Leslie Wilton Andrew, VC, DSO
2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment 22nd Battalion, 2nd New Zealand Division

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Leslie Andrew was born in 1897 in Ashhurst, and grew up in Wanganui. He worked in a solicitor’s office and for the railways before joining the Wellington Regiment of the NZEF in 1915.

On 30 July 1917, as part of the continuing struggle for Messines Ridge, Corporal Andrew led a party which attacked a number of German machine gun positions. His Victoria Cross citation states that, "he displayed great skill and determination in his dispositions, finally capturing the post, killing several of the enemy and putting the rest to flight. Corporal Andrew’s conduct throughout was unexampled for cool daring, initiative and fine leadership, and his magnificent example was a great stimulant to his comrades."

Andrew was commissioned in 1918, and remained in the services after the war, filling a number of positions in New Zealand as well as being attached to the British and Indian armies.

At the outbreak of war in 1939 he was given command of the 22nd Battalion and he filled this appointment until early 1942. While commanding this battalion, he took part in most of the major desert actions and in 1942 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, (DSO) for outstanding leadership of his battalion during a very difficult time in the desert fighting.

After WW II, Andrew commanded the NZ Victory Contingent to London in 1946 and ended his military career in 1952 as commander of the Central Military District in the rank of Brigadier. Brigadier Andrew died in 1969 at Palmerston North.

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