nissan Island until the disbanding of the Third Division at the end of 1944. It reminds them of pleasant interludes among grim experiences during the three years of the battalion's existence, and of the origins of friendships which, lasting into later life, are among the few personal benefits from the turmoil of war. Secondly, to those interested in New Zealand's efforts to prevent the invasion of her shores by the Japanese it indicates some of the detail which formed part of her full contribution. In this respect the history covers two periods. The first, immediately following the unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941, saw the birth of this battalion with others to swell the New Zealand troops already in Fiji into two brigades. This was a period of feverish activity in improving the defences of Fiji as the Japanese swept down through the Solomons and into the north of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. It would be satisfying to know that such efforts played their part in holding up the invader until the counter blow could be struck. The second period, an equally anxious one, saw the force expanded to a division and moved speedily to New Caledonia in order to form a reserve for the American forces fighting in the Southern Solomons. This move allowed the 25th US Army Division to be thrown into the Guadalcanal battle.

Training in jungle warfare and amphibious operations led to the employment of the battalion as a unit of the 14th Brigade on its first page breakgrim introduction to the strain and horror of jungle warfare on Vella Lavella in the battle for the Central Solomons. The occupation of Nissan Island in the Northern Solomons, marking as it did the strategic close of the Solomons campaign, was a fitting conclusion to the Third Division's efforts. After three years of trials and tribulations the yellow horde had been pushed back half way to Japan and the threat to our homeland removed. The fact that the 35th Battalion played its part in the achievement of this first objective of the allies in the Pacific is a pleasing reward for services willingly and enthusiastically given.