Howard Karl Kippenberger

Born 28 Jan 1897 - Died 5 May 1957

Service number: WWI 11682 AWMM
WWII 7128 AWMM
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: WW2 Major General/Military AWMM Prisoners of War Reception Group AWMM
War: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

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Howard Karl Kippenberger — Portrait, Weekly News 10 December 1941 - This image may be subject to copyright

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Wars and conflicts

War: World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
Campaign: Greece AWMM
1941 AWMM Crete AWMM
North Africa AWMM
Italy AWMM
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Service number: WWI 11682 AWMM
WWII 7128 AWMM
Military service: Served with Volunteers as Lieutenant in 1926 AWMM
Lieutenant Colonel and Commanding Officer of Canterbury Regiment, 1936-39 AWMM
10 New Zealand Brigade AWMM
5 Infantry Brigade AWMM
2 New Zealand Division AWMM
Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers: —

Military decorations

Medals and Awards: Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB) AWMM
Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) AWMM
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and bar (DSO*) AWMM
DSO citation: "While in command of 10th (Composite) Brigade at Galatas (Crete) on 21 and 25 May (1941), he showed a complete disregard of danger, an energetic aggressive spirit, and considerable tactical skill in organising counter-attacks, and repelling determined enemy attacks made under cover of severe enemy air attacks, and trench mortar and machinegun fire. Although suffering from loss of sleep and a sprained ankle, he showed quick appreciation and cool courage in meeting the determined enemy attacks at Galatas on 25 May, and when our lines were practically broken, was almost entirely responsible for checking the enemy advance and establishing a new line in rear. His work throughout was of the highest order." (NZ Gazette, 21 September 1944) DSO Bar citation: "Brigadier H.K. Kippenberger commanded 5 (NZ) Infantry Brigade throughout the battle of Egypt. At Minqar Qaim on 28 June 1942 he moved from unit to unit, at times under heavy enemy shelling, co-ordinating the successful defence of the Brigade position. On the night of 27/28 June, when troop carrying transport was, through enemy action, cut off from the Brigade, he immediately organised the remaining resources of the Brigade, extricating his troops. AWMM
British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
Victory Medal AWMM
1939-1945 Star AWMM
Africa Star AWMM
Italy Star AWMM
Defence Medal AWMM
War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf AWMM
New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
Coronation Medal 1937 AWMM
Coronation Medal ER 1953 AWMM
Efficiency Decoration (ED) AWMM
Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM

Training and Enlistment

Military training: —
Branch Trade Proficiency: —
Enlistment: WW1 1916 AWMM Farmer/Civilian AWMM
WW2 Sep 1939 AWMM Solicitor/Civilian AWMM
Age on enlistment: —
Occupation before enlistment: —

Embarkations

Embarkation details: WW1 01 May 1916-09 Jun 1916 AWMM
HMNZT 51 AWMM Vessel was Ulimaroa AWMM Private AWMM 12th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company AWMM New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM
WW2 20 Canterbury Infantry Battalion, Headquarters AWMM
2nd Embarkation AWMM

Prisoner of war

Capture details: WW2
1 Nov 1941 AWMM
Operation Crusader AWMM
Days interned: —
Liberation date: —
POW liberation details: —
Liberation Repatriation: —
POW serial number: —

Medical history

Medical notes: Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
Wounded in arm by shrapnel from a NZ artillery shell, 10 November 1916. AWMM
Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
Hospitalised in England for two months with temporary paralysis in wounded arm. AWMM
Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
Judged medically unfit for duty and returned to NZ; discharged from NZEF, April 1917. AWMM
Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
Wounded during Operation Crusader in North Africa and briefly taken prisoner, November 1941. AWMM
Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
Wounded at Cassino by anti-personnel mine and lost both feet, 2 March 1944. AWMM

Last known rank

Last rank: WW2 Major General/Military AWMM
Prisoners of War Reception Group AWMM
Last rank: —

Biographical information

Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire - Civil (KBE).

Oldest child of Karl and Anne Elizabeth (nee Howard) Kippenberger of Ladbrooks, Canterbury, New Zealand. Kippenberger's grandparents emigrated from Germany in 1862. Kippenberger married Ruth Isabel Flynn at Lyttelton, 28 September 1922. They had two sons and a daughter.

Served in the ranks during World War 1 and as a senior officer during World War 2.

When he enlisted for WWI in January 1916, he advanced his age by 18 months to ensure he would get an overseas posting. He reached the trenches just in time for the Somme Offensive, during which all of his close friends in the Canterbury Regiment were killed or wounded.

He then went on to become a battalion sniper.

He enlisted with 2 NZEF as Commanding Officer (CO) of 20 Battalion, NZ Infantry, September 1939.

Commanded 10 Composite Brigade on Crete, May 1941.

During Operation Crusader in North Africa, Kippenberger made a number of mistakes that saw him wounded, taken prisoner, and his beloved 20 Battalion nearly annihilated. He escaped with 19 other POWs not longer after their capture.

Promoted to Brigadier and Commander of 5 NZ Infantry Brigade, January 1942.

Promoted to Major General and General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 2 NZ Division, 9 February 1944.

Severely wounded after stepping on an anti-personnel mine on Mt Trocchio in Italy, 2 March 1944. He ended up losing both feet, which were replaced with artificial ones while in hospital in England.

Upon recovery, Kippenberger was appointed to lead the 2 NZEF POW Reception Group in the UK, 1944-46.

Returned to New Zealand in 1946.

Served as Editor-in-Chief of the NZ War Histories project for the NZ Department of Internal Affairs, 1946-57

President of NZ Returned Services' Association, 1948-55.

Appointed Honorary Colonel of the Canterbury Regiment post-WW2.

Kippenberger is quoted in the Auckland War Memorial Museum exhibition 'Slogging up Italy' of 'Scars on the Heart', I met the battalion trudging slowly out to its billets after daylight ... everyman was plastered with wet mud up to his neck and their faces were grey.' AWMM

Sources

External links: Harper, Glyn. 'Kippenberger, Howard Karl 1897 - 1957'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Essay.
http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/
Further Reference
Military Personnel File
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24060555
Further Reference
Military Personnel File
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R24169859
Further Reference
Wikidata Entity
http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q4576851
Further Reference
Pringle, D., & Glue, W. (1957). 20 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20210222122055/http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-20Ba.html
Further Reference
References: New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
30: 10
Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 1 (Embarkations to 31st March, 1940). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer.
WW2 1: WW2 98
Kippenberger, H.K. (1949). Infantry brigadier. London, England: Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press.
Harper, G.J. (1997). Kippenberger, An Inspired New Zealand Commander. Auckland, N.Z.: Harper Collins.
Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications
Vol. 1: Includes portrait
Pringle, D., & Glue, W. (1957). 20 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
Coronation Medals 1953 - Nominal Roll. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R21681744)
Mason, W.W. (1954) Prisoners of war. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
Davin, D. (1953). Crete. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
Harper, G., Clements, C., & Johns., R. (2019). For King and Other Countries: The New Zealanders Who Fought in Other Services in the First World War. Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University Press.

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Howard Karl Kippenberger