New Zealand. Army. New Zealand General Hospital (Helwan, Egypt)

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

By: McIntyre, Peter, 1910-1995

Reference: PA1-q-295

Description: Photographs of New Zealand military personnel serving in the Middle East and Egypt during World War 2, 1939-1945, taken by various photographers and compiled for official purposes. Many of the personnel identified are listed above, but group portraits in which individuals are named, are not individually listed above. Images include a consignment of 3000 cases of apples arriving at the New Zealand Forces Club in Egypt; YMCA secretaries of the NZEF in Crete before the blitz; NZ pilots at advanced RAF training school in England; King George II of Greece inspecting troops in the Middle East, being entertained by members of the Maori Battalion, and presenting medals to the platoon acting as his bodyguard on the Greek royal family's evacuation from Crete to Egypt (p 6-11). American aid to the ANZACs, showing a function in New York celebrating the presentation of over 100 ambulances to the fighting forces in Egypt, with (on p 12-15) views in Egypt of the ambulances & mobile surgical unit; the General Hospital at Helwan, with views inside wards, and life of convalescents including a swimming carnival, picnics and yachting (p 16-20); nurses' life at the General Hospital (p 139-141). Arrival of a mobile canteen for the YMCA (p 20-21); NZ soldiers on leave in Cairo; NZ cricket team at the Gezira Sporting Club (p 23-24); Parades of NZ units reviewed by general Freyberg; A YMCA canteen service van in Crete; opening of the Lowry Hut (p 8, p 28-30, p 34-35); Rowing races between a NZ team and Cairo representative team at the Cairo River Club (p 30-31, p 67). PM Peter Fraser's tour of NZ activities in Britain; broadcasts to NZ through the BBC's New Zealand programme (p 32-33, 92-93, 124-125); the New Zealand Forces Club (p 35-39, 44); ENSA Concert Party (p 40-42); staff at NZ House in London sorting parcels from NZ for NZ personnel. Attack on Crete (p 44-53), views taken by a German photographer who was killed in Crete, including Junkers transport carriers, Axis destroyers and wrecked German planes at Maleme airport; transport ship Glengyle after the evacuation from Crete. HMS Leander (p 55-61, p 79, p 84-85), includes group of sailors & NZ officers, all identified. Maori Battalion training in the Middle East; incidents during route march; two views of the official Netherlands Indies Women's organisation in wartime who looked after NZ airmen passing through batavia (Djakarta) (P 66, 68); sports meeting at the Prince Farouk Stadium Cairo (p 68-73, 83); artillery callibrating guns (p 73-79); field ordnance worlshops; Mobile Surgical Unit; copies of paintings by war artist peter McIntyre (p 87-91); Bomber Command Operational Training Unit. Postal unit (p 94-101); wireless operator air gunners after training at the WAG course at Mountain View Air Station in Canada (all named, p 96-97); investiture conferring Greek decorations on NZ officers (p 101-102, 110-111); Kiwi Concert Party (p 103-110); manouevres in the desert; fire brigade at NZ Base Camp (p 118-122); 2nd Echelon Office keeping personal records (p 120, 122-123); camp laundry in Egypt (p 128-130); work of a Light Aid Detachment in the field; the original ANZAC Club, Singapore (p 144); training under active service conditions in desert (p 145-149); visit by NZ soldiers to a stable maintained by the Egyptian Government at Heliopolis raising Arab horses. Arrangement: Images in album form single numerical sequence, 782-1226. Follows sequence established in PA1-q-294. Quantity: 1 album(s). Physical Description: Album with faded blue cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22.0 cm

Date: [ca 1940-1943]

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: PAColl-4161-01-179

Description: Five captioned photos of the NZ General Hospital, Syria (in former French barracks) - X-Ray Dept with soldier awaiting treatment (Lt D W Urquhart); view of interior of a ward; C.O. of the hospital at his desk; patients on the balcony (J H Reynolds & E W Smalley); Sisters N Newton, V M Hodges, A Berry & I Skegg). General view of the NZ General Hospital at Helwan, Egypt Quantity: 6 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 1941-1943

