Galatas 1941
Subtitle: Courage in Vain
Publisher: Reed
Published: March 2006
Place of publication: Auckland, New Zealand
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 255
ISBN-13: 9780790010496
Subjects: Australasian & Pacific history: Second World War; History of specific subjects; Greek islands; Second World War, 1939-1945; Military - World War II; History - Military / War
First sentence: On the evening of 25 May, 1941, at around 8.10 p.m., schoolboy Dmitri Roumeliotakis should have been getting ready for bed.
Description: The story of one of the great bayonet charges in warfare. Two companies of New Zealand's 23 Battalion, and assorted support volunteers, were sent to reclaim the Cretan town of Galatas, the subject of five days of defence by non-combat trained New Zealand troops in May 1941. On May 25, 1941, the unrelenting power of German forces was concentrated on the strategic hilltop town and the New Zealand defenders, made up of drivers, petrol company men and assorted support forces, were forced to withdraw. However, at the call of the commanding officer Howard Kippenberger, later to lead the New Zealand Division, the two companies went back into the face of entrenched German machine gunners to reclaim the town in a 20-minute action with the bayonet. This book includes the memoirs of participants and highlights the activities of several of the prominent New Zealand soldiers including W.B. 'Sandy' Thomas, Clive Hulme VC and W.N. 'Bill' Carson MC in the days preceding the battle for Galatas.
Notes: Review comments:

The Press (Christchurch)

"This could well be the last word on New Zealand's involvement in the World War 2 Battle of Crete. Much has been written on the subject, but probably no other account has captured so successfully the views and voices of ordinary Kiwi blokes showing extraordinary courage."

The New Zealand Herald (1) (Auckland)

"McConnell has thrown everything into recounting the six days, including making a private visit to Galatas at the same time of year the bloody battles took place, and to join in the townsfolk's annual street party in celebration of the defenders of their village. McConnell maintains he is not a war historian. I think he just became a very good one."

The New Zealand Herald (2) (Auckland)

"McConnell, has done a magnificent job of explaining what happened, largely using the words of those who were involved...It is a terrible story, but a magnificent one."

The Southland Times (Invercargill)

"The town still broods over that fateful event when one of the most savage battles ever undertaken by New Zealanders resulted in a victory, but within an overall defeat. This is a hard read, but truthful, and deserves wide readership, especially by our younger generations."

The Otago Daily Times (Dunedin)

"Galatas 1941 is a well-researched account of a crucial stage of the battle for Crete. The author has recreated an enthralling blow-by-blow description of events between May 21 and 25, 1941, when Galatas, situated amid the olive groves in northeastern Crete [sic], was lost and regained, in an action which made possible the eventual withdrawl of Allied forces."

The Northern Advocate (Whangarei)

"All the details of a savage battle are here as told by the soldiers who fought the actions. All the blood and gore of senseless battle is perhaps unnecessarily well set out by the author...This book is a classic of its kind, but is not one for a general reader."

Wairarapa Times-Age (Masterton)

"Galatas 1941 is perhaps too personal to be read as purely military history but most of it is stirring stuff told in a lively manner."

Waikato Times (Hamilton)

"It is no judgment on this author that I found this book an agony to read. War can never ever again be a noble sacrifice nor an adequate basis for national pride."

The Dominion-Post (Wellington)

"This is McConnell's first military history, and at 224 pages of text his work promises a solid and satisfying read. Wisely, he eschews a dry academic analysis of the tactics. Instead, he has produced a lively insight into the emotions of the soldiers defending the village on those dark days of May 1941.

"McConnell has a delightful way of bringing the narrative forward with reminiscence, and the unadorned words of his subjects carry a strength that spans the years."