World War, 1939-1945 - Prisoners and prisons, New Zealand

Date: [1941-1945]

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-4161-01-020-88

Description: Views of the camp for Japanese prisoners of war at Feilding, taken 1941-1945 by an army photographer. Quantity: 1 paper sheet with 36 contact prints attached.

Date: 1943-2000

From: Thompson, Eric Hardisty, 1922-2000 : Papers

Reference: Series-2328

Description: Quantity: 41 folder(s).

Date: [1940-1945]

From: Efford, Lincoln Arthur Winstone, 1907-1962 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-0445-70

Description: Comprises typed and hand-written letters from conscientious objectors to Efford, with typed replies attached. The letters contain lists of conscientious objectors at various prison camps, as well as descriptions of prison routine and conditions; a hand-drawn map of Ruapehu district showing location of prison camps, prison farms and surrounding area; and a July 1947 edition of ‘Methodist Messenger of Feilding Circuit’. Very few of the correspondents have signed their letters by name, however many have been identified on separate slips of paper, possibly by Morva Efford, Lincoln Efford's wife, and/or Lincoln Efford. Identified correspondents include James Chapple, Reverend Roger Taylor, Dick Kelly, Bruce Osborne, Murray Osborne, Charles Ronald Howell, Chuck Beswick, Bill Kelly, Reverend Charles Hailwood, Len Suttie, Jack Rogers, Jack Bayley, and Allan Yates. Title supplied by Library. Arrangement: The folder includes slips handwritten by Efford and/or his wife identifying correspondents. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Processing information: Title, scope and contents, and indexing terms changed or enhanced August 2022. Not all names associated with this item have been indexed.

Date: 1941-1942 (transcribed 1983)

By: Loftus, Harold, 1896-1994

Reference: MS-Papers-2408

Description: The diaries cover the period Feb 1941-Jun 1942. The letters are to Loftus's wife, Isabel, Mar-Jun 1942 Source of title - Supplied title Accompanying material - Biographical notes by Alan Loftus Loftus served with 18 Battalion and saw action in the Greek, Crete and Egyptian campaigns. He was captured near El Alamein in July 1942 and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war in Stalag VIIIB in Germany. Quantity: 5 folder(s) (166 leaves). 0.05 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holographs and typed transcripts (all photocopies)

Date: [1943]

Reference: MS-Papers-9360

Description: Autograph book owned by an unidentified New Zealand Guard at the Prisoner of War Camp, Featherston during World War Two. Volume contains signatures by New Zealand guards at the camp; signaturers accompanied by illustations from Japanese prisoners of war; and signatures from American soldiers based in Hawera (1943). Language - Signatures and comments by prisoners are mainly in their own language Source of title - Supplied by Library The Featerston Military Camp was established during World War One. At the request of the USA the camp was re-established as a Prisoner of War Camp for Japanese soldiers in September 1942. Approximately 800 Japanese soldiers were imprisoned there (captured during the the Battle of Guadalcanal). Quantity: 1 volume(s). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss with line drawings Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Purchase, Dundar Sloane, Auckland, Apr 2009 Many pages contain line drawings in pencil, ink and crayon.

Date: 1941 - 1942

From: Lodge, Nevile Sidney 1918-1989 :[Archive of original cartoons for the Evening Post and Sports Post, 1941 to 1988]

By: Lodge, Nevile Sidney, 1918-1989

Reference: B-133-002

Description: Two soldiers, possibly New Zealanders, surrendering in a desert setting to an German Afrika Korps armoured personnel carrier. Other military vehicles in the distance. The cartoonist himself was captured in North Africa during the Second World War and imprisoned by the Germans Quantity: 1 original cartoon(s). Physical Description: Ink, 255 x 180 mm Provenance: Donation:

Date: 1943

By: Esson, William Keith, 1910-1982

Reference: Plans-76-0657/0658

Description: Plans of prisoner-of-war camp and of an unspecified mechancial device Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Ink and crayon; pencil 205 x 860 mm and 210 x 280 mm Provenance: Donation: Capt W K Esson R.D. 1, Christchurch, 13 Oct 1976

Date: 1995-1997

From: Thompson, Eric Hardisty, 1922-2000 : Papers

Reference: 2001-008-011

Description: Drafts of articles, `The Personal identities of the 48 Japanese dead of the Featherston incident of 25 Feb 1943'; `The Japanese who came to New Zealand in the war'; `The Japanese attitude to being a prisoner of war'; `New Zealand and the world wars' Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1941

By: Wood, Basil Reginald, 1916-2007

Reference: PAColl-9838

Description: Photographic postcards, on Voigtlaender branded paper, showing Maori concert group and men dressed as Pacific Islanders, in theatrical productions at Oflag V B, Biberach, ca 1941. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 2 b&w original photographic print(s). Provenance: Donated by Dr Allan Spence, Sevenoaks, England, 2011 Transfers: Collection as a whole received into Photographic Archive; material transferred to other sections from here - To Manuscripts & Archives - Typescript of POW log of 85465 Lieut B R Wood.

Date: [1998-1999]

From: Thompson, Eric Hardisty, 1922-2000 : Papers

Reference: 2001-008-035

Description: Correspondence, circulars, clippings and other papers relating to EJOS, the New Zealand Action Committee Ex-Japanese War Victims Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1994-2003

By: Mackay, Lachlan Robert, active 2007-2014

Reference: MS-Group-2376

Description: Contains papers relating to Noel Ginn. Includes transcript extracts of two interviews between Paul Millar and Ginn (Aug and Oct 1994), notes from Annette Facer's interview with Ginn (Sep 1994), correspondence with Sister Sue Cosgrove, two poems by Ginn, notes on a 2002 visit to Kapiti Island, and programmes from Ginn's funeral and the committal of his ashes in Otaki. Source of title - Supplied by Library Quantity: 2 folder(s). 0.02 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss (some photocopies), typescript, printed matter Provenance: Donated by Lauchlan Robert Mackay Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donated by Lachlan Robert Mackay, Karori, Wellington

Date: [1920]-1943

By: Newman, Russell Hunter, 1920-1987

Reference: PA-Group-00934

Description: Photograph album and loose prints relating to Russell Hunter Newman, who was a sailor of the Royal New Zealand Navy HMS Philomel and later World War II prisoner of war at Heydebreck (known latterly as Kedzierzyn), German occupied Poland. Majority of images relate to his time as a prisoner of war at Heydebreck, including theatrical performances at the camp and members of working parties Bau und Arbeits (Building and Labour) Battalion 20 (B.A.B. 20) and Battalion 40 (B.A.B. 40). Includes some images of family. B.A.B. 20 and B.A.B. 40 were officially attached to Stalag VIIB Lamsdorf and were working parties at the Chemical Works at Blechhammer, Poland. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). 2 b&w original photographic print(s). 1 laser copy print. Physical Description: Photograph albums, photographic prints Provenance: Donor is the grandson of Russell Newman. Transfers: Collection as a whole taken in to Photographic Archive and transfers made from there - To Ephemera Collection - Wallet and contents previously owned by Russell Hunter Newman (Eph-A-WAR-WII-Newman) - To Manuscripts & Archives - Newman, Russell Hunter, 1920-1987: Papers (MS-Papers-11781).

Date: 29 Apr 2003 - 07 May 2003

From: New Zealand Sapper contribution to World War II oral history project

By: Carson, Stanley Edgar, 1914-2015

Reference: OHInt-0875-02

Description: Interview with Stan Carson, born in Lyttelton in 1914. Talks about his family background and growing up in Lyttelton. Refers to joining the Lyttelton Marine Band at 15, and becoming a messenger for the volunteer fire brigade at 17. Discusses his plumbing apprenticeship with his father and attending night school in Christchurch. Talks about the Depression in Lyttelton. Refers to hearing about the buildup to war in the press and radio, enlisting in the first call for volunteers, and being put into sappers because of his trade training. Describes sailing to Egypt in the first echelon, arriving at Maadi camp in February 1940, and assisting the British installing facilities such as extending the water line at Mersa Matruh. Discusses military life in North Africa - mail from home, water rationing and ablutions, having to change his socks regularly and air them for days. Describes how the sappers transported their equipment and materials. Comments that officers had to earn the respect of New Zealand soldiers, although they respected Freyberg. Talks about part of a company of engineers sent to Greece with the 18th Battalion and going north to the Aliakmon Line in the Olympus mountains. Comments on the role of the sappers in building up a defence line, and being the only sapper with the 22nd Battalion. Describes the retreat to the Corinth canal after the Greek army collapsed, being straffed by German planes, and laying explosives to demolish the bridge over the canal. Discusses the landing of German paratroopers, being wounded in the shoulder, capture by German paratroopers, and taken to the Fifth Australian General Hospital near Athens. Talks about the three months he spent in the hosptial, acting as an orderly when he recovered, and escaping with Sid Marshall. Mentions how they travelled north, rowed to Evvoia Island in a stolen boat, and were helped by local people who took them to Skiros Island. Refers to sailing to Smyrna, Turkey, in a small boat with two fishermen, and from there travelled by train through Syria to Maadi camp in Egypt. Talks about rejoining his 3 Section, 6 Field Company at Baggush, the advance to the Lybian border and subsequent retreat, and being sent to Syria in early 1942. Refers to being rushed back to the desert to Alamein when the Germans were advancing, and laying anti-tank mines at Minqar Qaim. Describes outflanking by the Germans but escaping back to El Alamein on their trucks, where they laid mines and created positions for field guns under cover of dark. Explains sappers' job in the Battle of Alamein was to lift their mines and clear gaps for the Allied troops, then to clear German mines. Refers to clearing minefields all the way to Tunisia. Describes coming home with the first furlough group, arriving in the middle of winter and not being called to camp for over six months. Discusses the protest at Trentham against returning to the war when there were many men who had not gone, and comments on why he went back. Mentions returning on a troopship of young conscripts to Egypt in 1944, and undertaking training in building Bailey bridges at Maadi Camp in preparion for going to Italy. Describes joining the Maadi brass band based at the New Zealand headquarters, playing at NAFIs, church parades, hospitals, and marching in reinforcements. Comments on recreation in Cairo and a rugby match between NZ and Welsh teams. Refers to returning to New Zealand in April 1945 and taking over his father's plumbing business when he died suddenly in 1946. Interviewer(s) - Liz Catherall Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016655 - OHC-016659 Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 5 Electronic document(s) - transcript. 1 interview(s) over 2 days. 4.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Physical Description: Word processing documents - Microsoft word Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available edited transcripts, OHA-5975 OHDL-000258. Printout (A4) of scanned image of a black and white photograph of a group of sappers including Stan Carson (undated); black and white photograph of Stan Carson (recent) Search dates: 1914 - 1939 - 2003 - 1945

Date: 2022

By: Bates, John, 1939?-

Reference: MSX-10206

Description: Biography of Peter Bates (1920-1993) written by his nephew, John Bates, and self-published in 2022. Titled 'Peter's Reflections' and subtitled 'On joining the Taranaki Herald, Going to War, Capture, Escape, Swiss Internment and his later life'. The book includes transcriptions of Peter Bates' war and later life diaries and letters, copies of photographs, maps, and illustrations. Comprises 25 chapters and 332 pages excluding title page, contents, and index. The biography covers such topics as Bates' employment at the Taranaki Herald; the declaration of war; his military training at New Plymouth, Waverley, and Trentham; the voyage to and arrival in Egypt; joining the 6th Brigade, 25th Battalion; 2nd Division involvement in the Mediterranean and Syria; his capture and experience as a prisoner of war; his escape to Switzerland; his repatriation to New Zealand; and his life post-war. Title supplied by Library. Bates, a journalist from New Plymouth, embarked from New Zealand for the Middle East in September 1941. He was captured in the Western Desert in July 1942 and was sent to a prisoner of war camp in Italy. When Italy capitulated he escaped to Switzerland and was repatriated to New Zealand in December 1944. John Bates is Peter Bates' nephew and was given copies of Peter's diaries and letters by Peter's children prior to his passing in 1993. He wrote this biography at Peter's suggestion. Quantity: 1 volume(s). Physical Description: Hardcover volume bound in blue cloth with gold embossed lettering, 300 x 220 x 25 mm.

Date: [ca 1943-1945]

By: Beale, Gilbert Marsden, 1897-1972

Reference: PAColl-9991

Description: Photographs originally inside a journal written by Gilbert Marsden Beale while working as a tailor at the Japanese prisoner-of-war camp in Featherston, Wairarapa, between circa 1943-1945, during World War II. Photographer unidentified, possibly Beale. Descriptions are written on the backs of the prints by Beale. Images are taken at three places just outside the camp's barbed wire fence. One is taken by No 2 gate and shows the hospital buildings in the distance. Another is taken outside the main gate. Another looks though the fence towards the mechanical workshop. No persons are visible. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 3 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin prints Provenance: Purchase, 2012 Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - MSX-8931: Beale, Gilbert Marsden, 1897-1972: Journal of his time at the Featherston Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.

