19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War I
In 1917, the 19th Battalion was involved in the attack on German forces after their retreat to the Hindenburg Line. The battalion also took part in three other major battles in 1917, Second Bullecourt, Menin Road and Poelcappelle in Belgium. In 1918 the battalion helped to repel the German spring offensive, and it was during this time, on 7 April 1918, that Lieutenant Percy Storkey earned a Victoria Cross for his actions during the fighting in Hangard Wood.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War I
Following this, the battalion took part in the Allied offensive that eventually brought about the end of the war, fighting around Amiens and Mont St Quentin before coming up against the "Beaurevoir Line" at Estrees on 3–4 October 1918. This engagement was the battalion's last combat operation in the war, as the whole of 2nd Division was withdrawn from the line after the 6th Brigade's attack on Montbrehain on 5–6 October. On 10 October 1918, while resting near Vignacourt, the 19th Battalion was disbanded in order to reinforce other battalions in the 5th Brigade.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War I
During the war, the battalion suffered 2,903 casualties. There are 874 names of 19th Battalion personnel killed in action recorded on the Australian War Memorial (AWM) Roll of Honour. Members of the 19th Battalion received the following decorations: one Victoria Cross, five Distinguished Service Orders (DSOs), one Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), 20 Distinguished Conduct Medals (DCMs), 31 Military Crosses (MCs), 90 Military Medals (MMs), eight Meritorious Service Medals (MSMs) and 19 Mentions in Despatches (MIDs). For its war service, the battalion was awarded 20 battle honours.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, Inter-war years
Shortly before the end of World War I, Australia's home military force was re-organised into multi-battalion regiments, with each regiment being formed to perpetuate the numerical designations of the AIF battalions that had been raised from personnel drawn from their geographical area.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, Inter-war years
In April 1921, following a review of Australia's defence requirements as the demobilisation process came to an end, the AIF was officially disbanded and the decision was made to reorganise the units of the Citizens Forces in order to perpetuate the designations and battle honours of the AIF battalions; this saw the multi-battalion regiments disbanded and single battalions being formed. As a result, the 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, a unit that could trace its lineage back to 1860, was reformed as the 19th Battalion, perpetuating both the lineage of its predecessor Citizens Forces units and that of its associated AIF unit.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, Inter-war years
In 1927, the unit adopted the territorial designation of "The South Sydney Regiment". At the same time the motto Fortiter et Fideliter (Boldly and Faithfully) was authorised. The battalion was assigned to the 9th Brigade, 2nd Division, upon its re-establishment. Initially, the Citizens Force was maintained through a system of compulsory service, however, in 1929–30, after the election of the Scullin Labor government, the Citizens Force was reorganised as the "Militia", and was maintained on a volunteer only basis.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, Inter-war years
Throughout the 1930s, as a result of manpower shortages and the austerity measures that resulted from the economic hardships of the Great Depression, the unit was amalgamated with the 1st Battalion. In 1939, these two battalions were delinked, however, the 19th was further amalgamated with the 20th Battalion to form the 20th/19th Battalion, adopting the territorial designation of the "Parramatta and Blue Mountains Regiment".


19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War II
At the start of World War II, the 20th/19th Battalion served as a machine-gun unit in Sydney before part of it was sent to Darwin to serve as a garrison force in 1941. The machine gunners later formed part of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion. Meanwhile, Darwin's regular garrison – the Darwin Mobile Force – was disbanded and as a consequence the battalion received a cadre of experience regular former non-commissioned officers who were subsequently commissioned.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War II
Initially, this force was known as the Darwin Infantry Battalion, but from 1 November 1941 the title of the 19th Battalion was readopted with the unit having separated from the 20th. During their time as part of the Darwin garrison, the 19th provided a significant part of the Army's contribution to the defence of the town against Japanese attacks; they remained there until September 1942 when they were relieved by troops from the 10th/48th Battalion, which had been transferred from the New South Wales south coast.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War II
After their relief, the 19th was transported to Mt Isa and then flown back to Narellan where the troops were given a long period of leave. Upon reconstitution in October, the battalion was re-equipped and a period of training around the Nepean River followed. Consisting of about 750 personnel, the 19th was reassigned to the 28th Brigade, along with the 20th and 34th Battalions. In November, the 19th moved to a training camp near Newcastle where they received amphibious training alongside US personnel to become a demonstration unit for the Joint Overseas Operational Training School.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War II
Afterwards, the battalion moved to Woodford, Queensland, where jungle training was undertaken. In April 1943, the 19th Battalion moved to Gordonvale and was reassigned to the 6th Brigade. In July it deployed to the Buna area in New Guinea where it was used on defensive duties carrying out patrols and providing labour for work parties. In late May 1944, the battalion was transported aboard the Duntroon to Lae, establishing itself around Buolo.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War II
In December 1944, the battalion was sent to New Britain, embarking upon the transport Francis J. Parkman, and over the course of the next five months they undertook a campaign of harassment operations to keep the large number of Japanese forces stationed there off balance. Using barges to advance up the coast towards the Gazelle Peninsula, the 19th Battalion relieved the 14th/32nd Battalion and on 28 February 1945 crossed the Mevelo River, whereupon they began advancing towards the Wulwut River.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War II
At this point they came up against the forward Japanese defensive positions that had been dug-in along the Waitavalo ridge, which lay behind the Wulwut and overlooked the Waitavalo and Tol plantations. On 5 March, the 19th attempted to cross the river, but was initially turned back by intense Japanese mortar and machine-gun fire. A second attempt later in the day was successful, however.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War II
After this, the 19th subsequently captured a number of Japanese positions before moving on to Bacon Hill, the crest of the ridge where the main Japanese defensive position was located. At this point they were relieved by the 14th/32nd Battalion. After the 14th/32nd captured Bacon Hill further patrols were sent inland and towards Jammer Bay via the coast. The Australians subsequently secured a position along a line between Wide Bay and Open Bay, at which point they changed to a defensive posture, designed to keep the Japanese bottled up on the Gazelle Peninsula.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War II
As a result, the battalion took no further part in major offensive operations. Throughout the fighting on New Britain, the 19th Battalion suffered 64 battle casualties, which consisted of seven officers and 57 other ranks. In April 1945, the battalion was brought back to Australia in order to prepare for further operations. In July, however, as it became clear that the war was about to end the 19th was disbanded as it became surplus to Australia's military requirements.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, World War II
During the course of the war the battalion suffered a total of 69 casualties, of which 18 were killed in action or died on active service. Members of the battalion received the following decorations for their service: one OBE, four MCs, two MMs and 13 MIDs. The 19th Battalion was awarded three battle honours for its service during World War II; in 1961, it was also entrusted with the four battle honours that the 2/19th Battalion had received for its service during the Malayan Campaign and the Fall of Singapore.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, Post World War II
Following the end of the war even though the Citizens Military Force (CMF) was reformed in 1948, the battalion was not re-raised at the time. The CMF had been reformed on a restricted establishment and as a result the unit remained off the order of battle until 1966 when the 19th Battalion was re-raised as the 19th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, a special conditions battalion, assigned at divisional level to provide training for national servicemen and volunteers who were unable to meet their training obligations due to their residence in isolated areas.


19th Battalion (Australia), History, Post World War II
The battalion continued to fulfil a similar role until 1995, although in 1971 it was amalgamated with the 1st Battalion once more to form the 1st/19th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, an Australian Army Reserve unit that remains in existence today and perpetuates the honours and traditions of both the 1st and 19th Battalions and their predecessor units.


19th Battalion (Australia), Lineage
1860–1862 — 1st Regiment New South Wales Rifle Volunteers (The South Sydney Volunteer Corps)1862–1868 — The Sydney Battalion New South Wales Volunteer Rifles1868–1876 — The Suburban Battalion New South Wales Volunteer Rifles1876–1878 — 1st Regiment New South Wales Volunteer Infantry1878–1901 — 2nd Regiment Volunteer Rifles1901–1903 — 1st Infantry Regiment1903–1908 — 1st Australian Infantry Regiment1908–1912 — 1st Battalion, 1st Australian Infantry Regiment1912–1913 — 21st Infantry (Sydney Battalion)1913–1915 — 21st (Woollahra) Infantry1915–1918 — 22nd Infantry1918–1921 — 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment1921–1927 — 19th Battalion1927–1930 — 19th Battalion (The South Sydney Regiment)1930–1937 — 1st/19th Battalion1937–1939 — 1st/19th Battalion (City of Sydney's Own Regiment)1939–1941 — 20th/19th Battalion1941–1945 — 19th Battalion (The South Sydney Regiment)1966–1971 — 19th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment.


19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF
The 19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF was a unit of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force.


19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF, History
The battalion was originally raised at Exhibition Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 6 November 1914.


19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF, History
As part of the 4th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division, the 19th went from its station in Toronto to West Sandling Camp, Shorncliffe, England, 23 May 1915 and then to France on 14 September 1915 where it served from 1915 to 1919.


19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF, History, 1916 World War Service, Battle of Thiepval
The 19th moved out at 6:45 p.m. on 25 September 1916, following the 20th, 18th, and 21st Canadian battalions on the Albert-Bapaume road toward Courcelette. They were instructed to be at the ready for any movement as they staged themselves at the road with G.F. Morrison commanding. On the 26th, the 19th was instructed to move to Sausage Valley and be ready, and they arrived on the 27th. On the 28th, the 19th was instructed to push forward towards Le Sars where the enemy line was.


