NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 39, 15 August 1945, Page 13 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND'S SHARE

WORK OF THREE SERVICES

3RD DIVISION'S IMPORTANT ROLE

New Zealand's activities in the Pacific war, if they have not been as spectacular as the part played in the European theatre, have been no less valuable. All three Services—Army, Navy, and Air Force —have carded out the duties assigned to them with distinction and to the complete satisfaction of those in charge of Pacific strategy. The Dominion also had an important role, as a food-producing country, to supply the Allied forces stationed in the area. It also played host to niany thousands of American servicemen.

Though it did not have the opportunity to give such magnificent service as the Middle East Division, the Third New Zealand Division, at a critical stage in the Pacific War, carried out arduous duties in a manner that has won the admiration of those with whom it was associated. New Zealand sent a force to the Pacific long before Japan entered the war. As long ago as 1936, when the British Overseas Defence Committee was considering the Fiji Islands in its deliberations, it was presumed that, as Fiji* obviously was unable to defend herself, New Zealand and the Navy would provide the necessary military and naval forces should they ever be required. Two years later New Zealand's Chiefs of Staff made the suggestion that the Fiji Defence Force should be increased to approximately the size of a brigade, that coast artillery be Installed, airfields constructed, and a suitable body of reinforcements trained in New Zealand. That scheme was not fully implemented until two years afterwards. In July, 1940, the Chiefs of Staff visited Fiji and,recommended that immediate steps should be taken to bring the defences of the islands to a higher state of readiness, and that New Zealand troops should be dispatched there to garrison the principal Island of Viti Levu. A FORCE IN SUVA. Early in October, 1940. the 18th Army Troops Company, under Major L. A. Lincoln, arrived at Suva and the work of camp construction was pushed ahead with all speed. By the end of November the Bth Brigade Group, totalling 3053 all ranks, was in occupation and enduring the initial discomforts of tropic temperatures and their attendant insect pests. Because of the small force available, the tactical situation was reduced of necessity to the defence of two vital zones on the principal island—that is, Suva Peninsula in the eastern area, which included the port and town with their facilities and supplies, and the small airfield at Nausori, about 15 miles away on the left bank of the Rewa River; and the Namaka area on the west coast, with the small I port of Lautoka, the entrance through the reef at Momi and the small airfield at Nandi, In the early days the force was concerned with preparations for a scheme of mobile defence against the possibility of a Japanese attack. By the middle of January, 1941, the Bth Brigade Group had stepped up to a composite force, which included representatives of the Navy and Air Force. When, on February 20, Fiji was struck by its worst hurricane for 21; years, some damage was done to military installations, but miraculously there was no loss of life, although there were many narrow escapes. THE FIJIAN DEFENCE SCHEME. By March, 1941, the tactical scheme was operating smoothly, although arms and equipment, particularly motor transport, were still short of requirements. Under the original Fiji defence and garrison scheme New Zealand troops were to remain there for a six months' tour of duty and training, after which they were to be relieved and sent to the Middle East as required for the 2nd Division. The first j

relief arrived in two sections—on May 23 and 29. In December came the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, and this brought the New Zealand force in Fiji —possibly the only troops occupying their defensive posts in . the Pacific when Japan came into the war—well into the picture. There began a period lof renewed activity, beginning with I the immediate arrest of all Japanese residents of Fiji and Tingo and their dispatch to New Zealand for internment. Five Hudson aircraft had arrived from New Zealand and were stationed at Nandi airfield. Many others came later to build up the strength of the R.N.Z.A.F. there. By January, 1942, men and material had arrived from New Zealand to bring the force up to divisional strength. Brigadier W. H. Cunningham was promoted to the rank of Major-General and appointed G.O.C. Fiji Forces. In addition R.N.Z.A.F. increased their strength with the arrival of more planes, and Wing Commander G. N. Roberts, A.F.C., was ap- ! pointed to command them. Small naval craft from New Zealand for use as minesweepers and patrol boats enabled a constant watch to be maintained at the entrance of the .harbour. A combined operations room came into existence at headquarters for the pooling of information. The organisation also meant an extension of existing occupied zones and a strengthening of all defence lines. Some idea of the territory New Zealand units were called upon to defend in Fiji can be gauged from the fact that the 14th Brigade's area covered approximately 1000 square miles. Early in March, 1942, Major-General Cunningham, whose health had suffered from an exhausting bout of sickness, returned to New Zealand, and was invalided out of the service. He was succeeded by Major-General O. H. Mead, who took charge on March GUERRILLA TROOPS. About this time guerrilla troops, recruited from native villages and commanded by New Zealand officers and n.c.o.s, were organised, the idea being that if Fiji were attacked with success] these organised bands, working from established bases in the' interior of the island, could harass the enemy and destroy his supply lines and communications. Each guerrilla troop consisted of approximately 30 New Zealand officers and n.c.o.s, all volunteers from infantry battalions and chosen for their initiative and. knowledge of1 bush country, and 200 Fijians who underwent an intensive course oi training. . . In May, Fiji was included m the command of yice-Admiral ±w J-».j

