THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

PAGE James Russell

1524, Lieutenant Colonel, 26 Battalion, New Zealand Infantry, WW2

CITATION

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Gazetted 29 December 1953, p43

"The QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the advice of Her Majesty's New Zealand Ministers, to give orders for the following appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:- To be an Ordinary Commander of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order"

Distinguished Service Order

Gazetted 17 March 1942, p1261

This Officer has commanded 26 (NZ) Battalion since its formation in May 1940.  He led it in action during the Greek campaign with marked success and again during the campaign in Libya.  On 23 November 1941 his Battalion was in a position some 7 miles south west of Sidi Rezegh when it was attacked by a much larger enemy force including a number of tanks.  In the course of this engagement some of our forward defended localities under a mistaken interpretation of an order began to withdraw.  On seeing this Lieutenant Colonel Page immediately rushed to the affected area and with a fine courage and total disregard for danger he rallied his troops who retook their former positions in the face of enemy opposition and in one case by a bayonet charge.  But for Lieutenant Colonel Page’s prompt and courageous action and the great confidence of the troops in his leadership the enemy penetration of the position would have had very serious consequences. The battalion continued to hold its ground and inflicted very severe losses on the enemy.  That same night 26 Battalion was ordered to rejoin the Brigade Group in the vicinity of Hill 176.  Lieutenant Colonel Page skillfully disengaged from the enemy and though he had to fight a rearguard action on the way he bought his force to the positioning perfect order and with surprisingly few casualties considering the losses he had inflicted on the enemy.  On the night of 24/25 November, 26 Battalion made a successful advance against considerable enemy opposition for a distance of about three miles in the direction of Sidi Rezegh Aerodrome. 

Mention in Despatches

Gazetted

KNOWN AWARDS

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [CBE] military

Distinguished Service Order

1939-45 Star

Africa Star

War Medal 1939-45

      Mention in Despatches

New Zealand War Service Medal

Coronation Medal 1953

NOTES

Born 10 May 1908, Dunedin, New Zealand

Died 22 May 1985, Auckland, New Zealand