Keith Elliott

Keith Elliott
Keith Elliott c.1942
Born	(1916-04-25)25 April 1916 Āpiti, New Zealand
Died	7 October 1989(1989-10-07) (aged 73) Wellington, New Zealand
Allegiance	New Zealand
Service/branch	New Zealand Military Forces
Years of service	1939–43
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Unit	22nd Battalion
Battles/wars	Second World War Balkans Campaign North African Campaign First Battle of El Alamein
Awards	Victoria Cross
Other work	Anglican priest

Keith Elliott, VC (25 April 1916 – 7 October 1989) was a New Zealand soldier who served with the New Zealand Military Forces during the Second World War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, for his actions in the First Battle of El Alamein.

Born in Āpiti, near Kimbolton, New Zealand in the Manawatū, Elliott was a farm manager when the Second World War began. He volunteered for service abroad with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) and was posted to the 22nd Battalion. He saw action during the Battles of Greece and Crete and then in North Africa. By now a sergeant, during Operation Crusader in November 1941, he was one of 700 New Zealanders made prisoners of war when their position was overrun by the Germans. Freed two months later, he was serving as a platoon commander during the First Battle of El Alamein. After he was awarded his VC, he was promoted to second lieutenant, sent home to New Zealand and discharged from the 2NZEF.

Returning to civilian life, he resumed his farming career, but in 1948 became a priest. He shifted around the lower half of the North Island for the next several years, serving in a number of churches. He was also a chaplain in the Territorial Force. He retired from the priesthood in 1981 and died eight years later at the age of 73.