Leese, Oliver (Sir), 1894-1978

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-299

Description: Photographs of New Zealand military personnel serving in the Middle East and Italy during World War 2, 1943-1944, 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. This album changes between the Middle East and Italy, with the bulk of the Middle Eastern images between pages 1 and 71, and the Italian scenes on pages 49-52, and from 72 onwards, with a few Middle Eastern items interspersed. Recreation for soldiers with sporting activities including athletics, cricket, swimming, tennis and softball, some of which are in competition with personnel from other groups including South African Division Artillerymen. New Zealand engineers building a pontoon bridge across the Suez Canal with the help of Belgian Congo troops; NZ reinforcements arriving in the Middle East; troops voluntarily donating blood; parades and inspections by Freyberg and Inglis, and decorations presented by them (p 9-13, 23, 33, 36, 62). Hitchhiking from Maadi into Cairo; street tailors altering uniforms while the soldiers wait (p 15-16); camp cinema. A large number of reunions of personnel from various New Zealand districts held at different restaurants in Cairo, including Rotorua & district; Levin & district; Arrowtown, Queenstown Lakes District; Wairarapa; and Temuka. Occupational therapy for convalescent troops including embroidery and leather-work toys (p 20-22); a leave camp for forces on the Palestinian coast, run by British Army staff assisted by ATS, and Italian Prisoners of War and European women assistants. NZEF in Italy: Members of the PoW Sub-Commission in Taranto; members of the 2nd NZ Division Advance party in Taranto; released prisoners of war; embarkation on troopships from Alexandria for Italy. Funeral at cemetery at El Ballah of 3 nurses and a corporal in a motor accident between Ismailia and Port Said (Private (Miss) P A Morrissey (from Port Ahuriri); Private (Miss) M O McNulty (from Eketahuna); Private (Miss) M Innes (from Masterton); and Corporal S R W Bomford (from Takapuna), all members of the No 2 NZ General Hospital). NZEF Middle East: Award winners of the NZ Division Field Ambulance; personnel with a NZ Air Transport Squadron; members of the NZ Port Detachment; weddings in Egypt; Xmas dinner at the Maori Training Depot, Maadi. George Formby, seen with his wife/manager entertaining troops at El Djem Theatre, Maadi; Mobile Cinema Van donated by NZ Film Exhibitors' Association through the YMCA. Group of 10 men repatriated after time in German prison camps who had been taken in the Grecian Campaign; 4 brothers from the Duncan family from Wellington reunited at Maadi (S/Sgt A T Duncan, Capt R J Duncan, Pte H G Duncan and Cpl G J Duncan); photo of brothers A J and S R Halkett who arrived back in Canterbury after having been together in the firing line, in a shipwreck, in a prison camp and in a successful escape.t NZEF in Italy: men of transports from Alexandria to Bari; troops in Bari; artillery duels on the Sangro River Front; party of Russian military observers visiting the 8th Army (p 82-83); road construction, mud, road deviations constructed after demolition of bridge; water carts being filled at Sangro River, and filling canvas water tanks for filtering and storage; repair of tents and canvas items by NZ soldier A A Patmore on a sewing machine behind the lines; small arms repair; bootmaker; visit of senior officials from the British Army to HQ 2NZ Division in Italy; destruction of the village of Gessopalena by the Germans. Arrival of Patriotic parcels in Italy, Xmas 1943; Xmas dinner; snow on New Year's Eve; NZ Forces Club in Bari (p 109-110), with NZ sisiters and members of VAD at the club, and soldiers in the writing room of the club; inspection and awards by freyberg in the Volturno Valley; soldiers washing vehicles, and Italian women washing clothes in a stream near Alife in the Volturno valley. Two scenes with Peter Fraser one at Pearl Harbour with Admiral Chester W Nimitz, and Robert L Ghormly (p 116); and his arrival at National Airport, Washington in April 1944, with Walter Nash, Mrs Nash and Mrs Fraser (p 116). NZEF in Italy: Bivvies and dugouts to cope with the cold; the No 2 NZ General Hospital (p 121-123); the Monte Cassino area (p 124-136), with bombing, destruction, villagers living in caves after homes demolished by Germans; Airmen serving with the RAF in the Cassino area recording messages to be broadcast in NZ; preparation for transport of supplies over the Inferno Track, only possible at night. New Zealand Infantry Brigade Band in Italy; malaria control (p 138-140); Malaria School established by the NZ Field Hygiene Section; preventative spraying; routine taking of anti-malarial tablets; examination of Italian children for signs of malaria. Airmen in italy; men on leave at "200 Rest Home" giving free amenities to troops on 4 day's leave from the front line; sorting of winter clothing after summer clothing had been issued; Registrar's office and staff at the No 1 General Hospital, Molfetta. Arrangement: Images in album form single numerical sequence, 2556-3002. Follows sequence established in PA1-q-294. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with faded blue cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22 cm

