Wavell, Archibald Percival Wavell, 1st Earl, 1883-1950

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-294

Description: Photographs of New Zealand military personnel serving in Greece, Crete, the Middle East and Egypt during World War 2, 1939-1945, taken by various photographers and compiled for official use. This album includes a number of official photographs taken for the British official records. Many of the personnel identified are listed above, but group portraits in which individuals are identified are not listed above. Many views show aspects of military training in the desert, including machine guns, rifles, manoeuvres, Bren guns, range practice, and anti-tank guns. New Zealand Divisional Cavalry. In England military training and preparation includes scenes of the New Zealand High Commissioner in London, William Joseph Jordan, watching New Zealand lumberjacks from the New Zealand Forestry Corps in a Gloucester forest felling trees for war purposes. Also related to England are scenes of the Duke of Gloucester inspecting troops, and King George VI at an investiture at Buckingham Palace investing Flight-Sergeant Williams with his Distinguished Flying Medal for gallantry in air operations. Long Range Desert patrols and expeditions into enemy territory showing the difficult terrain they had to negotiate. Views of a formation of five American-built Lockheed Hudson aircraft of the RAF Coastal Command carrying out an action patrol near Borkum, Heligoland and the Danish Coast. They are the first released photographs taken while under fire from German anti-aircraft ships, flying only 200 ft above the sea because of the weather (p 15-21). One image shows a wireless operator checking one of H.M. the King's homing pigeons, presented to the RAF to carry messages in case of a forced landing & breakdown of wireless. Arrival of NZ airmen & pilots for duty with the RAF in 1941. Gift of fruit and vegetables presented to NZ troops stationed in Fiji, transported 60 miles by boat from Kandavu, formally accepted by Brigadier Cunningham. (A number of images of Cunningham are dotted throughout the album). Views of the sinking of the Italian raider Ramb I, by HMS Leander in February 1941 (p 33-37). Scenes of a huge field bakery run by Egyptian bakers which can supply 3500 loaves each day. Also the "Waiwera Hotel - the 'ouse on the 'ill" cookhouse in the desert; and other scenes of food preparation. Relaxation organised by the YMCA, and the opening of the Lowry Hut run by the YMCA. Shipboard life on a transport ship, including games, relaxation and officers censoring mail. Floods after heavy rain in the Western Desert along the Mediterranean fringe (p 61-64). The Oranje leaving Amsterdam on her maiden voyage; used as hospital ship for Australian and New Zealand forces. Groups at the Royal Canadian Air Force Bombing and Gunnery School, all of whom are named (p 67-69). Prime Minister Peter Fraser's visit to the Middle East (p 69-72), his visit to Greece (p 93-105), and inspecting the hospital ship Maunganui (p110-111).) The No. 1 General Hospital in Greece. War damage to New Zealand House in London (p 105-106). Italian prisoners of war in a soccer match "NZ vs Italy" in Egypt (p 79-81); German parachute troops wounded and taken prisoner in Crete; captured swastikas used to hoodwink the enemy into dropping supplies. Fighting and evacuation of Crete. Evacuation of the Greek Royal party by a bodyguard of New Zealand soldiers, with views of a reception given by His Majesty the King of Greece, showing Lieutenant W H Ryan, Princess Marie, lady Palairet, Prince George, Prince Peter, and British military attache Colonel J S Blunt. Group portrait of New Zealanders in Britain training for the Fleet Air Arm (members named). Members of the New Zealand Bomber Squadron of the RAF who have been part of the raids on Germany, particularly on Berlin. (Several group portraits, some of which are named). Several photographs of unidentified men who escaped from Crete in barges. Arrangement: Images in album form single numerical sequence, 398-791 Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with faded blue cover, black corners and spine; 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: 25 Jan 2001

From: Second World War oral history project - Crete

By: White, John Charles (Sir), 1911-2007

Reference: OHInt-0729-15

Description: Sir John Charles White born Dunedin 1911. Mentions attendance at Columba College, McGlashan College, Dunedin and Wellesley College. Refers to cadet training at school. Recalls enlisting for World War II and explains how he became ADC [aide-de-camp] to General Freyberg, and role expected of him as ADC. Mentions changes in size of Freyberg's command, length of time in Egypt, impressions of Freyberg while in Egypt and the general's association with General Wavell [Commander in Chief, Middle East]. Refers to Brigadier Puttick who took command while [General] Freyberg was in England. Describes Freyberg's feelings about New Zealand. Talks about Freyberg's role in Greece and his role at Larisa. Talks about own role in lead up to battle of Crete and being stationed at Creforce Headquarters. Refers to Jack Griffiths, other ADC to Freyberg. Recalls duties before battle on 20 May [1941] and refers to [George II] King of Greece being on Crete. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Jock Phillips Accompanying material - map of Greece showing Creforce Headquarters Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-009472-009473; OHLC-004838-004839 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3070, OHDL-001155. Search dates: 2001

