Letters From The Pacific

[Dave Homewood]

I thought it would be interesting to share some letters that were sent home from the Pacific by RNZAF members during WWII, that made their way into print through various newspapers at the time. They demonstrate different aspects of life and sometimes the harsh realities that these young men were living under.

This fist one is from the NORTHERN ADVOCATE, 28 MAY 1945

Airman Browned Off With Mouldy Cakes In Patriotic Parcels

(Special) KOHUKOHU, This Day. “It is about time someone did something about the cakes sent to the Pacific; they are mouldy every time, due probably to having been in storage a long time,’’ stated an airman serving on a Pacific island station in a private letter forwarded for consideration to the Hokianga Patriotic Inter-zone Committee, .which met this week at Kohukohu.

"We cut the mould off the tops sometimes and eat them, but usually they are so mouldy right through that we have to throw them away,” the letter continued. "Of our last two parcels, six of us had to throw away 10 out of 12 cakes received — and nearly everyone on the station must have had to do that.'

All Sick of Tinned Tongues
According to the airman's letter discontent existed also in regard to tinned tongues. "They arrive O.K. for freshness, but the chaps just about live on them. I personally never want to see another one, and I am certain the chaps cannot enjoy receiving them in parcels. “It seems a terrible waste and we all realise the people back home have to pay for them. I know the people mean well, but the contents of the parcels will have to be changed a lot before they can be appreciated by everyone. Cheese, for instance, would be appreciated if put in parcels."

Test Conducted at Rawene
After having read the letter to the patriotic committee, the secretary (Mr H. Chappell) said that, in view of its statements, a tin which had been held in storage in the Rawene office for IS months because of awkwardness of packing had been opened. It was found to have developed a small amount of mould round the edge.

Judging by that test, he considered that the parcels must have been in storage at least two years. That seemed to be borne out by the fact that the writer had stated that 10 out of one batch of 12 cakes had had to be discarded. Cakes Packed Now Are Fresh

“The packs we are putting up now," added Mr Chappell, “are all taking in cakes which are fresh from the manufacturers. If sent away immediately, they should be perfectly satisfactory."

Mr W. W. Grant revived the suggestion that a date slip should be put into each parcel. Moving this as a recommendation to the Northland Provincial Patriotic Council, he proposed further that the letter should be forwarded to the same authority for investigation and action. This resolution was passed without dissent.

[Dave Homewood]

OTAGO DAILY TIMES, 11 DECEMBER 1943

A new description of the Pacific mosquitoes now familiar to many New Zealand servicemen is given in a letter from an airman stationed there. This is what he has to say: “ The mosquitoes are not the good-natured type found in New Zealand. They are rigged out with hydraulic drills, and they boast that they always get their man. Believe me, it is no idle boast, either," he adds.

[Dave Homewood]

AUCKLAND STAR, 20 OCTOBER 1944

PLAINT OF WASTE

PATRIOTIC PARCELS

GIFTS SENT TO THE PACIFIC

The problem of the patriotic parcel is a difficult one. Many women in New Zealand spend a considerable portion of their time providing and dispatching additional comforts for the boys serving with the forces overseas.

How are these gifts received? One can only know from the letters received in acknowledgement of the parcels, and many of these express the gratitude of the recipients. A letter received by an Avondale resident from her son who is serving with the Air Force in the Pacific indicates, however, that the selection of the goods sent in the parcels is not always a happy one.

"Though the thought behind the thing is appreciated, the parcels, as a general rule, are not," writes the airman, who goes on to describe a parcel he received. In it were a small cake and a tin of reduced cream which were most acceptable. This was not the case, however, with the remaining contents. Among these was a tin of green peas. "We get so many tinned green peas in our meals every day," says the airman, "that I can't stand the sight of them."

Then there was a tin of tongues. "Of all things - tongues! he comments. "Every third day we get tins for lunch, and sometimes for tea at night in white sauce. My tongues and everyone else's went to the dump." With regard to the inclusion of tins of meat and vegetables in the parcels, the airman states that these form the base of all meals where he is. As for boiled lollies, they eat them when they have nothing else.

"The destruction of these parcels by the lads," the writer continues, "is shocking, at least I thought so when I first arrived, but my parcel this time went with the rest to feed the fishes. Most of us, in order to provide a little variation from monotonous dehydrated foods, or hydraulic foods, as we call them, buy tins of peaches from the canteen. A tin of apricots is a swell meal for us. We look forward eagerly to getting something new in parcels. All we get is meat and vegetables or peas! Really it is sickening and discouraging. Whether this is done deliberately or whether the authorities are ignorant I don't know, but something should be done about it. The wastage of patriotic contributions in this manner is abominable."

[Dave Homewood]

NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 29 AUGUST 1945

FIJIAN WORKERS

AN AIRMAN'S PRAISE

THE HANDLING OF CARGO

"They marched to work singing, only as natives sing, equal to any male choir; they sang while they, worked, and they did work," wrote "Airman" in a letter to the editor of the Herald, describing the willing and happy way in which he had witnessed the Fiji Labour Battalion working on the wharf at Lnutoka, Suva.