19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF, History, 1916 World War Service, Battle of Thiepval
On the 29th, heavy artillery fire rained down on their position, resulting in heavy casualties. Reports came in that the British had taken the Destremont farm southwest of Le Sars while snipers fired on their position. With a fair amount of shelling coming from Pys, orders came from Rennie to push forward. In his diary of the action at Thiepval, Private John Mould of the 19th expressed the intensity of the advance:


19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF, History, 1916 World War Service, Battle of Thiepval
Unmerciful shells were sent over in dozens and within a very short time the ground all around us looked to all appearance like a newly ploughed field. How we escaped without being cut up is one of the things I am not able to explain. I had a very close call myself during this bombardment, a shell bursting within 2 yards of where I was digging. I never knew a thing for a few minutes, the force of the explosion sending me quite silly. It was an awful experience and one which I hoped would not happen again.


19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF, History, 1916 World War Service, Battle of Thiepval
After about 5 hours of this terrible anxiety, things became much quieter so we were able to proceed with our work of digging more quicker than before. Keeping hard at it during the night, we had by the morning completed 3 lines of trenches and also consolidated them good enough to protect the Battalion from machine gun fire and shrapnel.


19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF, History, 1916 World War Service, Battle of Thiepval
On 15 October 1916, Major General R.E.W. Turner, V.C., K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O., commander of the 2nd Canadian Division, decorated the men who were honoured for their recent service in battle.


19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF, History, 1916 World War Service, Battle of Le Transloy
The 19th, without its D-Company, who had joined the 20th Battalion, joined with the 18th and 20th Canadian Infantry Battalions, the 4th and 5th Canadian Infantry Brigades, and the 23rd British Division on 1 October 1916 in a concentrated attack of the German lines near Le Transloy. On 3 October, D-Company rejoined the 19th, and were relieved by the . Total losses were 13 killed, 87 wounded, 29 sick, and 3 missing.


19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF, History, 1918 World War Service
The 19th Battalion (Central Ontario), CEF is perpetuated by The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's).


19th Battalion (New Zealand)
The 19th Battalion was a formation of the New Zealand Military Forces which served, initially as an infantry battalion and then as an armoured regiment, during the Second World War as part of the 2nd New Zealand Division.


19th Battalion (New Zealand)
The 19th Battalion was formed in New Zealand in 1939 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel J. S. Varnham. After a period of training it embarked for the Middle East and then onto Greece in 1941 as part of the 2nd New Zealand Division. It participated in the Battles of Greece and later in Crete. Evacuated from Crete, it then fought in the North African Campaign and suffered heavy losses during Operation Crusader. Brought back up to strength, the battalion participated in the breakout of the 2nd New Zealand Division from Minqar Qaim in June 1942, where it had been encircled by the 21st Panzer Division. The following month, the battalion suffered heavy casualties during the First Battle of El Alamein.


19th Battalion (New Zealand)
In October 1942, the battalion was converted to an armoured unit and designated 19th Armoured Regiment. To replace men lost at El Alamein, personnel were drawn from a tank brigade being formed in New Zealand. The regiment spent a year in Egypt training with Sherman tanks, before embarking for Italy in October 1943 to join the Eighth Army. It participated in the Italian Campaign, fighting in actions at Orsogna and later at Cassino. The regiment finished the war in Trieste and remained there for several weeks until the large numbers of Yugoslav partisans also present in the city withdrew. Not required for service in the Pacific theatre of operations, the regiment was disestablished in late 1945.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Formation
The 19th Battalion was formed in New Zealand in 1939 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Varnham, a veteran soldier who had commanded an infantry company during the First World War, and was the second of three infantry battalions making up the 4th Infantry Brigade. Its personnel were drawn from the lower half of the North Island of New Zealand and formed into Wellington, Wellington/West Coast, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki companies. Most of the battalion's personnel entered Trentham Camp on 3 October, with officers and non-commissioned officers having commenced their training the previous week.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Formation
After completing their initial training, the battalion's 760-odd personnel departed on the liner RMS Strathaird for the Middle East on 5 January 1940 as part of the first echelon of the 2nd New Zealand Division, commanded by Major General Bernard Freyberg; the 4th Brigade was one of the division's three infantry brigades. The battalion arrived at its base in Maadi, Egypt on 14 February, and was involved in training and garrison duty at the Baggush Box, a defensive position in the Western Desert, for most of the next 12 months.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Formation
Work improving the fortifications escalated in September, when the Italian Army crossed the Egyptian border and Baggush was bombed. The battalion was reinforced in December with personnel from the third echelon of the 2nd New Zealand Division, which had just arrived in Egypt having spent several months in the south of England. It was then tasked with the defence of the Royal Air Force's aerodromes in the Western Desert, which called for the wide distribution of the battalion's companies.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Greece
The British Government anticipated an invasion of Greece by the Germans in 1941 and decided to send troops to support the Greeks, who were already engaged against the Italians in Albania. The 2nd New Zealand Division was one of a number of Allied units dispatched to Greece in early March. The 4th Brigade was tasked with the defence of the Aliakmon Line in northern Greece with the 2nd New Zealand Division positioned on the northern side of Mount Olympus.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Greece
The 19th Battalion was the reserve for 4th Brigade and spent most of its time from late March to early April preparing roading and defensive positions. On 6 April, the Germans invaded Greece and advanced so rapidly that their forces quickly threatened the Florina Gap. The brigade was withdrawn to the Servia Pass.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Greece
The 19th Battalion was tasked with holding the mouth of the pass and spent the next few days digging in. On 13 April, German Stukas bombed the battalion causing its first casualties of the war. The following day, German armour reached the Servia Pass. The positions of the battalion's Wellington and Hawkes' Bay companies were the subject of an attack on the night of 14–15 April. The Germans were resolutely defeated and at dawn, 120 of them were prisoners of war and another 150 or so were killed, while the battalion's own casualties amounted to two dead.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Greece
During the action, the battalion's commander, Varnham, was wounded and evacuated with its second-in-command, Major Blackburn, taking over for the next two months. Despite artillery fire and bombing, the battalion continued to hold up the Germans for three days before being withdrawn. Its new position was at Molos, near Thermopylae, which was reached after a bombing raid killed more personnel. The battalion was charged with monitoring the coast for the next few days although one company was detached during this time and sent to Thermopylae to man defensive positions there.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Greece
On 24 April, the 4th Brigade was moved to Kriekouki Pass through which the entire 2nd New Zealand Division was to withdraw. The 19th Battalion was in reserve. Again a company was detached for defensive duties, this time at Corinth Canal. In the early hours of 27 April, after contact with a German convoy of 100 vehicles, the brigade withdrew again, this time through Athens to Porto Rafti, from where it was to be evacuated. Once in position, the 19th Battalion was held in reserve on the road, just a mile from the beach.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Greece
In the meantime, the company at the Corinth Canal was caught in a German attack and cut off; most became prisoners of war. On the night of 29 April, and into the early hours of the following morning, the brigade was evacuated with the battalion being the last unit to embark from Porto Rafti. The campaign in Greece resulted in 24 men of the battalion being killed, with 20 wounded. Nearly 150 were made prisoners of war.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Crete
From Greece, the 19th Battalion was shipped to the island of Crete where it arrived on 28 April with 475 personnel. Designated as the reserve battalion for 4th Brigade, it was stationed just to the east of Galatas. By mid-May it was increasingly apparent that the Germans would mount an invasion of Crete. The airborne invasion by the Germans commenced in the morning of 20 May, while many of the battalion's soldiers were eating breakfast. Most of the descending paratroopers over the area were shot as they parachuted down and their equipment integrated into the defences.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Crete
A field hospital in the 18th Battalion's sector was captured by paratroopers and about 500 wounded soldiers and medical staff were made prisoners of war. When the Germans left the area, they took their prisoners. Elements of 19th Battalion came across them and after a short engagement killed the guards and freed their captives although some had inadvertently received friendly fire. By the afternoon, it, like the neighbouring 18th Battalion, was in control of its area of responsibility and had killed or captured around 150 paratroopers. However, a prison to the southwest was in the hands of the Germans.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Crete
That evening, two companies of the battalion mounted a counterattack after a report that the paratroopers at the prison were clearing an airfield. Although supported by some light tanks, the New Zealanders became lost and the next morning were ordered to return to their defensive positions. The battalion was then engaged in fighting over a hill that overlooked the road to Chania, key to preventing the Germans from advancing to the town.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Crete
In the afternoon of 25 May, the Germans attacked along the road from the prison, towards Galatas. After defending for two hours, the 4th Brigade withdrew, with 19th Battalion temporarily being attached to the 5th Infantry Brigade, positioned to the west of Chania. Two day later, while manning a rearguard defensive line at Chania, it supported a counterattack mounted by Australian and New Zealand forces in an action later known as the Battle of 42nd Street, following an advance by the 141st Mountain Regiment. The Germans were routed but the Allied forces withdrew that evening as the Germans began reinforcing their lines.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Crete
The withdrawal was at a forced march up and over the mountains to the port town of Sphakia. The 5th Brigade was part of the rearguard, fighting delaying actions to prevent chasing Germans of the 85th Mountain Regiment from cutting the road to Sphakia. The evacuation commenced on the nights of 28 and 29 May, with 19th Battalion departing on the latter date aboard Australian destroyers. Its casualties during the fighting on Crete amounted to just over 60 dead, around 70 wounded and 80 made prisoners of war.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa
Once back in Egypt, the 19th Battalion began to receive reinforcements to bring it back up to strength and Varnham, recovered from the wounds received in Greece, resumed command. By 24 June it was at its full complement although still short on equipment. Training was initially limited to route marches and lectures on the learnings of the campaigns in Greece and Crete but by August it was getting re-equipped and battlefield training was underway. The 2nd New Zealand Division was now preparing for a role in the upcoming Libyan offensive, and several divisional and brigade level exercises were carried out.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa
By September, the battalion was based at the Baggush Box, building up the defences there with the rest of the 4th Brigade alongside the 6th Infantry Brigade, while also doing intensive training in open desert warfare. During this time, Varnham was sent back to New Zealand to perform special duties. His replacement as commander of the battalion was Major S. F. Hartnell, who had been one of its company commanders.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa
The battalion's training was in preparation for the 2nd New Zealand Division's role in the upcoming Operation Crusader, which was planned to lift the siege of Tobruk. The New Zealanders were part of the 8th Army's XIII Corps, which was tasked with isolating and capturing the frontier posts held by the enemy while XXX Corps moved to the south to defeat the armour of Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps. At the same time, the Tobruk garrison was to attempt a breakout.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, Operation Crusader
The 19th Battalion began moving forward to the starting positions for Operation Crusader on 12 November, leaving just over 60 men behind around which a new battalion could be formed in the event of heavy losses. The operation commenced on the night of 18 November, with the division moving forward across the Libyan border. The 4th Brigade, with 19th Battalion as its reserve, cut off the road between Bardia and Tobruk on 22 November, and rounded up Italian prisoners of war. The New Zealanders were then ordered to support British armoured units of XXX Corps at Sidi Rezegh, which had suffered heavy losses from Rommel's armour. Meanwhile the outbreak from Tobruk was progressing slowly, having met with an unexpected German division.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, Operation Crusader
The 4th Brigade was tasked with advancing to Tobruk, via an escarpment linking Zaafram and Belhamed and onto Ed Duda; the 6th Brigade was to advance to Sidi Rezegh along an escarpment to the south. The 19th Battalion led the brigade for part of this advance before providing flank protection during its attack on an airfield at Gambut. It then was involved in the brigade's nighttime attack on 24 November which captured Zaafran. The 6th Brigade in the meantime had secured Sidi Rezegh although unexpectedly strong resistance that there were many casualties.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, Operation Crusader
In order to break through to Tobruk, an attack on Ed Duda was mounted by 6th Brigade on the night of 25 November. This failed with heavy losses. A corresponding attack on Belhamed, mounted by the 18th and 20th Battalions, was more successful although the New Zealanders were left on a ridge and exposed to heavy artillery fire. The 19th Battalion had been held in reserve at Zaafran for the Belhamed attack. By this stage, it was the only full strength infantry unit left in the 4th and 6th Brigades.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, Operation Crusader
It was ordered to link up with the Tobruk garrison, elements of which had moved forward to take Ed Duda in light of 6th Brigade's failure to do so. The plan called for the battalion to advance behind Matilda II tanks from a British armoured regiment. The attack, one of the British Army's first nighttime attacks involving both infantry and armour, was a success. The tanks scattered the enemy, and any pockets of resistant were dealt with by the following infantry. The attack was completed without any casualties among the battalion and over 500 enemy were made prisoners of war. The efforts secured a corridor through to Tobruk.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, Operation Crusader
The battalion established a defensive position in a wadi to the east of Ed Duda. There they collected stray enemy soldiers as prisoners of war and were also subject to shelling. The next day, the battalion was divided into two; a portion returned to Zaafran while the other remained at Ed Duda. In the meantime, pressure was building on 6th Brigade, which was now surrounded and subject to heavy artillery fire. German tanks of the 15th Panzer Division overran the brigade on the afternoon of 30 November. The following day, the 18th and 20th Battalions were pushed off Belhamed.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, Operation Crusader
After the withdrawal of 4th and 6th Brigades from Belhamed and Sidi Rezegh respectively, two companies of the 19th Battalion remained at Ed Duda, becoming part of the Tobruk defensive perimeter. They remained as part of the Tobruk garrison until 11 December, when they were transported via Tobruk back to Baggush. The other two companies had already returned to Baggush with the remnants of the 4th and 6th Brigades. Although the 19th Battalion was relatively intact, most of the remaining infantry battalions had suffered heavy losses. The entire division would spend the next few months in a rebuilding phase.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, Rebuilding
In early March 1942, the 19th Battalion moved, with the rest of the 2nd New Zealand Division, to Syria to defend against a possible attack through Turkey on the Middle East oilfields by the Germans. Based at Zabboud, the battalion was set to work on preparing defences covering routes to the south. By June, the defensive positions were largely complete and many of the battalion's soldiers were granted leave for sightseeing. Then, following the attack on the Eighth Army's Gazala Line by Panzer Army Africa, the 2nd New Zealand Division was recalled to Libya. It commenced its journey from Syria on 17 June.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, Rebuilding
The New Zealanders made their way to a neglected fortified position to the west of Mersa Matruh, surrounded by minefields, reaching it on the night of 21 June; the battalion had travelled 900 kilometres (560 mi) in five days. It spent four days at Matruh, where it formed an anti-tank platoon equipped with a complement of 2-pounder anti-tank guns. These had been taken over from the 2nd New Zealand Division's No. 7 Anti-Tank Regiment which had just received 6-pounder guns. Freyberg, the divisional commander, disliked the plan for his command to be based at Matruh, regarding it as a trap. After the fall of Tobruk to Rommel's forces, the division was ordered on 25 June to establish defensive positions at Minqar Qaim. It was to hold and delay the advance of the Panzer Army Africa for as long as it could while remaining intact.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, Rebuilding
The 19th Battalion arrived at Minqar Qaim in the late afternoon of the following day, where it was positioned on the south of the division's perimeter. On the way, it was attacked by German bombers although there was only one casualty. By the middle of the afternoon of 27 June, the division had been encircled by the 21st Panzer Division. German tanks and infantry approached the 2nd New Zealand Division's positions and were successfully beaten off. Later in the day, Freyberg was wounded and the commander of 4th Brigade, Brigadier Lindsay Inglis, took over command of the division. Prior to his wounding, Freyberg had decided that the New Zealanders were to attempt a breakout from their encirclement that night.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, Rebuilding
On the south side of the New Zealand perimeter, the 19th Battalion was closest to the designated area for the breakout. Under a bright moon, the infantry marched with bayonets fixed, beginning in the early hours of 28 June before machine gun fire broke out. Many Germans were caught in a state of undress and were swiftly dealt with. Having achieved the breakthrough, transport was quickly brought up and the battalion were loaded up for the trip to the El Alamein line. Its casualties were light; 21 men were killed or died of their wounds.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, El Alamein
Despite the events of Minqar Qaim, the 2nd New Zealand Division was one of the most complete divisions of the Eighth Army still able to be employed along the El Alamein line. The area was subject to further offensives by Panzer Army Afrika and on 14 and 15 July 1942, during the First Battle of El Alamein, the battalion was involved in an effort to assist 30 Corps, by being part in what would be known as the Battle of Ruweisat Ridge.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, El Alamein
The Italian Brescia and Pavia divisions, along with elements of the 15th Panzer Division, held Ruweisat Ridge, which was in the centre of the El Alamein line, and dominated the surrounding area. The 4th Brigade was to take the western end of the ridge, with Brigadier Howard Kippenberger's 5th Brigade tasked with the capture of the centre of the ridge. The 5th Indian Brigade was allocated to deal with the eastern end. British tanks, in the form of two armoured brigades, were to protect the flanks and be in support to deal with the expected counterattack.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, El Alamein
After a night-time advance of over 6 miles, the 19th Battalion was positioned on the ridge. Its ranks had increased with the presence of 60 soldiers from 18th Battalion who had become separated from their unit during the advance. The brigade's move forward had routed much of the Italian defences although, on daybreak, it was discovered that numerous strong points had been bypassed, leaving the German line in front of the ridge largely intact. The 5th Brigade was also on the ridge but was widely dispersed.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, El Alamein
