N.Z.E.F. Official Correspondent at Guadalcanal

[Dave Homewood]

Does anyone happen to know who the N.Z.E.F. Official Correspondent/s was/were at Guadalcanal from December 1942 to February 1943? I am assuming it would have likely been one guy, but they covered RNZAF, RNZN and NZ Army stories there plus reported on US Marine Corps activities too for the New Zealand newspapers at the time. I am wondering what their name/s was/were.

[30sqnatc]

In the thread on Hudson side guns I mentioned that I had picked up a small book(let) Close up of Guadalcanal by Stan Andrews. Could this be one of their products? The book opens with an explanation on how the vist came about. So by way of a dot point brief:

- National Film Unit was covering Middle East by the Weekly Review. Keen to extend activities to the South Pacific. RNZAF asking for a motion picture record of activities in islands.

- Director of Publicity J.T. Paul with mild blessing of Army HQ and backing of letter from Chief of Air Staff requested air transport for a camera crew at end of November 1942.

- Ft Lt A.C. (Harold) Davy Public Relations Officer chosen to represent RNZAF. H.H. (Bert) Bridgeman chief cameraman National Film Unit. My job (Stan Andrews) was to spot and direct stories.

- They were attested and given the issue uniforms of private soldiers supplemented by non-regulation clothes made by Fijian tailor. Received injections and Army ID cards with rank of Mister. Later in the book he mentions green and gold New Zealand Film Unit shoulder tabs.

- 30 Nov 42 departed Auckland for Suva. Then to Noumea, New Caledonia, Espiritu Santo to Guadalcanal. The move forward was very slow not arriving in Guadalcanal until January.

Dave if this helps answer your question I'm happy to loan you the book (only 54 pages) but it will have to wait until next weekend as I'm flying to Aussie tomorrow morning on the redeye with work. PM me your address.

Paul

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Paul. Interesting. PM inbound.