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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 19, 2012 17:08:04 GMT 12
During the war the shortage of manpower on farms in the summer when crops needed to be harvested meant that special Army units were formed made up of experienced farmers who for several weeks or months went from farm to farm around the region harvesting crops (and I guess possibly also hay making?).
I was well aware of the Army doing this and have some documentation on the first such unit that was set up in November or December 1943, at the Army Camp at Cambridge. These units were based mainly in the Waikato (centred on Cambridge as a HQ) and in Canterbury, it seems. They assisted the Woman's Land Army and the farmers with getting in grain crops and other foodstuffs. It was important work as NZ was growing a lot of wheat for Britain as well as supplying NZ military and civil mouths. After the harvest these man always returned to their normal units and duties.
It has now come to my attendtion that the RNZAF also had Harvesting Units. No. 2 Harvesting Unit and No. 3 Harvesting Unit were I think both based at Harewood in 1945. I don't know about No. 1 HU, and if there were others.
Does anyone know more about these RNZAF units? Were they made up of Aircrafthand (General Duties) guys? Or were all trades involved? Were there WAAF's in these units too?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 19, 2012 22:59:01 GMT 12
Further reading finds that in 1945, No. 1 Harvesting Unit RNZAF was also based at Harewood.
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Post by Luther Moore on Apr 19, 2012 23:07:49 GMT 12
What size did these farms have to be? I know my Great Gran had to sell her farm because Bernard wasn't there to run it anymore.
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Post by pjw4118 on Apr 23, 2012 15:17:05 GMT 12
Dave, on p42 of Kiwis Do Fly is a photo of Alan Wilshire in uniform digging potatoes at Caterton in1942. Checking my notes, it seems he was man powered soon after joining up onto farm work, then aerodrome defence. He didnt get onto operations until late 1944, a longtime in the pipeline. Perhaps there were some that never came out !
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 23, 2012 15:44:33 GMT 12
Thanks Peter, I'll have to take a look at my copy when I get home. 1942 is earlier than i was thinking for the first harvesting units, I'm certain the first Army ones were formed at Cambridge and somewhere in Canterbury (Burnham maybe, my notes on this are at home, I'm not) in 1943. So I wonder if the RNZAF was harvesting before the Army, or if this was some lower-key local secondment rather than the nationally organised thing that happened.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 23, 2012 15:52:00 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 23, 2012 15:53:41 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 23, 2012 15:59:32 GMT 12
Here is the introduction of the RNZAF Harvesting Units by the looks of things: paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19450315.2.97&srpos=3&e=01-12-1941--12-1945--10--1-byDA---0harvesting+rnzaf--EARLIER CALL-UP AIR FORCE VOLUNTEERS TO GO HARVESTING The early mobilisation of 450 young men into the Royal New Zealand Air Force, to assist for the time being in harvesting operations prior to commencing Air Force training, was announced today by the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones). These men, between the ages of 18 and 20 years, are volunteers who have been awaiting their turn to enter Air Force camps. Because of the shortage of man-power for harvesting the Governinent has decided that they should be mobilised ahead of the normal period of calling-up. The Minister also stated that, in addition to the work which had been performed by the Army to assist those who had suffered in the South Island floods, the Royal New Zealand Air Force was also assisting primary producers by providing harvesting units. "Three hundred men, together with officers and n.c.o.s, have already been formed into two harvesting units" said Mr. Jones. "These units are now at work, but the numbers engaged will be substantially increased by a proportion of the accelerated mobilisation of 450 men awaiting to enter the Air Force. DUTIES IN PACIFIC. "This request for harvesting assistance from the Royal New Zealand Air Force has coincided with the assumption of increased responsibilities in the Pacific," continued the Minister. "On several island bases we are taking over responsibilities from United States forces, and this has imposed a strain on the manning position of New Zealand units. It has been found necessary, therefore, to provide for this accelerated mobilisation of men. which is in addition to the normal and regular intake of R.N.Z.A.F. trainees. "The Government appreciates that some inconvenience will be occasioned by the call-up of such a number of men," added Mr. Jones, "but it is necessary to decide where the greatest need lies. If the harvest is to be gathered in the South Island, in the face of the disorganisation caused by flood damage., then the labour must be provided. I have no doubt that the co-operation of all concerned will be freely given." |
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