In early March 1942, the 19th Battalion moved, with the rest of the 2nd New Zealand Division, to Syria to defend against a possible attack through Turkey on the Middle East oilfields by the Germans. Based at Zabboud, the battalion was set to work on preparing defences covering routes to the south. By June, the defensive positions were largely complete and many of the battalion's soldiers were granted leave for sightseeing. Then, following the attack on the Eighth Army's Gazala Line by Panzer Army Africa, the 2nd New Zealand Division was recalled to Libya. It commenced its journey from Syria on 17 June.