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Gordon Adams - Papers relating to war service in the Pacific, 1943 - 1945

documentary heritage
  • Description

    Contains photocopied material. Item 1 -- War diary kept by Gordon Adams whilst on active service in the Pacific from 17 February to 25 August 1944. (a) Original holograph [FRAGILE], (b) Handwritten transcript (photocopy) of diary (35 leaves). Contains descriptions of construction of a jungle Y.M.C.A.

    on Green Island; jungle camp; accidental shooting of a Japanese prisoner; Japanese and large allied air raids; crashes and activity; hospital treatment for diptheria and infected lips; encounter with Japanese soldiers; cleaning-up operations; construction of airstrip; prevalence of hookworm; daily funerals; trip on PT boat raid; US build up; US versus NZ camp conditions. Also contains a telegram sent by Adams to his family on the day he left for the Pacific.

    Item 2 -- Autograph album.

    Item 3 -- Poem 'Faith'. (holograph; 2 leaves)

    Item 4 -- Press cutting 'Copy of the japanese surrender document'.

    Item 5 -- Six flyers from the Taranaki Herald: (1) 'Hitler's death reported', (2) 'Japan's reported acceptance of terms', (3) 'Russia declares war on Japan', (4) 'Berlin has fallen', (5) 'German's in Italy capitulate', and (6) 'Japan surrenders'.

    Item 6 -- Christmas card from 37th Battalion, 1943 - 1944.

    Item 7 -- Christmas card 'Greetings from NZEF in the Pacific', 1943 - 1944. Illustration depicts New Zealander in jungle uniform worn in Pacific area.

    Item 8 -- Watercolour by H.A. Parsons featuring 'Tanaherau Point, Nissan Island', 1944.

    Item 9 -- 'Come unto me' Order of evening worship, Noumea, February 1944.

    Item 10 -- Press cutting 'Gave last rights to wounded kiwi pilot' regarding the death of Flight Lieutenant Francis George Keefe (NZ417066) on 30 January 1945.

    Item 11 -- Copy of 'Kiwi News', Vol. 11, No. 11, 22 February 1944, the newspaper of NZ Expeditionary Force in Pacific. [FRAGILE]

    Item 12 -- Copy of 'Kiwi News', Vol. 11, No. 14, 14 March 1944. [FRAGILE]

  • Other Id

    3216 (Presto content ID)

    MS-2002-155 (Reference Number)

    36974 (DBTextworks system ID)

    2002/155 (Registration number)

  • Department

Images and documents

Catalogue

  • Object Type
  • Name/Title
    Gordon Adams - Papers relating to war service in the Pacific, 1943 - 1945
  • Primary Maker
  • Date
    1943-1945
  • Physical Description

    1 folder (12 items)

  • Level of Current Record
    Parent
  • Subject Notes
    NZ460002 Gordon Adams served as YMCA Field Officer, 3rd NZ Division, in the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal and New Caledonia during the Second World War.
  • Credit Line
    Donated by Mrs Val Bosel on 21 August 1999.
  • Last Update
    07 Jul 2023
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