Its advance had skirted a regiment of panzers, which in the early hours of the morning of 15 July routed the flanking battalion of the 5th Brigade. This left the battalions of the 4th Brigade even more exposed and receiving fire from the enemy. The Indians were likewise in position having secured their objective.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, El Alamein
The battalion's infantry struggled to dig good defensive positions, with rock encountered just beneath the surface. A counterattack by elements of the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions was launched in the afternoon of 15 July. The limited number of anti-tank guns present were exposed and quickly became immobilised or had to withdraw. This left the infantry of the 4th Brigade to be surrounded and large numbers were forced to surrender. The 20th Battalion was overrun first, with some of its personnel making it to the positions of 19th Battalion. It too became surrounded.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, El Alamein
By nightfall, the brigade had been overrun and 1,100 soldiers, many from 19th Battalion, were taken prisoner. Among them was Hartnell, although he was able to escape when night fell and make his way back to the Allied lines. The British tanks belatedly moved forward and although this drove off the German armour, the other infantry brigades withdrew from Ruweisat Ridge later in the evening.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), North Africa, El Alamein
Of the battalions of 4th Brigade, only 18th Battalion had sufficient strength to remain in the field. Its commander had received fatal wounds at Ruweisat Ridge and an officer of 19th Battalion, Major Clive Pleasants, took over. The losses suffered by the 19th and 20th Battalions saw them withdrawn to Maadi to recover and reequip.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Conversion to armour
It had previously been decided to form an armoured brigade to provide tank support to the 2nd New Zealand Division and as a result, the 1st New Zealand Army Tank Brigade was formed in July 1941. This brigade was still undergoing training in New Zealand in September 1942 when it was decided to convert the 4th Brigade, still refitting at Maadi, while the 5th and 6th Brigades continued to campaign in Egypt. The brigade still in New Zealand was broken up to provide reinforcements for the division.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Conversion to armour
At the time, the 19th Battalion had 600 personnel but later in the month nearly 200 were transferred to infantry battalions and the remainder informed of the pending conversion to armour. On 5 October 1942, the battalion was officially designated 19th Armoured Regiment and the following month, its ranks were increased with personnel from the 3rd Army Tank Battalion, newly arrived from New Zealand. In December, a pair of Covenanters and a Crusader tank was provided to the regiment for training but one of these was soon lost in a live firing exercise.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Conversion to armour
The two remaining tanks were rostered to the squadrons for practical training for two day periods until April 1943, when the regiment began receiving the M4 Sherman tanks that were to be its operational complement. At about the same time, its commander, Hartnell, was promoted to brigadier and appointed second in command of the 4th Armoured Brigade and was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel R. McGaffin. The new commander had experience with armour, having commanded the 3rd Army Tank Battalion when it was formed in New Zealand.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Conversion to armour
The war in North Africa had concluded in May with the defeat of Axis forces in Tunisia, so a new operational role for the 2nd New Zealand Division was required. Consideration was given to transferring it to the Pacific but once the New Zealand Government decided that the division would stay in Europe, it joined the Eighth Army, which was now engaged in the Italian campaign. The regiment embarked for Italy in early October, having only reached full strength the previous month.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy
The regiment disembarked at Taranto on 22 October and early the following month were reunited with its tanks, these having been transported separately. As the New Zealanders advanced towards the Sangro, the 19th Regiment, in the lead, was detached to support the 19th Indian Brigade in an operation at Perano, on 18 November 1943. The town was believed to be lightly held but the operation was compromised by orders to not use wireless for communication. This was to avoid the Germans detecting the presence of the 2nd New Zealand Division in Italy.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy
Instead of the light opposition that was expected, A Squadron, which was composed of 14 Sherman tanks, encountered elements of the 16th Panzer Division. The Indians secured their objective but the clash with the Germans resulted in four Shermans being destroyed and seven of the squadron's personnel killed. Before the Germans withdrew, they had scavenged papers from one of the destroyed tanks which alerted them to the fact that the New Zealanders were now in Italy.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Orsogna
Later in the month, the division crossed the Sangro with a view to taking the high ground beyond, a series of ridges culminating in one peaked by the town of Orsogna. Initial attacks on Orsogna in the first week of December involved infantry, and then the tanks of 18th Regiment; these failed as did subsequent attempts mounted later in the month. As a stalemate settled, the infantry of the 2nd New Zealand Division remained active around Orsogna with the 19th Regiment being based at Sfasciata Ridge and providing support as mobile artillery. It would spend the winter months in this role, with one squadron at a time rotated out as a reserve every eight days.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Orsogna
There was still the occasional need for a foray to be made by the regiment's tanks. Over the first two weeks of January 1944, C Squadron was operating in assistance of a flanking battalion of paratroopers at Poggiofiorito while B Squadron was making long range shoots in aid of the 28th Battalion. On 15 January, the regiment, along with the rest of the division, began to withdraw from the Orsogna sector. It rested for two weeks at Piedimonte on the western side of the Apennines in preparation to join the fighting in the sector of the 5th Army.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Cassino
In February, the 2nd New Zealand Division was transferred to the 5th Army and, as part of the newly formed New Zealand Corps to be commanded by Freyberg, took responsibility from the United States II Corps for the Cassino section of the Gustav Line. For the previous few weeks, the strategically important town of Cassino, controlling the entrance to the Liri Valley and overlooked by the mountain of Monte Cassino, had been under attack by the American forces but remained in the hands of the Germans.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Cassino
The New Zealand Corps took responsibility for the sector on 12 February. The 19th Regiment was involved in the first attack mounted by the New Zealand forces on the town, on 17 February, following the 28th Battalion which had secured a bridgehead across the Rapido River. However, the tanks never got started. Engineering work had not been completed in time on a railway embankment that led into the town and the tanks were unable to move in. Shelled while waiting, they suffered 12 casualties before withdrawing back to Mignano, from where they had started their advance.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Cassino
The regiment was tasked with supporting a further attempt on the town, this time involving the 6th Brigade, the objective being to secure a bridgehead to be exploited by the other regiments of the 4th Armoured Brigade. Poor weather delayed the start of the attack by three weeks. On 15 March, Cassino was bombed, followed by an artillery bombardment after which B Squadron moved into the town behind the infantry of 25th Battalion. However, the tanks were unable to keep up with the soldiers as they moved forward and this affected their ability to provide the desired support.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Cassino
The Germans defended strongly, assisted by the rubble that hampered the easy movement of the tanks. This dashed hopes of a quick break through. Instead the tank crews disembarked and using tools, cleared spaces for their Shermans to be well positioned for providing cover for the infantry. In the evening, A Squadron and a troop from C Squadron moved in to support the 26th Battalion, which reinforced the 25th Battalion.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Cassino
Little progress was made over the coming days, and several tanks became disabled and lost in the rubble in their efforts supporting the attacks made by the New Zealand infantry. The two infantry brigades of the 2nd New Zealand Division were withdrawn from Cassino in early April and sent to the Apennines but the 4th Armoured Brigade remained in place, under the command of the 6th British Armoured Division which now had responsibility for the sector. The New Zealand regiments provided indirect artillery support during this time. The Allied forces began preparing for a major offensive against the Gustav Line.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Cassino
This commenced on 11 May, and then, on short notice, the 19th Regiment was attached to the British 4th Infantry Division. It was to support that division's operations against Cassino. The regiment moved up on the night of 13 May and went into action the next day. Further engagements followed over the next few days, during which two tanks of B Squadron were lost, before Cassino was captured on 18 May. The regiment then returned to the control of the 2nd New Zealand Division.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Advance to Florence and beyond
The 2nd New Zealand Division was withdrawn from action in mid-June and remained in reserve, recuperating after the efforts of the previous few months, until 9 July, when it was attached to XIII Corps. They were to lead the advance to Florence. In the approach to the Paula Line, less than 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Florence, there were a series of small-scale actions, with the tanks of the 4th Armoured Brigade supporting the attacking infantry, as the German defenders fought a delaying withdrawal on the approach to the town.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Advance to Florence and beyond
In one such engagement, on 29 July, one of the regiment's tank troops supported 24th Battalion in its attack on San Michele, in the Tuscan hills. After hectic fighting as a result of a German counterattack, the Shermans, of which only two were still mobile, had to withdraw in order to fix faults that had developed with their guns. The Paula Line was breached on 4 August and Florence captured the same day.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Advance to Florence and beyond
In August, Lieutenant Colonel A. Everist took command of the regiment after McGaffin was appointed second-in-command of 4th Armoured Brigade. Everist had been a company commander with the unit prior to the regiment's conversion to armour. The division was tasked with participating in the Adriatic offensive, which aimed to break the Gothic Line. In preparation for the forthcoming action, the regiment's tanks were overhauled at its temporary base of operations at Iesi. The offensive commenced on 12 September, with the 2nd New Zealand Division attacking the Coriano Ridge. The regiment's involvement began with C Squadron assisting in an engagement mounted by a Greek brigade at Rimini Airfield. It then pushed on, accompanied by 22nd Battalion, fording the Marecchia River on 22 September. Progress was slow thereafter as it advanced into the Po valley.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Advance to Florence and beyond
On 19 and 20 October, the 4th Armoured Brigade was involved in its first and only action as a brigade in an attack towards the Savio River. This was primarily a tank action, in contrast to previous battles in which the armour supported the infantry. The attack, which saw two of the regiment's squadrons being covered by 24th and 25th Battalions while the third, C Squadron, was part of an artillery shoot covering a crossing by Canadian units, was a success and pushed the Germans across the Savio. However, progress had been slower than expected due to poor weather and muddy conditions.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Winter months
The 2nd New Zealand Division was then sent into reserve on 22 October for a rest. In the first week of November, Everist left the 19th Regiment to return to New Zealand on furlough. His replacement as commander was Lieutenant Colonel H. H. Parata, who had previously served with the regiment for a twelve-month period from July 1943. The regiment returned to the front, based at Faenza to support the crossing of the Senio River.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Winter months
It began providing artillery support on 20 December, with B Squadron forming a gunline along the Senio and engaging spotted targets; it would expend over 12,000 rounds in this duty, which it performed until 6 January 1945. The regiment remained at Faenza for several weeks, with one squadron forward on the Senio, providing targeted shoot in response to infantry requests, and another guarding the road behind the crossing. The squadrons rotated out on a regular basis back to Faenza.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Winter months
By February 1945, the infantry picked up the intensity of their patrolling and the regiment's squadrons were more frequently called up to lay down fire on targets identified as being of interest. They also began to receive the Sherman Firefly, which mounted a 17-pounder anti-tank gun, each troop allocated one of these tanks. In early March, the division was withdrawn from the Senio front for a rest on the Adriatic coast, with the 19th Regiment settling in at Cesenatico.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Resuming the advance
After its rest, the 19th Regiment returned to the front lines in early April with Everist was back in command, having returned from his furlough to New Zealand. At this time, the 2nd New Zealand Division was part of the Eighth Army's V Corps, which was mounting a renewed offensive. Along with the 20th Regiment, on the night of 10 April, it supported the New Zealand infantry's crossing of the Santerno River. This was followed by the crossing of the Scolo Correcchio a few days later. One troop encountered a Panther tank, which knocked out the commander's Sherman. In turn the Panther was destroyed by the troop's Firefly.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Resuming the advance
The Sillaro River was crossed on 14 April, with all three squadrons heavily engaged in the support of the 9th Infantry Brigade. Two tanks were lost. By this time, the 2nd New Zealand Division was at the vanguard of the Eighth Army's advance and it was transferred from V Corps back to XIII Corps, which was thrusting to the northwest of the country. From 18 to 19 April, the Gaiana River, defended by the 4th Parachute Division, was the regiment's focus.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Resuming the advance
Once the defence was overcome, the regiment resumed its advance but was then subject to a friendly fire incident, when the leading troop was bombed by Supermarine Spitfires. A two-day rest followed before it rejoined the advance. The Po was crossed by the infantry without incident on 24 April, although congestion with other traffic of V Corps meant it was a few days before the 19th Regiment was able to traverse the river. The regiment's headquarters section crossed first with C Squadron on 29 April and proceed to cross the Adige as well. The other squadrons went over the Po the next day.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Trieste
By 1 May German resistance was fading and only isolated pockets provided resistance as the New Zealanders moved towards Venice. The headquarters section and C Squadron, still separate from the rest of the regiment, gained the town of Sistiana on 2 May and were then ordered to advance to Trieste, where Yugoslav Partisans had partial control of the city. On the approach and in sections of Trieste, the New Zealanders had to deal with diehard enemy elements which refused to surrender. One such group was holed up in the city's courthouse and C Squadron's tanks put several cannon shots into the building allowing the partisans entry to destroy the German garrison.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Trieste
The war ended shortly afterwards but the 2nd New Zealand Division remained in Trieste for several weeks until the large numbers of Yugoslav partisans also present in the city withdrew. With the war over, long serving personnel left for New Zealand while the regiment moved to Florence to winter. A group of personnel remained near Trieste to help with the transport of its Shermans to Bologna before rejoining the rest of the regiment in September. Not required for service in the Pacific theatre of operations, the regiment was disestablished in November 1945. By then most its personnel had already departed. Some went on to join J Force, the New Zealand contingent to serve in Japan on occupation duties, while the rest returned to New Zealand.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Italy, Trieste
During the war, the 19th Battalion and its successor, the 19th Armoured Regiment, lost nearly 230 officers and men either killed in action or who later died of their wounds, including 34 men who died as prisoners of war. Nearly 490 personnel were made prisoners of war.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Honours
Four members of the battalion, including three of its commanders, were awarded the Distinguished Service Order while a member of the YMCA who was attached to the battalion for a portion of its service overseas was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. Twelve officers were awarded the Military Cross while two others received the United States Bronze Star and the Greek Military Cross respectively. One soldier received the Distinguished Conduct Medal and 20 others the Military Medal. Numerous men, including the founding commander of the battalion, were mentioned in dispatches.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Honours
The 19th Battalion and its successor, the 19th Armoured Regiment, was awarded the following battle honours:


