The following may also be of interest:



Mr Utanga (2NZEF) took a guitar with him on active service. On the guitar's canvas case there are over 200 signatures of fellow New Zealand soldiers who served with the 30 Battalion and the 24 Battalion between 1941 and 1945. John Strickland is one of those who signed the case.



There is also a diary on the case of dates and places that suggest that the guitar was taken to the following destinations:



'No. 3 Platoon Vickers MM Guns

Trentham July 5th 1941

Samambula Fiji August 21 1941

Namaka Fiji September 18 1941



Momi Bay 2 January 1944

Cuvu (Thoovoo) 20 January 1944

33 Mile Peg 24 January 1944



SS President Monroe Noumea 7 December 1942

Lambin New Caledonia 12 December 1942

Koumac New Caledonia 17 December 1942



New Hebrides 28 August 1943

Guadalcanal 27 August 1943

Vella Lavella 25 September 1943



Green Island 31 January 1944-15 February 1944

Nepoui New Caledonia 5 June 1944

Noumea Staging 9 August 1944

Papakura New Zealand 17 July 1944

Niue Island 7 September 1944

Rarotonga 11 September 1944

Auckland New Zealand 19 October 1944



Hobart Tasmania 9 January 1945

Maadi Egypt 30 January 1945

Advance Base Taranto 5 March 1945

? Senica 12 March 1945

San Severino 13 March 1945.' AWMM