Chapter Eight
Later Days in New Caledonia, and The Return Home

After the move of the division to the Solomon Islands had been completed in September, 1943, ASC base units of NZEFIP settled down to a period of steady work in New Caledonia. General supervision over all ASC base troops and transport was exercised by the personnel of ASC Headquarters NZEFIP. That headquarters made up a small self-contained unit, which had a good camp, and most of the men were kept busy solely on administrative work which had little glamour about it and involved long hours of work. One important function of the headquarters was to requisition on the US island quartermaster for the petrol and rations required for all New Zealand base troops, and to see that these supplies were accounted for by lend' lease tickets and audited supply accounts.

The 29th MT Company was responsible for supplying all base troops, usually about 5,000 in number, and for general transport duties. To cope with the work the company was expanded much above its normal establishment of 277 men, and for most of the time it numbered about 400 on its strength. It included a petrol refilling section responsible for the supply of petrol and oils, and was the only MT company which possessed three transport platoons. Reinforcements for the forward area were obtained by most arms of the page 127service from Base Training Depot at Tene Valley, near Bourail, but the ASC held its reinforcements at the 29th MT Company. Thus when a call came from the division for more ASC men, the company had to select and equip a draft of skilled personnel of the categories which happened to be required. Four such drafts were despatched forward, and two successive company commanders went up themselves as replacements.

The company's transport work was not unlike that of a cartage contractor in days of peace, had his operations been on a huge scale. Ninety GMC three' ton trucks (six-by-fours) were the main stay of the large and varied fleet of vehicles. During a period of six months the speedometers of the company's transport recorded an aggregate distance of 1,000,000 miles run over tortuous, dusty roads. The trucks were frequently used for the transport of troops—reinforcement drafts from New Zealand were taken from Nouméa to Tene Valley, and AEFs and APRs were transported from the valley to port of embarkation, which was always either Nouméa or Népoui. (AEFs were personnel 'awaiting embarkation forward' and APRs were 'awaiting passage return' to New Zealand.) The company also maintained 10 trucks at Nouméa as a 'Q pool'. Clearance of shipping was a non-stop transport task while vessels were discharging, and at such times vehicles rolled for 24 hours of the day, with three drivers to take shifts of eight hours each at the wheel. If the size of the shipment warranted, self-contained detachments were detached to a port at short notice, complete with bed-cots, tents and other camp gear, and the men then lived on the job while it lasted. On one occasion which will never be forgotten, a detachment installed itself at Népoui to unload an expected ship. However, the vessel was heavily laden, and when it was found that it drew too much water to berth there, it sailed down to Nouméa instead and, in order to be on the job when the ship tied up, the detachment had to strike its tents in haste and make a dash of 165 miles down the island. The 29th MT Company had christened itself 'the tireless 29th', but that occasion was one when some of its members felt just a little weary. While a ship was discharging, ASC convoys left the docks and proceeded to various points between Népoui and Nouméa with loads of rations, stores and equipment for the Ordnance Corps, the engineers, the National Patriotic Fund Board, the Canteen Board and the Medical Corps. Sections of page 128prefabricated buildings received from New Zealand were a note-worthy cargo, the buildings ranging in size from four men huts up to large warehouses, and the sections were carted to widely scattered camps. The company also took over the DP service formerly run by the Ioth MT Company, and every day trucks left each of the terminals, Néméara and Nouméa, to cover the 120 miles of road between, carrying capacity loads of private and official mail, priority goods and passengers. Convoys always tried to carry a full load each way, and the down loads were often empty petrol drums, except towards the end of the period when large quantities of miscellaneous stores were taken down from the Bourail area to Nouméa for ship' ment out of the island.

