14th Brigade (New Zealand)

14th Brigade New Zealand troops land on Green Island 1944 (AWM image 304260).jpg 300 Troops from New Zealand disembark from U.S. Landing Craft Infantry ship LCI-444 to occupy Green Island on 16 February 1944. 1941–1944 New Zealand New Zealand Military Forces Infantry ~3,000 – 3,500 personnel 3rd Division Second World War Land Battle of Vella Lavella Battle of the Green Islands Leslie Potter The 14th Brigade was a formation of the New Zealand Military Forces, which served during the Second World War as part of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. 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 and the Battle of the Green Islands. 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. Its first and only commander was Brigadier Leslie Potter.Nicol 1947 70 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 constraintsGillespie 1952 111 – the brigade consisted of three infantry battalions: the 30th, the 35th and 37th.Nicol 1947 73–74 thumb|left|14th Brigade landing at Guadalcanal 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 in December 1942. Further training took place there and on Guadalcanal as the 3rd Division was given a combat role within the Solomon Islands campaign.Brinkman 1947 36–42 In September 1943, the brigade was committed to its first combat action,Nicol 1947 77–78 landing on Vella Lavella 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 Battle of the Green Islands in February 1944.Brinkman 1947 68–69Crawford 2000 150–156 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.Nicol 1947 81 Slowly personnel were demobilised and returned to New Zealand and by August 1944, the 14th Brigade ceased to exist.Nicol 1947 83 A short time later, on 20 October 1944, the 3rd Division, along with its various subunits, was disbanded.Gillespie 1952 203 References Citations 2 Bibliography Crawford John Kia Kaha: New Zealand in the Second World War Crawford, John Oxford University Press Auckland 2000 140–162 A Campaign on Two Fronts: Barrowclough in the Pacific Brinkman A. H. L. The 35th Battalion: A Record of Service of the 35th Battalion with the Third Division in the Pacific 1947 The Third New Zealand Division Histories Reed Publishing Auckland, New Zealand http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2IP-35Ba.html 8210219 Gillespie Oliver The Pacific 1952 Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45 War History Branch, Department of Internal Affairs Wellington https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Paci.html 59000607 Nicol F. Headquarters: A Brief Outline of the Activities of Headquarters of the Third Division and the 8th and 14th Brigades During Their Service in the Pacific 1947 The Third New Zealand Division Histories Reed Publishing Wellington https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2IP-Head.html 154141498 Further reading Gailey Harry A. Bougainville, 1943–1945: The Forgotten Campaign 1991 University of Kentucky Press Lexington, Kentucky 978-0-8131-9047-1 The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History McGibbon, Ian Oxford University Press Auckland 2000 0-19-558376-0 June 2017 Category:Infantry brigades of New Zealand in World War II Category:Military units and formations established in 1941 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1944