Cunningham, William Henry, 1883-1959

Date: 1915

By: Cunningham, William Henry, 1883-1959

Reference: MS-Papers-1726

Description: Cunningham writes a partly retrospective account of his service with Wellington Infantry Battalion, his training in New Zealand in 1914, the voyage to Alexandria on board TS `Maunganui', training and manoeuvres there, his departure for Lemnos, and Gallipoli in Apr 1915 Source of title - Supplied Cunningham served at Gallipoli and Chunuk Bair as a Wellington Infantry Battalion officer and rose to the rank of Major-General during the Second World War. Quantity: 1 folder(s) (85 leaves). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holograph (photocopy)

Date: 1939-1945

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

Reference: PA1-q-294

Description: Photographs of New Zealand military personnel serving in Greece, Crete, the Middle East and Egypt during World War 2, 1939-1945, taken by various photographers and compiled for official use. This album includes a number of official photographs taken for the British official records. Many of the personnel identified are listed above, but group portraits in which individuals are identified are not listed above. Many views show aspects of military training in the desert, including machine guns, rifles, manoeuvres, Bren guns, range practice, and anti-tank guns. New Zealand Divisional Cavalry. In England military training and preparation includes scenes of the New Zealand High Commissioner in London, William Joseph Jordan, watching New Zealand lumberjacks from the New Zealand Forestry Corps in a Gloucester forest felling trees for war purposes. Also related to England are scenes of the Duke of Gloucester inspecting troops, and King George VI at an investiture at Buckingham Palace investing Flight-Sergeant Williams with his Distinguished Flying Medal for gallantry in air operations. Long Range Desert patrols and expeditions into enemy territory showing the difficult terrain they had to negotiate. Views of a formation of five American-built Lockheed Hudson aircraft of the RAF Coastal Command carrying out an action patrol near Borkum, Heligoland and the Danish Coast. They are the first released photographs taken while under fire from German anti-aircraft ships, flying only 200 ft above the sea because of the weather (p 15-21). One image shows a wireless operator checking one of H.M. the King's homing pigeons, presented to the RAF to carry messages in case of a forced landing & breakdown of wireless. Arrival of NZ airmen & pilots for duty with the RAF in 1941. Gift of fruit and vegetables presented to NZ troops stationed in Fiji, transported 60 miles by boat from Kandavu, formally accepted by Brigadier Cunningham. (A number of images of Cunningham are dotted throughout the album). Views of the sinking of the Italian raider Ramb I, by HMS Leander in February 1941 (p 33-37). Scenes of a huge field bakery run by Egyptian bakers which can supply 3500 loaves each day. Also the "Waiwera Hotel - the 'ouse on the 'ill" cookhouse in the desert; and other scenes of food preparation. Relaxation organised by the YMCA, and the opening of the Lowry Hut run by the YMCA. Shipboard life on a transport ship, including games, relaxation and officers censoring mail. Floods after heavy rain in the Western Desert along the Mediterranean fringe (p 61-64). The Oranje leaving Amsterdam on her maiden voyage; used as hospital ship for Australian and New Zealand forces. Groups at the Royal Canadian Air Force Bombing and Gunnery School, all of whom are named (p 67-69). Prime Minister Peter Fraser's visit to the Middle East (p 69-72), his visit to Greece (p 93-105), and inspecting the hospital ship Maunganui (p110-111).) The No. 1 General Hospital in Greece. War damage to New Zealand House in London (p 105-106). Italian prisoners of war in a soccer match "NZ vs Italy" in Egypt (p 79-81); German parachute troops wounded and taken prisoner in Crete; captured swastikas used to hoodwink the enemy into dropping supplies. Fighting and evacuation of Crete. Evacuation of the Greek Royal party by a bodyguard of New Zealand soldiers, with views of a reception given by His Majesty the King of Greece, showing Lieutenant W H Ryan, Princess Marie, lady Palairet, Prince George, Prince Peter, and British military attache Colonel J S Blunt. Group portrait of New Zealanders in Britain training for the Fleet Air Arm (members named). Members of the New Zealand Bomber Squadron of the RAF who have been part of the raids on Germany, particularly on Berlin. (Several group portraits, some of which are named). Several photographs of unidentified men who escaped from Crete in barges. Arrangement: Images in album form single numerical sequence, 398-791 Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with faded blue cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22.0 cm

Date: [1941-1942?]

