Mr Webb was hospitalised in the US Army hospital in Noumea, New Caledonia while on active service in the Pacific.

Mr Webb writes: "The Vella La Vella campaign was the most severe and difficult. It was here that the unit took heavy casualties. The Jungle was impenetrable. The climate was hot, humid and wet and the Japanese occupying forces were well fortified and prepared.

The landing was opposed by Japanese air attacks which were counteracted by the RNZAF. The camp conditions on Vella La Vella were cramped with plagues of jungle rats and land crabs. Salt water crocodiles were ever present in the river and lagoon, and I shot one and cured the skin but the heat and humidity destoyed it.

As an infantryman there were quiet times during which I hand-made mementoes from the fuselage of downed Japanese aircraft.

After landing at Nissan Island we had to dig into fox holes in the coral. It was like digging in cement with a spade. This caused an open wound in my left hand which quickly became badly infected and swollen to a size that it was deemed necessary to have it amputated at the NZ Field hospital. I was evacuated to a US Army Hospital in Noumea where I was treated with generous doses of penicillan which finally cured it. After this I was sent back to New Zealand for later discharge."

Cenotaph record initially prepared with the serviceman in 1999 AWMM