The other major business of the company was supply. It was normally a full two days' job to uplift bulk rations from the US depots in Nouméa and to cart them to the base supply depots. The company's own small dump of rations was depleted regularly as breaks went out, and was replenished by drawing on the base supply depots. Normal rations were delivered to units once every 10 days, but perishable rations, on the other hand, had to be collected and delivered as quickly as possible. Bread was picked up daily from the bakery, fresh meat was uplifted from the US freezers at the nickel docks, fresh vegetables from the cold storage depot at Magenta, and other fresh fruit and vegetables were bought at scattered French farms. When possible all perishables were distributed to units forth' with, though frequently there was a hold over in the unit mobile refrigerator. (Later that refrigerator was sent up to the bakery, after the company had a 900 cubic feet reefer box installed.)

Bulk supplies of petrol, oils, greases, diesel oil for cooking, and special oils used by such units as the engineers were held at the 29th MT Company camp and at the petrol point near Bourail, most issues being made at the latter point. In order to replace stocks of petrol, convoys carted empty drums down to the petrol refilling lot at Nouméa, refilled them on the trucks and returned to Bourail. The following is a copy of one of the commendations which the officer commanding the 29th MT Company received for the company's work during that period:

'I would like you to convey to all ranks under your command my great appreciation of the very fine work which they have done since the division departed from New Caledonia. There has been page 129a constant demand for their services, but at all times the men have carried out the work assigned to them with cheerfulness and efficiency. They have worked long hours, and considering the mileage done, the accident rate has been exceedingly low. I am very proud indeed of the 29th MT Company.

Yours sincerely,

(Signed) W. W. Dove, Brigadier,

Base Commandant.'

The 29th MT Company's camp was in continuous occupation for over 20 months, and opportunity was taken to make it what the force newspaper, Kiwi, called 'a well constructed camp second to none on the island for comprehensive facilities'. The wooden huts from New Zealand were an improvement on the tents which they replaced, and the composite platoon had the benefit of the use of a large prefabricated warehouse. The social centre of the camp was Robbie's Hall, a large bure of undressed timber and niaouli bark. Kanakas with names like Baptiste and Lu Lu who were engaged at 15 or 20 francs a day (plus their keep and a bonus to their tribal chief) collected the materials and worked under the supervision of unit members. The hall was a triumph for sign language, as neither the New Zealanders nor the natives knew more than a few words of French. In due course a fine wooden floor was installed in it, and attractive decorations were painted by men of the company—it was named after a popular member of the unit who was its guiding light and an unfailing toiler in its construction.

Over a large creek which ran through the camp a solid bridge was built, sufficiently strong to carry heavily laden trucks, but even so it had to be replaced several times after floods. There were many attempts to dam the creek into a swimming pool, but freshets after rain carried away increasingly solid structures until a really permanent dam was built. The pool, which was then formed by it, gave six long lanes for swimming races, and some elaborate diving boards were constructed there.

When there was no special entertainment in the evening, Robbie's Hall was full of men engaged in writing home, playing games or making their own amusement generally. From time to time the company organised its own entertainments, such as card tournaments, miniature race meetings, dances and concerts. Sisters from the hospital, WAACs and French mademoiselles attended the dances, page 130though they were never in sufficient number to provide partners for more than a proportion of the men. The unit dance orchestra pounded out the rhythm, while 'Javoes' and kanakas from the neighbourhood gathered outside in the darkness and grinned in at the fun. The most memorable concert was called 'Naughty Néméara Nights', and the Kiwi press printed a special programme for it. A corps de ballet appeared from among the company, equipped with clothing and cosmetics borrowed from sisters and local residents, and gave an exhibition which is remembered still. Other entertainments were put on in the hall by the divisional band and various visiting concert parties, and were much appreciated. The most popular of these concerts was given by the 2YA concert party from New Zealand at a time when it was so long since anyone had seen or heard a New Zealand girl that there were doubts whether they were being made any longer. There was normally a film show two or three nights each week, but only in the hall when it was wet. In fine weather screenings were held in the open, among the niaoulis. The 29th MT Company took part in a full range of sports, and had a good record at football, swimming, wrestling and boxing. As a working, rather than a training unit, the company was proud to win two military contests—the marching display and the rifle contest—against competition from all other units at base, including the infantry.

