Prisoners of war - Middle East

Date: 1939-1940

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

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

Date: 30 May 2007

From: Methven Heritage Project - RSA and Arable oral history project

By: Symons, Sydney Osburne, 1918-

Reference: OHInt-0920-18

Description: Interview with Sydney Osbourne (Ossie) Symons. Born in Balclutha in 1918 to Helen Symons and Herbert Symons. Backgrounds parental grandparents and siblings. Recalls the impact of The Depression, how the family broke up and how he lived with relatives. Says he went to six different schools and two of them twice. Lists Henley Primary school, Taieri Plains, Kaikorai Valley Primary school, Green Island Primary school, Mornington Primary school, Dunedin, Woodside Primary school, near Outram, Menzies Ferry Primary school near Edendale, Southland. Talks about milking cows around Edendale district, being a cowboy at Castle Rock Station, Lumsden, and working as a shepherd. Says he worked as hotel porter in Kaikoura, then moved to Christchurch. Describes work at New Brighton Cafe and Coronation Hospital with returned World War One soldiers with TB, and at Flemings Flour Mill tipping wheat. Mentions dancing at the Caledonian Hall three nights a week. Recalls volunteering for World War Two and training at Burnham Camp for field ambulance work in 3rd Echleon. Describes voyage on 'Orchades' in 1940 to Bombay India. Details leave at Freemantle, Perth, Bombay and Deolali during the trip. Talks about leaving Bombay on the French boat 'Felix Roussel' in a convoy which was bombed by Italian warship in the Red Sea and Port Sudan. Says the HMNZS 'Leander' and HMS 'Kimberley' chased the warship off. Says they arrived at Port Said, Egypt and took train to Maadi Camp. Describes camp, rail car, marches and leave in Cairo. Remembers being at Amaryia camping area in a sand storm. says went to Alexandria, embarked on a Greek boat 'Bar Peter' to travel to Greece. Mentions air raid. Says they arrived at Piraeus Harbour, camped at Hymatis Park, New Athens, then travelled by train to Katerini. Details number of men in field ambulance A and B companies, headquarters and ASC (Army Service Corps). Recalls going up over Mount Olympus to Vale of Tempia and B Company set up on hillside. Describes seeing action when Germans broke through and being strafed by Messerschmidt aircraft. Says they came to Katerini which had been bombed and saw unexploded bombs on the road. Talks about going to Marathon Beach, boarding the 'Glengyle' ship for Souda Bay, Crete. Talks about rations, catching squid and buying oranges with Occupation money. Says the British warship 'York' was bombed daily. Talks about German Junker Ju 52 aircraft arriving, gliders with troops and paratroopers landing with coloured parachutes. Says they began to round us up. Mentions they took their tin hats off and raised their arms for overhead aeroplanes to indicate they were prisoners of war. Mentions English speakers were Austrians. Describes the last paratrooper being disarmed before sundown. Refers to moving to Daratsos village. Says his job was carting water and stretcher bearer. Refers to infantry being tired. Talks about the retreat, getting to Souda Bay and leaving at night on board the destroyer 'Phoebe'. Talks about arriving at Alexandria, Egypt and going to Helwan Camp. Mentions 60 of their company got back from Crete. Refers to Baggush, Western Desert and getting reinforcements. Mentions underground canteen selling Canadian beer, Black Horse and Stella Beer. Talks about Battle at Sidi Rezegh and the number of wounded. Refers to Rommell's Panzer columns. Talks about being handed over to Italian as prisoner of war. Mentions International Red Cross and escape plan. Expands on leaving camp in great rattle of shots. Explains what Brigadier Kippenberger did. Recalls going to Maadi, then Baggush and reuniting with unit. Talks about going to Lebanon, to Bekka valley for training at the Free French army barracks and arrival of Indian company with mules. Refers to going across the plains to Aleppo, Syria. Discusses the fighting during Battles of El Alamein, the artillery barrage and casualties. Mentions those with metal detectors clearing track through for trucks. Refers to 'The Box' (fortified defensive position) and servicing the wounded of the British Green Howards Regiment. Talks about seeing Hurricane fighter bombers running into a trap set by Messerschmidt fighters and being shot down. refers to Hurribombers (Hawker Hurricanes) and squadron of Spitfires fighting German tanks. Details equipment used by units at Sidi Rezegh, two pounder guns, honey tanks (British Stuart light tanks). Discusses General Grant tanks, Sherman tanks, anti tank guns with six pounder guns (pheasants) and 17 pounder guns. Refers to digging a slitty (slit trench) and Kittyhawk strafing by Canadian pilot. Recalls going to Medenine Aerodrome, Tunisia. Talks about biscuit and water rations at El Alamein. Refers to working with Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah Witness and Bretheran men in the medical corp. Refers to end of active service and going home on 'New Amsterdam' via Freemantle and Hobart. Says he went to England and worked with 2NZEF prisoners of war in isolation ward and laboratory at a hospital in Haine, Kent. Says he worked his way home on the 'Oranges' Dutch hospital ship. Refers to going to Sheffield, Canterbury where wife Miriam Lucy (nee Thompson) had a cottage. Says they married in 1943. Recalls working on farms, grubbing gorse and shearing. Says four children were born before they bought farm at Alford Forest, and two more children afterwards. Talks about learning about mustering from neighbours at Heron Lake and Mount Somers station. Refers to working for others farms while he had his own. Says he lived 32 years at Alford Forest, and has been retired 22 years in Ashburton. Abstracted by - Nicola Roberston Interviewer(s) - Kathryn McKendry Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016780 - OHC-016781 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Electronic document(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Physical Description: Textual files - Adobe PDF Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-6040, OHDL-001835. Search dates: 1918 - 2007

