WW2 Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Transport

[David Dunlop]

Thanks for the info. Mum's just turned 90 in March and her memory is not as sharp as it used to be and sadly, her NAAFI Records were lost in a fire in London in the 1950's.

I do know she met my Dad while in Algeria. The Camp the NAAFI were in was called Camp Sircouf (don't quote my spelling), on the coast, just East of Algiers. By that time, my Dad was a Staff Sgt with the QOCHofC and was on assignment with some sort of team from the Canadian Army that had gone to Algeria to study the possibility of setting up a Canadian Military Hospital somewhere there. Don't know whatever came of that project. Dad was there at least long enough to qualify for the North Africa Star. Have no idea how long that would have meant he stayed.

Have some photos of Mum's from there. She met quite a few Australian and New Zealand Troops while there and apparently had an Italian POW working in the camp as a cook. He was a baker before the war and taught Mum Italian. Sorry for the side bar!

David

[Mike Cecil]

David,

Do your Dad's records still exist? Maybe we can narrow down a time line by his arrival/departure from Algeria? Worth a thought.

The ship was well-used throughout the war for trooping: returned to the Netherlands post-war. Broken up in the 1950s.

Mike C

[David Dunlop]

I will see what I can find in my Dad's files and revisit the NAAFI with Mum and pick this up in the YOUR RELATIVES Thread.

Thanks, Mike


David

[David Dunlop]

With regards to wartime production activities in Australia and New Zealand, and looking at it 'from the outside', how much did the two countries rely on each other for equipment?

For example, the SMLE was produced at Lithgow for the Australian military and at least some of this production went to New Zealand for conversion to an indigenous machine gun manufactured there. CAC built aircraft in Australia but I am not sure if any of this equipment went to New Zealand. Not to mention delivery of American equipment to both countries.

What other production/exchange took place?

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Dad was there at least long enough to qualify for the North Africa Star. Have no idea how long that would have meant he stayed.

Qualification for campaign medals was one day's operational service in the prescribed area during the prescribed period.

Until recently I could never figure out how a France and Germany Star came to be amongst my father's war service medals. Turns out he was posted to 451 Sqn RAAF who were reforming in Marseille between campaigns. He travelled up there from Italy but there'd been a stuff up so they sent him back three days later. Mystery solved!

[Bob McNeill]

Tony strange that you mention it because dads unit 2/9th Field Reg arrived in Egypt and picked up 2/2 Field Reg 25Prs, when the officers arrived the unit moved out headed to Syria as support for the British Forces. The ordinary ranks got their medals and the officers missed out.

[Lang]

Only slightly of interest but related to Mike's notes on the Australian Government "borrowing" ships.

When I was about 7 we travelled between Melbourne and Sydney on the "Manunda". Probably a Burns Philp ship. The highlight of my limited memory of the trip was a tour conducted by a crew member to inspect the huge welding repairs from the bombs she received as a hospital ship in Darwin Harbour 19 Feb 42

Lang

[Mike Cecil]

Interesting, Lang.

Manunda was an Adelaide Steamships Company vessel, launched 16 November 1928. It copped a near miss in Darwin harbor that killed four on board and put over 70 puncture holes in the hull and superstructure. The next bomb didn't miss: dropping in through the Music Room skylight and exploding between B and C decks, doing 'terrific damage and causing many casualties' according to the ship's Master. The rear of the Bridge was severely damaged, and all compasses and comms gear was U/S. One engine was out of action, and the fire service mains had all been cut. Nevertheless, once barely seaworthy, Manunda embarked a large number of wounded (the aft section of the ship was still functioning as a hospital ship) then sailed to Fremantle for repairs, which took until August to complete. No wonder you could still see the damage in later years!

Ironically, Manunda was sold to the Japanese company Okada Gumi KK in late 1956, and became the Hakone Maru, a workforce static accommodation ship in Osaka. It was scrapped in mid-1957 in Osaka.

Mike C