Each of the three companies which had gone to the forward area had left its workshops platoon in New Caledonia. Those platoons, each designed to be 43 strong, preserved their separate identity, but moved together into one camp at Moindah, in the area formerly occupied by the 10th MT Company. The undulating country there also was thickly dotted with niaoulis—small, twisted relatives of the eucalyptus, with grey' green foliage and pale bark in soft, thick layers, often charred by fire or eaten by soot fungus. They stretch for miles in many places, giving the countryside a monotonous appearance. The tree is so typical of the island that French people born in New Caledonia are referred to as niaoulis. All the platoons in the camp had electric lighting, and anyone coming in at night saw an extensive area which looked like a brightly lit town half hidden in the trees.

The workshops were kept busy on the task of completely strip' ping and rebuilding vehicles left behind at base, also those which came back from the forward area before the division. The platoons page break

Above: An air view of a supply ship waiting off the entrance to the Nissan lagoon and a view of the huge quantity of rations at Salipal. Below: Emelali, Smiler, Fuzzy, Rastus, Dreary, Shorty and Skipper, natives who worked for the ASC on Nissan

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An immense amount of upkeep was required on ASC vehicles. Above, is a view of the fitter's shop in New Caledonia; below, a lathe in the mobile machine shop

page 131were left to work in their own way, and their life was the quiet one of a static working unit, in which there was only a weekly parade to remind them of the army. Good workshops buildings were constructed, and there was great rivalry among the platoons to have the best installation. It was essential to organise the work on the basis of an assembly line, in which each man did only a specific job, as only about I o per cent of the personnel were specialised tradesmen in civil life. The remainder had been trained in their detailed tasks since they joined the ASC, and performed work of a high standard—there was, for example, a solicitor who became an expert at dealing with wheels, and fitted over Soo new tyres in the period. Ability to improvise is the special strength of the New Zealand soldier, and in New Caledonia the ASC workshops would never have been able to do their job if improvisation had not been given full play. For example, solder required for the repair of radiators had to be sweated off discarded tins, and engine mountings were cut from the salvaged wheels of old Bren carriers. In its time at Moindah one platoon alone used over 15,000 feet of welding rod, and cleaned, adjusted and replaced over 1,800 spark plugs.

Leave was fairly plentiful, and those who had the inclination travelled widely about the island. The 16 MT Company workshops men found good friends in the family of M. Alex Courtot of Mou, Ponérihouen. They were hospitable French folk who built a bure in their garden for the use of the workshop men, and regularly each week-end entertained parties over on the eastern coast. From Moindah the centre for picture entertainments and concerts was the 'Con Depot' at the Kalavere Hospital, about six miles away. The combined workshops fielded a cricket team, and individual platoons were represented at base sports functions. When entries were being planned for the biggest base sports meeting, the 4th MT Company workshops considered that its tug-of-war team was good enough to win the event without assistance, so two entries were sent in by the ASC at Moindah—an A team from the 10th and 16th MT Companies and a B team from the 4th MT Company. It was calculated by backers that if the B team had won the event, the tote would have paid a dividend of 196 dollars on it. However, the tote proved to be right up to a point, as the B team was eliminated narrowly in a semi-final. That was not the finish of the ASC, though, as the A team went on to win the event.

At Moindah a lurid wall newspaper known as the Piston News ran a free course more than 1,000 miles from police censorship. When an entire sergeants' mess was prostrated by a dish of doubt' ful ham, it reported the riotous 'Moindah poisoning case' in successive issues, and interest was also maintained by the vicissitudes of a local inventor with the patents of his brain child, a water heater known as the 'roaring inferno'. A lady named Margie, who seemed to have been around in her time, was retained to advise on personal problems in the feature 'Letter to Margie', but her handling of the matters submitted to her defies reproduction.

