World War, 1939-1945 - Engineering and construction

Date: 28-29 May 2007 - 28 May 2007 - 29 May 2007

From: Methven Heritage Project - RSA and Arable oral history project

By: Sandys, Joseph Francis, 1922-

Reference: OHInt-0920-15

Description: Interview with Joseph (Joe) Francis Sandys. Born in 1922 in Liverpool, England. Background parents Margaret Sandys (nee Bolton) and Joseph Sandys and siblings. Educated at St Alexander's Catholic school, Bootle, Liverpool, until 14 years old. Describes first jobs as butcher's boy, grocer boy, laundry and ship galley boy. Details voyage to New Zealand, jumping ship in Wellington and getting work at Lane Walker Rudkin in Christchurch. Says he gave himself up and spent two weeks in Paparua prison on remand and that Harvey Rudkin supported him in court case with shipping company. Talks about working at Exide Batteries, Taylors Drycleaners and Public Works Department at Staveley. Says went to Methven to make concrete pipes for Surrey Hills. Describes volunteering for World War Two service at 17 years old, telling them he was 21. Describes training at Trentham in 1940, and going on 'New Amsterdam' to Sydney in 1941 with the 5th Reinforcements. Details trip to Port Tewfik, Egypt via Ceylon on board the 'Aquitania'. Describes training with mines at Maadi Camp, and being assigned to 13th Railway Construction Company. Talks about going to Mersa Matruh and El Alamein. Says he was chainman to Charlie Ensor from North Canterbury. Details his role and railway construction, use of Indian labourers, sand storms and getting bombed and strafing. Talks about working for ten months in Beruit and Syria, helping South Africans put in a tunnel by the sea front. Mentions contact with the Vichy army. Says division went to Bari, Italy and disbanded, and he was allotted to 7th Field Engineers. Describes work as mine sweeper during Cassino campaign. Refers to first job at Scissors Bridge, being held up at Rimini, and being taken prisoner overnight with 8th field engineers and 23rd Battalion. Expands on horrifying experience of Monte Cassino, minnie whopper shells, dead bodies, dry rations and V for Victory cigarettes. Refers to British bombing the monastery and the Americans bombing a hospital. Talks about driving through snow to Trieste, meeting Tito's outfit (Yugoslav troops), and escorting German prisoners of war back to Egypt. Mentions waiting at Maadi Camp to go home. Describes voyage home on the 'Strathaird' and hearing about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Recalls arrival home from World War two. Wife Agnes Sandys talks about Joe meeting her family and getting engaged. She comments on nursing her mother, their marriage 9 October 1945 and the birth of their children. Joe Sandys talks about working in the council yards in Methven and Highbank power house. Says purchased fish and chip shop with loan from Dan Smith. Describes problems running the business and filing for bankruptcy. Outlines jobs as barman at the Canterbury Hotel (known as the Brown pub, Methven) and Pudding Hill sawmill until he cleared his debts. States he worked 26 years at garage owned by George Goldsmith, Campbell MacPhail and Gluyas Motors. Describes activites after his retirement in 1982. Mentions buying state house with State Advances loan. Expands on visit to England to see where he was bought up. Refers to meeting relatives and his sister and husband visiting New Zealand. Abstracted by - Nicola Robertson Interviewer(s) - Kathryn McKendry Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016774 - OHC-016775 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Electronic document(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Physical Description: Textual files - Adobe PDF Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-6037, OHDL-001832. Search dates: 1922 - 2007

Date: 1941-1942

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

By: McIntyre, Peter, 1910-1995

Reference: PA1-q-288

Description: Official photographs from World War II, very few of which have captions. Scenes show activities relating to the New Zealand forces in the Middle East in 1941 and the beginning of 1942, including military training in the desert; social life and daily life in camps, scenes in hospitals, sporting activities and social clubs. Military leaders include General Freyberg, Brigadier Alexander Smith Falconer, Lieutenant-Colonel A S Wilder, Howard Karl Kippenberger and Field-Marshall Auchinleck. The New Zealand High Commissioner in Britain visited the tropps and can be seen inspecting the New Zealand reinforcements at Base Camp, Maadi. Several photographs show Charles Hazlitt Upham (awarded the Victoria Cross), including one portrait painted by war artist Peter McIntyre. Other paintings by Peter McIntyre are reproduced on pages 147-149, portraying the part played by New Zealanders in the Libyan offensive of November-December 1941, which McIntyre made from sketches drawn quickly on the field of battle. They include one of the NZ Infantry going into the attack at Sidi Rezegh; New Zealanders at Fort Capuzzo; the tank battle at Belhamid; New Zealand field workshops in the desert; an anti-tank gun in action at Sidi Rezegh; and tank "cavalry" scouting for Rommel's columns in the desert. The second Libyan campaign is seen in numbers of photographs. These include the advance into Libya after Fort Apuzzo fell to a New Zealand column; New Zealand engineers building a wharf at Tobruk; and German and Italian prisoners of war. Items captured include guns, German gas masks, German motor cycles, tanks, Nazi flags, and a captured whip. Three photographs show a group of four New Zealanders who fled from Benghazi on foot when unable to use vehicles after the road was cut behind them. They took about 11 days to walk 250 miles across the desert, gaining help from Arab groups on the way. (Drivers S G McKinnon (Auckland), A W Blackburn (Auckland), Corporal S Roa (Auckland) and Sergeant T W Gill (Wellington)). On pages 133-136 Middle East scenes show a group of New Zealanders arriving back at the N.Z. Base Camp after 37 days imprisonment in Bardia, Libya. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with dark blue cloth cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22.0 cm

Date: 1942

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

By: McIntyre, Peter, 1862-1922

Reference: PA1-q-289

Description: Official photographs from World War II, many of which have captions giving names, information about activities taking place, and places. Some of the names noted are listed above. The album opens with a number of reproductions of paintings by New Zealand war artist Peter McIntyre (10 paintings (p 1-4)), 1 of McIntyre sketching in the field (p 9), and 7 further paintings (p 16-17, p 91, p 109)). Pages 17-22 have scenes with His Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand Sir Cyril Newall visiting Samoa and Fiji in 1942. Page 24-25 show trainees at the Ninth Army Ski School in Lebanon in 1942, some men chosen from the 28th New Zealand (Maori) Battalion, and some from the 22nd Battalion. Duties included reconnaissance, fighting patrols and rescue work for snow-bound troops. Different occasions are shown including an Anzac day parade and service on 25th April 1942, and a ceremonial parade in Aleppo on 30th April 1942; a group of New zealanders who were at Rouen ready for repatriation when arrangements with german authorities for the mutual repatriation of Prisoners of War broke down, all of whom were returned to Germany; groups of NZ medical personnel who were part of PoW protected personnel which took place between Italy and the Middle East Allie Forces (p 45-46); a group of Australians and New zealanders in the German prison camp Marlag & Milag Nord; a race meeting and sports activities in Transjordan, including races with 6 Arab horses and 6 donkeys which were loaned by the Arab Legion. A group of NZ soldiers visited the stonghold of a tribe of bandits in Syria (p 77-80); scenes in Crete "the price paid by German air invaders"; Winston Churchill being welcomed in the desert; scenes of nurses, convalescents, hospital wards around the 3rd New Zealand General Hospital in Beirut (p 102-106); recipients of recent awards, many not named (p 112-114); a group of NZ airmen who were survivors of a ship which was sunk en route to Britain; Kiwi Concert Party; and a sequence showing the pursuit by a New zealand convoy of the Axis Forces in the Western Desert during the early days of the November advance (p 126-137, showing equipment abandoned by the retreating forces including German special mobile anti-tank guns and trucks, but also the problems with landmines)l. The final views show the advance to Tripoli. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with dark blue cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22.0 cm

Date: [ca May 1941]

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: DA-01097-F

Description: Photograph of Prime Minister Peter Fraser talking to New Zealand military engineers grouped around a bulldozer, taken circa May 1941 in Maadi, Egypt, by an unidentified photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: Mar 1940

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: DA-00504-F

Description: Divisional Engineers lines, Maadi, Egypt. Exercise directing Hamilton Unit Bridge by 53rd Park Company. Taken in March 1940 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative