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Honours
Mount Olympus, Servia Pass, Olympus Pass, Elasson, Molos, Greece 1941, Crete, Maleme, Galatas, Canea, 42nd Street, Withdrawal to Sphakia, Middle East 1941–44, Tobruk 1941, Sidi Rezegh 1941, Sidi Azeiz, Belhamed, Zemla, Alam Hamza, Mersa Matruh, Minqar Qaim, Defence of Alamein Line, Ruweisat Ridge, El Mreir, Alam el Halfa, North Africa 1940–42, Perano, The Sangro, Castel Frentano, Orsogna, Cassino I, Cassino II, Gustav Line, Advance to Florence, Cerbaia, San Michele, Paula Line, St. Angelo in Salute, Pisciatello, Bologna, Sillaro Crossing, Gaiana Crossing, Italy 1943–45.


19th Battalion (New Zealand), Commanding officers
The following officers served as commanding officer of the 19th Battalion:


19th Battalion (United States Marine Corps)
19th Battalion was a battalion in the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve based in Augusta, Georgia.


19th Battalion (United States Marine Corps), History
The battalion was formed in December 1936 and was mobilized 7 November 1940 for service in anticipation of World War II. Upon mobilization, the Marines were sent to various assignments throughout the Marine Corps as was customary for the time. The battalion was subsequently disbanded after mobilization.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras)
The 19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras) was a Volunteer unit of the British Army in existence from 1860 to 1961 under various titles. A detachment served in the Second Boer War and two full battalions fought in World War I, receiving the surrender of Jerusalem and crossing the Jordan among other exploits. During World War II the regiment operated as a searchlight unit and briefly as an infantry battalion, before becoming an anti-aircraft regiment in the postwar years.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Origin
The invasion scare of 1859 led to the creation of the Volunteer Force and huge enthusiasm for joining Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVCs). However, in some areas such as London and its suburbs, the number of proposed units outstripped the available recruits, and the Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex, the Marquis of Salisbury, tried to rationalise them into a smaller number of better-supported RVCs.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Origin
In the Parish of St Pancras, two leading Parliamentary spokesmen for the Volunteer movement proposed competing units: Lord Elcho (MP for Haddingtonshire) wanted to form the 'Euston Road Rifles', while Lord Enfield (MP for Middlesex) was organising the 'North Middlesex' RVC. Salisbury merged the two into the 29th (North Middlesex) Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps under Enfield's command. (Elcho was already a very active commanding officer of the London Scottish RVC; Enfield also held the ceremonial position of Honorary Colonel of the 2nd or Edmonton Royal Rifle Regiment of Middlesex Militia.) The first commissions for officers of the 29th Middlesex were issued on 28 February 1860. The uniform was grey with scarlet facings and a grey fur Busby with a plume.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Origin
The new unit had its first headquarters at Kent Lodge in Park Village East, near Regent's Park, and later had a drill hall in Pratt Street, Camden Town. It was successful in attracting working-class recruits from the railway yards and densely populated areas of Camden Town, Kentish Town and Somers Town north of Euston Road. In 1880, following mergers and disbandments of less successful units, the 29th Middlesex was renumbered 17th. The following year it became the 4th Volunteer Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment (3rd Volunteer Battalion from 1892), but retained its title of 17th (North Middlesex) RVC.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Boer War
The battalion sent a Service Company of volunteers to South Africa to serve alongside the Regulars of the 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment in the Second Boer War and as a result received its first Battle Honour: South Africa 1900–02. Four of these volunteers died on service and are commemorated by a plaque now in St Pancras Parish Church.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Territorial Force
Under the Haldane Reforms, the former Volunteers were subsumed into the Territorial Force in 1908. The 17th Middlesex became the 19th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (St Pancras) (TF) and formed part of 5th London Brigade in the 2nd London Division. Its new headquarters and drill hall was at 76 Camden High Street.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), World War I
The outbreak of war on 4 August saw the men of the 19th Londons at Perham Down on Salisbury Plain, where they had just arrived for their annual training camp with the rest of 2nd London Division. They were immediately recalled to Camden to complete their mobilisation and by mid-August the battalion had reached its war station at Hatfield, Hertfordshire. The County of London Territorial Force Association began raising 'Second Line' battalions, which led to the formation of a duplicate 2/19th London battalion; consequently the existing battalion was prefixed 1/19th. Subsequently, a reserve or 'Third Line' battalion (3/19th) was organised to supply drafts to the other two battalions.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons
In October 1914, 2nd London Division was selected for service on the Western Front and progressive training was carried out through the winter. Men who had volunteered for Home Service only were transferred to the 2/19th Battalion. 5th London Bde was the leading element of the division to land in France on 9/10 March 1915.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons
In May the division (already known in France simply as 'The London Division' to distinguish it from the Regular Army 2nd Division) took its place in the line and was designated 47th (1/2nd London) Division, with the brigades numbered consecutively: 5th London became 141st (1/5th London) Brigade. The 1/19th served in this brigade throughout the war.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, 1915
During 1915 the battalion was engaged in the following operations:


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, 1915
At the Battle of Loos the 1/19th formed part of the second wave attacking the southern side of Loos village itself. Its CO, Lt-Col Collison-Morley, was killed at the head of the battalion soon after leaving the trenches, and the 1/19th encountered stiff opposition in Loos cemetery before pushing on to clear houses and cellars in the village. It ended the day at its final objective, the coal-mine winding gear known as 'Tower Bridge'. 1/19th suffered the heaviest casualties in 47th Division that day (14 officers and 372 other ranks).


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, 1916
During 1916 the battalion was engaged in the following operations:


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, 1917
47th Division moved into the Hill 60 sector of the Ypres Salient in October 1916 and took part in regular raids and crater fighting for a number of months. It then took part in the following operations:


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, 1918
By early 1918 the British Army was suffering a severe manpower shortage and a number of battalions were disbanded to bring others up to strength. In February the 1/19th received a large draft of 14 officers and 375 men from A, B and D Companies 1/7th Londons in 140th (4th London) Brigade.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, 1918
When the German Spring Offensive opened on 21 March, 47th Division had just relieved another formation in the line and were holding the right flank of Third Army. The main blow fell on Fifth Army to the south, but the Londoners were heavily bombarded and later in the day the Germans attacked behind a smoke screen. 1/19th took part in the successful counter-attack to regain the positions lost. However, Fifth Army was collapsing and 47th Division, with its flank open, was obliged to fall back on successive lines of half-dug trenches. The retirement, with rearguards contesting the German advance throughout, went on for six days and casualties were heavy. By the end, the remnants of 1/19th and 1/20th Londons were formed into a composite battalion.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, 1918
The Germans attempted to renew the offensive on 5 April. By now 47th Division had reorganised. Most of 1/19th was with 141 Bde in divisional reserve, but one company was in the front line still attached to 1/20th. The attack was made after an intense bombardment, and fighting went on all day, with reserves fed in progressively. The Germans made some gains, but the line held. 47th Division was relieved that night.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, 1918
47th Division now had three quiet months, resting and then holding a quiet sector of the line, which gave the battalions time to absorb the hundreds of 18-year-old recruits they were sent to fill up their ranks. It was then engaged in the following operations:


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, 1918
After a further period of rest, 47th Division was preparing for a move to the Italian Front when it was instead ordered to take part in the final operations on the Western Front. On 1 October 141 Bde was hurried forward to keep in touch with the retreating Germans. Like the rest of the brigade, 1/19th Bn was now very weak, and further casualties were suffered from German rearguards, but the brigade took Aubers Ridge, scene of previous costly attacks during the war.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, 1918
The pursuit continued, until on 4 October the 1/19th secured a position on the strongly-held Armentieres-Wavrin railway embankment. The advance was resumed on 16 October, 1/19th coming upon Fort d'Englos, one of the string of forts encircling Lille. On 28 October the division accompanied Third Army's commander, Sir William Birdwood on his ceremonial entry into Lille. 141 Brigade resumed its place in the Line on 31 October and took up positions along the River Schelde. The river was crossed on 9 November, and the Armistice with Germany on 11 November found the battalions of 141 Bde administering the liberated city of Tournai.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, 1919
Demobilisation of 47 Division began in early 1919. By March the units had been reduced to cadres, and these left for England in May.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 1/19th Londons, Commanding Officers
The following officers commanded 1/19th Londons during World War I:


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons
In the enthusiasm of August 1914, it took only a fortnight to recruit the 2/19th battalion to full strength. One whole company was enlisted from the Railway Clearing House and the rest of the battalion from other local businesses and organisations such as London Zoo in Regent's Park. Early training was undertaken in civilian clothes, parading in the drill hall and then marching to Regent's Park for training. The first commanding officer was Lt-Col E.J. Christie, a believer in singing on the march, and the battalion soon became known as 'Christie's Minstrels'. In October the battalion absorbed the unfit and Home Service men of 1/19th, but lost some of its best recruits in exchange. The Home Service men were later passed on to the 3/19th (Reserve) Battalion.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons
The organisation of the Second Line Territorials was a duplicate of the First Line, so that 2/19th Londons was assigned to 2/5th London Brigade in 2/2nd London Division. At the end of 1915, these were redesignated 180th (2/5th London) Brigade and 60th (2/2nd London) Division respectively, and sent to Sutton Veney on Salisbury Plain for intensive training prior to going overseas.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons
By the time the 2/19th Battalion arrived at Salisbury Plain in January 1916, it was much depleted by the drafts it had sent to the 1/19th in France. It was brought up to strength by a draft from the Middlesex Regiment, the return of the Home Service men from 3/19th (the passage of the Military Service Act in January 1916 made them liable for overseas service), and by a draft of 250 volunteers from the Royal Army Medical Corps (who were untrained in infantry work).


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, Western Front
2/19th Battalion landed in France on 25 June 1916. After a period of familiarisation alongside the experienced 1/5th Seaforth Highlanders, the battalion took over a section of the line on Vimy Ridge. Over succeeding weeks the 2/19th alternated in the line, in support and in reserve with the 2/17th Londons. The 60th Division adopted coloured flashes painted on each side of the steel helmet to aid recognition: 180 Bde adopted a triangle, which was blue in the case of the 2/19th Bn. During the summer the battalion was engaged in occasional crater-fighting and trench-raiding. After five months in the line, it had suffered around 200 casualties, 40 of them fatal.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, Salonika
On 1 November, 60th Division was ordered to prepare to move to the Macedonian front, and the battalion embarked at Marseille on 25 November and landed at Salonika on 1 December. It began the march north on 18 December and went into the line on Christmas Eve. The battalion was peripherally involved in the Battle of Doiran 24–5 April and 8–9 May 1917.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, Palestine
The 60th Division was next transferred to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force for the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The 2/19th left Lake Doiran on 1 June and marched back to Salonika where it embarked on 10 June. After a period of training and acclimatisation in the Canal Zone, the battalion moved up to the front in July. On 31 October the battalion was with 180th Brigade in divisional reserve for the Battle of Beersheba, but the attack was so successful that it never came into action. On 6 November the 2/19th was one of the attacking battalions that captured the Kauwukah position during the Battle of Hareira and Sheria. The Sheria position remaining untaken, the brigade attacked again the following day, and the 2/19th suffered heavy casualties, the acting commanding officer, Major A.W. Gray, being killed.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, Palestine
The pursuit through the Judaean Hills saw the battalion engaged at the Battle of Mughar Ridge and by 25 November it took over the Nebi Samwil position a few miles from Jerusalem. This position had been captured after heavy fighting by British and Indian troops. On 27 November the Turks opened a heavy bombardment on the mosque that crowned the hill, which was held by D Company of 2/19th. This was followed by wave after wave of attacks, but the company, without significant artillery support, drove them all back, causing several hundred casualties.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, Palestine
During the night of 7/8 December the 2/19th began the attack on Jerusalem by taking the Deir Yesin position. After a holdup in daylight, the battalion renewed the attack in the afternoon. The following morning, the Turks had retreated. Sergeants Hurcomb and Sedgewick went out to reconnoitre and met the Mayor of Jerusalem and a party of civilians who offered them the keys of the abandoned city. After the capture of Jerusalem, the 2/19th, reduced to some 300 men, went into billets in the city. On 11 December it provided a guard of honour for General Allenby's ceremonial entry into the city.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, Palestine
The Turkish counter-attack on Jerusalem began on 27 December. When 180th Brigade relieved the defenders who had beaten off the initial Turkish attacks, it went over to the offensive, with 2/19th capturing the slopes of Shab Saleh. After a pause, Allenby resumed his advance and the 2/19th took part in the capture of Jericho on 19–21 February 1918, storming Talat ed Dumm.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, Palestine
The battalion took part in the 1st and 2nd Trans-Jordan raids of 21 March–2 April and 30 April–4 May. On the first occasion (the Battle of Hijla) the leading elements of the 2/19th struggled across the river by swimming and rafting during the night of 21/22 March while other battalions were driven back. Once a pontoon bridge had been completed and reinforcements arrived, the advance continued in the afternoon of 22 March with artillery support. But the next position could not be taken and the troops were pinned down until nightfall, the 2/19th suffering heavy casualties. A second night attack succeeded in extending the bridgehead. The battalion remained in reserve during the subsequent attack on Amman, and covered the retirement of the raiding force to the bridgehead.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, Palestine
In the 2nd Transjordan raid, the 2/19th attacked out of the Jordan bridgehead. The night attack on 29/30 April became bogged down with heavy casualties against strengthened Turkish positions. The leading companies held out during the daylight hours until other units outflanked the position. The battalion then held the outpost line until the raiders returned on 4 May.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, Palestine
In the summer of 1918 many units from 60th Division were transferred to the Western Front and the division was converted to the Indian establishment. 2/19th Londons remained, however, as the sole British battalion in 180th Bde, alongside three newly recruited Indian Army units. The division was intensively trained for its part in the forthcoming Megiddo offensive.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, Palestine
At Zero hour on 19 September 1918, the Indian battalions of 180th Bde attacked, and had taken all their objectives by 05.40. The 2/19th Londons then passed through, forced the passage of the shallow Nahr el Faliq with some losses, and established a bridgehead on the far side by 07.20. 181st Brigade followed through and continued the attack. The division had accomplished all its tasks and played a major part in the final defeat of the Turkish army in Palestine. This set-piece battle is known as the Battle of Sharon.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, Palestine
The pursuit of the retreating Turks was so rapid that the infantry formations were left behind, and 2/19th Londons, together with the rest of 60th Division, was left to collect prisoners and secure captured stores along the line of advance until the Armistice with the Turks was signed on 30 October 1918.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 2/19th Londons, 1919–20
The 2/19th Londons spent the New Year at Alexandria, where it was required to keep order among the Egyptian population. In March 1919 it embarked for Lebanon, from where it was sent to Homs in Syria. On 24 March the battalion was amalgamated with 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, but retained its identity, the HQ of 2nd Leicesters returning to the UK. In April the composite battalion moved to Aleppo to keep order during the Partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. Parties of the battalion had already been sent home for demobilisation, and in October 1919 a large draft of men arrived from the Suffolk Regiment to maintain numbers. The battalion was disbanded on 21 January 1920 in Egypt.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 3/19th Londons
The Third-Line battalion was formed on 25 March 1915, when it went into camp in Richmond Park. Subordinate to the 2nd London Reserve Group (later Brigade), it trained drafts for the First and Second Line battalions and never left the UK. In January 1916 it moved to Winchester. On 8 April 1916 it was redesignated 19th (Reserve) Battalion, London Regiment. It later moved to Chisledon in November 1917, and then Blackdown in March 1918 when it joined the 1st London Reserve Brigade. By October 1918 it was at Hunstanton, and it was disbanded on 11 June 1919, when it was probably at Shoreham-by-Sea.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Interwar
On 16 February 1920, the 47th Division began to reform in the new Territorial Army, and by 1922 the battalion had fully reformed as the 19th London Regiment (St Pancras) (TA) in 141 (5th London) Bde. (The London Regiment had disappeared as a separate entity during World War I, and its battalions were now designated as 'Regiments' within their previous parent regiment – the Middlesex Regiment in the case of the 19th Londons.)


