A soldier with the New Zealand forces (3rd Division) in the Pacific during the Second World War. Also an artist who drew scenes in the Pacific, especially New Caledonia and Fiji. He was a private in 1944 when he exhibited several works at an exhibition 'New Zealand artists in uniform'. Also produced 'Playboys of the Pacific', a book of caricatures and cartoons from WWII. Turnbull Library Pictures holds photographs of several war-related drawings or paintings by him. There are 5 watercolours by him of New Caledonia Sept to Nov 1843 on display at Bourail Museum, New Caledonia. He fought in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, and New Hebrides (Vanuatu) after his time in New Caledonia. Died in 1969 aged 60 years [Source for date of death: Online historical BDM]
Kendall, Oscar John, 1909-1969
Kendall, Oscar John, 1909-1969 :Foxhole behind the camp. Sept 1943
Date: 1943
By: Kendall, Oscar John, 1909-1969
Reference: B-189-015
Description: An island scene, probably Fiji, during World War II. In the foreground is the foxhole mentioned in the title, partly concealed beneath a pile of stones. In the background are various types of trees, including palms, with the sea and mountains beyond on the left. On the right, a camp of military tents can be seen, with two covered trucks navigating the road away from the camp. A military aircraft flies overhead Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - O. Kendall / Sept 1943; Recto - bottom right - No 12 Series B [in pencil]; Verso - centre - Received from Mr H M Bacon / the sum of three pounds three shillings / 'Foxhole behind the camp' by Pte O Kendall / 28 July '44 [sales receipt] Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour on textured paper, 272 x 375 mm (sight) Provenance: Purchase: Dunbar Sloane, Wellington. Fine and Applied Art auction, 21 November, 2013; lot 340
World War, 1939-1945. New Zealand. War artists. O Kendall and others in the Pacific
Date: 1940-1945
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: Kendall, Oscar John, 1909-1969
Reference: PAColl-4161-01-203
Description: Captioned paintings of New Caledonia, and other unidentified paintings; most signed by O Kendall Includes two ink sketches; unidentified portrait of a senior officer Quantity: 15 b&w original photographic print(s). 2 item(s) of photographic ephemera (ink drawings).
Kendall, Oscar John, 1909-1969 :[Open-air stage on a Pacific Island] [1943?]
Date: 1940 - 1945
By: Kendall, Oscar John, 1909-1969
Reference: A-262-034
Description: Shows stage and cinema screen with signboard "St James", facing rows of coconut-trunk benches, in jungle clearing; probably in Solomon Islands Date suggested by associated material (see A-262-035/037) Possibly used as an illustration in Kiwi News, of which Roydhouse was the editor for a time during World War II. This drawing and the other three from Roydhouse's collection all have instructions to a printer on the verso Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - Signed; Verso - unfinished pencil sketch, and instructions to printer Quantity: 1 drawing(s) pencil. Physical Description: Pencil drawing 187 x 216 mm Transfers: Transferred from Manuscripts & Archives, from the papers of G. S. Roydhouse, MS-Papers-2470..
New Zealand. Army Education Welfare Service :New Zealand artists in uniform; exhibition...
Date: 1944
By: New Zealand. Army. Education Welfare Service
Reference: ArtEph-1944-N-01
Description: Catalogue of works by many artists including M K Venables, R M Conly, B Roundhill, D G MacNab, R E Hutton, A G Manson, Russell Clark, Cpl M Jillett, L/Cpl R Dobson, W Bristow, G M Mercer, W C Barclay, J W Reiman, F S Dromgoole, R L Kay, P M Hutchison, W A Sutton, J W Bertinshaw, O Kendall, C T Laugesen, H C Berry, K W Hassall, N F G Fletcher, F H Beckett, C V Wheeler, R B Stock, J G C Fuller, D J Ramage, L A Lipanovic, L N Chirm, J W Athfield, F D Choate, W F D McPhee, F W Devenport, R J Childs, A S Paterson, W Thomson, C V Barham, G McIntyre, C E Slade Jones, E M Taylor, L J Mather, J F Nicholson, B Carrick-Johnstone, A W Greathead, K Turner, E J E Holmwood, and others. Quantity: 1 booklet. Physical Description: Stapled booklet