39 Facts About Keith Elliott

Keith Elliott, VC was a New Zealand soldier who served with the New Zealand Military Forces during the Second World War.

Keith Elliott was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, for his actions in the First Battle of El Alamein.

Keith Elliott volunteered for service abroad with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force and was posted to the 22nd Battalion.

Keith Elliott saw action during the Battles of Greece and Crete and then in North Africa.

Keith Elliott shifted around the lower half of the North Island for the next several years, serving in a number of churches.

Keith Elliott retired from the priesthood in 1981 and died eight years later at the age of 73.

Keith Elliott was born on 25 April 1916 in Apiti, New Zealand, one of nine children of a farmer and his wife.

Keith Elliott was educated in nearby Feilding, firstly at Lytton Street School and then at Feilding Agricultural High School.

Keith Elliott was unable to complete his formal schooling because in 1933, he had to drop out to work on the family farm.

Keith Elliott tried to enlist in the New Zealand Military Forces on hearing of the outbreak of the Second World War but was initially declined due to the poor state of his teeth.

Keith Elliott was successful on a later attempt and in January 1940 he joined the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force that was raised for service overseas.

Keith Elliott was posted to 22nd Battalion, commanded by a Victoria Cross winner of the First World War, Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Andrew.

Keith Elliott's battalion was positioned at the Olympus Pass, and shortly after the invasion commenced, engaged advancing German tanks.

The Allies were eventually evacuated to Egypt a week later, but not before Keith Elliott was wounded in the arm in a skirmish with enemy paratroopers.

Keith Elliott spent two months under harsh conditions in captivity before being liberated by South African troops.

Keith Elliott lost a considerable amount of weight during his time as a prisoner of war.

Keith Elliott rejoined the 2nd New Zealand Division which was refitting in Syria, but then contracted malaria and missed out on its hasty recall to Egypt and the subsequent fighting at Minqar Qaim.

On his recovery, Keith Elliott rejoined the 22nd Battalion on 13 July 1942, in time for the First Battle of Alamein.

Keith Elliott spotted the tanks when they began advancing towards the 22nd Battalion's position at dawn and notified the commanders of nearby platoons.

However, they believed the tanks to be British and disregarded Keith Elliott's warning until the German tanks began attacking the battalion's positions.

Under heavy tank, machine-gun and shell fire, Sergeant Keith Elliott led the platoon he was commanding to the cover of a ridge three hundred yards away, during which he sustained a chest wound.

Keith Elliott located enemy machine-gun posts to his front and right flank, and while one section attacked on the right flank, Sergeant Elliott led seven men in a bayonet charge across five hundred yards of open ground in the face of heavy fire and captured four enemy machine-gun posts and an anti-tank gun, killing a number of the enemy and taking fifty prisoners.

Keith Elliott immediately charged this post single-handed and succeeded in capturing it, killing several of the enemy and taking fifteen prisoners.

Sergeant Keith Elliott sustained only one casualty amongst his men, and brought him back to the nearest advanced dressing station.

All of the 22nd Battalion, bar Keith Elliott's platoon, were killed or captured during the fighting at Ruweisat Ridge.

Keith Elliott managed to link up with elements of the 21st Battalion, the commander of which recommended him for the VC.

Keith Elliott's VC was gazetted on 24 September 1942, but Elliott had learnt of his award the previous day.

Keith Elliott was presented with his VC ribbon by Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery and was ordered to return to New Zealand.

Keith Elliott was unhappy at being sent home while his friends remained in the field.

Keith Elliott was uncomfortable with the attention he received from the public when he arrived back in New Zealand and remained modest about his achievements.

Keith Elliott was discharged from the 2NZEF in December 1943 and resumed farming.

Keith Elliott became a priest in 1948 and took up a curacy in Palmerston North, before becoming chaplain at the nearby Linton Military Camp.

Keith Elliott spent periods of time at the City Mission in Wellington.

Keith Elliott was present at the unveiling of the Alamein Memorial in Egypt in 1954, and two years later attended VC centenary celebrations in London.

Keith Elliott retired from the priesthood in April 1981 and moved to Raumati.

In 1953, Keith Elliott was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, and in 1977 he received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.

Keith Elliott died of cancer on 7 October 1989, survived by his wife and five children.

Keith Elliott was buried with full military honours at Paraparaumu Cemetery.

Keith Elliott donated his Victoria Cross to his former school, Feilding Agricultural High School, in 1972.