Gorton, George Joseph William, 1898-1942

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: [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-00563-F

Description: Private G J W Gorton and Private C W D Tait shown after arrival at Maadi Camp following hospitalisation in Colombo. Taken probably in 1940 by an official photographer. Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Cellulosic film negative