Upton, Geoffrey Thomson, 1912-1989

Date: 1955-1969

From: Ballantyne, David Watt, 1924-1986 : Papers

Reference: 88-012-05A/4

Description: Inward and outward correspondence; identified persons entered under Name below. Letter from Ballantyne to John; and to Miss Mason; letter from Pamela, Auckland, to Vivienne Ballantyne; letters to Ballantyne from Pat B; the McLeods, Forest Hill, United Kingdom; and one unsigned note. Also financial and personal papers; notes; passenger contract ticket `Castel Felice', Southampton to Auckland, Dec 1965; newspaper clippings and articles about Anthony Burgess and other papers. Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1943-1944

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

By: Barns-Graham, Allan Barclay, 1906-2006

Reference: PA1-q-303

Description: Photographs of New Zealand military personnel serving in the Pacific theatre during World War 2, 1943-1945, taken by various photographers and compiled for official purposes. Many individuals identified are listed above, but while many others are identified in group portraits they are not named above. Amongst the official NZ photographs there are a few from the official British war photographs. Signals personnel train at the New Zealand School of Signals in New Caledonia; New Zealanders construct roads on Vella Lavella; the Post office at Vella Lavella; the boot repair section; arrival of Xmas mail in New Caledonia. Works services engaged in construction of the NZ General Hospital No 4; hospital wards; wounded and sick soldiers with nursing staff; and convalescents; Xmas dinner at the Artillery Training Dept; New Year function at the No 4 General Hospital (Boguen Detachment); an ice cream plant amenity provided by the NZ National Patriotic Fund Board. Field maintenance camp in the Solomons. Various sporting activities at a number of sites in the Pacific including boxing championships, race meetings, aquatic sports carnival on Vella Lavella including a Xmas-New Year treasure hunt; native canoes; cricket; rugby games and team portraits; New Year sports meetings; road race; swimming carnival and basketball. Group portraits of officers and staff at the New Zealand Base Reception Depot; the Base Ordnance Dept.; Wharf operating Unit; WAAC personnel at the NZ Convalescent Depot; presentation of awards by H E Barrowclough. Embarkation of NZ troops for a commando raid on Green Islands (known as the Green Island Campaign and as the Nissan Campaign); troops boarding a destroyer by means of nets on the side; soldiers wounded in the raid; men camouflaged with blackened faces; LSTs (Tank Landing Ships); unloading heavy vehicles and equipment form LSTs; fresh water being brought ashore from an LST; LCI (Landing Craft for Infantry) amphibious ships. Parade of various NZ troops welcoming "Fighting French" volunteers home from North Africa; a NZ casualty clearing station at Guadalcanal. Activities of NZ troops at Nissan Island; capture of Japanese antitank guns, army radio sets and medical equipment; group portraits of various personnel on Nissan Island. Dr W W Hallright with assistants giving medical treatment to Nissan Island natives prior to their being evacuated to Guadalcanal, and also giving medical treatment for Pinipel natives. Scenes on Treasury Island include native islanders thatching a roof for a new church at Falamai built by NZ soldiers in memory of NZ and American soldiers, and presented to the nation to replace their church which had been destroyed by fire in the Treasury Islands campaignl; the cemetery at Falamai; a church service at the open air "St James' Theatre"; yacht races; a barbershop. On Nissan Island the No 2 Platoon of a Field Co. engineers constructing Halas Pier and Salipal Pier; a sawmill operated by Field Park Sawmill section; Field Ambulance laboratory; malarial control unit; group portraits of various sections; wood chopping competitions. In New Caledonia there are many scenes of the Kalavere Hospital and the 2nd NZ Convalescent Depot; the opening of the new Kiwi Club built by NZ work services personnel who built it from prefabricated sections made in NZ, with representatives from the NZ National Patriotic Fund Board attending; a dance at the club; dance band; and the Moindah Racing Club meeting. On Mono Island a naval control tower; and Saveke Bridge built by NZ engineers. On Stirling Island scenes of an antitank battery; army and navy personnel meet on Treasury Island; Anzac Day parade in Bourail Camp (New Caeldonia); scenes of members of the Fijian Defence Force with New Zealanders in Bouganville; a native church at the Allied Cemetery in Guadalcanal. Views of the Royal New Zealand Navy in the Pacific showing crew members; the boiler room; engine room; gun crew practice; and depth charge drill. Black and white reproductions of 5 paintings by 3rd NZ Division war artist Lt Allan Barns-Graham: The town of Bourail; a bridge designed and built by NZ engineers designed to carry the heaviest loads; a sketch of a fox-hole near Island Command on Vella Lavella; caped men returning from an engagement on Nissan Island; and the landing at Pokonian Plantation. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with faded blue cover, darker blue corners and spine; 34.5 x 22.0 cm