Date: 1942-1943

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

Reference: PA1-q-298

Description: Photographs of New Zealand military personnel serving in North Africa and the Pacific during World War 2, 1939-1945, taken by various photographers and compiled for official purposes. Many of the group portraits are fully named in the album, many of whom are not listed above. Scenes include various views of the Kiwi Concert Party (with a named group portrait) on tour and in action, in Syria, Alexandria, Tripoli & Malta (p 1-5, 42, 137-138); New Zealanders in the RAF at Middle-Eastern stations (p 6-7, 19-23); casualties and medical officers from the El Alamein battle at a NZ military hospital, including a view of twin brothers E R & E O Riley who painted a mural while convalescing (p 8-9, 23); a group of NZ merchant seamen visited the 2nd NZEF base at Maadi with one of the soldiers at the base (A Currie, E Warner, D Duff (all from Lyttelton) and S Rogers from Wellington), with soldier W E M Cornish (also from Lyttelton). Lieutenant-General Montgomery inspecting troops and presenting awards (p 10-180 and Monty in the desert (p 63); from the Azizia region to Tripoli (p 24-36) including stacks of German bombs abandoned near Azizia, troops on leave in Tripoli, Monty visits, parades, scenes with Winston Churchill and Bernard Montgomery; inspection of troops and awards presented by General Freyberg (p 68-72, 75-76). The Libyan battle and advance to Benghazi; Xmas scenes at Maadi Camp (p 40-41), at the Helwan Hospital (p 53-54) & at Sirte (p 55-56); scenes of flooding in the desert; light naval craft in the harbour of a Western Desert port. Nursing sisters in the Western desert (p 45-49); infantry troops taking an Italian fort "Forte Giudice[?]" (p 50-51). Visit of the NZ Minister of Defence (Hon Frederick Jones (p 52-53, 84-85, 94-97, 125-127); presentation of 2 ambulances by the Hugh Baird family (Hastings) and the Sutherland Ross family (Dunedin). Clearing mines (p57-59); Divisional Signals in the desert (p 60-61); photographs taken on a German camera captured in the Sidi Barrani area (p 64-66); various sporting events including rugby championships in Tripoli (p 67-68) & Alexandria (p 72-74), hockey, tennis (p 149), swimming (p 149), and athletics in Cairo (p 127-129). An ambulance train, diesel drawn train of ambulance carriages operated by NZ engineers (p 79); NZ Spitfire fighters operating from Britain (Fl/Lt Pattison, Squad. Leader R J C Grant (DFC, DFM) & Fl/Lt Baker (DFC)); South Island airmen making a broadcast to NZ from the studios of the Canadian Broadcasting Studios in Halifax. Final phase of fighting in North Africa (p 89-93) and the surrender by General Messe, the German Chief of Staff. Scenes of the "First New Zealand Mule Pack Company" (p 129-131) for transporting ammunition and suppliesl in Tunisia; the marriage of Brigadier Kenneth MacCormick to NZ WAAC Joan Stewart Fenwick at Maadi Camp; reproductions of paintings and portraits by war artist Peter McIntyre (p 100-105, 113-114), including members of the Long Range desert Group, Benghazi, Siwa, Monty, Norman Johnston (NZ Broadcasting Unit) and entry into Tripoli. NZers at Stalag 18A Germany (photo taken by A "Carl" Carlisle); passing through Gabes & Sousse; arrival of men in NZ on home leave from Egypt (p 111-113), and office scenes showing the ballot for home leave (p 139-140); British and NZ forces repatriated from Italy on a hospital ship to Alexandria (p 115-116) and a British Embassy garden party for the troops held in the British Embassy grounds in Cairo (p 121-122, 131). Captured German weapons; the end of the North African Campaign; NZers in Britain; NZ prisoners in an Italian prison camp (photo taken by one who was repatriated (L P Halle from Wanganui); celebration of Empire Day in Cairo; command performance by unites of the Allied Forces for the King of Egypt; a group at Medinine; arrival back at Base Camp of the NZ Division after 2000 mile journey from near Tunis back to Maadi after continuous campaigning for nearly a year. Arrangement: Images in album form single numerical sequence, 2115-2555. 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.