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: PA1-q-286

Description: Official photographs from World War II, very few of which have captions. Scenes show activities associated with training, social life and daily life in the New Zealand camps in Egypt and the Middle East, with a few relating to New Zealand activity in Fiji, and also scenes of bomb damage at New Zealand House in London. Various activities include the demonstration of light observation towers suitable for flat desert country; soldiers sorting mail; making ammunition ready for firing; artillery training; a NZ "tough bus" towing a gun; a rugby match in the Western Desert; soldiers keeping warm around a small fire; bread making; sorting and delivering stores; repairing vehicles; transporting a vehicle on a pontoon; dinghies; sandbags; storage of fuel with camouflage covering; scenes with Prime Minister Peter Fraser on an official visit to Egypt; interior views of the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo, with one picture of war artist Peter McIntyre painting a mural in the club; the YWCA building erected, furnished and maintained by the National Patriotic Fund Board showing the exterior, the canteen, and a large group of soldiers at a sing-song around a piano Photographs numbered 453-456 (p 118-119) show bomb damage to the exterior and interior of New Zealand House in London, taken by an official photographer (1941?). Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with dark blue cloth cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22.0 cm

Date: [1941]

From: Coates, Joseph Gordon, 1878-1943 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1785-209

Description: Correspondents entered in the Name field; also includes plans of road development in Waiwera Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: [ca 1900-196-]

From: New Zealand Law Society :Photographs

Reference: PAColl-8972-3

Description: Portraits of Presidents of the New Zealand Law Society from 1897-1968. Quantity: 12 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Photographic prints, with mat boards

Date: 1940

From: Coates, Joseph Gordon, 1878-1943 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1785-204

Description: Most correspondents identified and entered in the Name field; also includes National Service Committee leaflet; pages from `Flashlight' (Feb 1940) relating to Frank Goldberg Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 23 Feb 1916

By: Hughes, Robert, 1855-1944

Reference: MS-Papers-4192

Description: The letter describes the assault on Chunuk Bair, 7-8 Aug 1915 and comments on the account of these events published in Sir Ian Hamilton's last Gallipoli dispatch. Cunningham served with the Wellington Regiment at Gallipoli and later commanded the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment in France Source of title - Supplied title Quantity: 1 folder(s) (6 leaves). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holograph (photocopy) Processing information: Digitisation details - Part of WW100 digitisation project. 6 digitised images

Date: [ca 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

Reference: DA-01148-F

Description: Portrait of Brigadier William Henry Cunningham, O/C Military Forces in Fiji, seated in a garden. Taken circa 1940 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative

Date: Between 1940 and 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: PA1-q-294-057-518

Description: Orioginal caption reads: "Brigadier W H Cunningham, CBE DSO VD, Officer Commanding the Forces in Fiji, taking the salute during the Anzac Day parade in Suva. Both New Zealand and Fijian troops paraded in the most impressive military display ever seen in Fiji. A short service was held before the march past. Residents of Suva assembled in full force to witness the parade. Fijian troops can be seen in the background." Photograph taken between 1940 and 1942 by an unknown photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Gelatin silver print 15.4 x 21.3 cm mounted on album page

Date: [ca 14 March 1951]

From: Evening post (Newspaper. 1865-2002) :Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post newspaper

Reference: 114/268/08-G

Description: Major General W Cunningham photographed circa 14 March 1951 by an Evening Post photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Dry plate glass negative 3.25 x 4.25 inches

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).