Date: 08 Mar 1985

From: NZ News Ltd: Sound recordings

By: Upton, Geoffrey Thomson, 1912-1989

Reference: OHInt-0135-01

Description: Geoffrey Upton gives details of the amalgamation of the 'Lyttelton times' and 'Taranaki daily news' into NZ Newspapers Ltd in 1925. Discusses the Leys family, experiences as a student at Cambridge University in England and as a reporter in Glasgow, Christchurch and Auckland, mentions fellow students and newspaper staff. Describes his military experiences before, during and after World War II in Fiji, Auckland and the Solomon Islands with reference to the sinking of the 'Niagara'. Explains history of the acquisition of 'Waikato times', Hilton Keys' involvement, 'Northern advocate', 'Southland times', 'Hawkes bay herald-tribune' and Hawkes Bay Newspapers Ltd, 'Napier daily telegraph', Brierley involvement, 'Eve magazine', 'NZ home journal', 'NZ pictorial', details of editorial policy with reference to Korean war and Suez affair, editors Eric Dumbleton and others. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Auckland Interviewer(s) - Ross Sayers Venue - Auckland Accompanying material - Copies of newspaper articles from the Auckland star about the passenger ship Niagara which was sunk by a mine. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002462 - OHC002463A Quantity: 2 C90 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2.15 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 429. Search dates: 1912 - 1985

Date: 1979 - 01 Jan 1979

From: NZ News Ltd: Sound recordings

Reference: OHInt-0135-14

Description: Recordings of speeches made at the farewell function for G T Upton. Includes: L Steven, Pat Hewlitt and G T Upton. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Auckland Accompanying material - Photographs and negatives taken at the Farewell function are included in the NZ News Ltd collection. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002477 Quantity: 1 C90 cassette(s). 1.45 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - no abstract(s) available.

Date: [ca 1940]-1985

From: New Zealand News Ltd :Photographs

Reference: PAColl-8070-7

Description: Photographs relating to Geoffrey Thomson Upton. One is a portrait taken at the time he enlisted for the Second World War. Another shows him on a motor scooter on the Taupo Golf Course in October 1985. The remainder is a record of Upton and guests at a farwell dinner which took place in Auckland when he retired as Chairman of the Board of Directors of New Zealand News Ltd which was in 1982. Quantity: 7 b&w original photographic print(s). 133 colour original photographic print(s).

Date: 1961-1972

From: Ballantyne, David Watt, 1924-1986 : Papers

Reference: 88-012-04A/5

Description: Inward and outward correspondence; identified persons entered under Name below. Also includes letter from Kay, Christchurch, to Vivienne Ballantyne; unsigned letter regarding Ballantyne's article on Reginald; details of Ballantyne's income as a writer for year to April 1963; school report for Stephen Ballantyne; notes, programmes for Tony Hancock production, Exeter, and `Look back in anger'; passenger information, `Castel Felice'; personal financial papers and other papers. Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1954-1973

From: Ballantyne, David Watt, 1924-1986 : Papers

Reference: 88-012-04A/4

Description: Inward and outward correspondence; identified persons entered under Name below. Also includes letters to Rt Hon Lord George-Brown, Courtaulds; and Cyril; and letters to Garth, Kingseat Hospital; and Sandy. Other material inclues personal financial material, notes, draft articles, reviews, newspaper clippings and articles, duplicated piece, `The thoughts of Jack Howard on blood in the streets' (7p) and other papers. Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1985

From: New Zealand News Ltd : Records

Reference: 89-072-70/2

Description: Includes biographical notes, newspaper clippings and farewell dinner menu and speech Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1939-1945

By: New Zealand Newspapers Ltd

Reference: PAColl-D-0395

Description: 12 portraits of Auckland Star staff who served overseas during World War II. Inscriptions: Backing board recto - above image - Title Quantity: 12 b&w original photographic print(s) mounted on card.

Date: 9 May 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: DA-00188-F

Description: Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Thomson Upton, Commanding Officer 1st Fiji Battalion. Photograph taken in the Pacific on 9 May 1944 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative

Date: 1939

By: New Zealand Newspapers Ltd

Reference: PAColl-D-0397

Description: Group portrait of Auckland Star literary staff Inscriptions: Backing board recto - above image - Title; Backing board recto - beneath image - Names Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s) mounted on card. Physical Description: 200 x 380 mm on card with mount