Ghormley, and as more and more American forces began to arrive in Fiji it became clear that the New Zealand force's stay there was coming to an end. On July 18 operational control was handed over to General Beightler, and the role of the 3rd Division as defenders of Fiji was over. General Mead arranged to remain in Fiji to attend combined operations (the first rehearsal for Guadalcanal) by United States naval, military, and air forces on islands which he had helped to select for such tasks, and to pay a final visit to the troops in Tonga. On July 25 the Hudson" plane in which he and his aide-de-camp, Lieut. J. C. Leslie, were travelling, was lost off Tonga in a tropical storm, which blanketed the island to the level of the palms. BACK IN NEW ZEALAND. Back in New Zealand for reorganisation, the Division was camped in the Auckland district, and MajorGeneral H. E. Barrowclough was appointed the Division's new commander, Early in October the 36th Battalion embarked for Norfolk, to spend some months occupying the island. Later 1 that month tiae 34th Battalion was detached for duty in Tonga. Meantime the Division had been engaging in full-scale exercises in the Walkato district. Early in November cfame the. move to New Caledonia, where the Division was to do garrison duty and fit itself for the Solomons campaign. The time was devoted to arduous training. Juligle training was followed by amphibious operations. Towards the end of August the first combat units o£ the Division moved out of Vila for Guadalcanal, each convoy shepherded by alert destroyers. The Jong months of garrii son duty and training were over and action was ahead. The first job which fell to units of the 3rd Division was to complete the capture of Vella Lavella. This was accomplished by the 14th Brigade, which was the first to arrive at Guadalcanal. Vella Lavella is in the northern group of the. Solomons. New Georgia, where the. main American force was engaged^ lies to the southeast. The Japanese had been driven to the northern end of Vella, and the New Zealanders had to complete the job by clearing them out altogether.. They did this in admirable style and showed themselves masters of jungle conditions—a tribute to the thorough training they had received. The story of the capture of Vella Lavella has been fully told in the excellent Army Board publication, "From Guadalcanal to Nissen." "The jungle," says the anonymous narrator of the story, "is the most difficult and pestilential country in which to wage war. " Visibility ends only a few yards away in a barrier of thick, fleshy leaves, writhing vines, and creepei's, shrubs, and tree trunks, as this mass of vegetation fights upward to the sun. . . . By day the jungle is comparatively quiet, but when night falls, the jungle comes to life and bedlam reigns till dawn. . . . This was the setting for the 14th Brigade's first action, and, with few exceptions, for all jungle action in the Solomons. . . ." 3AfS OUSTED FROM VELLA. In such a setting the New Zealanders completed their task of oust-J ing the enemy from Vella. There were iteany gallant actions, as of officers observing for artillery who crept through the jungle in front of'infantry patrols to watch and listen where the shells fell, for it was impossible for the gunners to see their targets and the results of their fire. Sometimes these officers lay from 25 to 50 yards, from the bursts. Proofs of their efficiency came later when mutilated trees and pitted earth presented a vivid example of what flying fragments of metal can do, even in the jungle. And the Japanese did not like artillery fire. Then there was the work of the signallers with radio and cable, the engineers who made roadways and airstrips, and, above all, the air force. . While the 14th Brigade were on Vella Lavella, the Bth Brigade undertook on their own the seizure of Mono in the Treasuries group and other j islands. The landing was opposed and i there were casualties and damage, to craft and equipment through enemy | fire. Mono is a volcanic island and the. enemy had to be rooted cut from ! the cone some hundreds of feet high. The operation took a month, and then the Americans landed on Bougainville. .The capture of the Treasuries, says the narrator, was vitally necessary for the establishment of a radar station to assist in the assault on Bougainville, as well as an air and motor-boat base. t THE LAST ACT. The last act of the Division was the capture of Nissan (Green) Island by the 14th Brigade, far to the north of Bougainville and only 135 miles from Rabaul. It was another big job well done, supply being a special difficulty, even water having to be transported, until condensers were set up to distil sea water. The work of the Division was done, and as transport became available the Division .moved back to New Caledonia, and thence, after a spell, to New Zealand. It was, concludes the story, "a slow and rather melancholy process of disintegration. Some thousands of men took their leave before being absorbed into essential industries; the remainder were scattered through Burnham, Papakura, and Trentham camps to await their departure overseas to other theatres of war. . . . From October 20, 1944, the 3rd New Zealand Division ceased to exist."

