Clifton, George Herbert (Brigadier), 1898-1970

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: [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: 20 August 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-02600-F

Description: Winston Churchill meeting New Zealand officers at Alamein, Egypt, before inspecting a detachment of New Zealanders at the Alamein front. He is shaking hands with Cliff A Newland. General Freyberg and Brigadier Clifton are on the left. Image taken by an unidentified photographer on the 20th of August, 1942. Dated 29 August 1942 on the file print but correct date supplied by researcher. Churchill's "Second World War" Vol 4 p 464 records the date as 20 August 1942. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Film negative

Date: 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: PAColl-5547-017

Description: George Herbert Clifton and Lindsay Merritt Inglis in Egypt during World War 2. Photographer unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin print 103 x 153 mm

Date: Sep 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: DA-02894B-F

Description: Official captured film showing Brigadier George Herbert Clifton (left), after being taken as a prisoner of war, seen with General Erwin Rommel (2nd from right) and other German personnel in Egypt during World War II. Taken in September 1943 by an unidentified photographer. Film for this image taken from a German paratrooper killed on Crete Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative

Date: Feb 1940-1944

From: Gentry, William George (Sir), 1899-1991: Photograph albums

Reference: PA1-o-1767

Description: Photograph album compiled by Sir William Gentry. Contents relates to his military service in World War II, 1940 to 1944. Photographers are unidentified. - Contains scenes from military life in Egypt (Feb 1940-1944), Greece (March 1941), Libya (Nov-Dec 1941, Jan-Feb 1943), and Syria (Mar-Jun 1942). These include the arrival of the first and third contingents in Egypt and the officers' mess, baths, accommodation, and club at Maadi Camp. Troops on route to Greece on board 'HMS York' and the arrival at Piraeus. Italian prisoners from Albania in Athens and military conference with Greek military. Gun emplacements on the Metaxas Line and at Olympus Pass, German parachutists landing, Souda Bay following an air attack, training at Bagush (Oct 1941). Images from Libya feature convoys, desert battles, and gun emplacement at Sidi Rezegh as German tanks approach (1 Dec 1941). Syrian images feature the camp at Mutruh, including 'Freyberg Street', and various images from Minqur Qaim, including Freyberg's car and caravan, and an unidentified figure writing order to withdraw to Alamein. Images from the Alamein Line (Jul-Sep 1942) include the visit of Winston Churchill, troop inspections, Gentry getting award from General Bernard Montgomery, divisional headquarters, military meetings, various vehicles, and lights from artillery fire at night. Further images track the pursuit of Axis forces to Libya; these images include military convoys in Bagush and Mersa Brega. Also the crossing the Wadi Tamet, troops defusing mines, and a camp in Tripoli. Final images are of war graves at El Alamein in 1944. - Album features many images of General Bernard Freyberg with whom Gentry worked closely during the campaigns in North Africa in 1941-1942. Other notable figures include Emir Abdullah I of Jordan, General Archibald Wavell, Captain Reginald Henry Portal, General Henry Maitland Wilson, Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Blamey, Marshal Alexander Papagos, Brigadier Reginald Miles, General Claude Auchinleck, General Leslie Morshead, Winston Churchill, General Bernard Montgomery Those identified with first and last name are Sam Allen, William Stevens, Keith Lindsay Stewart, Geoffrey Cox, Maurice Hope, John Grey, Jan Peart, George Herbert Clifton, Julian Gascoigne, Oliver Leese, and 'Boomer' Watkins. Those identified by surname or given name only include Stewart, King, Padre, Doug, Miles, Allen, Crump, Tennent, Kenrick, Maxell, Inglis, Weir, and George. There are many other unidentified soldiers. - Images of tourist sites and local scenes include the Sphinx, donkeys, boats on the Nile River, scenes from Jaffa, Jerusalem in 1941 (Omar Mosque, Old City, Wailing Wall, Jaffa Gate) and a nearby village, Sweet Water Canal, the road to Helwan, local women carrying produce on the Maadi golf course, Mt Olympus, Athens and the Acropolis, Syrian Bedouin, camels, snow in Lebanon, ruins in Palmyra and Baalbek. Also a blossoming tree. - Newspaper clippings include an article detailing the New Zealand Forces withdrawal from Crete and service awards for campaigns in Greece, Crete, Libya, and Egypt; recipients of awards include Gentry (Order of the British Empire and Distinguished Service Order), Colonel George Herbert Clifton, Lieutenant-Colonel Stanley Fairgrieve Allen, and Captain Walter Wynne Mason. Contains clipping on Gentry succeeding the position of General Staff Officer and a poem by Philip Youngman-Carter titled 'Rain In the Desert'. General Freyberg's near capture in Libya and evasion of German aircraft fire in Crete is also covered, as is the welcome of troops back to Egypt by Prime Minister Peter Fraser. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Photograph album with embossed cover