Eric Batchelor

-Eric Batchelor DCM & Bar (29 August 1920 – 10 July 2010) was a New Zealand soldier who was twice awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous bravery in Italy during World War II. He was the only New Zealand soldier of just nine British Commonwealth soldiers during the World War II to receive the DCM and bar.[1] He was also Mentioned in Despatches, and fought at El Alamein in Egypt.[2][3]

Eric Batchelor
Nickname(s)The Ferret
Born(1920-08-29)29 August 1920
Waimate, New Zealand
Died10 July 2010(2010-07-10) (aged 89)
Waimate, New Zealand
Allegiance New Zealand
Service/branchNew Zealand Army
Years of service1941–1946
RankSergeant
Unit23 Battalion
Battles/warsSecond World War
  • Italian Campaign
  • North African Campaign
AwardsDistinguished Conduct Medal & Bar
Mentioned in Despatches

Eric Batchelor was born at Waimate and educated at Waimate Main School. He joined 5th Reinforcements in 1941. He later served with 23 NZ Battalion in North Africa and Italy. He also took part in the battles of Monte Cassino. He was twice wounded.

Batchelor's first DCM was awarded for gallantry, while in command of a forward platoon, during a fierce close quarter fight in a small house behind German lines at San Donato, on 21 July 1944, in the advance to Florence. He was awarded his second DCM for gallantry, while serving as a platoon sergeant in a forward company, during an assault on Celle, south-west of Faenza in Italy, on 14 December 1944. He was demobilised in 1946.

Batchelor's ability to work quickly and quietly through the black of night earned him the nickname 'the ferret' and the 'waimate warrior'.

Batchelor later ran a taxi business then a delicatessen and after that a wine shop.

Batchelor died in his hometown of Waimate in New Zealand on 10 July 2010.[2]

A biography titled 'The Ferret' was published in 2017 about Batchelor's tales from the war.

References
  1. Cogle, Fleur (13 July 2010). "Full honours for Waimate hero". The Timaru Herald. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  2. "NZ WWII war hero dies". The New Zealand Herald. NZPA. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  3. P E Abbott & J M A Tamplin. British gallantry awards, ISBN 0-902633-74-0, 1981, page 83.


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