Whatever tasks were allotted to the 3rd Division were performed with complete success. At one stage there was some foolish criticism of the men of the Division—"playboys of the Pacific," as they were called, but in the minds of those who were charged with the direction-of the Pacific campaign there was never any doubt as to the value of their services. Lieut-General i Millard F. Harmon, Commanding General of the United States Army.Forces lin the South Pacific area, recently had 'this to say about the Division: "As we all know, New Zealand Army forces cleaned up Vella Lavella, seized and occupied the Treasury Group, and later made a very splendid reconnaissance of Green Island, which they followed by its capture and consolidation. Throughout the course of their* operations they have performed their tasks in an outstandingly splendid manner. New Zealand officers, including the Divisional Commander, Major-General H. E. Barrowclough, have been given the same responsibilities of command as we vest in. our own officers, and they have carried them out as part of the whole Allied force without regard to whether they belonged to the New Zealand Forces or otherwise. A SOURCE OF PRIDE. "Their part in the Solomons campaign has not only aided materially in the accomplishment of our objectives, but has been a source of pride and gratification to us in the way they have done it. Their own people are justified in having equal pride in them: . ' , "The New Zealand Air Force also has made a very enviable reputation for itself. Your airmen have become noted for the fact that they do not worry about the jobs assigned to them. They accept their missions and go ahead and perform them with a very high degree* of efficiency. . "Most of your air strength in the South Pacific has been in fighters. However, your men have also carried out a great deal of reconnaissance work and they have performed their duties in an equally outstanding manner. COMBINED OPERATIONS. It will have been noted from the story.of the 3rd Division that running right through are references to the close co-operation that existed between the three branches of the Services—Army, Navy, and Air Force. If in the present article less space is devoted to the exploits of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal New Zealand Air Force, it is not because of any lack of appreciation of the remarkable service given, but because their work was covered in some detail in the special issue published when the European war came to an end. New Zealand airmen and seamen have played a prominent part in the Pacific right from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, and even before. There was an R.N.Z.A.F. bomber reconnaissance unit of de Hayillands, formed in November, 1940, in the Pacific a year before Japan came into the war. Within a month of .December 7, 1941, heavy bombers from the United States were able to use an island" base built by a New Zealand construction unit. Long before that date, New Zealand survey parties had gone into the South Pacific to prepare the way for airfield construction, and when the attack came men from the Dominion were already busy with heavy machinery, building bases from which the Allies subsequently drove forward to clear the South Pacific of Japs. ' LESSONS OF SINGAPORE. Before they met the enemy in the South Pacific, New Zealand airmen had the advantage of the lessons learnt by the fighter squadron which had set such a high standard in the battle for Malaya. New Zealand also had an aerodrome construction unit in Malaya which did magnificent work in building airfields. After the turn of the tide at Coral Sea in June, 1942, a New Zealand bomber reconnaissance unit of Lockheed Hudsons went on service in the Pacific, and by June, 1943, R.N.Z.A.F. fighters were on the job. At Vella Lavella New Zealand fighters played a decisive part in smashing a threat by Japanese dive-bombers. so the story goes on—a story of an increasingly important contribution to the war against Japan under arduous conditions, and a contribution which has received the highest praise from the Allied commanders in the Pacific. THE NAVY'S PART. Similarly the naval contribution has been of the greatest value. Of necessity, the work of the silent service is very largely unspectacular. It consists in the main of arduous and often monotonous, patrols, convoy work, mine-laying, and mine-sweeping. There have been, however, as was shown in the earlier review to which we have referred, a number of high lights which have brought the Royal New Zealand Navy into the spotlight. Young New Zealanders have shown beyond all doubt that they have a special aptitude for the sea. They have served in almost every theatre of war, and not the least conspicuously in the Pacific area. For them there will remain many duties which will have to be performed before the Pacific waters are once again made safe for shipping, and they may be relied on to perform these with the same devotion to duty as they have shown throughout■ the war. THE NAVY ACTS. When hostilities against Japan started on December 8, 1941, H.M.N.Z.S. Achilles, Leander, and Monowai were engaged on patrol and escort duties in the South Pacific area. In the early hours of that memorable morning an urgent request was received in Wellington that Achilles should proceed to Singapore to reinforce the Eastern Fleet, which was desperately short of cruisers. The request was approved at once by War Cabinet, and in less than four hours a signal was made to H.M.N.sZ.S. Achilles, then at sea- on. passage to Fiji, to "proceed with all dispatch td Suva and complete with fuel. Probable final destination Singapore." Two hours later vthis was amplified by another signal instructing Achilles to proceed from Suva to Port Moresby, New Guinea, and thence, after fuelling, "with all convenient dispatch" to Singapore to join the Eastern Fleet. Twelve hours after receiving the first signal Achilles sailed from Suva and, proceeding at speed, arrived at Port Moresby in the evening of December 11. In the meantime the situation had changed rapidly, and while she was still oiling Achilles received orders to cancel her sailing to Singapore and return to Auckland, where she arrived in. the. forenoon, of December 16.

