Milestone Club (London, England)

Date: 1944-1945

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-301

Description: Photographs of New Zealand military personnel serving in Italy 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. Officers and personnel of the 9th NZ Infantry Brigade and of the 6th NZ Infantry Brigade at Trieste; thanksgiving service on the occasion of the end of war in Europe, and presentation of awards by Lt-Gen Sir B C Freyberg. Group portraits of No 1 & No 2 Platoons of Mechanical Equipment Company of New Zealand Divisional Engineers; various sports and entertainments including a trotting meeting at Montebello, Trieste; swimming regatta; athletics; hurdles; yacht race; skiing and staying at the NZ Alpine leave centre at Madonna di Campiglio, in the Brenta di Dolomiti (Southern Dolomites); sports in Florence (Allied track and field championships); swimming championships at Rome; water polo; motor cycle speedway events and rugby. New Zealand staff at the NZ Forces Clubs in Bari, in Rome, in Florence and in Venice. A memorial visit to Crete by members of the NZ Division who had been in the Cretan campaign in 1941, as guests of honour at a luncheon given by the people of Galatas; visits to the old Head Quarters; and a memorial service at the military cemetery; other memorial services at the Sangro Military Cemetery and at the Cassino War Cemetery. New Zealand troops on leave in the United Kingdom, visiting Hampton Court, Victoria Barracks, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral. Scenes with Freyberg inspecting troops before they leave for New Zealand; also members of "Jay Force" during their training in the Florence area; an illuminated address presented to Lt-Gen Sir B C Freyberg by 28 Maori Battalion during his farewell visit to the Divisional Unit, (the address includes a wooden frame carved by Charles Iotua Tuarau); Freyberg saying farewell to nursing staff at the NZ General Hospital (Florence); married men of the Tenth Reinforcement at the NZ Advance Base awaiting transport home; group portrait of the staff of the NZ Army Post Office at Bari on the day the post office disbanded. 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: 1940-1945

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: PAColl-4161-01-064

Description: Photographs relating to 2nd NZEF during their time in England; most include captions and individuals are named. Includes: Maori soldiers on leave outside Buckingham Palace; P N H Shepherd (Dunedin), N C W Nicholass (New Plymouth), R C Meadows (Christchurch) and A G W Brown (Auckland) at Milestone Club, London; groups of soldiers outside the San Remo Hotel, and Norfolk Hotel (Cliftonville); Anti-tank Battery practising and being inspected by Anthony Eden at Aldershot; Christmas presents arriving from NZ; High Commissioner W Jordan presenting Rt Hon Sir Walter Citrine, Gen Sec of the Trades Union Congress with cheque for provision of medical and hospital assistance for Soviet Russia through Help for Russia Fund of National Council of Labour; High Commissioner Jordan with Mr McGuiness, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Northern Ireland, 1943; opening of exhibition of war pictures including Peter McIntyre's `Tank Battle at Bel Hamel'; ANZAC Day in London showing wreath laying at Cenotaph by W J Jordan and Lt Col Bishop G V Gerrard who had just been released from captivity in Italy; Princess Elizabeth at Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, 19 Jun 1945; reception held at NZ Forces Club, Charing Cross following investiture at Buckingham Palace at which NZ heros were decorated (Includes F/O G B Page with Acting High Commissioner R M Campbell); march past on United Nations day; visit of Hon F Jones to Naval Depot, and inspecting Light Coastal Forces base on East coast; Winston Churchill inspecting NZ & Australian troops; voluntary workers at Fernleaf Club being thanked by Divisional Commander (NZ Tuis); reception for Lady Newall, wife of Governor General of NZ at NZ Forces Club; delegates of United Nations signing remembrance book presented to Emperor Haille Selassie; Nurse Shiels and W J Jordan (his WWI nurse); launching of a NZ warship by Lady Jellicoe; reception given by M Antoine Delfosse, Belgian Minister of Justice & Information in honour of the delegation in Great Britain of NZ Press; W J Jordan helping to load wste paper salvaged from NZ government offices in the Strand (NZ's effort for Westminster Waste Paper Week) Group photograph of Fernleaf Club Tuis (all named) Quantity: 46 b&w original photographic print(s).