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Interwar
In 1935 the 47th Division was converted into the 1st Anti - Aircraft Division and 19th London was selected as one of its TA infantry battalions to be converted into searchlight units; on 1 November it was transferred to the Royal Engineers and redesignated 33rd (St Pancras) Anti - Aircraft Battalion RE (TA). Shortly afterwards it joined 29th (East Anglian) Anti - Aircraft Brigade. At this point the battalion's HQ and two searchlight companies (Nos 332 and 333) were still based at 76 Camden High Street, but soon afterwards they moved to a new drill hall at Albany Street.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Interwar
334 Company was newly raised by the Hertfordshire (rather than London) Territorial Association, which provided a new drill hall in St Albans Road, Barnet, opened in April 1938. The Hon Carol Fellowes was commissioned as major in command. Fellowes had served as a lieutenant in the Royal Norfolk Regiment in Mesopotamia in 1917–19. A further company (No 335) was based at another new drill hall at Tottenham High Road, but early in 1939 this company and establishment were transferred to a new 74th (Essex Fortress) AA Battalion.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, Mobilisation
33rd AA Battalion was mobilised on 26 September 1938 during the Munich Crisis and went to its war stations (334 Company to Baldock). It was stood down after 12 days. In June 1939, as the international situation worsened, a partial mobilisation of the TA was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected AA gun and searchlight positions. 334 Company was deployed on 13 August. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, Anti- Aircraft Command was fully mobilised at its war stations:


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, Mobilisation
The battalion mobilised in 29 AA Bde, but by the end of September 1939 had transferred to the new 40th Anti- Aircraft Brigade, covering East Anglia. 33rd AA Bn occupied S/L sites across Hertfordshire supporting the Debden Sector of No. 12 Group RAF, with battalion HQ at Stansted Mountfitchet. On 2 September, the day before war was declared, a colour party of the battalion returned to Albany Street and took the colours to St Pancras Town Hall for safekeeping. By mid-September, a detachment of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) had been attached to the battalion.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, Mobilisation
On 1 July 1940, 33rd AA Bn came under the command of 6 AA Bde HQ, newly arrived at Debden after participating in the Norwegian Campaign. The brigade ordered the construction of a concrete pillbox at each S/L site and each company and section HQ – a total of 75 in 33rd Bn's area. These were to provide defended patrol bases in the event of attack by enemy paratroops, and each site was joined by an infantry detachment and equipped with a wireless set.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, The Blitz
On 1 August 1940 the RE 'Anti- Aircraft' (searchlight) battalions were transferred to the Royal Artillery, so the battalion became the 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment RA (TA) and the AA companies and sections were redesignated searchlight batteries and troops.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, The Blitz
On 10 August, Debden Sector was transferred from 12 Group to No. 11 Group RAF, so 6 AA Bde similarly transferred to 6th AA Division, responsible for the eastern approaches to London.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, The Blitz
33rd S/L Rgt was largely unaffected by the Battle of Britain, but during the subsequent night Blitz on London it was active, particularly in cooperation with the night fighters of Debden Sector. The S/L layouts had been based on a spacing of 3500 yards, but due to equipment shortages this had been extended to 6000 yards by September 1940. The difficulty of illuminating night bombers led to a redistribution of S/Ls into clusters of three lights, one of which was the 'master light' that would eventually be equipped with searchlight control radar (SLC). This meant that the clusters had to be spaced 10,400 yards apart. 33rd S/L Regiment carried out the redistribution during December 1940 and January 1941, but did not begin to receive SLC equipment until October 1941.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, The Blitz
The regiment supplied a cadre of experienced officers and men to 230th S/L Training Rgt at Blandford Camp where it provided the basis for a new 520 S/L Bty formed on 14 November 1940. This battery later joined 85th S/L Rgt.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, The Blitz
In May 1941 the regiment was required to form a composite troop of six searchlights withdrawn from cluster sites to defend the new night-fighter base at RAF Hunsdon. By July this had become E Troop of 334 Bty. S/Ls were sometimes exposed as homing beacons for friendly aircraft. Once SLC equipment was widely available, 33rd S/L Rgt 'declustered' and reverted to deployment by single lights.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, Mid-war
By October 1941 the availability of SLC radar was sufficient to allow AA Command's S/Ls to be 'declustered' into single-light sites spaced at 10,400-yard intervals in 'Indicator Belts' along the coast and 'Killer Belts' at 6000-yard spacing inland to cooperate with the RAF's night fighters.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, Mid-war
On 23 January 1942, 33rd S/L Rgt was increased by one battery, with 543 Bty joining from 89 S/L Rgt, though it was several months before it moved into the regimental area from Kent. 543rd S/L Bty had originally been formed in March 1941 from a cadre of 64th (1/6th Essex) S/L Rgt at 237 S/L Training Rgt at Holywood, Northern Ireland, with personnel mainly from Manchester. It had served with 89th S/L Rgt around Exeter and Plymouth during the latter part of the Blitz.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, Mid-war
In January 1943, the growing ATS detachments allocated to AA units were reorganised: those with 33rd S/L Rgt became B Company, 6 AA Bde Group ATS, with a dedicated platoon to each S/L company.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, Mid-war
On 10 April 1943, 33rd S/L Rgt was ordered to change places with 73rd (Kent Fortress) S/L Rgt in 27th (Home Counties) AA Bde, taking over four areas of Kent under Biggin Hill Sector of 11 Group RAF, with Regimental HQ at Faversham. This area was under regular attack by Luftwaffe fighter-bombers, and the defensive armament of S/L positions was increased, with twin Vickers K machine gun mountings being added to the existing Lewis guns.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, Mid-war
The regiment's first Category 1 'kill' came on the night of 15/16 September when a site of 334 Bty at Kingsgate shot down a Heinkel He 111 with Lewis and Vickers guns, shared with the local Light AA gun unit. In September the regiment began to receive twin 0.5-inch Browning machine guns on power mountings. Between 21 January and 14 March 1944 the Luftwaffe carried out eleven night raids on London in the so-called 'Baby Blitz': two sites of 334 Bty shared another Cat 1 kill on 22/23 February.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, Mid-war
However, by early 1944, AA Command was being forced to release manpower for the planned invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord). 33rd S/L Rgt's contribution came through the disbandment of 543 Bty on 6 March and E Trp of 334 Bty; however E Trp of 346 Bty, 36th (Middlesex) S/L Rgt joined on 13 March as D/332 Trp. From September 1943 the regiment had been carrying out experiments on new combinations of S/Ls and SLC; in July1944 this was stepped up with the start of the V-1 flying bomb campaign against London, though Kent was on the fringe of the V-1s' route.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, Mid-war
On 21 September, a USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress, attempting to reach the emergency airfield at RAF Manston, crashed onto one of the regiment's positions at Minster. Seven members of the detachment were commended for bravery in rescuing survivors from the burning wreck, and Lance-Bombardier Harkness and Gunner Bateman were later awarded the British Empire Medal.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 33rd (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment, Mid-war
As 21st Army Group overran the V-1 launching sites in Northern France, the Luftwaffe began to launch them from aircraft over the North Sea. AA Command shifted units from Kent to deal with the threat, and in November 33 S/L Rgt had to take over some of these units' sites along the East Kent coast.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 632nd (St Pancras) Regiment
By the end of 1944, 21st Army Group was suffering a severe manpower shortage, particularly among the infantry. At the same time the Luftwaffe was suffering from such shortages of pilots, aircraft and fuel that serious aerial attacks on the United Kingdom could be discounted. In January 1945 the War Office began to reorganise surplus anti-aircraft and coastal artillery regiments in the UK into infantry battalions, primarily for line of communication and occupation duties in North West Europe, thereby releasing trained infantry for frontline service. 27th (Home Counties) Anti - Aircraft Brigade was one of the HQs selected for conversion, becoming 303rd Infantry Brigade on 22 January 1945. Within the brigade, 33rd S/L Rgt was redesignated 632nd (St Pancras) Infantry Regiment RA the following day.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 632nd (St Pancras) Regiment
The regiment reorganised as a garrison battalion at Eastbourne, with A Bty (HQ) and five rifle batteries designated B to E. Infantry training included a short period attached to 61st Infantry Division, when the regiment was reorganised again as conventional infantry battalion, with RHQ, HQ Bty, three rifle batteries (A–C), and Support Bty. After VE-day, 303 Bde was sent to Norway in June 1945 following the liberation of that country (Operation Doomsday). 632 Regiment left Eastbourne on 5 June to embark from Leith for Norway, where it carried out duties until early December 1945.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), 632nd (St Pancras) Regiment
As a prewar TA unit, the regiment was not disbanded, but passed into 'suspended animation' on 31 January 1946 at Colchester.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Postwar
The regiment was reformed on 1 April 1947 in 52 AA Brigade of the postwar TA as 568th (St Pancras) Searchlight Regiment RA, changing its designation on 16 March 1949 to 568th (St Pancras) (Mixed) Light Anti- Aircraft/Searchlight Regiment RA ('Mixed' indicating that it was composed partly of women of the Women's Royal Army Corps.) While the regiment reformed at Albany St, the company at Barnet was not reformed, and its drill hall was taken over as HQ for 479th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy AA Rgt. 568th LAA/SL Regiment formed part of 54 (Thames & Medway) AA Bde.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Postwar
In 1955, 568th LAA/SL Rgt merged with the 512th (Finsbury Rifles) and 656th (Tower Hamlets) LAA Regiments, becoming Q (St Pancras) Battery of the resulting 512 LAA Regiment in 33 AA Brigade. This regiment in turn was absorbed into 300 LAA Regt in 1961 when the St Pancras lineage was discontinued.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Battle honours
(1/19th): Festubert 1915, Loos, Somme 1916 '18, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Le Transloy, Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Langemarck 1917, Cambrai 1917, St Quentin, Bapaume 1918, Ancre 1918, Albert 1918, Pursuit to Mons


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Battle honours
(2/19th): France and Flanders 1915–16, Doiran 1917, Macedonia 1916–17, Gaza, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jericho, Jordan, Megiddo, Sharon, Palestine 1917–18


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Battle honours
Bold text indicates those honours selected to be displayed on the regiment's Colours. The Royal Artillery does not carry battle honours, so none were awarded to the regiment after its conversion.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Insignia
Upon transfer to the Royal Engineers, the men of 33rd AA Battalion retained their 'XIX County of London' cap badge.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Insignia
During the Munich crisis mobilisation, a group of sergeants from 334 Company stole a cockerel with saddle and reins from a roundabout at Baldock Fair. This subsequently became the inanimate mascot of the sergeants' mess, and a colour picture of it was adopted as the company's emblem, used as a vehicle marking in the early part of World War II.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Insignia
After transfer to the RA, red-and-blue arm of service strips were sewn onto battledress.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Memorials
The 1914–18 war memorial panel of the 19th Londons, formerly at the old drill hall in Camden High Street, is now in the South Vestibule of St Pancras Parish Church. It carries the names of 1069 members of the regiment who died during World War I. The 19th London's regimental badge is also included in the stained glass war memorial window in the North Gallery at St Pancras Church.


