II
Base Hygiene Section

Unlike other units of the Third Division, which was formed in New Zealand before departure overseas, the Base Hygiene Section did not come into being until New Caledonia, early in May, 1943. Second-Lieutenant R. Agnew was the first officer to assume command, having been transferred from the 6th Field Hygiene Section to form the new unit. After a short period, during which he page 113put in some good ground work, he departed to take up the position' of hygiene officer to the New Zealand Forces in Fiji, and Second-Lieutenant S. P. Pushman took his place. Also from the 6th Field Hygiene Section came Staff-Sergeant G. F. Fletcher, who proved a tower of strength in keeping the workshop functioning and its personnel busily employed. 'Fletch' was one of the foundation members of the camp fire gatherings held in the guava flats, adjacent to Base Camp Reception Hospital and which became known as the 'Indian Reservation.' Private H. C. Devereaux, who also lustily beat a tom-tom at these performances of tribal rites, was orderly room clerk until he left us to seek further excitement in the Solomons. The section was located in the camp of the Base Camp Reception Hospital, Tene Valley, and we are pleased to record that our relations with this unit were always harmonious.

The first job which Second-Lieutenant Agnew completed was the creation of a workshop and store built from native materials and which consisted of a framework of niaouli trees stripped of the bark, the latter then being used for thatching the roofs. Theoretical instruction for the personnel of the section was undertaken as soon as possible because, apart from Second-Lieutenant Pushman and two NCOs, no other member of the unit had any experience in the work of a hygiene section. At the same time it was evident to those concerned that the force as a whole would benefit from some instruction in the principles of field hygiene and sanitation and the importance of observing them on active service. A suitable syllabus was drawn up and a series of lectures given to officers and NCOs at Base Training Depot, Tene Valley. These lectures were a regular feature of our work right up to the time when the division was recalled to Necal from the forward area. To assist us in this instructional work we cleared a patch of guava and constructed a series of practical exhibits which served to demonstrate how camp sanitary appliances could be built with a minimum of effort and maximum efficiency.

Improvisation from existing or readily obtainable materials was the keynote to our work. What the troops would have done without the ubiquitous oil-drum is hard to imagine, for its uses were only limited by the intelligence or initiative of those using it. It was a favourite basis for the construction of grease-traps, incinerators, cooking stoves, hot water boilers and a host of other worthwhile additions to the amenities of a camp. Our page 114 workshop was always busy, for we believed in giving units our practical help as well as our advice. The fly menace was kept in check because we made food-safes, fly-traps, fly-wires and fly-proof latrine boxes for those units, principally small ones, who had difficulty in obtaining good results themselves. Another main undertaking was the disposal of refuse, which was a matter requiring constant supervision, and, if it had not been possible to obtain, when necessary, the services of a bulldozer or carry-all scoop and tractor from the engineers, we could not have kept the tips in a satisfactory condition.

In our early days, because of an outbreak of dengue fever, we were called upon to undertake mosquito control in the township of Bourail. This task was complicated by language differences, but Corporal Bill Patterson and Private Bob Ball, assisted by a letter of entry from the local gendarme and by bringing into play their long-forgotten schoolboy French, interspersed with signs and gesticulations, accomplished a good deal. With two fatigue parties working, the town was soon cleared of discarded tins, cans, bottles, and any other junk which would harbour mosquitoes; and what a varied collection of rubbish came to light! Thereafter, a regular bi-weekly system of refuse collection was organised in conjunction with the local French authorities. This collection of rubbish, periodical emptying of unused receptacles which collected water, the regular spraying of water tanks with cotton seed oil and of swamps, gutters and ditches with a mixture of used engine oil and kerosene, resulted finally in a welcome diminution of the mosquito hordes.

