The 14th Brigade was a

formation Formation may refer to: Linguistics * Back-formation, the process of creating a new lexeme by removing or affixes * Word formation, the creation of a new word by adding affixes Mathematics and science * Cave formation or speleothem, a secondar ...

of the

New Zealand Military Forces , image = New Zealand Army Logo.png , image_size = 175px , caption = , start_date = , country = , branch = ...

, which served during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

as part of the

2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

. Eventually forming part of the 3rd Division, the brigade served in the Pacific Ocean theatre of the war. Raised in December 1941, the brigade undertook garrison duties in Fiji before being relieved by US troops in mid-1942. After this, it took part in two combat actions against Japanese forces in 1943–1944: the

Land Battle of Vella Lavella The Battle of Vella Lavella was fought from 15 August – 6 October 1943 between Japan and the Allied forces from New Zealand and the United States at the end of the New Georgia campaign. Vella Lavella, an island located in the Solomon Islands, h ...

and the

Battle of the Green Islands The Battle of the Green Islands or Operation Squarepeg was fought from 15 to 20 February 1944, between Imperial Japan and Allied forces from the New Zealand 3rd Division and the United States. Undertaken after landings to secure lodgments on Ne ...

. In mid-1944, the brigade was broken up to return manpower to New Zealand industry and to meet the reinforcement needs of the 2nd Division in Italy.

History

The brigade's headquarters was raised in December 1941 at Trentham Military Camp, and initially the brigade was employed on garrison duties on

Fiji Fiji ( , ,; fj, Viti, ; Fiji Hindi: फ़िजी, ''Fijī''), officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists ...

. Its first and only commander was Brigadier

Leslie Potter Leslie Potter may refer to: * Leslie Potter (army officer) (1894–1964), officer of the New Zealand Military Forces * Leslie Potter (rower) (1907–1971), British Olympic rower See also

* Jacob Leslie Potter (1877–?), Canadian surgeon gener ...

. Raised after the 8th Brigade, the 14th was the second of the division's three brigades – although the third, the 15th, was disbanded shortly after being raised due to manpower constraints – the brigade consisted of three infantry battalions: the 30th, the 35th and 37th. In mid-1942, as US forces began arriving on Fiji, the brigade returned to New Zealand. After a period of training in New Zealand, the brigade departed for

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

in December 1942. Further training took place there and on

Guadalcanal Guadalcanal (; indigenous name: ''Isatabu'') is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of Solomon Islands, located in the south-western Pacific, northeast of Australia. It is the largest island in the Solomon Islands by area, and the seco ...

as the 3rd Division was given a combat role within the

Solomon Islands campaign The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign began with Japanese landings and occupation of several areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville, in the Territory of New Guinea, du ...

. In September 1943, the brigade was committed to its first combat action, landing on

Vella Lavella Vella Lavella is an island in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. It lies to the west of New Georgia, but is considered one of the New Georgia Group. To its west are the Treasury Islands. Environment The island of Vella Lavella is loc ...

and fighting a short, but sharp engagement against the Japanese garrison. The brigade remained there until it took part in its next landing on the Nissan Islands, in what became known as the

in February 1944. By mid-1944, the New Zealand Army was experiencing a manpower shortage. As it became clear that the nation could not support both the 3rd Division in the Pacific and the 2nd Division in Italy, as well as meet the needs of industry back in New Zealand, the brigade was withdrawn back to New Caledonia, where the 3rd Division was being concentrated while its future was being decided. Slowly personnel were demobilised and returned to New Zealand and by August 1944, the 14th Brigade ceased to exist. A short time later, on 20 October 1944, the 3rd Division, along with its various subunits, was disbanded.

References

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History

References

Further reading