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-304

Description: Photographs relating to the New Zealand Army Nursing Service in Egypt, the Western Desert and Italy, taken by an unidentified photographer. The only people named in the album are Matron-in-Chief of the 2nd NZEF, Emma Nutsey, and General Sir H Alexander who visited the No 2 New Zealand General Hospital in Caserta. The first section includes the No 1 New Zealand Casualty Clearing Station, North African campaig; Mersa Matruh, a group of nurses outside the German and Italian hospital at Mersa Matruh; the nurses' compound at El Garbanyat; nurses at Agedabia; a wrecked german plance at Agedabia; and washing day in the desert No 1 NZ General Hospital at Helwan, showing the exterior of the former Grand Hotel; the sister's mess and garden around the mess; award at Helwan; and the first "mess" wedding held at the Kiwi Club in Helwan. No 2 NZ General Hospital at Gerawla in the Western Desert; railway station; signs warning of minefields; packing for departure. No 2 NZ General Hospital at Caserta; flooding at Caserta; General Sir H Alexander visites Caserta; wedding of Lieutenant J Searing and his wife, the first military wedding at Caserta. No 3 NZ General Hospital (Helmieh, Egypt) at the Helmieh Garrison; nursing sisters' mess; tent accomodation; sick bay; convalescent soldiers; mud and straw bricks being transported by native labour; the No 3 Hospital moves out from Helmieh in a convoy en route to Beirut, Syria. Beirut, officers' mess, matron's cottage, sisters' lounge, WAAC mess, and a fire in the WAAC's mess. Tripoli, the sisters' mess; Kiwi Concert Party; aerial photo of No 3 NZ General Hospital at Bari, Italy. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album in faded green paper cover, entitled "Photography" in black lettering; 34.5 x 22.0 cm

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: [ca 1887-1950s]

By: Seaward, Neville Stephen, 1913-2005; Tan, Sunny, active 2011

Reference: PAColl-9900

Description: One group portrait, an albumen print, of men with guns, possibly hunters, titled 'At the Butts Reefton Queen's Jubilee'. Notes on back read 'Luch. NZ Alpine Photo'. Photographer unidentified. Taken in 1887 or 1897 (The Golden Jubilee of 1887 celebrated 50 years of Queen Victoria's reign. Her Diamond Jubilee was held in 1897.) One of men and a woman in a canoe on the Avon River, Christchurch, taken circa 1900 by an unidentified photographer. One of Dawson Falls Mountain House, Mount Taranaki, showing children outside, taken circa 1900 by an unidentified photographer. Four taken during World War II comprising: A scene with troops on board a ship to Crete, Greece, showing Maori troops, possibly members of the Maori Battalion, performing an action song. They appear to be being accompanied by a piano accordian; Undated photograph of New Zealand troops playing rugby in Egypt before a very large crowd; a photograph of the camp at the 1st New Zealand General Hospital, Helwan, Egypt, 14 Jan 1941, with 'KSRA' noted on the back; soldier at an unidentified location photographing a tree with external roots and multiple trunks. Four scenic views of New Zealand taken circa 1950s. Three are taken by N S Seaward and show Wellington Harbour and surrounds, Milford Sound, and Queenstown. The fourth shows Oriental Bay, Wellington, and is taken by an unidentified photographer. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 11 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin prints and an albumen print Provenance: Donated by Sunny Tan, Wellington, 2011 Transfers: To Other - From Cartoon Archive: B-184-066 to B-184-070, and C-164-048: Hodgson, Trace, 1958- : [6 cartoons by Trace Hodgson] - To Ephemera Collection - Tanner Bros Ltd : The water front, Auckland. For auld lang syne. Maoriland postcard. FT Series X.2/704. [ca 1910] (Eph-A-POSTCARDS-Auckland-1910-01).

Date: 1937-[1945]

From: McGregor, Elizabeth Isabella Muriel, 1900-1989 : Letters from Grace Hall and James H Young

Reference: MS-Papers-10671-1

Description: Comprises letters from Grace Hall, friend of McGregor, from Cook Hospital, Gisborne (1937), and then when she was on active nursing service in WWI in the Middle East Forces. Includes letters from camp before sailing, on the ship, at the hospital in Egypt and on a hospital ship in the Mediterranean. Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1912-[ca 1946]

By: Godfrey, Agnes Mary, 1903-1944

Reference: MS-Group-2184

Description: Collection comprises letters with typed transcripts of them from Sister Anges Mary Buckley to her family written while serving with the New Zealand Army Nursing Service in Egypt and Italy during World War Two. Also includes scroll commemorating Buckley's military service, booklet entitled `The Untold story', a diary and birthday book, two published volumes and a folder comprising photocopies of Buckley's war record. Source of title - Supplied by Library Quantity: 10 folder(s). 1 volume(s). 0.11 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss, typescripts and printed matter Transfers: From Photographic Archive - PA-Group-00833.

