Peter, Prince of Greece, 1908-1980

Date: [Circa 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

By: McIntyre, Peter, 1910-1995

Reference: PA1-q-287

Description: Official photographs from World War II, very few of which have captions. General Freyberg is seen in many images, with different groups of officers and soldiers, and reviewing of New Zealand troops on parade. He is also shown receiving the Greek Military Cross from the Greek Minister of War, Stelios Dimitrakakis. The New Zealand Bomber Squadron is shown with their "Wellington Devil"; R.A.F. bombers with some New Zealand airmen returning from a raid on Berlin; and airmen from NZ joining the fighter force receiving final training on a Spitfire. There are scenes of activities associated with entertainment and sports. These include a pipe band of a South Island Battalion recently arrived in the Middle East, taken at Maadi, circa 1941, and one picture of four buglers; the Kiwi Concert Party performing in the Middle East (p 118-125); and sports including boxing, athletics, discus throw, tug-of-war, rowing and swimming. New Zealand Division Athletics Championships in Cairo (p 82-87). One set of photographs (p 58-68) were taken by a German photographer who was killed in Crete. They show Axis destroyers at Piraeus, in readiness to transport Nazi parachute troops and airborne infantry to an island airfield in the Aegean Sea used as a base for the invasion of Crete; Nazi bombers with groups of soldiers waiting to board a troop carrier; and two aerial views, one showing a Junker troop carrier nosed down into the Cretan Sea, and one showing wrecked German troop transports on Maleme aerodrome. Views of HMS Leander in the Middle East (p 70-75, 98-99). New Zealand crew members W. Hickford (Wanganui), E. Drabble (Auckland), J. Stewart (Wellington), A L Poad (Auckland) and K Newson (Wellington) are named in image no. 952 (p 71); a large range-finder in action; group of officers (identified in reference no. DA-01901); clothes-washing; mending clothes; serving the rum ration; a church service; gunners with a captured Breda gun (D.L. Graham-Cameron (Gisborne) and J. Kelly (Waitara)); repairing a torpedo; and deck hockey. The opening of the Lowry Hut at Maadi on 16th July 194l shows general Freyberg and Mrs Freyberg, Mrs A P F Chapman who was attached to the New Zealand YMCA which operated the hut, which was presented by her father Thomas Henry Lowry; and general scenes inside and outide the hut. The other club shown in this album is the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo, with a mural painted by war artist Peter McIntyre. There are also reproductions of some of his paintings on p 101 and 104-105. Ambulances were presented to the NZEF through the British American Ambulance Corps and the Anzac War Relief Fund, Maadi, with a number of photographs showing different types of ambulance, and a mobile surgical unit. At the reception of the Anzac War Relief Fund in New York they gave a demonstation of the Australian Indian type of ambulance which would be sent to the Middle East, at which the Hon. J G Coates, Nola Luxford were present, and at which the American president of the fund presented the Wings of Mercy badge to the Hon. Frank Langstone. A group of wireless operators and air gunners who attended the No. 11 W.A.G. course at Mountain View Air Station (Canada), p 111. (For full names see information noted on reference nos. DA-01417 to DA-01418, and DA-01420). Many photographs are related to the postal service, showing huge piles of incoming parcels and letters for the troops, with men sorting, collecting and receiving their mail. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with dark blue cloth cover, black corners and spine; 34.5 x 22 cm

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