BPECIAE EDITION/

The paramount duty of the wadablf naval forces in the South Pacific was the protection of the sea commimlca<» lions of Australia and New ZealanS, ,To this ena the Anza,c Squadron cam* into being, comprising the available ships of the two Dominions. Achilles proceeded from Auckland ,at midnight of December 16-17 to join the Anzac Squadron, which met an important United States convoy and escorted it to Brisbane. Subsequently ■■ the squadron acted as escort to the Aquitania and another ship carrying troops and supplies to Port Moresby. Later Achilles took part with .Leancieir and Monowai in covering the cons siderable movements of New Zealand / troops and supplies to Fiji. '•' , / To the Monowai came the first con? tact with the enemy. On January 16, 1942, the Monowai had just cleared Suva harbour on passage to Auckland when she was attacked by a Japanesa submarine. After a brief exchange o£. gunfire, in which no hits were made by either side, the submarine broke' off the action and dived. Leander and Achilles, operating under the United States Commander, South Pacific Area, were employed as escorts for important convoys transporting personnel and supplies from the United States to the South Pacific and with United States task forces m the Solomon Islands area. On January 5, 1943, a task force covering the passage of reinforcements to Guadal? canal was attacked by Japanese air* craft. One bomb hit Achilles, on a gun turret, her casualties bemg _ 13 killed and eight seriously wounded. . . SUBMARINE BAMMED... v. - , ; Three weeks later H.M.N.Z.S. Kiwi, and Moa iought a gallant and success? ful action against a large and heavilyarmed Japanese submarine, iorced w surface after being depth-charged, the submarine was engaged by gunfire from the two small ships. A fierce - action lasted more than an hour, our? ing which Kiwi thrice rammed tas submarine, which finally struck a reef and was-wrecked. One Japanese surf , vivor was picked up. On the f&Uow-y/ ing night Moa and Tui engaged w enemy armed landing cratt, twcpfljjg which were sunk .in a sharp aetipn. H.M.N.Z.S. Moa was sunk at Tulagi* Solomon Islands, on April 7, 19f3 a&. a result of enemy air attack. \ Five ratings were killed and 15 injUredL The commanding "offiQer was also mjlured. • _■j ■ - "' '■'?', In Augus^'l943, Tui, which ■.-*«# escorting a convoy from Noumea^>goK| part with aircraft in the sinking-162 another large Japanese submarine]: from which six survivors werf^pickeqc U Operating as a unit in an- Americasu task force of cruisers and destroyers^ H.M.N.Z.S. Leander took part m tn^ night action of July 12-13, i9^3* against two groups of Japanese de* stroyers and at least one cruise*, which were attempting to reinforce* the enemy troops on New Georgia, la1 this action, known as the Battle ofi Kolombangara, two American cruiser^ and the Leander were damaged by tor* pedoes and a U.S. destroyer was also, torpedoed and had to be sunk somo hours later. .Leander's casualties were 28 killed and missing and 15 injure^ The Japanese lost one cruiser and pos^ sibly three destroyers sunk and one destroyer was severely damaged. , r Leander returned to Auckland .