Carriers in U.S. Service

[Rob Beale]

I believe this is an Australian carrier in Honiara.

The 3 (NZ) Div did not take LP carriers to the Solomons or New Caledonia.
Instead they took UC models including 3" Mortar carriers.

All 3 Div vehicles were returned to NZ in mid to late 1944 after 3 Div was withdrawn and disbanded due to manpower shortages in NZ.
Many 3 Div people were posted as reinforcements to 2 Div in Italy.

In a report by the NZ Quartermaster General to 31 March 1944 no carriers are listed in the vehicles sold to US Forces.
And the vehicles supplied to 3 Div are all accounted for at 31 March 1944.

There are accounts of Marines having NZ carriers and pictures of US Marines with NZ Army Indian motorcycles in NZ but I doubt they were shipped overseas when they went to the Island campaigns.

It would be interesting to find the date of the photo on the beach at Guadalcanal.

Rob

[dcrfan]

The book describes the visit as 'an expedition was hastily organised at the end of November 1942'. It later goes on 'It was eight o'clock of a January morning' then explains they flew from Espiritu Santo to Henderson Field by RNZAF Hudson so January 1943.

The author mentions a short film was made as a result of their visit Base For Attack. I wonder if a copy exists? Edit. In National Archive Wellington database:

WEEKLY REVIEW No. 86
GUADALCANAL … BASE FOR ATTACK
Produced by NZ National Film Unit
16mm black and white print with sound
(status: not assessed)

Unfortunately the copy is restricted for issue for conservation.

Paul