The two base supply depots continued to deal with bulk rations throughout the period, until after the return of the division. Base Supply Depot No 1 was often busy handling cargo from ships; one vessel which will never be forgotten was the Richard Mocscowski, which discharged 1,600 tons of rations to the depot. Whenever cargoes were being discharged, personnel of the depot worked round the clock under difficult condition. Base Supply Depot No I also provided working parties to load convoys reporting from Bourail for loads of rations or petrol from the US bulk dumps. Some of those dumps were of most impressive size, covering several square miles, and it was no easy task to take a convoy into a dump scattered over such a wide area and to uplift a month's rations. The Magenta petrol dump was a typical example. It covered about five square miles and contained large stocks of every type of grease, oil or petrol used in modern warfare. Base Supply Depot No I Workshop parties also loaded convoys with fresh meat and vegetables, involving hours of back 'breaking work carrying frozen carcases at the US freezers or shifting heavy crates of vegetables at the cold stores. All convoys were accommodated for the night, and on most occasions such hospitality involved overtime for the cooks and mess orderlies, who often prepared rush meals at odd hours. Towards the end of the period as many as Ioo vehicles and 250 drivers were accommodated and fed at one time. Throughout its existence the depot continued its function of holding some bulk supplies, and it also rationed all New Zealand troops in the Nouméa area.

Early in November, 1943, Base Supply Depot No 1 moved during a very busy period from Népoui to Néméara, where everyone set to work with a will and once again hacked a camp out of the page 133wilderness, at Audet's Farm, in the vicinity of the ASC Headquarters NZEFIP camp. Roads fit to take heavy loads had to be formed and store shelters hastily built to accommodate the rations to be brought down from Népoui. Those shelters, together with cook-houses, offices and other camp necessities were constructed quickly by the hands of willing toilers. Rations from Népoui then poured in, and when they had been sorted and stacked out of the weather the depot was again set up for duty. Shortly after that move the unit sent to the forward area a detachment of 20 men, who were away until May, 1944. The depot held bulk supplies for all of the troops in the Bourail area, and whenever breaks were made to the 29th MT Company, there was a spell of hectic toil when the drops of perspiration rolled freely. The pride of the unit was a swimming pool which was constructed in spare time but, like most pools in New Caledonia, it suffered whenever there was a flood.

The 1st Field Bakery at Nandai, near Néméara, was much reduced after the detachments had gone north, but eight ounces of bread were baked daily for every man at base, and also for some US units in the area. A small detachment was sent down to the 4th New Zealand General Hospital at Dumbéa, where it supplied about 5001b. of white or wheat germ bread every day. At Nandai the mobile refrigerator enabled fresh yeast to be stored satisfactorily, and the quality of the bread improved. Large quantities of block cake were produced, and the National Patriotic Fund Board built and operated an ice-cream factory in the camp, which made welcome issues to all New Zealand troops. Floods were a constant worry to the bakery, and carefully constructed wash places and clothes boilers were often carried away before they could be rescued. These were gleefully gathered in by units further down stream, and search parties sent out usually drew a blank. On another occasion a hurricane caused a lot of damage to bakery buildings.

Since March, 1943, fresh fruit and eggs had been purchased by the ASC for the hospitals from local producers, and just before the move north was made the composite companies had also collected from small French farms in their neighbourhoods fruit and vegetables purchased under arrangements made by the US island quartermaster, such supplies being issued to units generally. Later some of the personnel of the 1st Field Butchery took over the interesting job of making regular collections, after production had been organized page 134to some extent, and regular runs established. After the bigger trips a six-wheeled truck would lumber back to camp with a load of several tons of bananas or oranges and miscellaneous vegetables. Those who worked on the runs became well acquainted with the hard-working French, and also managed on occasions to organise the Kanakas as producers by selecting an enterprising native as inter' mediary. One such agent was M. Marcelin, of Houailou, chief of 2I villages, an entertaining character who spoke fluent French and had an excellent head for business. At one time he supplied 5,000 dozen oranges in a week. One incident was frequently recalled with much hilarity whenever the officer commanding the butchery made his rounds. A laden truck had failed in the tricky operation of running on to a river ferry, had pushed the punt out into the stream and plunged into 14 feet of water. Natives and French alike for miles around regarded the accident as the best joke in years. It took three men and a break-down truck from the 29th MT Company three days to recover the vehicle and bring it back to camp.

