World War II Official album. B1-397

Date
1939-1940
By
McKenzie, J S (Private), active 1940
Reference
PA1-q-293
Description

Photographs of New Zealand military personnel in New Zealand, England and Egypt, taken 1939-1940 and compiled for official use. Most of the images have good captions, and most of the names noted are listed above.

The album includes a number of British Official Photographs.

Scenes include New Zealanders in the advance party sailing from Melbourne in December 1939; shipboard scenes of the First Echelon arriving in Egypt; Freyberg welcoming the troops on arrival with Anthony Eden (Secretary of State for the Dominions) and Sir Miles Lampson; the train service between the NZ camp and Cairo; Egyptian workmen helping construct the camp, and women doing the laundry; Divisional Signallers lined up on motor bikes.

Battle practice and army life in the desert: anti-tank & anti-aircraft practice; bren guns; vehicle maintenance; blacksmiths; operating the telephone exchange; engineering work; sorting mail; manufacturing field oven; chopping wood for the oven; food preparation; boot mending; camp cinema; various games including cards, bowls, cricket, swimming, boxing; disinfecting plant for killing pests in soldiers' blankets; digging trenches; erecting tents.

Opening of the Kiwi Club at Helwan, formed through the efforts of Lady Lampson.

Three photographs taken by a sergeant of the Royal Marines, showing action related to the battleship Admiral Graf Spee and the Battle of the River Plate (p 65, 111, 133)

New Zealanders resident in England who volunteeered at the outbreak of war are shown training with the Eastern Command; manoevres with the 2nd Echelon in Britain, and the opening of a new club for New Zealanders in Charing Cross Road; Winston Churchill visiting Australian and New Zealand troops in 1940; NZ armourers and wireless operators working for the RAF; information about the longest non-stop reconnaisance flight made in a Vickers Wellington bomber, piloted and crewed by members of the RNZAF Bomber Squadron (5 crew + 1 officer from the Navy to assist in ship identification); and Winston Churchill visiting Australian and New Zealand troops.

In Libya scenes show a motor rail car which patrolled the rail to Matruh; "Whare Kiwi" dugout in the Libyan Desert;

The first air raid experienced in a small village in the Cairo area.

NZ airmen arrive in Canada for training in the Empire Air Trianing Scheme; haka led by Pine Takarangi.

Transportation of troops and equipment across inland water, use of collapsible assault boats and building bridges.

Western Desert battle; Italian and Libyan prisoners of war; captured tanks and vehicles; view of the Italian defence line; also the surrender of Traghen when the whole population of the Libyan Fort marched out in surrender.

Various hospital scenes, both in England and in Egypt, including occupational therapy activities.

Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Physical Description: Album with faded blue cloth cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22.0 cm

Access restrictions
No access restrictions
Part of
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 / World War 1939-1945 albums
Format
1 album(s) Album(s), Photographs, Album with faded blue cloth cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22.0 cm
There are 8 items in total.
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There are 8 items in this group.
Image

The Army Cooks

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

Reference: PA1-q-B69A

Description: Three soldiers shown operating field stoves Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).

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Army cooks, western desert

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

Reference: PA1-q-293-061-1

Description: Three New Zealand soldiers with large pressure cookers in the Western desert. One is tasting soup. Inscriptions: Album page - centre right - B69a Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print 15.2 x 20 cm mounted on album page

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Egypt: a scene in one of the mess halls in the New Zealand 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

Reference: PA1-q-293-B87a

Description: Shows soldiers seated eating in a corrugated iron and wood framed building. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).

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They still peel "SPUDS" in the Army

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

Reference: PA1-q-293-085

Description: A group of New Zealand soldiers, three of whom, in the foreground, are peeling potatoes. Behind them stand three more soldiers with cups of tea in their hands. The men have been photographed against railway wagons loaded with stores. Inscriptions: Album page - centre right - B66a Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).

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New Zealand troops on the Kasrel Nil Bridge, Cairo

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

Reference: PA1-q-293-B26

Description: Two New Zealand soldiers surrounded by a group of Egyptian men and boys stand looking up at a large sculptured lion which is part of the Kasrel Nil Bridge, Cairo. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).

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N.Z.E.F. Mechanical engineers listening to the morning radio

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

Reference: PA1-q-293-204

Description: Soldiers outside a tent in the desert grouped around a radio Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).

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Up the Pyramids

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

Reference: PA1-q-293-063

Description: Three New Zealand soldiers and an Arab guide are viewed from below, climbing a pyramid Inscriptions: Album page - centre right - B69C Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).

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Image

Winston Churchill talking to New Zealand soldiers in London - Photograph taken by The T...

Date: 25 June 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: PA1-q-293-077-2

Description: Original caption reads: "On his way to the House this morning, Mr Winston Churchuill stopped and chatted to a group of New Zealanders who have recently arrived in London." Photograph taken in London, England, 25 June 1940 by The Topical Press Agency Ltd. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Gelatin silver print 11.5 x 15.7 cm mounted on album page