N.Z. TROOPS IN EGYPT

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1943, Page 6

N.Z. TROOPS IN EGYPT

SPORT, ART, AND PHOTOGRAPHY.

(N.Z.E.F. official news service). CAIRO. May 12

One hundred and five athletes, the pick of British, South African, /md New Zealand track fieldmen serving in the Middle East paraded _ for nineteen events at Farouk Stadium. So keen was the competition that the result of a triangular contest for th e Chrystall Cup was decided on the final event, the high leap, in which South Africa was first and second, to record a total of 132 J. points. New Zealand gained 128 and Britain 1171. New Zealand and South Africa each secured eight wins, and Britain three.

The New Zealand ensign fluttered from the flagpole right from the start, with Lieutenant Finlayson winning the 110 metre hurdles. Private Dickie, had an all-wav win in the fifteen hundred metres, and he followed this up with third place in the eight hundred metres, in which a New Zealander, Lieutenant Johnston, was second. It was Dickie’s outstanding eight hundred metre effort that paved the way for New Zealand’s fifty yard win in the Medlay relay. Trooper McHugh and Major Phillips were no match for the South African Rugby flier, Lieutenant Stockhill in the sprints, filling places 'in the hundred metres with Private Elkis second in the two hundred. A New Zealander. Padre Gourdie, outclassed the Marathons, winning the five thousand metres by a hundred yards. Lieutenant Opie added to his long list of pole vault successes.

The most exciting event was the tug-of-war. New Zealand beat Britain in the first two pulls, but found the burly South Africans hard to shift, losing their first pull. The New Zealanders, however, won the next two pulls, gaining the victory. The veterans’ sprint was won by Warrant Officer Stuart.

New Zealand boxers won four and lost five bouts in the inter-services match. The wins were secured by Hargreaves (bantam), Mclvor (lightweight), Edwards (welterweight), & Anderson ‘(middleweight). The cup for the best winner was won by Edwards.

Two life-like sketches by Peter McIntyre are prominently displayed by the publication “Parade,” which in a review of the Tunisian front says: “The storming .of Takrouna bv the Maoris falls into its place as another expression of that sort of durable heroism that is the final arbiter of battles. Mclntyre’s sketch in pencil presents a picture of Takrouna Ridge under shell-fire, with the New Zealanders advancing across open ground to reach, the foot heights. The almost complete impregnability of the fortress clearly revealed proof of the dangerous task undertaken by the Maori party. Another Mclntyre sketch. shows the New Zealanders taking cover from enemy action in .unfamiliar cactus tree surroundings. Harold .G. Paton, original official photographer for the N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East has been getting shots on every battlefront of North Africa during the past two ; years, and, in recognition of his work his rank has been raised to commissioned status. An “Auckland Star” photographer before the war Paton possesses real newsense in covering the war in pictures and this work received praise and recognition outside New Zealand circles. ‘YTime and Life” have published some of his work, and his fullpage photo of General Freyberg in the battlefield is widely known In recognition of the Eighth Army’s stand to save Egypt and its ultimate success in commencing Rommel’s retreat, which developed into flight., an Alamein club is being established in Cairo for the use of all Allied troops.