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Shovel Sword and Scalpel: A record of service of medical units of the second New Zealand expeditionary force in the Pacific

III — No. 1 NZ Malaria Control Unit

III
No. 1 NZ Malaria Control Unit

The first appointments of officers to the Malaria Control Unit of the Third Division were made in September, 1942, about a month after the initial landing by American forces in Guadalcanal. A year was to elapse before our division went into action. These first officers to join the unit were the officer commanding, Captain, N. H. North, who had experience of malaria control problems during his service with the RNZAF at Singapore, and Lieutenant L. J. Dumbleton, from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who became the entomologist. The first month or so was-spent in collecting information, investigating the supply position, and attending to the details of the formation of the unit. During this period, also, some lectures on malaria and malaria control were given to medical officers. The principles of malaria control were, of course, well established, and some additional local information: was available in the reports of the page 100Australian Forces in New Guinea; but existing information on the characteristics of the anopheline mosquito in the Solomon Islands was very meagre. The high malaria rates which were being experienced by American troops in the Solomons had a very salutary effect on the seriousness with which the malaria hazard was regarded and the preparations which were made to meet it. The division was most fortunate in securing as its tropical disease specialist an officer who was well acquainted with the Solomons, Lieutenant-Colonel E. G. Sayers, N.Z.M.C. In recognition of his excellent work, Colonel Sayers was awarded the Legion of Merit by the Americans, with whom he was closely associated in such work as malaria control and the efficiency of jungle rations.

We were occupied for some time with the problem of supply. It was intended that kerosene-pyre thrum sprays, 'malariol,' and repellent should be provided from New Zealand, but this arrangement proved largely unnecessary, as the US supply organisations supplied these materials in addition to anti-malarial drugs, such as atebrin. Knapsack sprayers, flit guns, etc., were, however, issued from New Zealand. The war establishment and equipment tables were based on Middle East practice, but our unit differed in that its sole duty was malaria control, and we were a larger whole-time malaria control force than was provided for a division in the Middle East.

A few personnel reported to the unit while the division was still based at Papakura, but we did not reach full strength until after the move to Hamilton, where we were camped with other units at Rugby Park. Here we began to accumulate personnel and equipment, and managed to accomplish a certain amount of training. The orderly room cum quartermaster's store cum RAP served as a lecture room, and, when that was not available, the football grandstand was pressed into service. Towards the end of 1942 a flood of knapsack sprayers, flit guns, and miscellaneous articles of dubious origin and purpose descended on us, and we were kept busy packing and crating them all in preparation for a move. Two brigade section officers, Lieutenant R. J. McMillan and Second-Lieutenant W. M. Miller, both of whom were engineers, were added to the personnel, and these officers, having been through an officers' training school, gave a faint military flavour to what was never a very military unit.

For the advanced party, which left for Wellington and New page 101Caledonia on 2 December, 1943, the parting from New Zealand was offset to some extent by at last having something definite in prospect—new country and operational status. We were not given long in Noumea, where we saw our first balloon barrage, but two things evoked comment—the number of ships in the harbour and the unique smell of mud on the wharves. We were soon moved to a transit camp at Dumbea, and began the first of the hunts for our scattered equipment, of which we were to have so many in the future. Within a week we were bumping up the long and dusty road to Boguen. This had been chosen as a site for the 4th NZ General Hospital, with whose advanced party we had travelled and were to be quartered. We settled down and found that the area, though not prepossessing, had some advantages, especially in the nearness to the river. In due course the disadvantages were made known when the first wave of mosquitos came over. The mosquito consciousness of all ranks showed a marked improvement from that date. For some weeks we toiled with the personnel of the hospital in preparing their site. Early in January, 1943, however, we again moved, this time to the divisional area at Moindah where we joined forces with the 6th Field Hygiene Section.

So far all our energies had been devoted to camp construction, but we now commenced mosquito surveys of the aerodrome areas at Plaine des Gaiacs and Tontouta. New Caledonia is non-malarious, but there was some apprehension lest anopheline mosquitoes might be introduced by planes returning from the Solomons and the New Hebrides. No anophelines were found on the survey, and the work was discontinued at Ouatom aerodrome when word was received that an advanced party of No. 1 NZ Malaria Control Unit was to proceed to Efate Island, in the New Hebrides.

