People · 1889–1963
Bernard Freyberg
Commander of the New Zealand Division (1941)
New Zealand general who set up his headquarters near Myloi on 25–26 April 1941 and took command of all troops left in the Peloponnese when Wilson left. Later commander on Crete and Governor-General of New Zealand.
Also written: Μπέρναρντ Φράιμπεργκ, Bernard Cyril Freyberg, Φρέιμπεργκ
Events
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25 April 1941
General Freyberg moves to a new headquarters near Myloi
Early on 25 April 1941 Major-General Bernard Freyberg, commander of the New Zealand Division, was on his way to 'a new headquarters near Miloi'. In the next days Myloi was described as the headquarters of both W Force…
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26 April 1941
New Zealand 25th Battalion guards the approaches to Myloi
In Freyberg's new arrangement of 26 April 1941 one New Zealand battalion went north of Argos and one to Tripoli, while the 25th Battalion stayed in reserve at Myloi. Its companies took position between the village and…
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26 April 1941
German paratroopers seize the Corinth Canal: Myloi is cut off
Shortly after seven in the morning of 26 April 1941 German paratroopers landed at the Corinth Canal and seized the crossing. The headquarters at Myloi was suddenly cut off from all troops still north of the canal.…
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26 April 1941
Wilson hands command in the Peloponnese to Freyberg
Later on 26 April 1941 Wilson told Freyberg that he would leave that night. Freyberg would take command of all troops still in the Peloponnese. 'From Myloi General Wilson departed in a Sunderland flying-boat for Crete…
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26 April 1941
Wilson's headquarters in an olive grove at the Tripoli road
On 26 April 1941 the headquarters of W Force was hidden in an olive grove at Myloi, where the trees gave cover from the German dive bombers. Wilson himself wrote that it lay 'close to where the road to Tripolis leaves…