Date: 1944

By: Elmes, Jack George, 1916-1985

Reference: Eph-B-WAR-WII-Italy-1944-01

Description: A message welcoming new divisions, and offering encouraging words about the progress of the war. Quantity: 1 b&w photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Offset print on newsprint, 305 x 203 mm. Provenance: Donated by Mr John Elmes; collected by Jack George Elmes during war service in Italy.

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

By: Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004

Reference: PAColl-4161-01-078

Description: Some photographs include captions. Images of mountain village of Gessopalena, 1943; Roman remains; soldiers from Ashburton at Battery Gala Day held at Arce; Commander of 8th Army, Gen Sir Oliver Leese shaking hands with Gen Freyberg when he visited NZ HQ in Italian Front; town of Ortona, 1944 (photographer, Sgt G F Kaye); at Italian Front, Xmas Eve, 1943 showing difficult roads encountered by transport of 2nd NZ Division; a `jeep train' on the move; NZ Mobile Bath Unit (Shower); NZ Engineers, Mar 1944; carols on Christmas morning played by 4th Armed Brigade Band, Dec 1943; soldiers in the snow (S Fife, J Kirkly, R C Holland, F Carrick & N Burnette); general view of church and ceremonial parade held in Volturno Valley area, Jan 1944; parade of 6th Infantry Brigagde in Volturno Valley and presentation of medals by Gen Freyberg, Jan 1944; bombardment of Cassino. Radio operators; Instruction school (outdoors); unloading NZ patriotic parcels at a supply point on Italian Front; women refugees cooking outdoors at Pitti Palace, Florence; village of Altino, Dec 1944; Riunion Adriatica di Sicurta (building); general views of Italian countryside (unidentified); smoke from bombs which landed on German positions at Guadralgeri, Dec 1943; demolished bridge. On 2 Oct 1943 the New Zealand Division was moved from Egypt to support the 8th Army in Italy. Quantity: 62 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: Feb 1940-1944