On 21 January, 1943, a party comprising Major North, Lieutenant Dumbleton, Second-Lieutenant Miller and seven other ranks left Noumea in an oil tanker for Efate. On the 23rd we went ashore for a few hours at Havannah Harbour before transhipping to a minesweeper, which took us round to Vila, the administrative centre of the group. After the confusion engendered by our unexpected arrival had subsided we were quartered with the US Malaria Control Headquarters at Navy Base Hospital No. 2. During our stay of ten days there we became acquainted with the organisation and method of operation page 102of American malaria control, and had our first experience of malaria control in the field.

Havannah Harbour, at this time, was the base of the American naval task force, and, though it was only a dozen miles from Vila, the roads were usually impassable, and the only satisfactory communication was by sea. This area was allotted to the New Zealand group, which was to be responsible for the malaria control under an American malariologist. We moved round there on 4 February and found the place a hive of activity, with the building of an airstrip and shore facilities for the task force under way. At first transport was lacking, and we had an arduous introduction to work in jungle, water, and mud at the height of the hot, rainy season. Once the area began to come under control the work was farmed out amongst the units in the area, and we had more time to enjoy life. The best memories are of orange and mandarin trees growing wild in the jungle, and which our survey work put us in a good position to locate, and of the trips to the outlying islands of Nguna and Mau, whence came the native labour we employed.

When the 8th Brigade seized the Treasury Islands the 7th Field Ambulance went with it. Stirling Island was almost cleared of jungle and became an airstrip

When the 8th Brigade seized the Treasury Islands the 7th Field Ambulance went with it. Stirling Island was almost cleared of jungle and became an airstrip

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In June a second section of the unit replaced our personnel in the New Hebrides. En route to Efate they met lieutenant Dumbleton and Second-Lieutenant Miller, who were proceeding north via Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal to work with American malaria control in forward areas. Lieutenant Dumbleton went to Russell Island, which was at that time being used for mounting the coming attack on Rendova and Munda, and Second-Lieutenant Miller went to Tulagi and Florida Islands. The work of these officers and, in fact, of all members of the unit who worked with the Americans at this time earned the respect of our allies, who were gracious enough to acknowledge our services by letters o£ commendation to General Barrowclough. All personnel were withdrawn to New Caledonia by the end of July, 1943. During the return voyage of one group their ship, when out from Lautoka, Fiji, suddenly swung hard over and began zig-zagging furiously. Action stations were manned and passenger personnel immediately despatched below. After anxious waiting they learned that a torpedo had just missed their bows and that their ship had narrowly escaped the fate of a Liberty ship which had been sunk by a submarine in the same area on the previous day.

After the departure of the first New Hebrides party the remainder of the unit in New Caledonia carried on with training. Some attention was devoted to the dengue fever problem, which developed in and around Bourail and Noumea. The unit was again moved, this time to a camp near the 4th Motor Ambulance Convoy at Tene Valley. Here intensive courses of instruction were held for unit anti-mosquito squads in preparation for the move of the division to malarious areas. On 1 July 1943, Major D. McK. Jack, a veteran of service with the Second Division, assumed command from Major North, the latter returning to his first love, the air force.

On 16 August, less than a month after the return of personnel from the New Hebrides, our advanced party embarked with the 14th Brigade for Guadalcanal. A stop was made at Efate, where we carried out landing exercises, on what was familiar ground to many of our unit, at Mele Bay, near Vila. Landing on Guadalcanal near the Matanikau we set up camp close beside Point Cruz with the 22nd Field Ambulance, who were to be our hosts on subsequent occasions also. We had made preliminary surveys and organised control work in the brigade area by the time Major Jack and the headquarters of the unit page 104arrived with the divisional group. The unit was concentrated again in our own camp in the divisional area between Wright Road and the Matanikau River, and we began control operations in this area too. The final section of the unit arrived with the 8th Brigade on 14 September and set up camp on Wright Road. Two days later the 14th Brigade moved to Vella Lavella, and with them went one section of our unit, to be followed later by the headquarters. The 8th Brigade section, commanded by Second-Lieutenant R. D. Dick, remained on Guadalcanal until the brigade invaded the Treasury Group. For a while we had no representatives on Guadalcanal, but, later, a small section under Staff-Sergeant (later Second-Lieutenant) C. H. Belton was sent down and remained there until New Zealand troops returned to New Caledonia.

