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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume II

94 — The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

94
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

2 October 1942

Further to my telegram of 11 September, the War Office agree that the Valentines should not accompany the tank battalion personnel to the Middle East. It is proposed ultimately to equip the Armoured Brigade in the same way as the other armoured brigades in the Middle page 69 East on Crusader Mark III and Grant and Sherman basis. The Brigade's training equipment is expected to be available in January 1943.1

The Chief of the General Staff (Wellington) has been informed direct.

1 The 3rd Battalion, 1st NZ Army Tank Brigade, left New Zealand with the 8th Reinforcements on 12 Dec 1942. The battalion was disbanded on its arrival in the Middle East. The 1st Battalion was retained in New Zealand on home defence until Jun 1943, when it was disbanded, most of its personnel being posted to the 9th and 10th Reinforcements. The 2nd Battalion, originally intended to form part of the 3rd Division, was also disbanded in Jul 1943. About 270 officers and men from the 2nd Battalion formed the 3rd Division Tank Squadron and served in the Pacific, while most of the remainder were posted to the 10th Reinforcements and served in the Middle East.