Date: [May 1940]

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: DA-00519-F

Description: Possibly 5th Field Park Company constructing a reservoir at Maaten Burbeita during World War II. Taken in May 1940 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative

Date: ca 19 Nov 1943

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

By: Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004

Reference: DA-04597-F

Description: New Zealand World War 2 soldiers, Sangro River area, circa 19 November, 1943, photographed by George Kaye. Original caption reads: "The demolition of a bridge causes heavy work for the NZ Engineers constructing a deviation, to allow the passage of transport to the forward areas, a short distance ahead." Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: 1941-1945

By: Pickrang, Francis John, 1915-1998; Killoh, Keith Gordon, 1907-1994

Reference: PA1-q-1180

Description: Comprises photograph album belonging to Sapper Francis Pickrang (service no. 32297) relating to his service with the New Zealand Engineers, Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) in North Africa, the Middle East and Italy during World War Two. Taken between circa 1941 and 1945 by unidentified photographer(s) and K G Killoh. -Studio portraits of Pickrang and other unidentified servicemen include a sailor in naval uniform and a woman. Also includes a studio portrait of Pickrang at a desk writing letters home. He appears to be looking towards an inset image of a woman and child. -Scenes taken in Western Desert locations include informal snaps of Francis Pickrang, an unidentified sailor in naval uniform, and other army soldiers in camp life, sight-seeing at local landmarks, working at military construction projects and on the coast. Images of interest include: troops at the 'El Djem' theatre, Maadi Camp, Egypt, an army jeep with a silver fern logo and a picture of a Maori man with moko on the bumper, men washing clothes and drinking beer, men posing beside 'Monteith's Beer' graffiti, various bulldozers, tanks, army trucks and Caterpillar diesel vehicles at work, possibly a dredge offshore, the 'Auckland-Greymouth Clipper' army truck, a soldier posing beside a camp sign '10 Downing Street', soldiers posing with Egyptian locals and Sikh men, and soliders on motorcycles. -Scenes possibly taken in Libya include: bombed out buildings, Christian churches and Arabic style grand buildings, the 'Atlantic Hotel', a pyramid, soldiers swimming (sometimes nude) and beside trucks at a coastal location, earthworking machinery (road building?), RAF Hawker Hurricane and Bristol Beaufighter aeroplanes and a German Fieseler Fi 56 aeroplane on the ground, an aeroplane wreck, city streets with business signs in European languages, a coach, war graves, and signs for 'Nufilia' (Nofilia) and 'Feldlazarett' (German field hospital). -Scenes of interest taken in Egypt include an aeroplane named 'Asproliner', soldiers socialising, ambulances, a YMCA sign on a grand building, the YMCA Lowry Hut building at Maadi Camp, mosques, Qaitbay Citadel and the harbour of Alexandria, unidentified city streets, and cave homes. -Scenes relating to military medical services include: interior of a hospital in a grand house, doctors performing an operation in a tent, New Zealand and Red Cross flags, various New Zealand ambulances, a stretcher being loaded on an aeroplane, and an American Field Service ambulance. Includes duplicate image from the Department of Internal Affairs War History Branch collection of the 5th New Zealand Advanced Dressing Station ambulances at San Elia. -Scenes taken in Italy include images of the countryside and villages, bombed buildings, historic churches, fountains and buildings, city streets and piazzas, stone bridges, army trucks on the road, soldiers in camp, and piles of spent shells. Includes images of Italian peasants and children, haymaking and washing laundry. Also includes St Peter's Basilica and the Colosseum, Rome, Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and the Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Roman archway in Alife, the fountain at the Royal Palace of Caserta, and Roman ruins. Also includes an Italian man with a chained bear. -Includes postcards showing Benito Mussolini at a rally and Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Source of title - title supplied Library Inscriptions: Recto - centre - inside front cover inscribed '2 NZEF presented to 32297 Sapper F. Pickrang by the Government of New Zealand in recognition of his work with the New Zealand Engineers Middle East in the Second World War 1939-1945' Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Black album with silver decorative edging and silver lettering 'Photograph album' on cover, spiral bound, 33.5 x 29 cm Provenance: Purchase, March, 2014