On Vella Lavella the first few weeks proved to be arduous and tiring. Areas had to be surveyed for likely breeding grounds —a task which was no sinecure in thick jungle, swamps, torrential rain and an oppressive humidity. We worked throughout the hours of daylight, and even sleep at night was denied us by the wailing sirens heralding air raids. However, once the main survey was completed, details of breeding grounds finalised, and areas of control allotted to our own personnel and unit anti-mosquito squads, life became routine again. Brigade units were spread throughout the island and in many cases were inaccessible by land. Our journeys of inspection and survey to these units by sea probably gave birth to an enthusiasm for boating and sailing which became so evident later on Nissan Island. It was on Vella that members on survey had their first experience of crocodiles, and many were the tales told round the mess table. The surveyor's heart often beat faster when, deep in a jungle swamp, a flooded river had to be crossed and his imagination conjured up awful possibilities as he listened to the eerie noises of the jungle. The reptiles, however, left us well alone, and the only injury which anyone suffered while on survey work was when Corporal Jim Livingstone tripped a Japanese booby trap. We spent about five months on Vella, and towards the end of that period Major R. G. S. Ferguson, from the 22nd Field Ambulance, replaced Major Jack as officer commanding, the latter returning to New Zealand to civilian medical practice.

Meanwhile our section with the Sth Brigade, after a further month on Guadalcanal, had embarked and, on 6 November, page break
Rapidly rising streams and consequent Hooding were regular Icatnrcs in New Caledonia in the 'wet season.' These two photographs show (upper) the bridge, water point and hauyan tree at the entrance to the Racecouse Camp, Tenc Valley, rind (lower) the flooded stream completely covering the same bridge with the water [joint made quite untenable for a time

Rapidly rising streams and consequent Hooding were regular Icatnrcs in New Caledonia in the 'wet season.' These two photographs show (upper) the bridge, water point and hauyan tree at the entrance to the Racecouse Camp, Tenc Valley, rind (lower) the flooded stream completely covering the same bridge with the water [joint made quite untenable for a time

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The entrance to the 4th Motor Ambulance Camp at Téné alley. The ubiquitous niaouli threw a little shade but usually it was a warm and dusty spot throughout most of the year

The entrance to the 4th Motor Ambulance Camp at Téné alley. The ubiquitous niaouli threw a little shade but usually it was a warm and dusty spot throughout most of the year

Though the 4th MAC" kitchen at Moindah does not look altogether prepossessing, it served its purpose well and was a model of effective sanitation. Tn the foreground is an efficient fly-trap

Though the 4th MAC" kitchen at Moindah does not look altogether prepossessing, it served its purpose well and was a model of effective sanitation. Tn the foreground is an efficient fly-trap

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This improvised hot shower unit was a great boon to ambulance drivers on their return from the long dusty trips throughout New Caledonia

This improvised hot shower unit was a great boon to ambulance drivers on their return from the long dusty trips throughout New Caledonia

A view of the wards of the casualty clearing station in Guadalcanal which remained in the one location for ten months. It was sited near the beach

A view of the wards of the casualty clearing station in Guadalcanal which remained in the one location for ten months. It was sited near the beach

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Above is a view of the gardens which surrounded the casualty clearing station on Guadalcanal. Below: The first contingent of New Zealand nurses to serve in a forward Pacific area are shown arriving at Guadalcanal on 5 March 1944. L to R: Charge-Sister J. T. Sexton, ARRC, Sister H. B. Foster, Charge-Sister R. J. Ward, Sister M. G. Gwilliam, Sister D. H. Hoyte, Sister A.M. McLachlan, Sister M. S. Farland, MBE. and Sister J. G. Galloway,) photograph when they landed