"Airman's" letter was in answer to Mr H. Barnes, president of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union, who in reply to a statement by Brigadier J. G. C. Wales comparing the rates of work achieved by the Fijians and the Auckland watersiders, said he doubted if a conscripted native working for 2s a day would take the pride in his work described by Brigadier Wales.

"I clearly recall one night at Lautoka when the ship was late berthing," continued "Airman." "The Labour Battalion, under the command of their efficient officers, marched out of the darkness on to the jetty singing. They had to wait half an hour for the ship to berth. They did not break ranks, but much to the pleasure of the troops and the ship's company they sang numerous request numbers. Those evenings spent with the Labour Battalion were by far the brightest of all those weary months of service in the Pacific.".

Referring to the recent occasion when a number of Auckland watersiders refused to accept work because a quantity of angle iron had been stacked near the labour bureau on Central Wharf where they had to pick up their discs to signify acceptance of their assignments, "Airman" said that when they were standing about the natives did not seem to mind any heaps of cargo that might have happened to have been stacked to one side. While making comparisons regarding the handling of cargo, "Airman" said he could clearly recall Mr Barnes' recent trip to Sydney and his expressed astonishment at the amount of cargo being handled on the Sydney wharves without the help of modern equipment, in comparison with the smaller amount of cargo being shifted at Auckland with all the modern equipment which was available. "It is a pity Mr Barnes is allowed to stump the country agitating. In these days we need co-operation, not agitation," concluded "Airman."

[Dave Homewood]

Not quite a quoted letter but still an interesting slice of Pacific RNZAF life from the ELLESMERE GUARDIAN, 14 MAY 1943

OFF DUTY

RECREATIONS OF N.Z.

AIRMEN

SOME UNUSUAL HOBBIES

The similarity which characterises Air Force duties in both the South Pacific and New Zealand is the antithesis of the manner in which spare-time is spent in the two locations. Off-duty hours of R.N.Z.A.F. personnel in "the islands" is spent in a variety of ways — coconut retrieving, butterfly-collecting, crab-hunting, souveniring, out-door talking pictures at night, and, of course, in writing home.

Many of these diversions, of course, are strictly limited by locality, few islands offering the full bill, but on the other hand, no island being without some "sideline." Hobbies include butterfly collecting and hunting lizards and other queer creatures. In some of the islands the butterflies are extremely beautiful, and of many varieties, with the result that the collector can create an impressive and colourful display.

Hunting the grotesque and gigantic coconut crab is an interesting pastime, as these creatures have to be dug, burned, or blasted out of their miniature caves. Washing clothes can hardly be described as a pastime, but it certainly occupies much off-duty time.

In areas nearer the battle zone, wrecked Japanese aircraft attract a large following of souvenir hunters. This is no elementary business of souveniring for the sake of building up a collection of unusual bits and pieces; for there is much scope here for those of an inventive and ingenious turn of mind. Pieces of duralium from wrecked enemy aircraft are deftly fashioned into wrist watch bands, and pieces of broken plastic glass from windscreens are cut into unusual necklaces, the latter usually finding their way back to New Zealand.

Swimming is universally popular, that is, once the New Zealander loses his fear of sharks, with which, despite popular belief, the southern waters do not abound. In certain areas, outdoor picture shows are presented at intervals, and it is something of a novelty for New Zealanders to sit outside in the mild night atmosphere and see screenings of some of the latest American releases. These shows are very much appreciated "in the islands."

Diversions, however, have in the main to be created on the spot, pictures and mails being about the only side attractions not provided either by nature or luckless Japanese airmen.

The chief pleasure, of course, is receiving mail from home. On mail day one may see groups of men — some in tents, some under the shade of an aircraft wing, some sitting on logs — all intent on the news from home. The unfortunate who has not received a letter goes silently back to work, sympathetic souls curse — on his behalf — the vagaries of the mail system. This may be nothing more than a kindly act, but it is better to blame the mail. Not that the mail is perfect — that could hardly be possible in war time, as everyone knows. But if it were possible for a friend or relative in New Zealand to see what happens when the mails arrive in the islands, there would never be a disappointed airman going silently back to work. Much more could be written of the lives and activities of the members of the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Pacific.

Unfortunately, it might also be of interest to the enemy. You may be sure, however, that wherever they are and whatever they may be doing, they are all concerned primarily with one thing — to get on with the task of winning the war in the Pacific. And in this, New Zealand has every right to be proud of the part that is being played, by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

[Brenton]

There was a Archive NZ film showing sardines been caught in NZ then packed for the RNZAF and sent to the pacific. I watched it with my father who served there in late 44/45. He said just as the clip ended "Well,we never saw any of them!"

[davidd]

Dave, last post, to Officers' Mess?
Dave D

[Dave Homewood]

Sorry, what?

[Dave Homewood]

ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, 7 MARCH 1944

An Ashburton airman, stationed on an island in the Pacific, writing to friends in the town, gives an idea of how heavily it can rain where he is. On a recent occasion, according to the official records there were 11.21 inches of rain in 24 hours and of that four inches fell in four hours.