Practically all of Greece is surrounded by mountains , making natural defences. there were only a few passes and it was the NZ divisions job to guard the Olympic Pass The Aussies were to watch another Pass and the Greeks had another one to guard.--which was the mistake of the whole campaign. Most of our division were already in the pass and had to be fortified with artillery, Infantry,and AK_AK guns. The whole pass was armed to the teeth. All the bridges were mined too. We all had a feeling of security when we got in among our own defences. We felt it was impossible for the Germans to crack the defence of this pass. On April 14th and towards the evening several enemy aircraft flew low over our camp area. AK_AK guns set to work and it was here that I and many others fired our first shots of the war. We were astounded when our Sergeant Major woke us at 1 am and told us to pack up and move off. We were to evacuate the Pass as the enemy had broken through the Greek defences and we were in danger of being cut off. We laid low at an old campsite and when transport arrivedat about 5pm we took up defensive positions on high ground
about ten miles as the crow flies from the pass.In this position we were overlooking low and very flat ground that the enemy would have to cross to reach us..It was here that we would see our first bit of real war..At whatever the cost ,we were to hold our position until April the 21st The enemy by this time was well on his way through the evacuated passes..We would be the last troops to leave the area.