Howard Kippenberger

Major-General Sir Howard Karl Kippenberger, KBE, CB, DSO, ED, (28 January 1897 - 5 May 1957), known as "Kip", served as a New Zealand soldier in both World Wars.

Early career

Born in Ladbrooks, near Christchurch, as the son of a schoolmaster who later became a farmer at Waimate, Kippenberger received his education at Christchurch Boys' High School and later at Canterbury University College.

In 1915, during World War I, 18 year old Kippenberger enlisted as a private in the 1st Canterbury Regiment. He took part in four attacks during the Battle of the Somme in the autumn of 1916. The Army repatriated him after he received a serious wound in the right arm.

Kippenberger qualified as a solicitor in 1920 and later became manager and then a partner of the Rangiora branch of a Christchurch legal firm.

World War II

On the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 he received command of 20th Battalion, New Zealand Division. After capture and escape in North Africa in 1941, Kippenberger took command of the 5th New Zealand Brigade in North Africa and, in 1944, in Italy, gained promotion to General Officer Commanding 2nd New Zealand Division. A land-mine wounded him in Italy, blowing off one foot and shattering the other foot so badly that it later required amputation.

Post-war

On his return to New Zealand Kippenberger served until 1946 as head of Relocation of New Zealand Prisoners of War, then Head of the War History Branch at the Department of Internal Affairs. The King granted his knighthood in 1948. He became Dominion President of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (1948–1955).

His autobiographical book "Infantry Brigadier", published in 1949, became a classic.

Sir Howard Kippenberger died in Wellington, New Zealand on 5 May 1957.

Memorials

The Kippenberger Chair in Strategic Studies

In 2006 the Victoria University of Wellington announced the creation of the Sir Howard Kippenberger Chair in Strategic Studies.

It received support from the [http://www.garfieldweston.org/report/RefAdminInfo.aspx|Garfield Weston Foundation] , chaired by his grandson Guy Weston whose mother Mary Weston was Kippenberger's daughter and the sister-in-law of Galen Weston).

Kippenberger Research Library

The Kippenberger Research Library, an extensive collection covering a wide range of military subjects, with an emphasis on all major wars involving New Zealanders, operates at the QEII Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru. [ [http://www.armymuseum.co.nz Army Museum Waiouru, New Zealand : Military History & Army War Museum ] ]

The Kippenberger Collection [http://www.armymuseum.co.nz/learning/research/library.html] comprises a collection of books and journals collected by Major General Sir Howard Kippenberger from the age of twelve and continued until his death in 1957. Kippenberger annotated many of the books in the margins as he read them, which gives an insight into his thinking on warfare and strategy.

The New Zealand Army purchased the collection from the estate in 1957 and gifted it to the Army Museum.

Kippenberger Class

In 1995 the New Zealand Army ran the first class of the Kippenberger Scheme. This new system allowed Officer Cadets the chance to study at Massey University before becoming commissioned. After many changes to the scheme it continues to operate out of Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North.

References

* [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-KipInfa.html "Infantry Brigadier"] by Howard Kippenberger (1949)
* [http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/K/KippenbergerHowardKarl/KippenbergerHowardKarl/en Biography in 1966 "Encyclopaedia of New Zealand"]
* [http://www.generals.dk/general/Kippenberger/Sir_Howard_Karl/New_Zealand.html WWII Generals]
* [http://www.vuw.ac.nz/home/about_victoria/news_article.asp?ArticleID=1042149915 Kippenberger honoured at Victoria]