Rugby football players - New Caledonia

Date: [1943-1944]

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: PA1-q-302

Description: Photographs of New Zealand military personnel serving in the Pacific theatre during World War 2, 1943-1945, taken by various photographers and compiled for official purposes. Many individuals identified are listed above, but while many others are identified in group portraits they are not named above. Many scenes show NZers in training exercises in New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands, including Bren carriers crossing rivers on raft & trestles erected by military engineers; signals; road construction; thatching and constructing buildings (the Works Construction Unit); amphibious training from invasion barges; unloading and landing supplies; transporting guns and equipment; bridge building; digging fox holes and camping in the jungle; jungle warfare; maintaining wireless communication; organising camouflage; repairing damaged weapons; use of local canoes for transportation; ordnance workshops; and weapon training. Many scenes show parades, and inspections, including the King's Birthday parade in New Caledonia; a church parade; the Hon Mr F Jones visiting NZ troops; visit of Hon W Perry; visit of General Freyberg; visit of Admiral Halsey (US); and visit of the Governor of New Caledonia. Sporting activities, including individual players and group portraits of various teams of rugby players, soccer teams, hockey teams, swimming teams and a carnival, boat races, athletics, jockeys and horse racing, wrestling and boxing; surf clubs including the Engineers' team, Infantry No 2 team, and the Signals' team. Daily scenes including food preparation and coking; an anti-mosquito campaign; a leave centre for pacific troops; a dance sponsored by the American Red Crosss Service Club, and a celebration of New Zealand Day at the club; casting votes for NZ elections and a visit of scrutineers overseeing the voting; NZEF Base Repertory Players and the Kiwi Concert Party; a Base Camp reception at the hospital in New Caledonia; a garden party held by the Officers' School; Xmas parcels for NZ troops in the advanced Pacific Base. Images linked with medical care in New Caledonia, Guadalcanal and Treasury Islands include hospitals; medical personnel including dental surgeons, opticians and nurses; convalescent depot; and evacuation and transportation of the sick and wounded; and scenes of funeral services and graves of NZ soldiers in the Solomon Islands. Transportation of equipment and troops loading and embarking for the north from New Caledonia; landing craft; Liberty ships; New Zealanders in Guadalcanal. The NZ Brigade arriving in Guadalcanal, and the move from Guadalcanal to Vella Lavella on board L.S.Ts (Landing ship, tank); climbing up nets on the side of transports; bulldozer drawing heavy vehicles and equipment from the L.S.T.; New Zealand soldiers with Fijian commandoes; use of outrigger canoes; capture of a Japanese armed coastal barge, a Japanese supply boat and camp equipment left by retreating Japanese. Treasury Islands campaign in which a small group of NZ worked with native guides; two native chiefs who were extremely helpful; a NZ camp at Malsi on Mono Island; Falamai Village; water collection at Saveke River on Mono Island; tree cutting to provide wood for pump bases and flooring; unloading drums of petrol; NZ troops consolidate on Treasury Islands. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with faded blue cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22.0 cm

Date: 1968

From: Crown Studios Ltd :Negatives and prints

Reference: 1/1-037901-F

Description: Photograph taken by Crown Studios of Wellington. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 6.5 x 8.5 inches