-©a. July 29, 1943, and was docked for tern? porary repairs. The ship subsequently sailed for the United States for permanent repairs and rearming. She arived at Boston on December 23, 1943, having completed seven and a. half years' service with the RoxaJU^ew; Zealand Navy. - , . ~, ,v ■ H.M.N.Z.S. Monowai completed her service'in the South Pacific on March 16 1943, when she arrived ai Auckland and was docked for a refit. From. August 30, 1940, when she was commissioned as an armed merchant cruiser, to March 16, 1943, the ship steamed a total distance of more than 137.000 miles. The Monowai left Auckland on April 24, 1943, and proceeded via the Panama Canal to Liverr pool, where she arrived on June 6, 1943. The ship was then paid off and converted for transport duties. SUCCESS OF GAMBIA. On September 22, 1943, the cruiser Gambia was commissioned as a unit of the Royal New Zealand Navy. After operating with other cruisers for some weeks against enemy blockade runners in the North Atlantic, the Gambia pro r ceeded to the Indian Ocean and joined the Eastern.Fieei ti: The.ship thjre.took part in several successful .operations against Japanese bases. The held her own as a most efficient shipamong the cruisers of her squadron, which subsequently transferred to the British Pacific Fleet. As a unit ot atask force of that fleet, the Gambia has since taken part in a number of , successful operations against the Japanese in the Sakishima Islands. Early in 1943 H.MM.Z.S. Achilles had proceeded to England for re-arming and a complete refit. The ship was recommissioned on May 23, 1944, and . proceeded to the Mediterranean, and thence to Indian waters, where she served for three months in the Eastern. Fleet. In December, 1944, the Achilles transferred to the British Pacific Fleet, with which she has recently served in operations against the Japanese. The "25th Minesweeping. Flotilla served for more than three years in the South Pacific, operating as anti- . submarine escort to United Nations transports and supply ships arriving at and departing from forward bases in the South Pacific area. Apart from the engagements of the Kiwi, Moa, and Tvu . already referred to and some minor "incidents, there was little to relieve the monotony of the ships' important but mainly unspectacular round of duties faithfully performed under .uncom-* fortable conditions in tropical waters. ■ . AMERICAN TRIBUTE.. Expressing his "sincere appreciation for the services you have rendered to our common cause," the commanding general of the United States XIV ArmyCorps remarked that the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla had. "at aH times eagerly undertaken every mission assigned,,and' has completed them all with signal success." Early in 1944 12 Fairmile motorlaunches of the: Royal New Zealand Navy were placed under the operational control of the commander,.S.quth Pacific area, for-service in the-Solo-mon Islands. Since .then they . have steamed many thousands ~of miles carrying out their important patrol and escort duties. • These vessels re* cently returned to New Zealand. The corvettes Arabis and Arbutus, manned by New Zealand • officers and ratings, were commissioned last year for service in the R.N.Z.N. The former joined the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla and the latter is doing duty with, the British Pacific Fleet. ■;