World War, 1939-1945 - Military personnel - Fiji

Date: [ca 1941-1951], 1965, 1975

By: Fiji Forces Association

Reference: PA-Group-00603

Description: Photographs relating to Fiji Forces Association. Comprises photographs donated by members of their wartime experiences, and photographs of Association events Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 128 b&w original photographic print(s). 2 b&w original photographic print(s) coloured by hand. Physical Description: Photographic prints Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - MS-Papers-8935 : Fiji Forces Association : Papers. See also Curios Collection..

Date: 4 November 1942-1 Jan 1943

From: Neil family: Collection

Reference: MS-Papers-12059-19

Description: Correspondence from Arthur James Neil to his wife Deanie Robina Olive Neil during his service in World War II. Written 4 November 1942 to 1 January 1943 from various locations in New Zealand and Fiji. Includes correspondence regarding being deployed to serve in Fiji; the sea voyage to Suva; arrival and first impressions of Fiji; the Defence Club; and his work, including interactions with U.S., Fijian, and other military personnel, organisation of training, and visiting villages. Quantity: 1 folder(s) containing holograph letters. Physical Description: Holograph letters and envelopes

Date: 1940-1942

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-4161-01-110

Description: Includes: View of bridge over the Nambuni Creek on Cunningham Road, a military road in vicinity of Samambula Camp; ammunition tunnels at Tamavua; AA guns of the 38th Heavy AA Battery installed on Indian Trig near Suva; coastal defences; native medical class; members of Fiji Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who served with Royal NZ Navy (on leave 1945); football game at Adams Field; storm damage to botanical gardens, Suva; Group Headquarters, Suva, 28 Apr 1941; beche-de-mer being loaded onto a truck by Fijian ex-servicemen; opening day of Suva Yacht Club's 1947 season, Nukulau Island (includes aerial view of the island & yacht `Levuka' competing in one of the races); Rehabilitation Board members (C H Carne, Sir Hugh Ragg, H Gerrard, Joeli Ravai and Matu Edward Mataitini) Various views of Nadi Sports Day; C Company's bure; presentation of V.C. to parents of Fijian Corporal (Lt-Col Ratu J.L.V. Sukana reading citation, Governor of Fiji, A W G M Grantham, Brigadier G Dittmer and parents of Corporal Sukanaivalu), Jul 1945; Corporal Sukanaivalu's parents Lote Vulakara and Fani Kuva after the presentation; Fred Brookes of Wagandra, Whites Hill; Fijian children beating the lali (native drum for sending messages). HMS Leander escorting President Coolidge, US Naval ship from Suva to Auckland, July 1942; anti-submarine gun on President Coolidge manned by troops of 3 Div during voyage from Suva to Auckland, July 1942; group of Fijians at base camp, Guadalcanal, dressed up for the occasion of a brigadier's visit, Jun 1943; Lt F E Williams with three members of the advance party of 1st Commando Fijian Guerillas, Dec 1942; group photo of Capt Williams, Lt Barrow, Lt Crass, Lt Taliai and Major Tripp; Lt Heckler with three Fijians of the advance party; headquarters of 1st CFG; Lt Barrow with his patrol of Solomon Islanders at Aola Bay, Guadalcanal; excavation for 250 bed underground hospital at Tamavua, Fiji. Bures erected to accommodate AA unit near Suva; motor workshop in `B' Camp, Samambula, destroyed by hurricane in Feb 1941; construction of petrol storage tank at Suva; administrative block of HQ 3 Div, Suva; Samambula A Camp before huts were built; barbed wire entanglements erected along foreshore of Suva peninsula, and mangroves swamps; ammonia plant. NZ Club, Suva; Fijian at Komave receiving his pay; battle noise practice, Suva Green, Aug 1943; kava ceremony; cane fields; Borron's house, headquarters (near Suva, Fiji) of 3 Div and before that of 8th Brigade Group (the unit