Was based in the Western Desert in December of 1941
New Zealand. Army. 2nd NZEF. New Zealand Engineers. Railway Construction Company
World War II Official album. 1227-1668
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
World War, 1939-1945. Campaigns. Egypt
Date: [ca 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: PAColl-4161-01-074
Description: A few photographs include captions. A series of images relating to the work undertaken by the NZ Railway Construction Company NZE, including group photographs; series of images of town and country scenes in and around Cairo; soldiers recreation (beach, tennis and library); military weddings (Routledge and Mason weddings); NZ tanks in UN parade through Cairo; infantrymen training; damaged buildings; NZ Forces Club; etc Quantity: 92 b&w original photographic print(s).
World War 2 New Zealand Railway Construction Company, working in the Western Desert, No...
Date: Oct 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-00429-F
Description: World War 2 New Zealand Railway Construction Company, working in the Western Desert, North Africa October, 1941. Official war photograph. Photographer unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative
NZ Railway Construction Company at work on the Western Desert railway, World War II
Date: 2 Dec 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-02215-F
Description: New Zealand Railway Construction Company at work on the Western Desert railway during the advance into Libya, World War II. Taken on 2 December 1941 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative
Members of the New Zealand Railway Construction Company having a snack, Western Desert
Date: 2 December 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-02217-F
Description: Members of the New Zealand Railway Construction Company having a snack in the Western Desert, Egypt. Taken by an unknown photographer on 2 December 1941. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s).
Local women laying ballast on railway track in Syria, World War II - Photograph taken b...
Date: 15 Sept 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-02631-F
Description: Local women laying ballast on railway track under the direction of the New Zealand Railway Construction Company in Syria, World War II. Photograph taken on 15 September 1942 by M D Elias. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative
Mealtime with the NZ Railway Construction Company in the Western Desert, World War II
Date: 2 Dec 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-02218-F
Description: Mealtime for the New Zealand Railway Construction Company working on the Western Desert railway during the advance into Libya, World War II. Taken on 2 December 1941 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative
Tractor, and soldiers, of the 2nd NZEF Railway Construction Company, advance from Egypt...
Date: 12 Dec 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-02214-F
Description: Tractor, and 2nd NZEF soldiers, of the Railway Construction Company, advance into Libya, from Egypt, 12 December, 1941. Photographer unidentified. Note on back of file print reads "NZ Rly Const Unit in the WD. Tractors driven by NZers take up rails along the track route ready for laying." Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative
World War II New Zealand Railway Construction Company working in the desert, North Africa
Date: Oct 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-00433-F
Description: World War II New Zealand Railway Construction Company working in the desert, North Africa, October 1941. Shows Robroy Potter Forbes McGregor at front left. Official war photograph taken by an unidentified photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative