THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT
DONALD Haddon Vivian
6011, Major temp Lieutenant Colonel, 22 (Motor) Battalion, NZ Infantry, WW2
CITATION
Distinguished Service Order
Gazetted 30 April 1946
On 27 June 1944 during the advance to the Arno, Lieutenant Colonel Donald took over in addition to his own Battalion, a small composite column which had been advancing towards Scasgiano. From this time until Poggiona was taken, Lieutenant Colonel Donald’s Battalion did the whole of the infantry work in 4 NZ Armoured Brigade sector, carrying out several consecutive attacks, all of which were successful. As the Brigade held a one battalion front, the units in support and under command raised his orders group for each operation to seventeen. Among the localities taken in the course of the fighting were the villages of Cigliano Pisignano, Casa Vecchia, La Romola, Tavernacca, and the Poggiona feature, in addition to intermediate features which were all strongly held. The complete success of these operations were mainly due to Lieutenant Colonel Donald’s skilful command of his own unit and the supporting arms. His personal courage, energy and resourcefulness were all of the highest order. At every difficult time when personal reconnaissance to gain first hand information of the most forward troops, his cheerful presence was such that the momentum of a series of continuous attacks was maintained over a period of a week. His personal presence, his optimism and his leadership were an inspiration to all those under his command, contributing in a large measure to the unflagging momentum of the advance
Military Cross
Gazetted 17 March 1942, Supp 35492, p1261
Mention in Despatches
Gazetted
Legion of Merit, Degree of Officer (USA)
Gazetted 18 March 1947, Supp 37909, p1316
KNOWN AWARDS
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
1939-45 Star
Africa Star
8th Army
Italy Star
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939-45
Mention in Despatches
New Zealand War Service Medal
Legion of Merit (USA)
NOTES
Born 20 March 1917, Masterton, New Zealand
Died
