War Story Page 1 MILITARY HISTORY FOR WILLIAM EDWARD (BILL) MOLD PART ONE… War Story Page 2 INTRODUCTION PAGE 3 A GENERAL OVERVIEW PAGE 11 FORMATION AND BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NEW ZEALAND TWENTIETH BATTALION PAGE 16 GREECE AND CRETE PAGE 24 OUR SOLDIERS STORY STARTS INCLUDING COPIES OF LETTERS TO HIS MUM PAGE 33 GREECE CAMPAIGN PAGE 47 CRETE CAMPAIGN PAGE 58 CAMPAIGN IN LIBYA PAGE 92 SYRIAN CAMPAIGN PAGE 139 War Story Page 3 INTRODUCTION… Dear People, My intention is to record this war record for those members of my family and others who are interested now and for those who may be interested in the future. I am but one who is interested, I hope there will be others… Through the following pages of this war story, I hope to capture and cover some of the events and experiences of one of our Kiwi soldiers during World War Two (1939-1945) also the history of his Battalion and the huge commitment and sacrifice “The Twentieth” made for its country and the Mother-Land. With other members of my family, including Grandparents, great Grandparents and great-great Grandparents, Uncles and great Uncles, Nurses, including all of their individual Comrades of Arms , who fought, were killed, wounded, became Prisoners of War and Mentally affected during many wars down through those troubled times of history. Because of their courage and commitment, Kiwi’s of today can live their lives with freedom and in peace. Our Soldiers letters to his Mum and family and condensed information taken from “Official New Zealand Military History Books”, and personal stories from his comrades in arms, will give some account of the hardship, terror, humour and comradeship “our soldier” experienced while helping to defend, Greece, Crete, Palestine, Syria, North Africa and Italy from Germany’s Adolf Hitler, the Nazis and their Allies. //////// The contributions the many military members of our families and other Kiwi families made during the Wars of the World, have made it possible for me to sit here to-day and write this account without fear of prejudice and with the freedom to write the words of my choice. I thank them all for giving me this opportunity. //////// Dear Dad, I dedicate this small part of history to you. During this journey I have learnt to understand and know you better. I am sorry you were unable to discuss in full this life changing time in your life. I now know why. Your son, Roger Mold. War Story Page 4 LEFT BELOW: ON FINAL LEAVE WITH HIS MUM, BEFORE DEPARTING OUR SHORES FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS RIGHT BELOW: SAYING FAREWELL TO HIS DOG MAC LEFT: WITH HIS DOG MAC AND SISTER RUTH. Note: His dog Mac waited patiently at the front of the house for the return of his master. Day after day he looked up the drive-way in anticipation. Approximately four years later he heard a familiar whistle from the back of the house. Towing his kennel around the side of the house and down the new track to the road at the bottom of the hill this dog and our soldier were finally re-united. My Grandmother told me that when our soldier was wounded in battle in North Egypt his dog howled for nearly 24 hours. She said to my Grandfather “something has happened to Willy”. A few days later our soldier’s parents received a telegram from the Government to say that he had been wounded. War Story Page 5 LEFT: OUR SOLDIER. ON FINAL LEAVE AT HIS PARENTS’ HOME IN DARGAVILLE FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF OUR SOLDIER’S SERVICE RECORDS I obtained these from the Army archives which are kept at Army headquarters Trentham, Wellington. From these I was able to match dates and events to his letters and establish where he was and when at any specific time. SERVICE RECORD W. E. MOLD SERVICE NUMBER 14756 Description of soldier on enlistment… Date of birth… 1.7.1919 Place… New Zealand Age… 21 Height… 5 foot 8 inches Complexion… fair Eyes… blue Hair… brown Religion… Methodist Single married or widower… Single Occupation…Coal Carbonization factory worker Place of enlistment… Area 4 Huntly Last employer… Waikato Carbonization, Rotowaro, Huntly Last New Zealand address… C/o R. Dowd, Huntly War Story Page 6 Unit: Rank. Christian Name: Surname: 20 NZ Armed Regiment Trooper William Edward Mold Outward; Inward; Service; Attested. Arrived NZ N.Z…. Days 31.7.1940. 31.10.1944 24.9.1940 to 18.12.40 = 86 Entered camp. Discharged. 1.11.1944 to 1.2.1945 = 93 3.10.1940. 