World War, 1939-1945 - Prisoners and prisons

Date: 1940-1945

By: Smith, Robert Joseph George, 1910-1978

Reference: MS-Papers-1701

Description: Smith was a warrant officer with 22nd Infantry Battalion; he describes leave in England, service in the Middle East and experiences as prisoner-of-war in Egypt, Italy and Germany Source of title - Supplied Quantity: 1 folder(s) (19 pieces). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holograph and typescript

Date: 1943-1944

From: New Zealand Red Cross Society : Records

Reference: MS-Papers-0258-12

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1945

By: Campbell, Donald, 1904-1965

Reference: MS-Papers-2286

Description: Letters describe work at reception camp in France and visits to Luxembourge, Belgium and South West Germany Served as legal adviser for Royal New Zealand Air Force in London in World War Two. Assisted in repatriation of New Zealand prisoners of war from Europe Quantity: 1 folder(s) (18 leaves). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typed transcript (photocopy)

Date: 1943-1944

From: New Zealand Red Cross Society : Records

Reference: MS-Papers-0258-10C

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1944

From: [Ephemera relating to Anzac and First and Second World War events in New Zealand and overseas, and anniversaries of the landing at Anzac Cove. 1940-1959]

Reference: Eph-A-ANZAC-1944-01

Description: Programme with a cover design by A E Darling, contains a list of the Anzac Day Committee at Stalag 383, a notice of the dawn service to be conducted by Cpl (Padre) Terence Oakley, a list of members of the Stalag Military Band, a programme for the sports day with space for results (contestants were Australasian and British), a list of the sports officials, and programme for "Anzacs on parade", produced by J B Macpherson (NZEF) and N G Whitehead (AIF), and a nominal roll of the Anzac veterans in the camp in 1944. The last few pages contain some details of the same event from the previous year 1943, including sports results. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Booklet of 16 pages, each 208 x 150 mm. Provenance: Previously owned by Cpl E H Johnston, in the Stalag, and sent to Mr J E Johnston of Christchurch.

Date: 1943-1944

From: New Zealand Red Cross Society : Records

Reference: MS-Papers-0258-10B

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1915, ca 1940, ca 1941

By: Smith, Sydney Charles, 1888-1972; Aickin, Fiona McBean, 1911-2004

Reference: PAColl-7859

Description: Collection comprises: Photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Douglas McBean Stewart and four others in from of the Sphinx, Egypt, 1915. Norman Stewart and other prisoners at Stalag VIIIB, Germany, 1939-1945. Photograph of units of 2nd Echelon parading at Trentham prior to departure, taken ca 1940 by S C Smith. Quantity: 3 b&w original photographic print(s). Provenance: Donated by Mrs Fiona Aickin, Wainuiomata, in April 2003. Norman Stewart was the donor's brother, and Douglas McBean Stewart was her cousin. Transfers: To Manuscripts & Archives - Christmas card sent by Captain Norman Stewart, prisoner of war at Stalag VIIIB, Germany, to Mr and Mrs H Stewart, Seatoun, Wellington, Christmas 1941..

Date: 1943-1944

From: New Zealand Red Cross Society : Records

Reference: MS-Papers-0258-11B

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1943-1944

From: New Zealand Red Cross Society : Records

Reference: MS-Papers-0258-11A

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1941-1944

By: Edge, Spence, active 1940s-1980s; Great Britain. Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Imperial War Museum (Great Britain); United States. Air Force; MacKay, Colin, active 1980s

Reference: PAColl-0716

Description: Photographs used in the book "No Honour No Glory" by Spence Edge and Jim Henderson. They include photographs of the Porpoise and its crew; the Jason; prisoners on the deck of a cruiser arriving at Piraeus harbour; the Alamein Memorial in Egypt; the Phaleron War Cemetery in Athens; an American B-25 Mitchell Marauder bomber; and the harbour at Methoni where the Jason ran aground. The Sebastiano Venier, an Italian merchantman, was torpedoed off the coast of Greece by the British submarine Porpoise in December 1941. It was carrying 2000 Commonwealth prisoners from North Africa and 500 died including 45 New Zealanders. Eight months later, also off Greece, the Nino Bixio, another prisoner of war ship, was torpedoed by the British submarine Turbulent 117 New Zealanders were killed. Quantity: 9 b&w original photographic print(s). 2 colour original photographic print(s).

Date: [ca 1942-1943]

From: Mackenzie family : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-11985-06

Description: Typescript memoir briefly notes capture at Ruweisat Ridge (11 Jul 1942), and transfer between and conditions at different prisoner of war camps (Jul 1942-May 1943). Content mainly describes escape from camp at Aquafredda (11 Sep 1943) and 20 day trip to reach Allied lines. John Browne has not been identified beyond his name. Pages also contain some handwritten editing annotations. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Mss, typescript

Date: 13 May 1994

From: The Merchant Navy story

By: Barron, Charles Louis, 1926-2015

Reference: OHInt-0321-02

Description: Lou Barron was born in Hull, Yorkshire, in 1926. Talks about family moving to Birkenhead, near Liverpool. Recalls first trip to sea in 1940 on the Lech and being bombed in the North Sea. Details duties on the Duchess of Bedford, a troopship for the Middle East and taking part in the evacuation of Singapore in 1942. Mentions other Duchess boats and the shipping pool. Describes joining the Gloucester Castle, a hospital ship in World War I, and gives full details about its sinking by the German raider Michel. Recalls being wounded and captured by Germans on the raider, transfer to supply ship and taken to Singapore. Mentions Captain von Ruckteschell, the raider's captain, later tried as war criminal. Details work and conditions at Lo Yang camp in Johore Strait and 18th birthday there. Describes Changi Jail conditions, working parties and working conditions, construction of Changi airfield, illnesses, rationing, rood and cooking, merchant seamen in Changi Jail, entertainment, treatment of prisoners by Japanese sailors, Japanese and Korean guards. Details events after the surrender of Japan. Mentions secret camp radio. Describes air drops of paratroopers, medical supplies and food, medical examination and interrogation, and repatriation to the United Kingdom on board the Monowai. Mentions war experience of father, also a seaman. Recalls homecoming, going back to sea on the tramp ship Empire Austin, then the Saminver, coming ashore in Dunedin and later work. Mentions skiffle group on the Aldington Court. Discusses involvement in Prisoners of War Association in New Zealand and Far Eastern POW Association in United Kingdom, visit to London in 1993 and Merchant Navy War Memorial on Tower Hill, changes in Liverpool and Birkenhead. Talks about numbers of survivors, meeting other survivors, feelings about the Japanese and Germans, dealing with experiences as a POW. Mentions Harold Baker. Interviewer(s) - Stan Kirkpatrick Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1.25 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-4441. Search dates: 1994

Date: 21 Oct 1993

From: The Merchant Navy story

By: Camplin, Benjamin Donald Jess, 1925-

Reference: OHInt-0321-04

Description: Ben Camplin was born in London, in 1925. Recalls growing up in orphanage. Talks about general schooling and seamanship training for the Royal and Merchant Navies. Names the training ship Exmouth, run by London County Council at Greys, Essex. Discusses the trainees, uniforms, socialising and training onboard. Mentions locating family including father, World War I veteran, and siblings. Recounts outbreak of World War II and evacuation to Burnham on Couch in 1939, then on to Lydney in Gloucestershire, the estate of Lord Bledisloe. Details continued training and farm work. Depicts first experiences at sea as cabin boy for Pacific Steam Navigation Co. and travelling to Panama, Chile and Russia. Recalls hospitalisation due to appendicitis in London. Discusses in detail next ship, former World War I troopship, the Ormonde and its model found in Maritime Hall at Otago Museum. Mentions Japans entry into the war. Recounts involvement in Operation Torch in North Africa 1942 and collision between the Ormonde and the Empress of Scotland during this manoeuvre. Details further troop transports on the Rangitiki in Lagos Africa. Remembers poor treatment of African workers at Lourenco Marques port. Mentions German sailors from Graf Spee, bombings during Allied landings in Sicily and Italian warships. Discusses in depth duties of assistant steward. Details further ships the Samboston and the Louis Pasteur. Mentions Merchant Navy discharge 1946 and travel to New Zealand on Rangitiki. Recounts various jobs on shore, his family and formation of Merchant Navy Association. Interviewer(s) - Stan Kirkpatrick Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 50 Minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-4443. Search dates: 1993

Date: 1 Dec 2000

From: Second World War oral history project - Crete

By: Crosland, Cyril Bythesea, 1915-2008

Reference: OHInt-0729-03

Description: Cyril Bythsea Crossland born Makarewa, Southland 1915. Recalls enlisting for World War II, going to Burnham Camp October 1939, and leaving New Zealand, February 1940. Describes enlistment process and gives reasons for going into Army Service Corps. Describes travelling to Egypt on the `Sobieski' and arrival at Maadi Camp. Refers to DRs [Despatch Riders]. Talks about going to Greece, attacks by German air force and evacuation from Greece and going to Crete. Recalls German invasion, 20 May 1941 and withdrawal to Galatas. Briefly mentions being captured by Germans in Sfakia (Sphakia) and mentions location of prison camp and food available. Refers to German control of Maleme aerodrome. Discusses experiences during escape, being caught and going to Stalag VIIIB in Germany. Describes living standards of Cretan people. Recalls seeing trainloads of Jews going to concentration camps. Talks about liberation by Americans and arrival in England. Recalls meeting future wife, Ailsa Hanson, marriage at Eketahuna in 1946 and return to Invercargill to work on future wife's farm. Refers to nightmares on return. Talks about membership of RSA [Returned Services Association]. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Megan Hutching Accompanying material - Completed questionnaire attached to abstract + photocopied sheets from Tiki News Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009437-009439 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s) (+ partial transcript). 1 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 1 interview(s). 2.20 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3059, OHDL-001144. Search dates: 2000

Date: 23 April 2002; 2-7 May 2002 - 23 Apr 2002 - 07 May 2002

By: McBride, Patricia, active 1974-2016; Scoullar, Leo Bryan, 1917-2010

Reference: OHColl-0623-01

Description: Bryan Scoullar was born in Wellington in 1917. Talks about parents, childhood in Khandallah, and Catholic schooling and networks, including the Hibernian Society. Mentions lack of money, and family values. Talks about work at Scoullars furnishing company, Wellington. Mentions the Haining Street raids, the 1931 Depression riots and the injuries received by protestors. Mentions his love of music and playing the piano. Discusses at length his involvement in World War II as a medical orderly and as a prisoner of war (POW). Talks about enlisting, field ambulance work and hospital life tending sick soldiers in Maadi, Egypt. Mentions visiting Syria and Jerusalem before El Alamein. Describes a German onslaught in the desert, and being the sole person captured. Talks about being a POW in Italy, hepatitis, the Aquafredda work camp in Italy, attempts to escape, being recaptured and 12 months as an orderly at a prison hospital in Munich. Describes air raids, being bombed by the Allies, prison between the United States and German lines, war ending, and being rescued by Americans. Describes the task of orderlies which were taken over by female nurses in Cairo hospitals. Mentions outbreak of sandfly fever. Recalls how orderlies were perceived by nurses and soldiers. Mentions his brother Patrick's death on HMNZS Monowai. Mentions repatriation, living in Wilton, Wellington, and the difficulty of settling back in to life and work. Mentions the position of POWs regarding compensation and the Returned Services Association (RSA). Talks about his involvement in the Catholic Church after the war. Interviewer(s) - Trish McBride Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC10807 - 10811 Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 4.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3823. Colour photo of Bryan Scoullar; photocopies of buildings in Dunedin; photocopies of The Scoullar Company building in Lambton Quay, Wellington. Search dates: 1939 - 1945

Date: 1941-1942

From: Lambeth family : Papers of William Henry (Jim) and Winifred Lambeth

Reference: MSX-9112

Description: Prisoner-of-war diary kept by Henry William (Jim) Lambeth, 1941-1942. Diary begins 27 June 1941 when Lambeth arrives at a prisoner-of-war camp in Spittal, a southern Austrian state, then part of Germany [Possibly Stalag XV11-A]. Describes living and working conditions, activities in the camp, entertainment (often the card game bridge and soccer games), weather reports, rations and Red Cross parcels, letters from home and the constant movement of prisoners in and out of the camp. Lambeth makes special note of prisoners escaping from the camp and being recaptured. On 26 Apr 1942 Lambeth's camp is closed down and he is moved to another Austrian camp in Hermagor. Lambeth comments on how prisoner life is much easier in the new camp and he starts working in a saw mill. Details occasional news relating to the Allies campaign against Germany and Japan in the war. Moves to Acona Repatriation Centre and then by plane to Barrie [?] Diary ends 13 Jun 1942. End pages include address lists and also five diary entries for 25-29 Apr 1941. Lambeth details fighting the German Army in Greece at Kalamata and the subsequent surrender of the British and New Zealand troops as the last Allied destroyer left the bay signalling "Sorry, have to go, best of luck". Quantity: 1 volume(s). Physical Description: Ms

Date: 1943-1944

From: New Zealand Red Cross Society : Records

Reference: MS-Papers-0258-10A

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1943-1944

From: New Zealand Red Cross Society : Records

Reference: MS-Papers-0258-10D

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1943

By: Bull, William Henry Blinman (Dr), 1897-1976

Reference: A-184-008

Description: View of a German landscape Signed: M.C.J. Quantity: 1 photograph(s). Physical Description: Colour photograph of watercolour 398 x 284 mm

Date: 1943-1944

From: New Zealand Red Cross Society : Records

Reference: MS-Papers-0258-12A

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).