30th Battalion | |
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![]() Mortar crew of 30th Battalion firing at Japanese barges on Nissan Island | |
Active | 1940โ1944 |
Country | New Zealand |
Branch | New Zealand Military Forces |
Type | Infantry |
Size | ~700โ900 personnel |
Part of | 14th Brigade, 3rd Division |
Engagements | Second World War |
Insignia | |
Distinguishing Patch | ![]() |
The 30th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the New Zealand 3rd Division, raised for service during the Second World War. After being raised in late 1940, the battalion undertook garrison duties in Fiji and on New Caledonia during the early part of the war, before undertaking combat operations during the latter part of the Solomon Islands campaign, landing on Vella Lavella and the Green Islands in 1943โ1944. The battalion was disbanded in mid-1944 to return manpower to the New Zealand economy and to provide reinforcements to the New Zealand 2nd Division, which was fighting in Italy.