From: Gentry, William George (Sir), 1899-1991: Photograph albums

Reference: PA1-o-1767

Description: Photograph album compiled by Sir William Gentry. Contents relates to his military service in World War II, 1940 to 1944. Photographers are unidentified. - Contains scenes from military life in Egypt (Feb 1940-1944), Greece (March 1941), Libya (Nov-Dec 1941, Jan-Feb 1943), and Syria (Mar-Jun 1942). These include the arrival of the first and third contingents in Egypt and the officers' mess, baths, accommodation, and club at Maadi Camp. Troops on route to Greece on board 'HMS York' and the arrival at Piraeus. Italian prisoners from Albania in Athens and military conference with Greek military. Gun emplacements on the Metaxas Line and at Olympus Pass, German parachutists landing, Souda Bay following an air attack, training at Bagush (Oct 1941). Images from Libya feature convoys, desert battles, and gun emplacement at Sidi Rezegh as German tanks approach (1 Dec 1941). Syrian images feature the camp at Mutruh, including 'Freyberg Street', and various images from Minqur Qaim, including Freyberg's car and caravan, and an unidentified figure writing order to withdraw to Alamein. Images from the Alamein Line (Jul-Sep 1942) include the visit of Winston Churchill, troop inspections, Gentry getting award from General Bernard Montgomery, divisional headquarters, military meetings, various vehicles, and lights from artillery fire at night. Further images track the pursuit of Axis forces to Libya; these images include military convoys in Bagush and Mersa Brega. Also the crossing the Wadi Tamet, troops defusing mines, and a camp in Tripoli. Final images are of war graves at El Alamein in 1944. - Album features many images of General Bernard Freyberg with whom Gentry worked closely during the campaigns in North Africa in 1941-1942. Other notable figures include Emir Abdullah I of Jordan, General Archibald Wavell, Captain Reginald Henry Portal, General Henry Maitland Wilson, Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Blamey, Marshal Alexander Papagos, Brigadier Reginald Miles, General Claude Auchinleck, General Leslie Morshead, Winston Churchill, General Bernard Montgomery Those identified with first and last name are Sam Allen, William Stevens, Keith Lindsay Stewart, Geoffrey Cox, Maurice Hope, John Grey, Jan Peart, George Herbert Clifton, Julian Gascoigne, Oliver Leese, and 'Boomer' Watkins. Those identified by surname or given name only include Stewart, King, Padre, Doug, Miles, Allen, Crump, Tennent, Kenrick, Maxell, Inglis, Weir, and George. There are many other unidentified soldiers. - Images of tourist sites and local scenes include the Sphinx, donkeys, boats on the Nile River, scenes from Jaffa, Jerusalem in 1941 (Omar Mosque, Old City, Wailing Wall, Jaffa Gate) and a nearby village, Sweet Water Canal, the road to Helwan, local women carrying produce on the Maadi golf course, Mt Olympus, Athens and the Acropolis, Syrian Bedouin, camels, snow in Lebanon, ruins in Palmyra and Baalbek. Also a blossoming tree. - Newspaper clippings include an article detailing the New Zealand Forces withdrawal from Crete and service awards for campaigns in Greece, Crete, Libya, and Egypt; recipients of awards include Gentry (Order of the British Empire and Distinguished Service Order), Colonel George Herbert Clifton, Lieutenant-Colonel Stanley Fairgrieve Allen, and Captain Walter Wynne Mason. Contains clipping on Gentry succeeding the position of General Staff Officer and a poem by Philip Youngman-Carter titled 'Rain In the Desert'. General Freyberg's near capture in Libya and evasion of German aircraft fire in Crete is also covered, as is the welcome of troops back to Egypt by Prime Minister Peter Fraser. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Photograph album with embossed cover

Date: [ca 21 Dec 1943]

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: Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004

Reference: DA-04976-F

Description: The new Commander of the 8th Army, General Sir Oliver Leese, shaking hands with the General Officer Commanding 2 New Zealand Division, General Sir Bernard Freyberg, VC, when Leese paid a visit to the NZ Division on the Italian Front, during World War II. Photograph taken circa 21 December 1943 by George Frederick Kaye. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative

Date: [ca 21 Dec 1943]

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: Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004

Reference: DA-04977-F

Description: The new Commander of the 8th Army, General Sir Oliver Leese, pays a visit to the New Zealand Division Headquarters on the Italian Front in World War II. He is seen here with General Sir Bernard Freyberg, VC. Photograph taken circa 21 December 1943 by George Frederick Kaye. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative

Date: 1950 - 1951

From: [Theatre programmes for variety, comedy, and music-hall shows and performances toured throughout New Zealand. 1950-1959].

Reference: Eph-B-VARIETY-1950-01-01

Description: An arrangement of text, with a photograph at lower left showing General Leese, General Freyberg and General Montgomery watching a performance of the show in the Western Desert. Previous editions of the souvenir were published from ca 1946. Quantity: 1 b&w photo-mechanical print(s) on inside title page of booklet.. Physical Description: Photolithograph, on page 273 x 218 mm. Provenance: Autographs are dedicated to Archie (or sometimes Ah Chee), possibly the Mr Elliot whose signature is on the top of the front cover.