Gentry album 1

Photograph album compiled by Sir William Gentry. Contents relates to his military service in World War II, 1940 to 1944. Photographers are unidentified.

- Contains scenes from military life in Egypt (Feb 1940-1944), Greece (March 1941), Libya (Nov-Dec 1941, Jan-Feb 1943), and Syria (Mar-Jun 1942). These include the arrival of the first and third contingents in Egypt and the officers' mess, baths, accommodation, and club at Maadi Camp. Troops on route to Greece on board 'HMS York' and the arrival at Piraeus. Italian prisoners from Albania in Athens and military conference with Greek military. Gun emplacements on the Metaxas Line and at Olympus Pass, German parachutists landing, Souda Bay following an air attack, training at Bagush (Oct 1941). Images from Libya feature convoys, desert battles, and gun emplacement at Sidi Rezegh as German tanks approach (1 Dec 1941). Syrian images feature the camp at Mutruh, including 'Freyberg Street', and various images from Minqur Qaim, including Freyberg's car and caravan, and an unidentified figure writing order to withdraw to Alamein. Images from the Alamein Line (Jul-Sep 1942) include the visit of Winston Churchill, troop inspections, Gentry getting award from General Bernard Montgomery, divisional headquarters, military meetings, various vehicles, and lights from artillery fire at night. Further images track the pursuit of Axis forces to Libya; these images include military convoys in Bagush and Mersa Brega. Also the crossing the Wadi Tamet, troops defusing mines, and a camp in Tripoli. Final images are of war graves at El Alamein in 1944.

- Album features many images of General Bernard Freyberg with whom Gentry worked closely during the campaigns in North Africa in 1941-1942. Other notable figures include Emir Abdullah I of Jordan, General Archibald Wavell, Captain Reginald Henry Portal, General Henry Maitland Wilson, Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Blamey, Marshal Alexander Papagos, Brigadier Reginald Miles, General Claude Auchinleck, General Leslie Morshead, Winston Churchill, General Bernard Montgomery Those identified with first and last name are Sam Allen, William Stevens, Keith Lindsay Stewart, Geoffrey Cox, Maurice Hope, John Grey, Jan Peart, George Herbert Clifton, Julian Gascoigne, Oliver Leese, and 'Boomer' Watkins. Those identified by surname or given name only include Stewart, King, Padre, Doug, Miles, Allen, Crump, Tennent, Kenrick, Maxell, Inglis, Weir, and George. There are many other unidentified soldiers.

- Images of tourist sites and local scenes include the Sphinx, donkeys, boats on the Nile River, scenes from Jaffa, Jerusalem in 1941 (Omar Mosque, Old City, Wailing Wall, Jaffa Gate) and a nearby village, Sweet Water Canal, the road to Helwan, local women carrying produce on the Maadi golf course, Mt Olympus, Athens and the Acropolis, Syrian Bedouin, camels, snow in Lebanon, ruins in Palmyra and Baalbek. Also a blossoming tree.

- Newspaper clippings include an article detailing the New Zealand Forces withdrawal from Crete and service awards for campaigns in Greece, Crete, Libya, and Egypt; recipients of awards include Gentry (Order of the British Empire and Distinguished Service Order), Colonel George Herbert Clifton, Lieutenant-Colonel Stanley Fairgrieve Allen, and Captain Walter Wynne Mason. Contains clipping on Gentry succeeding the position of General Staff Officer and a poem by Philip Youngman-Carter titled 'Rain In the Desert'. General Freyberg's near capture in Libya and evasion of German aircraft fire in Crete is also covered, as is the welcome of troops back to Egypt by Prime Minister Peter Fraser.

Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Physical Description: Photograph album with embossed cover