The 23rd Battalion, also known as the ''Canterbury-Otago Battalion'', was an infantry battalion of the

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

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 opposi ...

. Formed in November 1939 as part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division 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 ...

. After undertaking training at

Burnham Camp Burnham, also known as Burnham Camp, is the largest army base in New Zealand's South Island. It is located 28 kilometres south of Christchurch on the Canterbury Plains in the Selwyn District, close to the town of Dunsandel. Burnham was named a ...

the battalion sailed from New Zealand on 1 May 1940. The battalion saw action in

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, and

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History

Formation and training

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, the New Zealand government authorised the formation of the

(2NZEF), for service at home and abroad. Following consultation with the British government, it was decided that the main New Zealand contribution to the war effort would be in the form of an infantry division, the 2nd New Zealand Division, under the command of Major General Bernard Freyberg. The new division would require nine battalions of infantry and consequently, several infantry battalions were formed from 1939 to 1940 with New Zealand volunteers. The 23rd Battalion, also known as the Canterbury-Otago Battalion, was formed in January 1940 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel A. S. Falconer. It was the last of three infantry battalions designated to make up the second echelon of the 2nd New Zealand Division, destined for overseas service. Its personnel were all volunteers were drawn from the South Island of New Zealand. They were formed into four rifle companies, designated A to D and corresponding to the

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the primate of ...

, Southland, Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast and Otago districts. After completing rudimentary training, the battalion embarked for England in May 1940 as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd New Zealand Division. Sailing on the transport ''Andes'', they made port calls at

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, in Australia,

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, and

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before arriving at

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, in Scotland, in June. Following this, the battalion spent the remainder of the year on garrison duties in the south of England where they were positioned to respond in case of a cross-Channel invasion by the Germans in the wake of the Fall of France.

Commanding officers

The following officers served as commanding officer of 23rd Battalion: * Lieutenant Colonel A. S. Falconer (January–August 1940; March–May 1941); * Lieutenant Colonel D. F. Leckie (August 1940–March 1941; May–June 1941); * Lieutenant Colonel R. E. Romans (June 1941; July 1942–April 1943; August–December 1943); * Lieutenant Colonel C. N. Watson (June–July 1942); * Lieutenant Colonel J. R. J. Connolly (April–May 1943; December 1943–May 1944); * Lieutenant Colonel M. C. Fairbrother (May–August 1943); * Lieutenant Colonel W. B. Thomas (December 1943; June–August 1944; October 1944–May 1945); * Lieutenant Colonel E. D. Blundell (May 1944); * Lieutenant Colonel E. A. McPhail (May–June 1944; August–October 1944); * Lieutenant Colonel D. G. Grant (May–September 1945); * Major D. P. W. Harvey (September–December 1945).

Notes

;Footnotes ;Citations

References

* * {{Infantry Battalions of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, state=expanded Infantry battalions of New Zealand in World War II Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945