Smith, William Landon, 1920-2008: Photographs taken and collected by Smith when he served in the United States Navy during World War II

Photographs taken and collected by William Landon Smith, a pharmacists' mate in the United States Navy during World War II. He was stationed at Base Hospital 3A in Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides between 1942-1943, and Base Hospital 5 at Silverstream, Upper Hutt, New Zealand, between 7 May 1943 and 23 April 1944.

Images are taken by William Landon Smith. Some are taken by unidentified photographers, possibly official United States Government photographers. Also includes a collection of commercial postcards and photographs, mainly by unidentified photographers but including several by Royal Studio, two by Peart, one by Tanner Brothers and one by VC Browne. Images chiefly relate to his war service at the United States Base Hospital in Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides (Vanuatu), at Silverstream Hospital, New Zealand and while on leave around Wellington and Christchurch, between 1942 and 1944.

- Photographs taken by Smith at the Silverstream Base Hospital, and around the hills near Silverstream, showing views across the Hutt Valley and toward Wellington. They include images of medical personnel and marines posing outside the hospital or in the pharmacy, and an unidentified official reception. There are also images of Smith's friends while off duty riding horses, drinking beer, and chasing sheep. Includes an image of the cable car in Wellington, and an unidentified man at a rock pool, possibly Wellington coast.

- One aerial view of Silverstream Hospital stamped 'USN Base Hospital No.4' and dated 'Apr 5 1944'

- Photographs of Christchurch city and area taken by Smith including many views of Christchurch Square and Christchurch Cathedral, men riding bicycles and paddling in the Avon River, and visiting the Strathmore Riding School. Images include unidentified men posing on a bicycle in front of a tram and in front of a steam engine, men in uniform outside the DIC building.

- Group of young men and women relaxing and drinking beer on a small boat or near a harbour, probably Days Bay, near Wellington.

- Ship, probably the USS Davis DD-395, at unidentified wharf

- Photographs of unidentified personnel around the United States Naval Base Hospital No. 3A, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. One image of Smith with two friends. Some of the photographs are probably Government photographs and have 'censored' in the bottom left corner. They include views of the tents used for living and storage for the naval personnel, and activities of the locals. Smith has written a description on the back of each of these.

- Postcards and commercial photographs (mostly b&w silver gelatin prints) collected by Smith, which show Maori cultural activities and geothermal scenes, and street scenes of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Two colourised postcards labeled 'Maori carver' and 'Te hongi, Rotorua, NZ'. One image with stamp 'with the compliments of the Apostleship of the ea, Auckland, New Zealand' and identified as Knocknagree [Knock Na Gree], Oratia, Auckland.

- One foldout wallet of views of Christchurch

Source of title - Title supplied by Library

Arrangement: Photographs arranged into the following groups - personal photographs of Silverstream Hospital and environs; personal photographs of Christchurch and environs; personal and possibly official prints of New Hebrides; and commercial postcards and prints of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Rotorua and Maori culture

The United States Navy set up Base Hospitals around the Pacific and in New Zealand during World War II. William Landon Smith worked as a pharmacists' mate in Base Hospital 3A, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides between 1942 and 1943 and in Base Hospital, Silverstream, Upper Hutt, New Zealand between 7 May 1943 and 23 April 1944.

Quantity: 131 b&w original photographic print(s). 1 fold out souvenir set of 10 b&w photo-mechanical prints. 2 colour photo-mechanical print(s).

Physical Description: Photographic prints, postcards

Provenance: Donated by Mary Forman, Texas, USA, 2014. Donor is the daughter of W L Smith.