Above is a view of the gardens which surrounded the casualty clearing station on Guadalcanal. Below: The first contingent of New Zealand nurses to serve in a forward Pacific area are shown arriving at Guadalcanal on 5 March 1944. L to R: Charge-Sister J. T. Sexton, ARRC, Sister H. B. Foster, Charge-Sister R. J. Ward, Sister M. G. Gwilliam, Sister D. H. Hoyte, Sister A.M. McLachlan, Sister M. S. Farland, MBE. and Sister J. G. Galloway,) photograph when they landed

page 1051943, landed on Stirling Island, in the Treasury Group. Within ten days of landing a detailed survey of Mono and Stirling Islands was completed and breeding places plotted on maps. Anopheline larvae were located in Lake Soala, on Stirling, and along the edges of streams on Mono, hence strict personal precautions against malaria had to be taken by the troops. We immediately arranged for Lake Soala to be oiled, and this was carried out each week during our sojourn on the island. Weekly oiling of swamps and river edges was attended to by our personnel and unit anti-mosquito squads, but much of this work was eliminated later when, with the assistance of outside labour (notably the ASC attached to 7th Field Ambulance), we cut and dug through swamps, slush and jungle some tens of thousands of linear feet of drains. Besides routine malaria control measures some considerable time was devoted to technical work in our field laboratory. We were most interested in the study of the small red scrub mite, which caused an epidemic of skin trouble on Stirling Island, and we were able to recommend preventive measures.

We achieved certain notoriety in our brigade group by virtue of our aviary, which included a red and blue plumaged parakeet and two white cockatoos, one of which unfortunately succumbed to injuries, despite the efforts of field ambulance surgeons; but by far the most popular pet was a portly domestic fowl which we caught at large in the jungle. We had fond hopes that this bird would make our several fortunes, for on 14 successive days she produced each day that longed-for and oft-dreamed of delicacy— an old-fashioned egg in a shell. However, our dreams of reverse lease-lend on a strictly cash basis were short-lived, for our hen, with truly feminine obstinacy, decided that 14 eggs was the limit of her war effort.

The 8th Brigade Group moved no further north than the Treasuries, and we spent seven long months there, attached the whole time to the 7th Field Ambulance. Our association with this unit was a very happy one, and we were all very grateful to the officers and men for the understanding way they adopted our tiny section, separated from its own unit by hundreds of miles of ocean.

In February, 1944, the 14th Brigade Group again moved, this time to Nissan Island. One section moved with the brigade and was later joined by headquarters. Qn Nissan we were quartered with the 24th Field Ambulance, at first in, a very makeshift camp page 106in the Pokonian Plantation and later in a camp at the edge of the lagoon about a mile away. Here we set up our own camp and discovered in our midst an excellent cook in the person of Private Wally Bennett. The inevitable jungle clearing process was marked by some fine displays of inexpert bushmanship, notably from Major Ferguson and Captain Dumbleton, and how tents and bodies escaped crushing by trees falling the wrong way remains something of a miracle. One thing in which we were lucky on this island of water scarcity was a well, which helped to tide us over until the water supply improved. The expenditure of our war-like stores of grenades helped out our diet with fish from the lagoon, and the semi-wild pigs, the pawpaws and sweet potatoes also contributed. The adjacent lagoon proved a source of much pleasure to budding ship-builders and sailors, and many strange craft were launched and sailed on its placid waters. Pride of the fleet, and expertly handled by Skippers Corbett and Rea, was a 21-foot native canoe, complete with outrigger and sail, appropriately called Anopheline.

With the announcement of the scheme whereby troops from our division were required to return to New Zealand to help relieve the man-power shortage in industry No. 1 NZ Malaria Control Unit, like other units of the Third Division, could see the end looming in sight. By stages we withdrew from the Solomons to New Caledonia and thence to New Zealand, and now the division and its component units no longer exist. Looking back over our period of service we can say that we were as happy as any unit in the sometimes uncomfortable and always monotonous existence in the islands. We as a unit were fortunate in that we had, more or less, a free-lance existence. Our opportunities for travel on all modes of transports, ranging from aeroplanes, destroyers and hospital ships to Japanese barges, dinghies and native canoes, provided many varieties and changes of scene. We had, moreover, the satisfaction of having a necessary and useful job to do, and we were able to see the successful results of our work in the creditably low rate of malaria incidence amongst the troops of the division. We feel sure that No. 1 NZ Malaria Control Unit will be remembered with affection, perhaps even with nostalgia, by all who served as members of it.