Howard Kippenberger

Howard Kippenberger

Major-General Sir Howard Karl Kippenberger KBE, CB, DSO, ED (28 January 1897 – 5 May 1957), known as Kip, was a New Zealand soldier who served in both World Wars.

Born in the Canterbury region of New Zealand, Kippenberger joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in late 1915. He saw action in France on the Western Front, participating in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. A serious wound in November 1916 saw him repatriated to New Zealand and discharged from the NZEF. He qualified as a solicitor in 1920 and worked in a legal practice in Rangiora. In 1924, he joined the Territorial Force and by 1936 had advanced in rank to lieutenant colonel.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Kippenberger was appointed commander of the 20th Battalion. He would lead the battalion for two years, through the Battles of Greece and Crete as well as part of the North African Campaign before being promoted to brigadier and taking command of 5th Infantry Brigade. The pinnacle of his military career was as commander of 2nd Division during the Italian Campaign. He was wounded on 3 March during the Battle of Cassino when he stepped on a land mine. As a result of his wounds, he lost both his feet. After recovery in England, during which he was fitted with artificial limbs, he helped prepare for and assisted in the repatriation of newly released New Zealand prisoners of war. In 1946, he was appointed Editor in Chief of New Zealand's largest-ever publishing project, the Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War. He was still working on the project when he died on 5 May 1957 in Wellington.