Life for soldiers in New Caledonia was not a varied one, and most of those who remained there imagined that the forward area was more interesting. In order to relieve the monotony, recreation centres were established on a force basis. There was a roster for a week's leave in Nouméa, and as drivers saw enough of that town when on convoys they usually gave their turns to others whose duties held them in camp. In that way some had two or three spells down at the capital, where they lived at a transit camp. In peacetime Nouméa had a population of over II,000, but after it became headquarters for the South Pacific command many huge US installations and camps were set up nearby, and the normal population, made up of French, Javanese, Kanakas and every variety of half caste, was swollen by great numbers of American and New Zealand servicemen. If one wished it was quite easy to get into trouble in Nouméa at short notice. Buildings were quite different from those of a New Zealand town—shutters took the place of windows, paint was scarce, and the general impression was one of hot, dry drabness. The town was dominated at one end by the large nickel works, which continually belched clouds of yellow smoke, and at the other end by a cathedral of yellow stone. At first the franc was 43 to the dollar, then 50, but little but US currency was seen in circulation. Prices were very high, though there was little to buy in the old-page 135fashioned shops. New Zealanders who expressed themselves frankly in English about stocks and prices found that some French assistants understood them perfectly, and cordially agreed with them, Soldiers from up country (la brousse) patronised the mushroom growth of cafes and restaurants which blared canned music and sold expensive grills and drinks, but before long they had usually 'had' Nouméa. The most important advantage of leave there was that it gave an opportunity to buy clothing, shoes and other bargains at the American PX (post exchange, or canteen).

Like the Ioth MT Company, the 29th MT Company established a rest camp near the river and beach at Ponérihouen, and when they could be spared parties of 20 men from the company, or from Base Supply Depot No I at Nouméa, spent a quiet week on the unfamiliar eastern coast.

Bourail, the base for NZEFIP, was the New Caledonian town best known to most New Zealanders. Though its population was given as only 1,500, and it seemed smaller, it boasted a substantial cathedral dating from 1877. The hotel de ville was taken over by the New Zealand army, and instead of housing the town clerk and the record office, it then eventually became a YMCA staffed by New Zealand WAACs. A large two-storeyed building owned by the commercial house of Ballande was taken over as headquarters of the force. It became known as 'the oicarage' (in honour of the officer-in-charge of administration), and as it dominated the main street anyone who was in Bourail from units out of town took care to avoid its vicinity as far as possible. However, apart from gala occasions like Jeanne d'Arc day, Bourail was rather a limited place where it was difficult to fill in time, and was best known as a short halt when passing through. The Base Reception Depot area nearby at Téné Valley was of more interest, as a roadhouse, known as the Bourail club, was built there, and in front of it the site of an old racecourse, covered with guava scrub, was cleared into a good playing field. Téné Valley was the venue of the big football matches, and there were also hockey and soccer grounds for the regular competitions.

In January, 1944, a system of furlough to New Zealand was begun for those at base who had then been overseas for more than 12 months, though actually the ASC sent only a couple of small drafts, for a period of 2I days. In April the first news came that page 136men were to return to New Zealand under a manpower scheme, and the furlough system was dropped. A month later large manpower drafts returned to Base Reception Depot from the forward area, and were reinforced by releases from base units. Convoys of 120 vehicles in three sections were sometimes required to transport those drafts to and from Nouméa, and the workshops platoons were called upon heavily for drivers.

The short period which followed, at the end of the division's stay overseas, was the only time when Headquarters Divisional ASC and all the ASC companies were grouped together in one area, and the corps then had its own telephone exchange, sub-post office and picture theatre.

Some of the men from the forward area had been away almost II months, and met again on their return members of their units whom they had almost forgotten. New Caledonia seemed a dry and barren place after the Solomon Islands with their rank growth, and the air also had a freshness which contrasted with the humidity of the islands of the forward area. Pallor began to give way to tan, and appetites revived on a diet which included a good proportion of fresh meat, vegetables, and even eggs. The kit bags which had been left behind at base kit store were re-issued with their unfamiliar contents in good condition, and shorts were worn once again. The quartermasters and their staffs were inundated with work, as an 'in possession' card was compiled for each man, his page 137deficiencies in clothing and equipment made up and some new issues made. The new issues included battle dress which had formerly been used by the Home Guard in New Zealand, made from rough material (said by some of the men to be dog's hair); greatcoats, some of which were of notably antique cut, stamped 1918; and a new khaki drill shirt-jacket called a bush shirt.

From the end of May a system of leave at the Kiwi club, Bourail beach, was operated, though it was difficult for units which had just returned to take full advantage of it. However, some ASC men spent four or seven days under pleasant conditions at that rest centre, where there was accommodation for 50 men. The club was staffed by WAACs, and the buildings, which had been donated by the Anzac Association in New York and were controlled by the National Patriotic Fund Board, were quite elaborate for New Caledonia. The ASC supplied the club with special rations which enabled it to provide meals more attractive than those usually served in the army. Bourail beach was sandy, and sometimes had quite good surf, while the Bourail River banked up at its mouth there, and its still waters were used for boating.

By that time it was clear that the division was to return to New Zealand. It had been announced that furlough at home would be granted at the rate of two days for each month of service over' seas, and on 7 July the first draft drawn from all units left for New Zealand. A base organisation for the ASC was then no longer necessary, and ASC Headquarters NZEFIP, Base Supply Depots Nos I and 2, the 1st Field Bakery and the 1st Field Butchery were closed down as separate units. The remaining personnel of those units were marched into the ASG companies, principally the 29th MT Company. Base Supply Depot No I at Nouméa really continued its separate existence, but under the new style of 29th MT Company detachment.

Units were concentrating on the overhaul of equipment, the survey of any which was unserviceable, the making of crates in which to take gear home and the general clearing up of camp areas. After vehicles had been given a last check by the workshops they were transferred to the vast transport park at vehicle reception depot, Moindah. Personnel were also given a hasty overhaul when they were medically reboarded en masse. An attempt was made to consume some of the regimental funds which had accumulated while page 138units were in the forward area, mainly by making free beer issues. There was naturally little time for sport at that busy period, though a combined ASC rugby team was reckoned to be the best in the Néméara Valley, and defeated artillery by eight points to nil in its biggest game. Many of the players complained that they were still below par physically after their experiences in the 'blood bath', the facetious name for their time in the forward area.

A force rear party was constituted in August, comprising 1,000 men, and an ASC supply and transport company was attached to it, formed by reinforcing part of the 29th MT Company with 98 drivers and mechanics from other ASC units, and by allotting 188 vehicles to it from among the four companies. Those selected to remain behind were not at all pleased to see their friends leave before them, but they worked to such good purpose that they followed a little over a month after the main party.

The final days in New Caledonia were most hectic ones for the Nouméa detachment of the 29th MT Company (formerly Base Supply Depot No I). Camp de Limousin was then in reality a force rear party dump. To be left behind in the rear party was a sad blow to the Base Supply Depot No I men, as they had originally landed in New Caledonia with the advanced party. Although the detachment continued to function as a supply depot, and handled perishables, it also had the unenviable task of storing and clearing to New Zealand large quantities of the division's equipment and ammunition which rolled down to Nouméa in ever increasing quantities. Whenever convoys came in, day or night, all hands turned out to off-load the trucks in readiness for their return to Bourail, usually with a load of petrol and oils. When shipping space became available, the loads from Bourail were restacked on to trucks and carted to the ship's side, and work then continued day and night until the ship was filled. The lack of lighting and suitable lifting equipment at the dump made the job a hazardous and arduous one. Equipment from the works services company was particularly unwelcome, as it always turned out to consist of cases of pipe fittings or other engineer stores, equally heavy. The loading of ammunition was another black spot in the lives of those men—hold ups, heavy loads, night work and swarms of mosquitoes did not lift morale. Finally the welcome day came when loads ceased to come down from Bourail, and then, as the outward shipment continued, page break

The 29th MT company's lines among the niaoulis at Néméara, New Caledonia. Below: The US Replacement Depot staging camp in Nouméa with ASC personnel waiting to embark for New Zealand in August, 1944

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The interior of 'Robbie's Hall' in the 29th MT company's lines at Néméara, New Caledonia. On the left is the company's crest which decorated the hall. Below: The company's borrowed tank transporter, 'Miss Pahiatua' carting poles in New Caledonia

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Base Headquarters of the NZEFIP were in Bourail, New Caledonia, the main street of which was adorned with ancient flamboyant trees.
Above, is a view from the Hotel de Ville showing: several of the trees Above: The Hotel de Ville, Bourail, which became a YMCA. Right: The gendarmerie, situated on a hill outside the town and surrounded by a wall dating from the early days. Below: The cross on the main south road

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Driver N. G Eves, 10th MT company, died of injuries on Guadalcanal
Driver W. F. Lincoln, 16th MT company, died of wounds on Ve11a Lavclla
Driver R. A. Matthews, 29th MT company, died of injuries, New Caledonia
Driver S. R. H. Stokes, 10th MT company, killed in action, Nissan
Driver W. A. Watts, 10th MT company, died in hospital, New Caledonia

page 139mud began to show again around the dump area where recently there had been a valley full of crates, machinery, bulldozers and even tanks. On the day of days when the last load went on its way to the ship's side, the ASC men relieved their feelings by chalking on the sides of the crates suitable messages to New Zealand.

The main bodies from the depleted ASC units had moved down to Nouméa in the middle of August, and the personnel worked their passage by driving convoys of water carts and other miscellaneous vehicles down the island from vehicle reception depot. Before that occasion most New Zealand soldiers leaving the island had passed through the force's Nouméa transit camp, but the draft in question was accommodated at the US 6th Replacement Depot staging area, Camp Barnes—an enormous camp situated in a hot, arid valley at the back of Nouméa, and a depressing place for any but a draft homeward bound. Each man had brought only a single kit bag with him to New Caledonia from New Zealand, but for the return journey everyone had at least two, and there was also an imposing pile of trunks and bundles. It was said that the Third Division would be the best equipped force ever to return to New Zealand. On 19 August, 1944, the party embarked on the Dutch ship Brastagi, which had brought the first large body of ASC to New Caledonia nearly two years before, but had since been improved considerably for the carriage of troops. Morale was higher than it had ever been when the ship slipped out of Nouméa Harbour on a fine Saturday afternoon, and after passing the Amédée lighthouse a few miles out, headed south for home.

The return to New Zealand was made in good time, without escort, and as colder weather was experienced all New Zealand passengers were given some hard thinking to do when a customs declaration was presented for their signature. In due course the bare hills of Cape Brett were sighted, and later the ferries and other unchanged sights of Auckland Harbour were studied with relish. The impatient troops listened to various speeches of welcome in the wharf sheds—there were hardly any friends or relatives present, as no notice of the arrival had been given—and they were then whisked out to Papakura Mobilisation Camp, where they were put through formalities with despatch and marched out to a minimum of 40 days' leave.

While many men were on furlough news came that the Third page 140Division was to be disbanded, and this information served as a check to spirits. Some personnel were not liable for further overseas service because of age, medical grading or family status, but a large number was recalled to mobilisation camps on expiry of furlough and sent in due course as reinforcements to the Second Division which was then serving in Italy. For his services as commanding officer of the NZASC with the Third Division, Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Blazey was awarded the OBE on the occasion of the disbanding of the force.

The last phase in the story of the division was played out at Camp Euart, later known as Mangere Crossing Camp, where equipment had been stored on its arrival in New Zealand. A small numrber of key personnel returned to that camp after furlough, and over a period of months stores were unpacked, sorted and vouchered to the Ordnance Corps. Ledgers were cleared and audited, and units were then officially wound up. The last of the division's ASC units passed out of existence in April, 1945.

Remember back home …? Remember up in the islands …?

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The all-clear must have gone. There's the major!

ASC men on Guadalcanal who met Americans could always cap tall stories about the Japs with taller ones about New Zealand

The rehabilitation of the major!