1.2.1945 Overseas ….. Embarked. Wellington 19.12.1940 19.12.1940. To 31.10.1944 = 3 years 318 days. Disembarked. Total: 4 years and 132 days. Egypt. 31.1.1941 Next of kin; Relationship; Address; Herbert John Mold Father Haimona St Dargaville. Address of soldier on return to New Zealand. Haimona St, Dargaville. 11.7.1946 Casualties. Cable No. Date of Nature of Casualty. Casualty. 7391/1. 4.12.1941. Battle Casualty. Wounded 24.11.1941 1961/1. 10.1.1942 24.11.1941. Discharged from Hospital. 2.1.1942. Action after return to New Zealand or discharge abroad. Nature of document Date. By Address sent to. issued. 29.4.1 R. 8 See Schedule No. 312. No. 2.828 certificate of 947 discharge No 15,480 ACTIVE SERVICE RECORD Unit Particulars of Report Place Date D. Company. Southern Infantry Burnham Camp Burnham 3.10.1940 Final Leave 18. Nov – 1. Burnham 18.11.1940 Dec Marched out. Foreign Burnham 19.12.1940 Service Commenced 33 Battalion Marched in Egypt Egypt 31.1. 1941 War Story Page 7 20th Battalion Marched in and posted Egypt 28.2.1941 to 20th Battalion Embarked to join Lustre Middle East ?.3.1941 Force in Greece Nominal Roll 20th Reported safe in Crete Middle East 18.5.1941 With 20 + 34 Batt Advanced to 64 Middle East 30.5.1941 General Hospital With 20 + 34 Batt Advanced to 3 N.Z. Middle East 6.6.1941 General Hospital With 20 + 34 Batt Advanced to 1 N.Z. Middle East 13.6.1941. Convalescent Depot 1 Con dept Was On Active Service. Middle East 9.7.1941 Contravening BTE standing orders. AA11 (2) Absent Without Leave, 1 hr 10 minutes AA (5 (1) Punishment 72 hrs detention plus automatic forfeiture of 2 days’ pay under RW Base RD Depart 1 N.Z. Middle East 17.7.1941 Convalescent Depot too Base Base RD Marched out too 33 Middle East 19.7.1941 Battalion Marched in Reported Middle East 24.7.1941 from S. Inf Tng Depot 20th Battalion Marched out reposted Middle East 24.7.1941 to 20 Battalion. 20th Battalion Battle Casualty. Middle East 24.11.41 Wounded in action. Battle Casualty. Middle East 24.11.41 Advanced 6 Field Ambulance FSACCS Adm F SA CC S Middle East 27.11.41 F SACCS Dchgd to 15 BBS Middle East 30.11.41 Evacuated by Middle East 4.12.41 Ambulance Train 200 Field Hospital Transferred to Base Middle East 7.12.41 Hospital Transferred to 3 New Middle East 21.12.41 Zealand General War Story Page 8 Hospital N.Z.RD Discharged 1 N.Z. Middle East 2.1.1942. General Hospital att N.Z.RD N.Z.RD Marched out to Sthn Middle East 6.1.42 TDF Irng Depot S. Inf Marched out. Posted Middle East 13.1.42 20 NZ Battalion 20 Battalion Marched in Posted Middle East 13.1.42 from S.NZ.Inf.Tng. Depot 20th Armoured Marched out 20 Middle East 27.6.42 Battalion att NZ Tg depot 20 Armoured Regiment Marched in CTBA 33 NZ Middle East 18.7.42 Battalion 20 Armoured Regiment Safe Middle East 19.7.42 Safe Middle East 7.9.42 20 Armoured Regiment Marched out 20 Armed Middle East 25.10.42 Regiment att 178 Pal Coy RASC Marched in Ct BA 178 Middle East 27.10.42 Pal Coy 20 Armoured Regiment Adm 23 NZ Fwd Amb Middle East 30.11.42 and Frd to x (ii) hish NZ Reception Depot Dschd 1 NZ Gen Hosp Middle East 4.12.42 and attchd NZ Reception Depot NZ Reception Depot Marched out to 20 NZ Middle East 7.12.42 Armed Regiment’s/ox(ii)List 20 armoured regiment Marched in posted Middle East 7.12.42 from NZ Reception Depot and s/o x (ii) List 20 armoured regiment Adm 23 NZ Fwd Amb Middle East 19.1. 43 and Frd to x (ii) hish NZ Reception Depot Dschd 1 NZ Gen Hosp Middle East 19.1.43 and attchd NZ Reception Depot NZ Reception Depot Marched out to 20 NZ Middle East 20.1.43 Armed Regiment’s/ox(ii)List War Story Page 9 20 armoured regiment Marched in posted Middle East 20.1.43 from NZ Reception Depot and s/o x (ii) List Qualified for award of Middle East Africa Star 20 NZ Armed Regiment 20 armoured regiment Embarked Alexandria Middle East 17.10.43 20 armoured regiment Awarded Africa Star Middle East 6.12.43 20 armoured regiment Adm 4 NZ Fd Amb ADS 2.2.44 and ifd to x (11) list NZAC x List Discharged. 1 NZ Conv Italy 30.3.44 Dep and att 2 NZ Reception Depot and remains on X (II) list NZAC x List Marched out Adv Base Italy 1.4.44 2 NZEF and tfd from x (11) to x (IV) list NZAC NZAC Adv Base Marched in from 2 NZ Italy 1.4.44 Reception Dep TFD from x (11) L X (IV) List Marched out to Follout Italy 13.4.44 as Reinforcement and remains on x (IV) list NZ Fwd Delivery Sqd Mrch in Att FAP from Italy 15.4.44 Adv Base 2NZEF 20 armoured regiment Marched in posted Italy 19.4.44 CTBA Fwd delivery Sqn and 5/0 x (IV) list 20 armoured regiment Eligible for E.D.