Date: 1939-1945

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

By: Hill, Leighton McLeod, 1907-1952

Reference: PAColl-4161-01-210

Description: Photographs of Allied prisoners-of-war in Germany, including scenes taken on forced marches during the closing stages of the war, and liberation by Allied forces, taken ca 1943-1945 by various photographers, including Lee Hill. Quantity: 124 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin prints

Date: 1940 - 1945

By: Esson, William Keith, 1910-1982

Reference: A-262-024

Description: Shows prisoners' recreation ground in P O W camp in Germany Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil drawing 127 x 250 mm on sheet 205 x 275 mm Provenance: Donation: Capt W K Esson R.D. 1, Christchurch, 11 Oct 1976

Date: 24 Feb 1941-23 Oct 1949, 4 Apr-21 Jun 1976, 2002

By: Klingenstein, John Charles, 1910-2002

Reference: MS-Group-1111

Description: Diary compiled by Klingenstein of his experiences during World War Two as an internee on Somes Island under the 1940 Emergency Regulations. He briefly summarises his life as a New Zealander with a German name before his eventual internment and the experiences leading to it followed by entries (not daily) describing in detail the internees, staff, political feelings etc. He includes maps, drawings, plans, diagrams and newspaper articles. Klingenstein began writing the diary in 1946, nine months after his release from Somes Island in 1945, from notes he smuggled out. On 21 May 1946 he began compiling his experiences from 24 Feb 1941 to 21 May 1942, which part he had completed by 23 Oct 1949. On 4 Apr 1976 he began again summarising his experiences to the end of the war, including newspaper articles about aspects of the war, a copy of the Emergency Regulations and other documents. Accompanying the diary is a copy of Klingenstein's birth certificate, his death notice and programme of his funeral service See Back file for further information Source of title - Supplied title John Charles Klingenstein was interned as a enemy alien on Somes Island in 1941 even though both he and his father were born in New Zealand; after his release he compiled his diary from notes he smuggled out Quantity: 3 folder(s) (375 pages). 1 volume(s). 0.06 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holograph and printed matter and photocopy Provenance: The original diary was owned by J C Klingenstein and on loan to Stuart Perry who allowed the Turnbull Library to make a photocopy of it. Later David Gee held the original diary and restricted access to it; in 2002, following Mr Klingenstein's death, David Gee and Ms Kate Jones agreed the original diary would be deposited with the Turnbull Library and the photocopy would be returned to the family.

Date: [ca 1940-1944], 1974

By: Robertson, Keith Edward Donald, 1905-1980

Reference: qMS-1708

Description: Experiences related by Lieutenant K Robertson, camp interpreter at the Japanese prisoner of war camp, Featherston; includes a section on the riot of 1943 and newspaper clipping about the prisoners' reunion in Japan. Tsuyaku San means Mr Interpreter. Source of title - Transcribed Quantity: 1 volume(s) (38 leaves). 0.02 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript, printed matter (28 cm; brown cardboard cover)

Date: 1941-1945

By: Cowie, Gordon Rae, 1896-1984

Reference: PAColl-0325

Description: Photographs of plays and musical festivals put on at Oflag VII B prison of war camp in Germany with men playing male and female roles. The plays were: Post Mortem in 1943 (names given: Woodley, Jumbo Burrows, Malcolm Fry, Bob Armstrong, Quartermaine, N Jardine-Paterson); Case of the Frightened Lady in 1943; Dossing Dulcie, a medieval Christmas pantomime in 1943 (additional names: A Barradale-Smith, Don Olliver, Lutner, Stan Nolan (NZ), J Long, G Powell; Gaslight in 1943; French without Tears in 1944; I Killed the Count in 1944; and Hamlet (Michael Goodliffe as Hamlet who went on to act with the BBC). There was also a musical festival in 1944 in which the men took part in a full choir and orchestra and in 1945 in which New Zealand troops dressed as Maori (names given: Ready, Herewinie and Bennet). Also included are a photograph of a Christmas 1944 greetings card drawn by a cartoonist calling himself Blow (possibly as a pun on Low) in which a soldier is knitting and the wool is forming the words "this year next year sometime; a Christmas 1941 greetings card by A A West from Oflag VII C showing life in the camp; soldiers at Aldershot in 1941 the names given being Duff, Freyburg, Williams, Hill, Lowndes, Colonel Fraser and Captain Thornton; and a boxing match, one of the participants being Milner, the son of a Waitaki headmaster. A number of the photographs had been sent as postcards to Cowie's wife in Lower Hutt though with no message other than sender. The photographs are all stamped Oflag VII B gepruft (examined). Quantity: 96 b&w original photographic print(s). Transfers: Probably part of collection donated to Manuscripts and Archives MS-Papers-2285..