Leslie Andrew

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Photo by Terry Macdonald

Brigadier Leslie Wilton Andrew, VC, DSO (23 March 1897 - 9 January 1969) was a New Zealand soldier who served in both World War I and World War II. He was born in Manawatu, New Zealand.

He was 20 years old, and a corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 31 July 1917 at La Bassee Ville, France, Corporal Andrew was in charge of a small party in an attack on the enemy's position. His objective was a machine-gun post which had been located in an isolated building, but on leading his men forward he encountered another machine-gun post which was holding up the advance of another company. He immediately attacked it, capturing the gun and killing several of the crew. He then continued with his attack on the original objective and finally captured the post, killing a number of the enemy and putting the remainder to flight.

In World War II he commanded the 22nd Battalion of the Second NZEF, and led the New Zealand victory contingent in London in 1946.

He later achieved the rank of brigadier.

His grave/memorial is at Levin RSA Cemetery, Tiro Tiro Road, Levin, New Zealand. Returned Serviceman's Section, row 13. Headstone. The "Andrew Barracks" for 60 field engineers in Linton Army Camp is named after him.

His Victoria Cross was displayed at the QEII Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand. On Sunday 2 December 2007 it was one of nine Victoria Crosses that were among 96 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]