RNZAF - Island Works Squadron (Sawmill Unit) on Solomon Isla

[kcollins]

Hi all,

A historian friend suggested I post to this forum. With COVID-19 lockdown, I am putting together some information for my grandmother about her father, Alexander Fritz Neilson (1910 - 1983).

He did three tours during WWII at Guadalcanal in both the first and second Islands Works Sawmill (IWS) Units. I have spent some time scanning and organising his photo collection, which includes photos from this time.

I came across this excellent history of the unit by Michael Tuck, whose father was the commanding officer and thought I would share his photos in case anyone recognises anyone or can contribute any information to contribute to my research. They're also just very interesting! 

Here is a selection of some. Click here for full album of high-res images (on Google Photos).

Thanks!

Kimberley 

[Dave Homewood]

Michael Tuck's history is on my website, as a special presentation:

www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/RNZAF_Sawmills.html

The photos you have are really fantastic! Have you been in touch with Michael?

[kcollins]

Yes, I had a read through it - very helpful! My mother had said Alexander was one of the "forgotten soldiers" but I think that may have been referring to being part of the island work squadron, which don't always receive a lot of attention.

I was hoping someone might be able to put me in touch with Michael. There are a few photos that look a lot like his father. Could you put me in touch with him?

Kimberley

[30sqnatc]

I have a sawmill history book somewhere and I'm sure the surname Tuck are the owners. I must check if it is Michael Tuck.

[Dave Homewood]

Apr 11, 2020 19:21:22 GMT 12 kcollins said:

I was hoping someone might be able to put me in touch with Michael. There are a few photos that look a lot like his father. Could you put me in touch with him?

Kimberley

I have sent Mike Tuck an email with the links to this thread, and your photo account and added your email in too so he can contact you (as Admin here I can see and grab your email). It's been a while since I had contact with Mike so I hope he gets it. I'm sure he will be very excited.

Cheers,
Dave

[kcollins]

Thanks so much, Dave! Much appreciated. Would love to know the title of that book, 30sqnatc.

[Dave Homewood]

Here is something a little bit different:

AXEMEN'S CARNIVAL

CONTEST IN THE JUNGLE

(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) GUADALCANAL; November 25

With a cloudless sky, the temperature above the 100 mark, and in a setting closely resembling a New Zealand scene, the Allied axemen's championship carnival at Guadalcanal was a great success. In a cleared space in the jungle were trees which had made their appearance overnight, logs set in their fixtures, trimmed to the specific size, large chips from the trimmed logs lying on the ground, a hastily constructed grandstand, and the usual booths and a refreshment tent run by the National Patriotic Fund Board in conjunction with the American Red Cross. The whole scene was reminiscent of many of the big chopping carnivals in New Zealand.

This, of course, was not surprising, because wherever axemen gather there is certain to be talks of carnivals and, in the long run, carnivals will be organised. And there are plenty of bushmen, from New Zealand and from the United States, in the Pacific. A big percentage of them had had no previous experience of sawmilling; but practical work under the guidance of professional bushmen has brought them quickly to a high state of efficiency. There are two sawmills manned exclusively by men of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in full operation on Guadalcanal, supplying timber for various Allied installations. The older established one has been producing an average of 50,000 feet a week of mahogany, rubberwood, teak, and a little rosewood, while the other is just getting into its full stride. It is hard work for all hands. The mills are self-contained units, and many extreme difficulties have been and still have to be overcome.

There is not a great deal of time for recreation, and what recreation there is has to be organised in circumstances that are far from helpful. In spite of all this, or perhaps because of it, the decision to organise a carnival was received enthusiastically, and the success of the event justified all the preparations. Flying Officer Baker, Officer Commanding, N.Z. No. 1 Mill, was entitled to much of the credit for the success of the meeting.

HONOURS DIVIDED.
The programme comprised eleven events, and teams from each of the two New Zealand and two United States mills competed—two men from each mill —in each event. New Zealand and the United States dead-heated with 26 points each, but the New Zealand No. 2 Mill team won the unit competition with 16 points. The United States teams scored 14 and 12 points respectively, and the New Zealand No. 1 Mill team scored 10 points.

A shooting competition, held in the morning, was won by New Zealand by 15 points. The New Zealanders won all the chopping events, but the Americans were correspondingly superior in the sawing section, although part of their success in this respect was due to the excellent sawing of Fryer, a New Zealander who is in the American forces.

The New Zealand axemen cut a much broader scarf than the Americans. The Americans used a longer and heavier saw, but their margin in the sawing events was very small.

OUTSTANDING PERSONALITY.
The outstanding personality of the carnival was Kelly Wilson, a West Coaster who belongs to the New Zealand No. 2 Mill. He won the three single chopping events. He was equally superior to all comers in the jiggerboard chop and was on the second jigger-board commencing his chop while the other competitors were still setting their first boards. In each of his three earlier successes he was hurried along by the second place-winner, Red Mears, of New Zealand No. 1 Mill.

In a contest between power and hand saws, in which the power saw did three cuts, the New Zealand pair got away to a bad start. They made it up, however, and completed their cut as the Americans on the power saw were halfway through the third cut.