19th Battalion, London Regiment (St Pancras), Memorials
The 19th London is listed on the City and County of London Troops Memorial in front of the Royal Exchange, London, with architectural design by Sir Aston Webb and sculpture by Alfred Drury. The right-hand (southern) bronze figure flanking this memorial depicts an infantryman representative of the various London infantry units.


19th Berlin International Film Festival
The 19th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 25 June – 6 July 1969. The Golden Bear was awarded to the Yugoslav film Rani radovi directed by Želimir Žilnik.


19th Berlin International Film Festival, Films in competition
The following films were in competition for the Golden Bear award:


19th Brigade (Australia)
The 19th Brigade was a formation of the Australian Army that was raised as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force for service during World War II. It was briefly raised in 1912 as a Militia formation providing training as part of the compulsory training scheme. Later, during World War II, the brigade was established in April 1940 in Palestine as a triangular formation, the brigade was created by transferring one infantry battalion from three other brigades. It was subsequently assigned to the 6th Division.


19th Brigade (Australia)
Throughout 1941, the brigade fought in North Africa, Greece and on Crete, before undertaking garrison duties in Syria, remaining there until January 1942. Following the Japanese entry into the war, the 19th Brigade was withdrawn to Australia and subsequently undertook garrison duties in Darwin. It did not see combat again until late in the war, when it was committed to the Aitape–Wewak campaign in 1944–1945. The brigade was disbanded in December 1945 in Puckapunyal.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
The 19th Brigade briefly existed as Militia brigade that was partially formed in 1912, following the introduction of the compulsory training scheme. At this time, it was assigned to the 4th Military District. The brigade's constituent units were spread across various locations in South Australia including Unley, Mount Gambier, Glenelg, Hindmarsh, West Adelaide, Port Adelaide, Semaphore and East Adelaide. The formation was short lived, and was not raised as part of the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during the First World War. It remained on the order of battle as a Militia formation during the war, but was not re-raised in the interwar years when the Militia was reorganised to replicate the numerical designations of the AIF in 1921.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
The 19th Brigade was formed in April 1940 at Qastina, in Palestine, when the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) was reorganised and the composition of Australian infantry brigades was changed from four infantry battalions to three, to replicate the British Army brigade establishment since 1918. In creating the brigade, it was proposed that the fourth battalion from the first three 2nd AIF brigades – the 16th, 17th and 18th – be transferred to the new brigade.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
Transport problems led to the third battalion of the 18th Brigade, which was in Palestine, joining the brigade instead of the 2/12th Battalion, which was in Britain. On formation, the brigade consisted of the 2/4th, 2/8th and 2/11th Battalions. It was assigned to the 6th Division, replacing the 18th Brigade, which had been sent to the United Kingdom to bolster the garrison there following the Fall of France.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
The first commander was Brigadier Horace Robertson, who joined from Australia. The new brigade was based at "Kilo 89" in Palestine before concentrating with the rest of the 6th Division at Borg El Arab in Egypt, where an intensive period of collective training, including divisional level exercises where undertaken, prior to the brigade commencing combat operations. During these exercises, the 19th Brigade assumed a defensive role while the 16th and 17th Brigades practised assault techniques.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
The following month, the 6th Division was sent to the Libyan border and in January 1941 they captured Bardia, during which the 19th Brigade was divisional reserve and played only a limited role, reinforcing the 17th Brigade in mopping up operations to the south of the fortress. The brigade played a more prominent role in the capture of Tobruk, moving through a gap created by the 16th Brigade, to attack the port area. Later, they joined the advance on Derna and then Benghazi, after which they were withdrawn to Ikingi Maryut for rest.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
In March 1941, Brigadier George Vasey assumed command of the brigade after Robertson fell ill. The 6th Division then took part in the short-lived Greek campaign. The 19th Brigade arrived at Piraeus on 3 April and began moving to Kozani. Following the German invasion of Greece, the brigade fought a series of unsuccessful actions, firstly at Vevi, as the Germans steadily advanced through the country, pushing the Allies back. The brigade was bolstered by the attachment of a battalion of the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and later the  New Zealand 26th Battalion.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
On 24 April, the brigade fought a delaying action against German mountain troops in the Brallos Pass, before they were evacuated by sea from Megara the following day. The 19th Brigade was transported to Crete, where they formed part of a hastily established garrison of British, Australian, New Zealand and Greek troops. The Battle of Crete began on 20 May 1941, in which the 19th Brigade fought around Canea, before the 2/8th Battalion took part in a counter-attack at 42nd Street before the majority of the brigade was evacuated from Sfakia.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
Withdrawn to Egypt, the brigade concentrated around Khassa in Palestine and then moved to Julius in June, until October 1941, when they were allocated to garrison duties in Syria following the conclusion of the Syria–Lebanon campaign. Brigadier James Martin took command of the brigade from December 1941 and for the rest of the war. In early 1942, following the Japanese entry into the war, the brigade was withdrawn from Syria and returned to Palestine. From there, it returned to Australia and became part of the Darwin garrison force.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
In Darwin, the brigade defended against a possible Japanese invasion. In April 1942, the 2/11th Battalion was detached from the brigade and sent to its home state of Western Australia; its place in the brigade was taken by a Militia unit, the 23rd/21st Battalion, which had been raised in Victoria in May 1942; the 2/11th Battalion rejoined the brigade in July 1943.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
While the 16th and 17th brigades from the 6th Division took part in some of the early campaigns in the Pacific, including the Kokoda Track campaign and the Salamaua–Lae campaign, the 19th Brigade remained in Australia and had to wait three-and-a-half years before returning to action. In June 1943, the brigade was relieved around Darwin by the 12th Brigade and moved to the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland and amphibious training was undertaken in November. In late 1944, the brigade was committed to the Aitape–Wewak campaign in New Guinea, as the Australians relieved US forces around Aitape.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
The 19th Brigade arrived in October 1944, before the other Australian brigades and with the 16th Brigade, began a general advance along the coast towards Wewak, alternating between offensive operations and maintaining the defensive perimeter around Aitape. In December 1944 and January 1945, the 19th Brigade pushed across the Danmap River before being relieved. They resumed the advance in May from the Hawain River and by June 1945, the brigade had linked up with Farida Force and Wewak had been taken.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
The 19th Brigade went on the defensive around the base, as the Australians began penetrating towards the southern ranges, fighting actions around Mount Shiburangu and then Mount Tazaki. In July, the 8th Brigade relieved the 19th, although elements from the 2/11th Battalion continued to patrol around Boram Airfield until the 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion arrived; at war's end in August 1945, the brigade was located around Wewak. Demobilisation began almost immediately but a shortage of shipping kept the brigade overseas for several months after the end of hostilities.


19th Brigade (Australia), History
In mid-November 1945, the brigade's cadre staff embarked upon the SS Ormiston and sailed via Finschhafen and Port Moresby to Brisbane, where they were allocated camp facilities around Chermside where demobilisation continued. At the end of the month, the remaining personnel moved to Puckapunyal, Victoria, where final disbandment was completed around 14 December 1945.


19th British Academy Film Awards
The 19th British Film Awards, given by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 1966, honoured the best films of 1965.


19th British Academy Film Awards, Winners and nominees
Lee Marvin – Cat Ballou as Kid Shelleen/Tim StrawnLee Marvin – The Killers as Charlie Strom


19th British Academy Film Awards, Winners and nominees
Patricia Neal – In Harm's Way as Lieutenant Maggie Haines


19th British Academy Film Awards, Winners and nominees
Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines – Osbert Lancaster and Dinah Greet


19th British Academy Film Awards, Winners and nominees
Be Careful Boys – Vera Linnecar, Nancy Hanna and Keith Learner


19th Busan International Film Festival
The 19th Busan International Film Festival was held in South Korea from October 2 to October 11, 2014, and was hosted by Ken Watanabe and Moon So-ri. A total of 312 films from 79 countries were screened with total attendance of 226,473. Hong Kong director Ann Hui receives the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award. The closing film was Gangster Payday.


19th CableACE Awards
The 19th Annual CableACE Awards ceremony was held on November 14, 1997, and was the final edition of the CableACE Awards. Below are the nominees and the winners from that ceremony in the main categories.


19th Canadian Army Field Regiment RCA
The 19th Canadian Army Field Regiment (Self Propelled) Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) was a Field Artillery regiment in the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War. They would see action in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, before ending the war in Germany. It was commonly referred to as The 19th Field Regiment, The 19th Army Field Regiment, The 19th Field or by the men of the regiment, Hell on Wheels.


19th Canadian Army Field Regiment RCA, Canada
The 19th Field received its mobilizing orders in August 1941, for three batteries to be formed from the three Reserve Brigade areas in Military District No. 1. The batteries were the 55th Field Battery (London, Ontario), the 63rd Field Battery (Guelph, Ontario), and the 99th Field Battery (Wingham, Ontario). From September 1941 to July 1943, the 19th Field was brought up to full strength and received training at Camp Borden, Ontario; Shilo, Manitoba; Prince Rupert, British Columbia; and Petawawa, Ontario.


19th Canadian Army Field Regiment RCA, Canada
During this time, they trained first with 18-pounders, 4.5" howitzers, and finally, what would become their main armament in Europe, the 25-pounder RAM, better known as the Sexton.