which arrived in Fiji in Nov 1940); anti-tank wall, Suva Peninsula.. Jope (Fijian interpreter) with Sgt F E Williams, Lt D E Williams and S/M Woolston setting out on horseback for Namosi; Governor General inspecting troops in Fiji; Natives of Kandavi presenting gifts of fruit and vegetables to troops (Brigadier W H Cunningam, Lt Col J G C Wales, Lt Col J Mawson); Ratu Apakuki, leading chief of the island, presenting the gifts; convoy of NZ troops of 3 Div halted in Namaka village, 1941; I Sec & Orderly Room staff; native dug-out canoe; party on Navua River taking supplies up to Namuamua; Cpl Blackman & Q/M Holmes at Namosi detailing a fatigue party; village of Namosi; lunching on Navua River (Dr Malcolm and others); Isaia (interpreter) Pte Solway and others outside native hut at Namosi; inland Fiji; village of Serua on Viti Levu; Wally McWilliams, Ralph Griffen, Vic Esmond, Jim Bright, Les Drummond, Jim Bass, Keith Hood, Roy Taylor and Bob Buchan at Serua; Fijians of Mau platoon building a bure; members of South Pacific Health Board at Inaugural Meeting, 25 Oct 1946 (Dr J C R Buchana, Sir Alexander Grantham, Dr T Richie, Dr R J Snodgrass, Miss Lambie, H Vaskess); Capt Tripp killing a pig presented to him by a Fijian chief; Sgt Bale (interpreter), Sgt Larsen (NZ Intelligence Sec) and Sgt Lope (Interpreter); Lt D E Williams with Ratu Mara at Serua; two commando NCOs on a raft; Officers' Mess at Teneru, Guadalcanal (Capt Williams, Major Tripp, 2 Lt Taylor & 2 Lt Holmes; view of camp at Teneru (taken after unit had returned from New Georgia campaign);Sgt Larsen cutting a stencil for unit's newspaper `Guerilla Gazette'; on the Deumba mouth of the Navua River; NZ commando up a coconute tree; Capt Tripp giving instructions through an interpreter to boxers at Komave (Komarvee); Governor General meeting officers of RNZAF during visit to Fiji; inspection of Fijian soldiers. Rehabilitation of Fijian ex-servicemen (various photographs with explanatory captions); auxillary ketch `Moala' launched at Suva; Suva Yacht Club at Nukulau Island (various photos taken on opening day, Feb 1947). Panorama views of Samambula A & B camps, Sep-Oct 1940, showing site and camp buildings. Governor General's visit to Fiji (various views); Group photo of officers and men of NZ Army Corps serving with NZEF in Fiji (taken by Caine's Studios, Fiji). Presentation of V.C. to parents of Corporal Sefanaia Sukanaivalu, Suva, 6 Feb 1945 by Governor of Fiji, A W G H Grantham (various views); swearing in ceremony of new governor (Grantham), 1 Jan 1945 (includes Chief Justice Sir Owen Corrie and J F Nicoll (Colonial Secretary of Fiji); Brig Gen Edmund B Sebree with Royal Whales Tooth which he received at a native ceremony in his honour, May 1943 (US Army Signal Corps photograph). Quantity: 171 b&w copy photographic print(s).

Date: 1942-1944

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: PAColl-4161-01-109

Description: Group photo of Sgt Larsen, Major Tripp, Sgt Heckler and Cpl Johnson outside a native hut at Komare; group photo of Sgt Larsen & US personnel attached to NZ commandos for several weeks to learn jungle warfare; group of New Zealanders, Fijians and Americans at HQ, Navua atached to unit to learn jungle warfare; Fijian scouts advancing against Japanese, 1944; front page of `Guerilla Gazette' (unofficial organ of Southern Independent Command), published Fiji, Dec 1942; Sgt Taylor with Ratu Maru, a high chief who helped commandos; Fijians on guard at base camp, Guadalcanal; S/M Woolston, Sgt Sturmer & Sgt F E Williams with Jone Nagamu (later distinguished in action) taken at village of Namuamua (Nanormor); Brigadier W H Cunningham officially accepting the gifts of fruit and vegetables presented to NZ troops stationed in Fiji by natives of Kandavu; troops being inspected; map pf Viti Levu showing commando training area, 1942-1943; jeep at unidentified location. Quantity: 16 b&w original photographic print(s).