Date: [ca 1940-1945]

By: Robinson, Leonard Rennell James, 1919-2000

Reference: PAColl-9923

Description: Photographs of Robinson and others taken during his service in the New Zealand Medical Corps in World War II. Also an image including German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel. Includes: One, possibly two, taken at the 1 New Zealand General Hospital in Egypt One of soldiers Bob Broadbent, John Rangi and Robinson, possibly in New Zealand One featuring the German General Rommel with a note on the back that reads: "This is my friend who had me prisoner for four days. Remember? Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 5 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin prints Provenance: Donated by Sandra Robinson, Hamilton, 2011. Donor is daughter of Leonard Rennell James Robinson. Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - MS-Group-2006: Robinson, Leonard Rennell James, 1919-2000: Papers.

Date: [ca 1914-1918, 1990s]

By: McKay, George Riddall, 1890-1951; Edmonds, Brian, active 2009

Reference: PA1-o-1525

Description: Photograph album compiled by George Riddall McKay comprising photographs of McKay's service during World War I in Egypt. Includes photographs of warships returning from Dardenelles, trams, Eyptian people, buildings, policemen, holy sites, river boats, New Zealand ambulances and hospitals, and the Sphinx and pyramids. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: 16 x 21.5 cm Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - McKay, George Riddall, 1890-1951: Papers relating to World War One (MS-Group-1767).

Date: [ca 4 Feb 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: DA-02375

Description: An Egyptian peddlar selling to New Zealand patients at the New Zealand General Hospital, Helwan, Egypt. Shows a man with a tin box around his neck accepting money from a New Zealand soldier who has his arm in a sling. Another soldier stands next to him. Taken by an unidentified photographer circa 4 February 1942. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: [Between 1939 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

By: Fox Photos Ltd

Reference: PA1-q-285

Description: Official photographs of World War II. This album chiefly shows the NZEF, First Echelon. Many photographs have captions, the information from which is mostly given in the name headings, subjects and place headings listed above. This first album contains images numbered from 1- 310. The first two images show a group of New Zealanders who were living in England when war broke out, and who volunteered for service with the new Zealand Unit. They are shown in training in the Eastern Command. The First Echelon are shown on board ship leaving Melbourne in 1939, with a number of shipboard scenes, then being addressed on arrival in Egypt by Sir Anthony Eden. There are views of the Kiwi Club, established mainly through the initiative of Lady Lampson, with the British Red Cross Society of Cairo, for use of convalescent patients at the new General Military Hospital at Helwan. Later a swimming pool was built nearby. Lady Lampson and Sir Miles Lampson are seen in many images. Views in the desert show several scenes of an Anzac Day service in 1940; various methods of transport, including lorries, and motor bikes, and a motor railcar patrolling the rail to Mersa Matruh; training exercises in the desert with various types of guns; digging trenches; building camp structures; dugouts leading to anti-aircraft posts; and camp life. The No. 4 General Hospital at Helwan is shown at the time of its opening, with the first patient arriving; and Lieutenant J H Will (the officer commanding the 4th Field Ambulance Regiment) handing over to Major E Button who was taking charge of the new hospital. Numbers of views show the huge mail parcels arriving and being sorted in the desert. As well as photographs of events in the Middle East, there are views of manoeuvres with the Second Echelon in England. 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: [ca 1941]

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-00614-F

Description: 4th New Zealand General Hospital in Helwan, Egypt, in the Grand Hotel [Helduan ?] building during World War II. Taken by an unidentified photographer, circa 1941. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).

Date: [ca 3 Nov 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: Bull, George Robert, 1910-1996

Reference: DA-03223-F

Description: Repatriated New Zealand prisoners of war recording a message for family back home shortly after their arrival at 1 New Zealand General Hospital, Helwan, Egypt, during World War 2. From left: Charles Goodwyn Lewis (with recording equipment), John William Proudfoot (holding microphone), Sergeant Harry A Taituha, Private C A Petrie. Photograph taken by George Robert Bull circa 3 November 1943. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: 2008

From: Cameron, Robert Joseph, 1932-2023: Papers relating to his World War I research

Reference: MSDL-0370

Description: Version one of electronic transcript of the diaries and letters of Eric Burnett (MS-Group-1701) covering his service in World War One 1914-1916. Transcript of diary includes earlier 1914 entries that are not in the original and the transcript of letters includes all but three of the original letters. Quantity: 293 kilobyte(s). 2 Electronic document(s). Transfers: Cameron created two versions of this transcript. The other is held at Library reference MSDL-2538..