Chapter Five
Return to Home

Days at sea on troopships resolve themselves into waiting for hours in mess queues, standing guard over bulkheads and hatches, browsing topside in the sun and out of the wind, with head pillowed on a life-jacket but, more than anything, breathing the heavy hot air in the crowded troop quarters. Our return voyage to New Zealand followed the same pattern, but with the suppressed excitement of the knowledge that in a few hours we would see again the faces and hills of home. The last day was one of cruising down the northern coastline through the islands of the Hauraki Gulf and finally, at 3 pm, to a berth at the Auckland wharves. Retained on board that night, we were spirited away the next morning in closed trains, with drawn blinds, in very conspiratorial fashion, and were deposited, after a one-mile march up hill, in a camp near Manurewa.

Having arrived earlier than anticipated, the battalion was faced with its first night in New Zealand without blankets. Alas, many bottles, smuggled from Fiji to enrich some festive occasion back home, had to be broached to ward off the cold; but the blankets arrived in time. Even then this night, and the few weeks that followed it, are remembered as bitterly cold. To us, with our blood warm and thin from the balmy evenings of the tropics, sleeping on the floor of the pre-fabricated huts was a draughty experience. For several days the administrative staffs worked hard preparing rail warrants and leave passes, and ultimately everyone, save a rear party, marched out on fourteen days leave.

Enthusiasm to return to the colours on the expiration of leave was rather luke-warm on the part of a small number of the battalion who, thinking that fourteen days was an inadequate holiday, took such additional time as each considered proper. But, with a little

'Rat Palace' (above) was the grim title bestowed on this building-by the men of the 34th. Right and below are two illustrations of men at work on the excavations in Sealark Hill which afterwards held huge tanks of petrol

A visit to the Nausori market (left) was a Saturday morning jaunt worth taking. The Fijians clad, in leaves and flowers are in formal visiting dress
During exercises and tramps about the Rewa Delta, scenes such as this were familiar beside the river

page 37travail, the battalion soon re-assembled, and embarked on training. There were new weapons, and some new equipment, while older stores were handed in. The men of the carrier platoon were not sorry to see the last of their Beaverettes, which were at all times quick-tempered and unpredictable creatures.

Those who took advantage of the social evenings and dances arranged by the residents of Manurewa found much enjoyment in these functions; the hospitality of the local people was very generous, and warmly appreciated. Then as Manurewa camp was gradually being converted into a more comfortable home, with gravelled roads and a Ymca, we were shifted some miles further south, to Hilldene. Here the procedure of setting up house and improving the surroundings and amenities began again.

Just before this happened, Colonel Clachan relinquished command of the battalion to go to Army Headquarters, after which he joined the directing staff of the Wanganui tactical school. In his place, Major R. J. Eyre, Nzsc, brigade major of 8th Brigade, was appointed commanding officer. There were many other changes amongst officers and men, the majority of men over forty being discharged from the army, or transferred to home defence units. Rein-forcements joined the battalion and there was a big re-shuffle of appointments in most companies. Shortly after arriving in Hilldene, the battalion did a 23'mile march to Waiuku for a three-day exercise, involving a well-organised advance over the coastal hills with covering fire from all weapons. The mortarmen were well pleased, for not only was the platoon commander Second-Lieutenant K. L. Sandford presented, on the march through Waiuku, with a sponge cake 'for your boys' supper', but next day they scored a direct hit on their target withthe very first bomb (from which feat they developed much conceit). Hilldene came to be remembered for the number of route marches that followed the Waiuku stunt. Tramping asphalt roads was found more wearing than the soft tracks of Fiji's canefields or jungle, and the Hilldene district could provide little variety. However, some useful exercises were done, particularly on the higher country towards Hunua and Alfriston. Second-Lieutenant H. B. Martin's platoon of B company gained renown one day when it successfully attacked by frontal assault a steep hill in the Alfriston area. Content with their victory, the men were just sitting down to enjoy a well-earned rest when the official umpires arrived to tell them that they had captured the wrong hill.

All the time, as is inevitable in army life, rumours were rife. One that gained some credence (and indeed had a measure of truth behind it) was that our next destination would be Norfolk Island, but this had to be discarded when the 36th Battalion was allotted that task, and sailed early in October. With the 36th went Padre Liggett, whom the battalion was very sorry to lose. He was replaced by Padre W. St. A. Osbourne-Brown, a man with a deep voice and stern mien whose request for a number of a hymn sounded like thunder approaching from afar.

Still, something was brewing for the 34th. Tropical clothing came to hand and was issued, to the accompaniment of much anguish and loud complaint, for it was in very poor condition. And this despite the projected move of the entire division to the Waikato district, where we had been given Te Awamutu as our camp site. Advanced parties went down there on reconnaissance, but were hastily recalled one day. The story was out. We were to sail, and in a matter of days. Major Wernham (second-in-command) and his batman, the one and only 'Scotty' Laing, disappeared in the direction of Wellington as a battalion advanced guard. The pendulum of public opinion swung between Lord Howe Island, Rarotonga, the Kermadecs, Tonga and Samoa. The mysterious name 'T Force' was given to us. On 21 October 1942 the main body of the battalion entrained at Papakura, after a day of high festivity as is the custom on such occasions. Next morning at Wellington we embarked on the American transport President Jackson and at 9 am on 23 October put to sea. Over the ship's loudspeakers was announced 'This ship is bound for Tongatabu.'