Wellington West Coast Company,
25th New Zealand Infantry Battalion,
6th Brigade,
2nd New Zealand Division

Photos

Army

Shermans

Aircraft

Introduction

Russell Briant used this army at Call to Arms 2003.

Army List

3 infantry platoons - The core of force is the company’s 3 infantry platoons. The 10^th,
11^th and 12^th. The platoons were originally raised from the Horowhenua, Manawatu and Rangatiki/Wanganui areas. though, with the passage of time, and the allocation of reserves
there are now men from all over New Zealand in the ranks. Like the whole of the Division, with the severe manpower constrains from home, the company is well down on ‘bayonet strength’. The rifle platoons are effectively the equivalent of two squads. 10 Platoon has a new PIAT anti-tank
weapon in place of the usually attached Boy’s team. They are keen to give it a go.

The Company is well blessed with support platoons given our critical role.

Battery of 25pdrs - From the New Zealand division we have “F” Troop from 30 battery of
25pdr who, once they have finished Brigadier Weir’s opening bombardment will be available
for direct support.

The troop is down one gun as F4 was damaged during a ‘rhubarb’ tip-and-run attack by a lone
Fw 190 last evening.

40mm Bofors - Since then we have gained a couple of 40mm Bofors from B section of “D”
Troop of the 14^th Light AA regiment. If the Luftwaffe tries a stunt like that he’s in for a
surprise.

 ‘Pheasant’ heavy anti-tank guns - Now I know what we are doing is important
because we’ve been allocated two of the new ‘Pheasant’ heavy anti-tank guns. There are
rumoured to be only 100 in North Africa and the New Zealand Division has four troops of these, one for each battery of the 7^th AT Regiment. I’ve only ever seen these handed out in ones to
support critical areas of an AT screen. So to get a whole section is special. They have been
given to us to counter the new Tiger Tanks, which our

‘I’ section say have joined Rommel.  We’ll give them billyoh if the show up on our flank.

Sherman and Grant tanks - From within the Corps we have drawn two troops of the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Regiment. These Sherman and Grant tanks put us on a qualitative equivalent of the Jerry Panzers. And unlike the old days we are now working in close concert
with our armour. Wear and tear has been hard on vehicles during the left hooks and 4 troop is missing its second Grant, which is back with the fitters with a shattered volute suspension
unit.

 Air support - Also different from the old days is the level of air support provided by the
Desert Air Force. We’re not quite the main thrust but we can call on limited air support if
required. Hurricanes, Hurricanes – “expect the unexpected”. That’s the motto of 6^th
Squadron RAF.

History

It’s 26^th March 1943 in Tunisia in the Tebaga Gap of the Matmata mountains. The Division is
part of the New Zealand Corps under our own General ‘Tiny’ Freyberg. We have been
executing a series of left hooks all the way from Alamein attempting to cut off and destroy
Axis North African army as it scrambles back across Libya and into Tunisia.

Later today will be the ultimate left hook and when we break through the Tebaga Gap, and
every man here knows with a certainty we will break through, and unleash the 1^st Armoured
Division to turn the German defensive line at Mareth. Following this break out Rommel must
fall back from where he is facing off the rest of the 8^th Army.

25 is an experienced Infantry Battalion now having fought in most of the Div’s North African battles. Wellington West Coast Company has an important job securing the left flank of the attack by taking the hills overlooking that side the valley where our main thrust will fall. There are no friends to our left and it’s our job to guard against that favourite German trick of sneaking
around the flank. Other companies of 25 Brigade are to our right.

 We are well set up to do this job. We’re a well balance, experienced and supremely confident
force honed over years of battle. We have the Afrika Korps on the run and we are not going to fail now.

Jonny Eastwick – Company Adjutant