Garrison 30,000 plus 12,000 Greeks. Most heavy equipment had been left in Greece.
General Freyberg Commander of the 2nd New Zealand Division was promoted to Commander of all the Britsh and Greek forces on Crete on the 29th of April 1941. The 7th commander in 6 months.
Freyberg's Chief of Staff was Colonel Keith Stewart his divisional Chief of staff.
Freyberg's ADC was Lieutenant John Griffiths.
Brigadier Blunt the GI(I)
Battle headquarters were at Canea.
2nd New Zealand Division
Headquarters were originally based at the coastal village of Platanias, then moved to Galatas.
Divisional Intelligence officer Lieutenant Robin Bell, promoted to one of several officers attached to the Crete command. GII(I)
Brigadier Puttick of the 4th Brigade became acting division commander with the
temporary rank of general.
Colonel Gentry became the acting Divisional Chief of Staff.
Brigadier Inglis flown in from Egypt took over the 4th Brigade
Brigadier James Hargest commander of the 5th Brigade.
The 6th Brigade was sent to Egypt.
5th Brigade deployed to defend Maleme airfield.
6 light tanks under Lieutenant Roy Farran
2 Bofors guns.
Lieutenant Colonel Howard Kippenberger of the 20th battalion commanded a mixed force of
Greeks and New Zealanders. A Composite battalion of surplus drivers and artillerymen,
Macedonians.
Plus the 190 men who comprised the divisional cavalry who were under Major John Russel.
Troops usually rode in Bren gun carriers though none in Crete. They were reduced to
Infantry.
23rd battalion near Pragos Village 28th Maori battalion under Colonel Dittmer, part of 5th Brigade.
Australian forces
Australian forces numbered 6500 men.
There were 5 Australian battalions(2/1st, 2/4th, 2/7th, 2/8th, and 2/11th) and elements
of other forces (2/1st Machine gun battalion, 2/2nd and 2/3rd Field Regiments and 2/8th
Field Company).
2/4th Australian battalion placed at Heraklion along with Greeks, most of the British Regiments, 12 bofors guns, 6 whippets of the 3rd Hussars and a Royal Marine battery of 3"guns and pom-poms.
Australian brigadier Vesey
The defenders of Retimo airstrip were mainly Australians under Colonel Campbell
2/7th Battalion part of the 19th Brigade fought the final rearguard action on the plateau above Sphakia
Brigadier Chappel in charge of the 14th Infantry Brigade.
| 1st Royal Welch. | Held in reserve near Canea. | Part of 14th Brigade they replaced No 50 Middle East Commando |
| 2nd Yorks and Lancs | placed at Heraklion. | Part of 14th Brigade |
| 2nd Black Watch | placed at Heraklion. | Part of 14th Brigade |
| 2nd Leicesters | placed at Heraklion. | Arrived May 16th |
1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders arrived May 19th
1st Cavalry Division
Kings Royal Rifle company
Northumberland Hussars
M.N.B.D.O. A searchlight regiment and two regiments of AntiAircraft artillery
Heavy British losses occurred on May 27th, when Force Reserve the 1st Welch Regiment and the remnants of the Rangers and Northumberland Hussars went forward to hold the German advance on Suda and Canea.
2,000 Royal Marines.
6 Heavy tanks Valentines 2 each at Heraklion, Retimo and Maleme.
About 12 obsolete light tanks. 6 light tanks placed at Heraklion.
16 Light tanks of 3rd Hussars were sent from Egypt along with 7 infantry tanks of the 7th
Royal Tank Regiment.
49 Field guns many of them captured from the Italians.
Innitially only 16 Heavy and 36 Light antiaircraft guns on Crete. A further 40 Heavy and
12 lights along with 72 searchlighs were estimated as needed. The M.N.B.D.O. supplied some
searchlightts, 12 Light guns, but only an additional 16 heavies leaving Crete's air
defences short.
The 2nd Greek Regiment arrived on Crete with 930 officers and men, with
only 500 rifles. Throughout the campaign Greek units were under equipped and little was
expected of them. In a few cases they surprised the allies by their abilities.
There were 10 Greek Regiments made up of 9,000 men that made up the regular army, plus
genderamie and guerrilas.
The 8th Greek Regiment was placed at Alikianou.
Headquarters
1st Battalion Welch Regiment
Maleme and Galatas Sectors
2nd New Zealand Division under acting Major General Puttick
3rd Hussars (seven light tanks)
4th New Zealand Brigade under Brigadier Inglis
18th NZ Battalion
19th NZ Battalion
1st Light Troop RA
5th New Zealand Brigade under Brigadier Hargest
7th Royal Tank Regiment (2 Matildas)
21st New Zealand Battalion
22nd New Zealand Battalion
23rd New Zealand Battalion
Engineer Detachment
28th (Maori) Battalion
1st Greek Regiment
10th New Zealand Brigade under Colonel Kippenberger
New Zealand Divisional Cavalry
New Zealand Composite Battalion
6th Greek regiment
8th Greek regiment
20th New Zealand Battalion (Divisional Reserve)
Suda Sector
Suda bay was under Major General Weston the previous commander of allied forces on Crete
Mobile Naval Base Defence Organisation
15th Coastal Defence Regiment
Anti Aircraft and searchlight batteries
Marine composite battalion
1st Battalion Rangers
Northumberland Hussars held Akrotiri Peninsula with KRRC
106th Royal Horse Artillery
16th Australian Infantry Brigade Composite Battalion
17th Australian Infantry Brigade Composite Battalion
Royal Perivolians Composite Battalion
2nd Greek regiment
Georgioupolis
HQ 19th Australian Infantry Brigade under Brigadier Vasey
2/7th Australian Infantry Battalion
2/8th Australian Infantry Battalion
Rethymno
2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion area under Lieutenant Colonel Campbell
2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion
7th Royal Tank Regiment (2 Matildas)
4th Greek Regiment
5th Greek Regiment
Cretan Gendarmerie (800 men)
Support was made up of 2 MG platoons and 6 field guns.
A total of 1300 Australians and 2300 Greeks.
Heraklion Sector
HQ 14th Infantry Brigade under Brigadier Chappel
2nd Battalion Black Watch
2nd Battalion York and and Lancaster Regiment
2nd Battalion Leicesters
2/4th Australian Infantry Brigade
7th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery
7th Royal Tank Regiment (2 Matildas)
3rd Hussars (6 light tanks)
3rd Greek Regiment
7th Greek Regiment
Tymbaki
2nd Battalion Argyll and sutherland Highlanders
7th Royal Tank Regiment (2 Matildas)
New Zealand losses for Greece and Crete were 962 killed, 2000 wounded and over 3000 captured. Australian losses on Crete, were 274 Australians killed, 507 wounded and 3100 captured including most of the 2/1st, 2/7th and 2/11th Battalions. Total number of allied soldiers lost was as follows, killed and missing 1,751, wounded 1,738 and 12,254 taken prisoner. Naval losses amounted to 1,828 killed and 183 wounded.