Before the Kiwi Club was erected at Bourail Beach the unit was called upon to make a mosquito survey of the locality because the pest mosquito, aedes vigilax, a salt marsh breeder, was very prevalent during the hot season. To enable a complete survey to be made we required a boat, and, unable to borrow a suitable craft, we decided to build one of our own. None of us had tackled such a job before, but with plenty of advice, both helpful and otherwise, there evolved in record time a (flattie,' whose only resemblance to a boat lay in the fact that it was sharp at one end and blunt at the other. The launching ceremony and maiden trial was a popular event, though we shirked publicity in case of failure. To our undisguised delight and to the discomfiture of our critics, the craft handled very well, and it enabled us to carry out this and other surveys which would otherwise have been page 115impossible. The boat has since been bequeathed to New Caledonia, and when last seen was being used as a fishing craft by Kanakas.

Another workshop enterprise was the building of oil fuel water heaters, which proved so attractive that we had to turn away many requests for them. The first model, mark 1 pattern, was not much of a success in use, but, by the time that we had gathered knowledge from our experiments, the mark IV job was fairly efficient. Our tinsmith, Corporal Rex Garrett, was mainly responsible for the various improvements made to these heaters, and the crowning achievement was a tea-boiler which enabled tea to be made with boiling water straight from the tap.

Supervision of camp water supplies did not worry tis overmuch because the established water points were well maintained by the engineers. The main difficulty experienced was during the rainy season, when rivers rose so quickly that rapid evacuation of the plants had to be made. Filtration and chlorination were always necessary safeguards, the former particularly, because of the danger of amcebic dysentery.

When settled camps were established on the island we adopted the practice of circulating round them a small working party comprising an NCO and three men with a kit of tools. This party remained at each camp from any time up to a week, making necessary adjustments or alterations to sanitary appliances. If extra help were required to cut timber or dig holes a fatigue party was provided from camp personnel, and the scheme worked very well in maintaining a satisfactory standard of sanitation. It also helped to dispel the idea, prevalent in some quarters, that we only found fault and were never constructive in our criticisms. During the course of our travels we found that quite a number of people had a very hazy idea of the functions of a hygiene section, and seemed to think it was something in the nature of a glorified sanitary squad to undertake camp fatigues. We quickly corrected such faults and impressions, and before long were received, we believe, as welcome guests. Of course we had a fair amount of 'barracking' to contend with, but we had to take this in good part and retaliate in kind as best we could.

We could not conclude this narrative without reference to some of our members whose names have not appeared in the preceding paragraphs. Two of our number were detached for duty almost continuously. The first, Staff-Sergeant W. Pelham, usually known as' Red,' lived with the artillery at Nemeara page 116Valley. He was our sporting representative and made a name for himself as an all-weather motor cyclist. The second was Sergeant R. Robinson, who was something of a tyrant should a unit fail to observe the rules regarding refuse disposal. He nevertheless got results. Then there was Private 'Kingi' Kingdon, who drove several thousand miles without accident until one day he thought he had an amphibious jeep and took to water like a duck. He would drive anything, but had a weakness for motor cycles. Private Alec Brear was also a motor cycle enthusiast, but his fame rested mainly upon his boxing ability, although his singing, with Private Stan Greatorex accompanying him on his guitar, entertained the camp each evening after mess. Private Ted McCree and Sapper Joe Marshall were both good all-rounders, and we missed them in the workshop when they left for New Zealand. All hands had some form of hobby which occupied their spare time, and all manner of useful and ornamental articles were manufactured out of wood, metal and glass. Driver Jim Qiles was the most enthusiastic, although everyone seemed to be able to turn out something in the way of a souvenir.

When news came through officially that we were returning to New Zealand we could not say that we were sorry, but we knew and regretted that a happy unit and many friendships would be broken up. In retrospect we can count ourselves fortunate in that, although denied the opportunity of forward service, we were able to play an active part while fulfilling a static role; and we can feel, too, that in view of the small percentage of troops who became casualties through infectious disease while in the base area, we justified our existence.