The Americans had a success in the tug-of-war, winning two pulls to one. Air Commodore Sir Robert Clark-Hall, Air Officer Commanding, No. 1 (Islands) Group, presented the prizes, which were given by the National Patriotic Fund Board.

EVENING POST, 28 NOVEMBER 1944

[davidd]

In case anybody is scratching their head as to the meaning of "jiggerboard" event (mentioned under the "Outstanding personality" heading), then study the very first picture at head of this thread. It is possible that this event is still included in "axemen" sports, but then again, maybe not - modern tree-felling is a very different operation today. As kids in 1950s and 60s, these competitions were still pretty popular. OSH probably have a jaundiced view of all those flashing blades and flying wood chips, but accidents (at least in the competitions) seemed to be rare back in the day, but I'll bet some horrible things happened occasionally, as the action was always fast and furious, no quarters given.

Incidentally, does anybody know identity of the (US Naval?) Officer or CPO shown at bottom end of the image rush, was he in charge of one of the American sawmill units?
David D

[tbf25o4]

The jiggerboards had a steel hooked end that fitted into the slot cut into the tree so when weight was applied i.e. the axman they were quite secure. As David states OSH would had a field day!

[saratoga]

'Jiggerboards' was my favourite event at the old A&P shows, that was only in the '70s'.

[Dave Homewood]

JUNGLE SAWMILLS

LOGGING ON GUADALCANAR

HEAVY WORK IN THE TROPICS

(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) GUADALCANAR, Oct. 2

Two sawmills, manned exclusively by men of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, are now at work on Guadalcanar, supplying timber not only for the Dominion installations in the Solomons, but also for the United States Forces. One mill, established 18 months ago, has been turning out an average of 50,000 feet a week of mahogany, rubberwood, teak and a little rosewood for the past seven months, while the second, a new unit, has just commenced production.

The Japanese tank motors used earlier to supply power at the original mill have long since gone the way of the Japanese troops who once occupied Guadalcanar. They gave up the unequal struggle and were scrapped and replaced by a heavy marine motor. With the passing of the months, civilisation has come to the island, and the original mill, installed under the greatest difficulties, has grown into a flourishing concern with an output that compares favourably with small mills in New Zealand. The bushmen are now working nearly six miles back in the jungle, having built their own access roads.

Demand for Timber
Logs are hauled to the loading banks by tractors and then brought by truck to the mill. So acute is the demand for timber that a seven-day week is frequently worked, with the saws turning out a daily average in the vicinity of 8000 feet of timber. The work, both in the bush and at the mill, is particularly arduous, but there has been in recent months a marked improvement in the general health of the men, compared with conditions prevailing a year ago. Malaria control has now reached such a degree of perfection that cases of this illness are a comparative rarity, and there has been a sharp drop in the incidence of malaria among the mill hands.

Although the mills are self-contained units, and the men not only operate them but also undertake all maintenance and repairs to the machinery, tractors and other transport, only a small proportion of the airmen are experienced mill workers. Some 80 per cent had no previous experience of sawmilling, but practical work, under many difficulties, has welded teams which in the opinion of those in charge, could hold their own anywhere.

Fine Timbers Milled
A direct and originally unexpected result of the activities of the Royal New Zealand Air Force sawmill units is that hundreds of airmen in the forward area live in huts built of mahogany that would be a prize in New Zealand, and that many a wash-basin rests upon a rough bench of some exotic tropical wood. Even ebony and rosewood are milled, and probably some of the most ramshackle “bedroom suites” in the world have been roughly nailed together in timber that, could it be brought to the Dominion, would cause interest among the finest craftsmen in the joinery trade.

WAIKATO TIMES, 12 OCTOBER 1944

[kcollins]

Hi again. I have some further information that might be of use. Earlier, I referred to the fact my mother said Alexander Fritz Neilson was a "forgotten soldier". The family story is that Alexander and a man named Andy McGuire were left at Guadalcanal when New Zealand shipped out. I'm unsure if this was during the war or towards the end of the campaign.

Apparently the Americans rescued them and growing up my grandmother remembers her father Alexander having a spoon from the American ration packs. The children referred to it as the "holy spoon" and would fight over who got the use it.

Has anyone heard of New Zealand soldiers being left behind accidentally?

[Dave Homewood]

Wow, I have never heard of a case like that where men were accidentally left when not in combat. Only places like Greece and Crete, etc, where battle meant men got left behind.

[chasper]

In Vietnam a NZ platoon was helicoptered to a VC camp with the intent of being dropped a few kilometres away and then approaching the camp. Other helicopters were flying around to obscure the sound of the landing choppers but unfortunately the American pilots got the locations wrong and landed the kiwis on the actual camp. The enemy fled leaving their breakfast still in the cooking pots so at least the kiwis enjoyed a hot meal from the action.
They then departed the site to walk back to their own lines and after two hours of walking someone realized that they had not let two soldiers on sentry duty know that they had left. A squad was sent back with haste to the camp and found the two frightened but safe.

[Dave Homewood]

Yikes.

[kcollins]

Yikes! Apparently it was a simple oversight and the RNZAF didn't make a big deal out of them being left behind. It may be family urban legend, but I would love to do some digging to find out either way.