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

Reference: PA1-q-286

Description: Official photographs from World War II, very few of which have captions. Scenes show activities associated with training, social life and daily life in the New Zealand camps in Egypt and the Middle East, with a few relating to New Zealand activity in Fiji, and also scenes of bomb damage at New Zealand House in London. Various activities include the demonstration of light observation towers suitable for flat desert country; soldiers sorting mail; making ammunition ready for firing; artillery training; a NZ "tough bus" towing a gun; a rugby match in the Western Desert; soldiers keeping warm around a small fire; bread making; sorting and delivering stores; repairing vehicles; transporting a vehicle on a pontoon; dinghies; sandbags; storage of fuel with camouflage covering; scenes with Prime Minister Peter Fraser on an official visit to Egypt; interior views of the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo, with one picture of war artist Peter McIntyre painting a mural in the club; the YWCA building erected, furnished and maintained by the National Patriotic Fund Board showing the exterior, the canteen, and a large group of soldiers at a sing-song around a piano Photographs numbered 453-456 (p 118-119) show bomb damage to the exterior and interior of New Zealand House in London, taken by an official photographer (1941?). 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: 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

By: McIntyre, Peter, 1910-1995

Reference: PAColl-4161-01-200

Description: Photographs of the paintings done by Peter McIntyre, official New Zealand war artist, during the war in North Africa. Also photographs of the opening of exhibition of NZ official war artists paintings at NZ Forces Club, Cairo. Includes photos of exhibition guests including Sir Miles Lampson, Lady Freyberg, Jean Begg, and Captain Peter McIntyre. Large number of captioned photos of McIntyre's war paintings done in North Africa (multiple copies of many); also portraits of Field Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell; Miss E M Nutsey; Charles Upham; General Sir Bernard Montgomery; war correspondent Norman Johnston; Gunner Sanders; others (unidentified). Scenes painted at Sollum Pass; near Daba; El Alamein; Minqar Qaim (Jun 1942); Belhamid; Takrouna; North African coast; Corridor of Tobruk; Tobruk; Benghazi; Sidi Rezegh; Tripoli; Capuzzo; Maadi; Siwa; Sidi Barrani. Quantity: 162 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 1941 to 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-297

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. Many individuals identified in the album are listed above. Scenes include physical training at the School of Instruction, Maadi Camp; reproductions of paintings by war artist Peter McIntyre (p 1-2, 93); scenes with His Excellency the Governor-General of NZ, Sir Cyril Newall, visiting Samoa and Fiji in 1942 (p 2-7); New Zealand members of ski units including members of the Maori Battalion at the Ninth Army Ski School in Syria; NZEF and Red Cross distribution of flour to Syrian people; parade through Aleppo. Officers, nursing sisters and Lady Freyberg at Anzac Day service at Maadi Camp in 1942; the visit of the NZ High Commissioner to a "west coast port", William Jordan and officers of NZ ships; arrival of pilots and observers for the RAF; scenes with King George VI & Queen Elizabeth visiting RAF Bomber Command, and the King watching landing exercises in Scotland. New Zealanders after withdrawing from the Libyan engagement; engineers constructing roads, lines of communication and supply in Transjordan; working with Arabs, reconstructing ancient wells; NZers in Amman. Group of NZers at Rouen sent back to Germany when arrangement with German authorities for mutual repatriation of prisoners broke down; NZ medical personnel repatriated from Italy to the Middle East under the Geneva Convention (many named); the Duke of Gloucester visiting the NZ camp at Maadi; locomotives being unlaoded on lighters and NZ engineers in their living quarters on the lighters at a Syrian port. The Pacific War Council in the Cabinet Room at the White House. Entertainment and sport for NZ troops in the Middle East included cricket, racing, bathing in the Dead Sea, boxing and wrestling championships. Campaign against malaria, widening and deepening drains; participation at the Western desert battle front; Visit of a party of NZers to a bandit stronghold in Syra (p 62-64); Sergeant James Allen Ward's VC with illustrations (p 71-72); Winston Churchill visiting NZers in the Western Desert (p 77-80, 82); the Alamein front; the NZ General Hospital at Beirut in Syria housed in former French barracks (p 86-90). A studio party in New York for Unted Servicement; a New York Bond Party; and later, a group of NZers in New York. RNZAF training in Canada (group portrait); NZers in North Western Alaska, and a group of wireless operators in Canada. Recipients of awards (named above); Kiwi Concert Party. Pursuit of the Axis Forces and war material abandoned by Germans and Italians (p 104-125); advance to Tripoli (p 128-138). Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with faded blue cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22 cm

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

Date: [ca May 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-01107-F

Description: New Zealand Prime Minister Peter Fraser standing with Emily May Nutsey, General Wavell and other nursing staff in the forecourt of the Shepheards Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, during World War II. Photograph taken circa May 1941 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative

Date: [ca May 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-01094B-F

Description: New Zealand Prime Minister Peter Fraser standing with Emily May Nutsey and General Wavell in the forecourt of the Shepheards Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, during World War II. Photograph taken circa May 1941 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, 1/2 plate

Date: 24 Feb 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

Reference: DA-00535-F

Description: Distant view of troop inspection at Maadi military camp by Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief of British Land Forces in the Middle East. Taken in 1940 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic 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 May 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-01094A-F

Description: New Zealand Prime Minister Peter Fraser standing with Emily May Nutsey and General Wavell in the forecourt of the Shepheards Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, during World War II. Photograph taken circa May 1941 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative, ¼ plate

Date: Dec 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

Reference: DA-00960-F

Description: Special Order of the Day, dated 23 December 1940, issued by General Wavell on the occasion of the success of the First Libyan Offensive, World War II. Taken circa December 1940 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative

Date: 9 Nov 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

Reference: DA-00645-F

Description: General Sir Archibald Wavell, Major General Sir Bernard Freyberg and Brigadier Harold Barrowclough during the visit of the Emir of Trans-Jordania to Maadi Camp, Egypt. Taken on 9 November 1940 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative