Murzuq

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: [1940-1941]

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: PAColl-4161-01-152

Description: Series, of mainly uncaptioned photographs, of the Long Range Desert Group on surveillance patrols in Chevrolet trucks. Includes a series of individual portraits of the men in the Desert Group (unidentified). Captioned photographs show the surrender of Traghen; member of the Desert Group with women and children in the province of Chad; NZ and Free French Army troops taken beside their trucks during an expedition; L/Cpl L Roderick (NZ Divisional Cavalry) behind a machine gun on a car of the LRDG; Lt-Col J C d'Ornano of the Free French Army with L/Cpl Adams, L/Cpl Roderick and junior French officers; Murzuk Fort (Murzuq) on fire. Quantity: 129 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 28 Jun 1941-1942

From: Buckley, John David, 1901-1983 :Photographs

Reference: PA1-o-1805

Description: Photograph album compiled by Elizabeth Buckley of Taihape of photographs sent by her daughter Agnes Mary Buckley during her service as nurse during World War II, 1941-1942. Photographer is unidentified, but some images are likely taken by Agnes Mary Buckley and soldier Ron J Moore. Album contains images of Agnes's departure from Wellington, including portraits of Agnes in her nurses uniform, and a family group. Images of the ocean voyage feature deck scenes with other nurses and views from the side of the boat. Egyptian images are mainly tourist snaps around cities including Cairo, Alexandria, and Helwan. Street scenes show gharry carts, nurses, local people, and donkeys. Mosques, churches, Saladin Citadel, King Farouk Palace, various gardens, and the Great Sphinx of Giza, also feature. Contains images of the military camp, including Agnes's tent, the mess where the nurses ate, and other details of daily life such as practicing fitting gas masks and a garden party held for the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). Further images of Libya [possibly taken by Ron J Moore?] show military life, images of towns (mosques, locals, and animals), and geographical features (salt lake, oases, and rocky outcrops), and the aftermath of conflict. Transportation is featured with vehicles moving through the desert and convoys that have been attacked; the burnt out truck in which Captain Beech was killed and his grave are photographed. Also shows the Ford of Murzuk, Italian prisoners of war, soldiers' camps in the desert. Also contains a copy of a poem 'If' and a newspaper clipping of a photograph showing Moore and T M Hutchinson (both in wheelchairs) with Buckley at the New Zealand hospital following the men receiving bravery awards from General Bernard Freyberg (not pictured). Inscriptions: Front cover reads 'Photos from Cairo' check PAColl-10087 for missing prints Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Scrapbook album with blue card covers and pastoral illustration printed on the front cover