Sidi Bishr

Date: Jan 1942-Jan 1943

From: Mackenzie family : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-11985-03

Description: Brief entries document Mackenzie's life while stationed in Egypt, Libya and Syria (Jan 1942-Jan 1943). Topics include: daily army routine and military procedures; social activities; personal health; travel details; and correspondence with family. Diary notes Mackenzie's involvement at El Alamein. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Ms (notebook 95mm x 60mm), holograph

Date: 1916-1919

From: Gillies, Alexander, 1891-1982: Photographs

Reference: PA1-o-1940

Description: Photograph album compiled by Alexander Gillies, relating to his service with the YMCA (New Zealand Young Men's Christian Association) in Egypt and Palestine during World War One, 1916-1919. A small envelope stuck inside front cover is addressed to Miss Gillies, YMCA, Moray Place, Dunedin. All prints include captions that identify locations and people. Contains 12 prints relating to a garden party for 3,000 convalescing soldiers at Ezbekiah Gardens labelled “I” to “XII”. Prints show crowds of soldiers in conversation, eating lunch, and watching or participating in games (egg and spoon race, sack race, donkey rides). Prints also show the Ezbekiah Garden YMCA centre in detail (band rotunda, notices, decorations, tables, and chairs, plants), and other people at event (local Egyptians, a table of "Lady Helpers"). The print labelled “XI” includes an inscription on reverse saying “lighthouse about a mile from camp”. Two other prints depicting Ezbekiah Gardens show the notice board and two men at the entrance. Eight prints relating to the “Command Depot” at Sidi Bishr are labelled “I” to “VIII”. One print depicts convalescent officers in Gillies' “P.T. Class” (possibly meaning physical therapy class) and one print labelled "My Instructors" showing six men doing exercises outside a hut. Four prints show larger groups of soldiers doing exercises and parading during a review by Sir Reginald Wingate. Two prints show Wingate talking to his Aide-de-Camp, Major Owen, Colonel Alston, and Gillies. Remaining prints show nine people outside a YMCA tent and "Devotional Hut" at Zeitoun, a running race labelled “Egyptian Race”, and a group portrait of a Pierrot Troupe at Helouan. Title supplied by Library Inscriptions: Album page - centre - To Lil From Effie & Alex July 12 1921 Inside front cover of album is address to "Lil". This is likely Alexander Gillies' older sister Lillias Gillies (born 1877). Quantity: 1 album(s) containing 33 b&w photographic prints. Physical Description: One photograph album bound in green cloth, 19.5 x 14cm

Date: 15 May-16 July 1940

From: Neil family: Collection

Reference: MS-Papers-12059-04

Description: Correspondence from Arthur James Neil to his wife Deanie Robina Olive Neil during World War II. Written from Maadi Camp and Sidi Bishr Camp, 15 May to 16 July 1940. Letters concern military life including a move from Maadi to Sidi Bishr, agriculture in the Nile River delta, Belgium withdrawing from the war, and preparing defence of soldier being court martialled. Quantity: 1 folder(s) containing holograph letters. Physical Description: Holograph letters and envelopes

Date: 1940

From: Parker, Raymond Walter :World War Two photograph albums compiled by R W Parker

Reference: PA1-o-980

Description: Record of a soldier's journey on the SS Dunera from Wellington to Suez via Freemantle and Colombo. In Egypt they were based first at Maadi Camp, Cairo. Most of the album shows soldiers and friends during leave breaks in Cairo, and Alexandria. There were trips to the pyramids, public gardens, mosques and Cairo Anglican Cathedral. At times throughout the album there are glimpses of the life of ordinary Egyptians. A man ploughing, a policeman, shop keepers in crowded Cairo streets, gyassas plying their trade on the Nile river, and a horse drawn hearse like a state coach. Soldiers are also shown wearing Egyptian dress and with Egyptian friends often identified as wogs or gypos There are views of the convoy that accompanied the troopship to Suez and photographs of other troopships and British warships on the high seas and in Colombo Harbour Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Date: 1940-1945

From: New Zealand. Department of Internal Affairs. War History Branch :Photographs relating to World War 1914-1918, World War 1939-1945, occupation of Japan, Korean War, and Malayan Emergency

Reference: PAColl-4161-01-169

Description: Photographs collected by A H de Lisle. Series of numbered photographs (with enlargements), and with list of related captions. Free French on Palestine train; buses on way to Haifa; A Coys HQ truck on way down from Syria; B Coy platoon (group photo); Donovan, Donoghue & Ken Sadler outside the hotel `Crown & Chairman'; Graham Donoghue Hipwell Connor - S.Bishr; BHQ in Katerine Park, Greece (group photo); grave of Pte J N Russell, killed 1945; 12 platoon before move to Adriatic; rugby team prior to final played at Forli Stadium (official photo); train from Syria; BHQ on route march near Helwan; Colonel Campbell & Brigadier Inglis; Syrian snake charmer & Capt Hanton; Battalion at Maadi; 12 Platoon at Fano, Oct 1944; scouts from Azzaz at Afrine; group in Syrian desert; Captain Fred Oldham shaving in Syrian desert; group photo of original members of B Coy just prior to 1st furlough; Maori soldiers on tracked M/C troop carrier; bomb damage at Hollingbourne; anti gas dummies, NZSC Maadi; mortar platoon on move to Minquar Qaim; group at Sidi Bishr; graves of Gillon, Lewis, and Laurie Parnell (d 1944). Quantity: 83 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 1915

From: Denniston, George Gordon, 1885-1958 :Photograph albums relating to World War I including the Gallipoli campaign

Reference: PA1-o-862-21-1

Description: Two New Zealand soldiers, Bremner and Brown, in military dress, Sidi Bishr, Egypt. Photographed by an unknown photographer in 1914 Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - Bremner and Brown ready for the Peninsula Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print

Date: 1915

From: Denniston, George Gordon, 1885-1958 :Photograph albums relating to World War I including the Gallipoli campaign

Reference: PA1-o-862-13-2

Description: David Grafton, a youth who visited the British Military Camp at Sidi Bishr in 1915. Photographed by an unknown photographer Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - David Grafton Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print

Date: 1914-1918

From: Nevill, G T (Mrs), fl 1976 :Photographs collected by Sister Edith Jane Austen during World War I

Reference: PA1-o-026

Description: Photographs of the 1st NZEF in Egypt, Gallipoli and the Western Front collected by nursing sister Edith Jane Austen, while serving aboard HMHS Salta. They include images of daily life in Egypt and Malta, as well as images of soldiers, trenches, landing mules, cannons, nursing staff, hospitals, ships, and various slings for transporting wounded personnel from lighters onto the hospital ship. Inscriptions: Album page - top left - E J Austen Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Cloth bound album

Date: 1915

From: Denniston, George Gordon, 1885-1958 :Photograph albums relating to World War I including the Gallipoli campaign

Reference: PA1-o-862-20-1

Description: George Gordon Denniston with his horse, Sidi Bishr, Egypt. Photographed by an unknown photographer in 1915 Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - A lady I was very fond of Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print

Date: 1915

From: Denniston, George Gordon, 1885-1958 :Photograph albums relating to World War I including the Gallipoli campaign

Reference: PA1-o-862-12-7

Description: Two New Zealand soldiers, McKenny and Gibson, Sidi Bishr, Egypt Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - McKenny & Gibson Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print

Date: 1915

From: Denniston, George Gordon, 1885-1958 :Photograph albums relating to World War I including the Gallipoli campaign

Reference: PA1-o-862-13-9

Description: Four New Zealand soldiers, Wayte, Denniston, Bremner, and Antonius, taking a drink, Sidi Bishr, Egypt. Photographed by an unknown photographer in 1915 Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - Wayte, Self, Bremner, Antonius Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print

Date: 1915

From: Denniston, George Gordon, 1885-1958 :Photograph albums relating to World War I including the Gallipoli campaign

Reference: PA1-o-862

Description: Album of photographs compiled by George Gordon Denniston illustrating a soldier's experience of of the Gallipoli campaign, April to September 1915. Photographer(s) unidentified. Album covers the period when Denniston left New Zealand in April 1915 for Egypt, and his time in a military camp there on the outskirts of Alexandria, from where, it seems, he left for Gallipoli. At the begining there are two photographs of the Samoan Expeditionary Force returning to New Zealand. The rest show soldiers preparing to leave and scenes on board ship which include stabled horses being fed en route, and dead ones being dropped overboard. Shipboard life and activities are well documented. There are many photos of fellow soldiers and some of the Asian crewmen. Ships and islands seen while passing through the Red Sea are depicted. Also some views of streets and people in Suez. Finally Alexandria and camp life. Over half the album is taken up with life and events at the military camp at Sidi Bishr which seems to have been situated near one of the suburban outskirts of Alexandria. This experience has been recorded in some detail, and includes social visits from women, views of French cavalry exercises, care and maintenance of the horses, native funerals and camp life in general. The last photograph inthe album shows a gun in action at Gallipoli. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Date: 1915

From: Denniston, George Gordon, 1885-1958 :Photograph albums relating to World War I including the Gallipoli campaign

Reference: PA1-o-862-21-3

Description: A New Zealand officer, Bremner, inspecting the troops in Sidi Bishr, Egypt, prior to leaving for the Gallipoli Peninsula. Photographed by an unknown photographer in 1915. Inscriptions: Album page - beneath image - Bremner inspecting the men Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print, 5.4 x 7.6 cm mounted on album page