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Lt Col L W Andrew, VC was commander of the 22nd New Zealand Battalion, defending Máleme and Hill 107 (Battle for Crete). It was his fateful decision to withdraw his battalion, which it must be said was under severe pressure and suffering with poor communications that handed Máleme airfield to the Germans. He was born in 1897 in Ashurst, New Zealand and won the Victoria Cross for heroism during the First World War as a corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force at La Bassee Ville, France on 31 July 1917. A regular soldier, he took command of 22nd Battalion in January 1940 until March 1942, but also commanded 5th NZ Brigade from 27 November to 8 December 1941. He was Commander, Wellington Area from November 1943 until December 1946 and then the Central Military District from April 1948 until March 1952.