World War II Official album. 398-781

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