NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22203, 24 November 1943, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

READY FOR ACTION AGAIN RECORD IN NORTH AFRICA A principal topic of comment is the fact that the Second New Zealand Division which served with distinction in North Africa is now engaged in Italy as part of General Montgomery’s Eighth Army. The division had been resting since the conclusion of the North African campaign six months ago, being based on Maadi, near Cairo. Many were allowed to come back to New Zealand on furlough, while most of the remainder were granted shorter terms of leave, enabling them to spend some weeks in Cairo and along the Mediterranean coast. After their long period of heavy fighting and travelling—they covered about 2000 miles in the pursuit of Rommel from El Alamein to Tunis—a great deal of reorganisation was necessary, while recruit replacements to the division had to be intensively trained. The record of North African service is briefly as follows:—December, 1940, the division helped to drive Marshal Graziani from Egypt back to Libya. From April 10, 1941, to May 2, 1941, in action in Greece; from May 20 to June 1, in Crete; from November 18, 1941, to December 24, 1941, the Libyan campaign which opened up the Tobruk corridor. Subsequently the division went to Syria for rest. In July, 1942, Rommel advanced toward Alexandria. From August until May last the division was almost continually in action. From October 23 it took part in the drive from El Alamein to the final German surrender in Tunisia.