Roa, Sydney (Corporal), active 1942

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-296

Description: Photographs of New Zealand military personnel serving in the Middle East and England during World War 2, 1939-1945, taken by various photographers and compiled for official purposes. Includes photographs of New Zealand fighter and bomber pilots serving with the Royal Air Force, and several British Official photographs relating to New Zealand fighter pilot with the RAF, James Allen Ward, who was awarded the Victoria Cross. Most individuals identified in the album are listed above. Scenes include a visit by NZ soldiers to stables run by the Egyptian Government at Heliopolis; a NZ military band on tour in Palestine as part of a recruiting campaign; the arrival of the first party of Women's War Service Auxiliary in Egypt, and scenes of their life in the Welfare Section and at the New Zealand Forces Club (p 7, p 146-149); and RNZAF trainees at the Air Observer School, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. Life, military training and manouevres in the Western desert; ordnance workshops; the advance in the Western Desert; a NZ medical unit, a mobile surgical unit; hospital scenes (p 100, 103-105, 111). Sporting and entertainments include a wood-chopping "Axemen's Carnival" in South England; rugby matches in the Western Desert (p 29, 37-38, 82-83, 85, 93, 101-103, 107, 109); swimming (probably at Baggush; p 38-40, 44); and Christmas celebrations in the desert, including the Kiwi Concert Party (p 122-129); and a view of the YMCA Hostle at Alexandria. Inspection of NZ reinforcements in Egypt by William J Jordan (NZ High Commissioner in London); General Auchinleck presenting decorations to NZ soldiers, and reviewing NZ troops on the eve of the Libyan Campaign (p 49-57, 111-115); the Western Desert Battle, NZers bringing in German Prisoners of War; German General von Ravenstein captured by NZ troops, and scenes of various captured German vehicles, gas masks, a Nazi whip, and weapons; the Libyan advance (p 63-72); and the Railway Construction Unit in the Western Desert. Scenes of a New Zealand fighter squadron in Malaya (p 80-81, 87-89). NZers in Tobruk (p 96-99); one view of NZers at a Prisoner of War Camp in Germany (Stalag VI B) taken by Lieutenant Rangi (p 108); NZers arriving back at Base Camp after 5 weeks of imprisonment at Bardia, some of whom are named (p 117-121); four NZ soldiers who walked from Benghazi to west of Gazala (listed above); manouevres after the Libyan Campaign. Presentation of decorations by General Freyberg to members of the 2nd NZEF in hospital; views of a NZ Spitfire Squadron operating with the RAF Fighter Command, the planes subscribed for by the people of NZ (p 138-141); reproductions of paintings by war artist Peter McIntyre (p 133-138). Arrangement: Images in album form single numerical sequence, 1227-1668. 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 22.0 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

By: McIntyre, Peter, 1910-1995

Reference: PA1-q-288

Description: Official photographs from World War II, very few of which have captions. Scenes show activities relating to the New Zealand forces in the Middle East in 1941 and the beginning of 1942, including military training in the desert; social life and daily life in camps, scenes in hospitals, sporting activities and social clubs. Military leaders include General Freyberg, Brigadier Alexander Smith Falconer, Lieutenant-Colonel A S Wilder, Howard Karl Kippenberger and Field-Marshall Auchinleck. The New Zealand High Commissioner in Britain visited the tropps and can be seen inspecting the New Zealand reinforcements at Base Camp, Maadi. Several photographs show Charles Hazlitt Upham (awarded the Victoria Cross), including one portrait painted by war artist Peter McIntyre. Other paintings by Peter McIntyre are reproduced on pages 147-149, portraying the part played by New Zealanders in the Libyan offensive of November-December 1941, which McIntyre made from sketches drawn quickly on the field of battle. They include one of the NZ Infantry going into the attack at Sidi Rezegh; New Zealanders at Fort Capuzzo; the tank battle at Belhamid; New Zealand field workshops in the desert; an anti-tank gun in action at Sidi Rezegh; and tank "cavalry" scouting for Rommel's columns in the desert. The second Libyan campaign is seen in numbers of photographs. These include the advance into Libya after Fort Apuzzo fell to a New Zealand column; New Zealand engineers building a wharf at Tobruk; and German and Italian prisoners of war. Items captured include guns, German gas masks, German motor cycles, tanks, Nazi flags, and a captured whip. Three photographs show a group of four New Zealanders who fled from Benghazi on foot when unable to use vehicles after the road was cut behind them. They took about 11 days to walk 250 miles across the desert, gaining help from Arab groups on the way. (Drivers S G McKinnon (Auckland), A W Blackburn (Auckland), Corporal S Roa (Auckland) and Sergeant T W Gill (Wellington)). On pages 133-136 Middle East scenes show a group of New Zealanders arriving back at the N.Z. Base Camp after 37 days imprisonment in Bardia, Libya. 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: [Between Dec 1941 and Jan 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-02533-F

Description: A party of New Zealanders forming part of a motorised infantry unit were detailed to form a road block outside Benghazi. It was discovered that they could not use their transport to withdraw as the road was cut behind them. They decided to walk. They lived with Arabs, walked by day and night and were finally picked up by South African troops west of Gazala in Libya, after covering 250 miles on foot in eleven days. Group members identified as: Driver S G McKinnon (Ak), Driver A W Blackburn (Ak), Corporal S Roa (Ak), Sergeant T W Gill (Wn). Taken between December 1941 and January 1942 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative

Date: Jan/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-12354-F

Description: Dvr S G McKinnon, Dvr A W Blackburn, Cpl S Roa and Sgt TW Gill near Gazala, after a 250 mile walk in 11 days when the road was cut behind them, escaping from Benghazi through enemy lines. Taken circa January 1942. Identical image is at DA-02533 Transcribed from back of file print of identical image DA-02533:" A party of NZers forming part of a motorized infy unit were detailed to form a road block outside Benghazi. It was discovered that they could not use their transport to withdraw as the road was cut behind them. They decided to walk. They lived with Arabs, walked by day and night and were finally picked up by South African troops W of Gazala, after covering 250 miles on foot in eleven days." Inscriptions: Backing board verso - top centre - 4 RMT near Gazala after approx 10 days escape walk from Benghazi thru enemy lines Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).