Leslie Andrew
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VCLeslieWiltonAndrewGrave.jpg
Brigadier Leslie Wilton Andrew (VC, DSO) (1897-1969) was a New Zealand soldier who served in both World War I and World War II. He was born in Manawatu, New Zealand.
He was 20 years old, and a Corporal in the 2nd Bn., Wellington Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 31 July 1917 at La Bassee Ville, France, Corporal Andrew was in charge of a small party in an attack on the enemy's position. His objective was a machine-gun post which had been located in an isolated building, but on leading his men forward he encountered another machine-gun post which was holding up the advance of another company. He immediately attacked it, capturing the gun and killing several of the crew. He then continued with his attack on the original objective and finally captured the post, killing a number of the enemy and putting the remainder to flight.
In World War II he commanded the 22nd Battalion of the Second NZEF, and led the New Zealand victory contingent in London in 1946.
He later achieved the rank of Brigadier. Grave/memorial at Levin RSA Cemetery, Tiro Tiro Road, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Returned Serviceman's Section. Row 13. Headstone.
Nzvc11.jpg
Back row, L-R: Col. L.W. Andrew, Maj. R.S. Judson, Pte. J.D. Crichton, Lt. H.J. Laurent, Lt. C.R.G. Bassett
Front row, L-R: Sgt. J.D. Hinton, Lt. K. Elliott, Cpt. C.H. Upham, Sgt. A.C. Hulme, Cpt. S. Frickleton, Lt. J.G. Grant
From the book Tribe of the War God, Taylor (1996).
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the QEII Army Memorial Museum (Waiouru, New Zealand).
Reference
- Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Passchendaele 1917 (Stephen Snelling, 1998)
External links
- Andrew L.W. (http://www.ozemail.com.au/~vcweb/winners/nz_winners/andrew.htm)
- New Zealand Troops who have won the Victoria Cross (http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/7572/nzvcross.txt) (brief biography details)
- Burial location of Leslie Andrew (http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggnewzea.htm) "Wellington, New Zealand"
- Location of Leslie Andrew's Victoria Cross (http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ddnzewel.htm) "Army Museum Waiouru"
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference (http://www.victoriacross.net) with permission.