Keith Elliott

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Keith Elliott
April 25, 1916(1916-04-25)–July 10, 1989 (aged 73)

Place of birth	Apiti, New Zealand
Place of death	Wellington, New Zealand
Allegiance	New Zealand
Service/branch	New Zealand Army
Unit	22nd Battalion, 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Battles/wars	World War II: Balkans Campaign, North African Campaign
Awards	Victoria Cross
Other work	Anglican priest

Grave/memorial at Paraparaumu Cemetery, North Island, New Zealand. Returned Serviceman's Lawn Section.

Keith Elliott VC (25 April 1916 – 7 October 1989) was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was 26 years old, and a Sergeant in the 22nd Battalion, 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the Second World War when he performed the deed that gained him the Victoria Cross.

[edit] Battle at Ruweisat

New Zealand Victoria Cross recipients: Back row, Left to Right: Col. L.W. Andrew, Maj. R.S. Judson, Pte. J.D. Crichton, Lt. H.J. Laurent, Lt. C.R.G. Bassett
Front row, Sg. J.D. Hinton, Lt. K. Elliott, Cpt. C.H. Upham, Sg. A.C. Hulme, Cpt. S. Frickleton, Lt. J.G. Grant

On 15 July 1942 at Ruweisat, Western Desert, Egypt, Sergeant Elliott, while leading his platoon in an attack under heavy machine-gun and mortar fire, was wounded in the chest. Nevertheless, he carried on and led his men in a bayonet charge which resulted in the capture of four enemy machine-gun posts and an anti-tank gun. Seven of the enemy were killed and 50 taken prisoner. In spite of his wounds Sergeant Elliott refused to leave his platoon until he had reformed them and handed over the prisoners, the number of which had by then increased to 130.

His Victoria Cross was displayed at the QEII Army Memorial Museum at Waiouru, New Zealand. On Sunday 2 December 2007 it was one of nine Victoria Crosses that were among a hundred medals stolen from the museum.^[1] On 16 February 2008 New Zealand Police announced all the medals had been recovered as a result of a NZ$300,000 reward offered by Michael Ashcroft and Tom Sturgess.^[2]