Chapter Nineteen
29th Mt Company

The 29th MT Company had the distinction of being one of the few units in the Third Division to be founded in New Caledonia. The original founders were the personnel of the supply section, plus a few others from the 16th MT (then 16th Composite) Company which disembarked at Nepoui on 1 December 1942. The new 29th MT Company was formed on 28 December 1942 and at the outset comprised 160 all ranks under command of Captain D. R. Hopkins of Auckland. In January 1943, shortly after the arrival of the 4th MT Company, it was supplemented by the complete supply section and others from the 4th MT and for the next six months the company operated with somewhere in the vicinity of 200 men.

The original purpose of the company was that as an integral part of the newly formed 15th Brigade it was to service this brigade with ASC supplies and also all other units in the area from Boguen valley in the south to Kalavere in the north. Had it been possible to maintain the division on a three-brigade basis the 29th MT Company would have normally moved with the division to the forward area. However, when it was decided to disband the 15th Brigade, the question arose as to which ASC company was to remain at base. As from its inception the company had been located in the Nemeara-Bourail district it was considered appropriate to transfer the company to base command and to allow the unit to remain in this location and carry out transportation and the many other duties appertaining to an ASC company at base in New Caledonia. On 12 July 1943 the company therefore changed from a divisional to a base unit and Captain (now Major) A. M. Lamont took over command.

Upon taking over base duties it was found necessary to expand the company and it gradually grew until at one stage it consisted of some 400 personnel and operated 90 GMC six-by-four vehicles as well as many smaller types of trucks and several jeeps. The company was unique in that it was the only ASC company brought up to the strength of three transport platoons. Each transport platoon consisted of approximately 62 personnel and had to operate and maintain 30 of the GMC trucks, while there was also a headquarters platoon with some 50 personnel to administer the company and care for all the smaller vehicles, a composite platoon of about 30 men to break out, distribute and account for rations and fresh meat to all units in the area and a workshops platoon, comprising some 55 men, with technical ability to cope with all vehicle repairs beyond the scope of the drivers. Smaller sections but all of great importance in so far as the efficient operation of the company was concerned were the petrol refilling section of 14 men who had a large POL (petrol, oil and lubricants) dump in the camp area for distribution to all other units, as well as a POL detachment on the main road to service vehicles, and last but not least was the personnel increment section which made up the balance of the company's personnel. The men forming this section were not in the main drivers but carried out the many ever necessary fatigues required in any military camp. The company was also unique in that it was a unit carrying out full transport duties at base and at the same time supplying ASC reinforcement troops for the forward areas. Until the time of the division's move north all reinforcement personnel were under training at the base training depot, but later all ASC reinforcement officers from this depot were called for and their men had no one left in charge. They were all therefore attached and later transferred to the 29th MT Company, and the company sent forward no fewer than four reinforcement drafts, composed not always entirely from composite (ASC) wing personnel but often enough also from old original company members. To equip and arrange for the despatch of a reinforcement draft called for much skill in its organisation, as times when a number of reinforcement first class drivers and other skilled personnel were called for. Such a request often necessitated drawing from the company some of its most highly experienced and skilled officers, NCOs and men and then great page 176difficulty was experienced in replacing them and keeping the company up to its working strength. Even commanding officers were not exempt from a call. Major Lamont went forward to be replaced by Major T. P. Revell, who returned to New Caledonia after some months in the combat zone. He in turn was again called for to go to the Treasury Islands and Major J. F. B. Wilson returned from Nissan Island to take over the command in his stead.

Prior to taking over base duties men of the 29th MT had been very hard worked transporting equipment and divisional troops from all parts of New Caledonia to Nouméa in readiness to embark for the Solomon Islands where they were to meet their enemy, the Jap, for the first, time. It must be stressed here that many were reluctant to become 'Base Wallahs' knowing only too well what they would have to endure in the way of chaff and sarcasm from their comrades upon their return from the forward areas. At the same time they were sick of the monotony of New Caledonia's niaouli trees, red volcanic dust, mosquitoes and ants and many were glad to know that their associations with the division were temporarily severed and they considered that they could relax at long last. Relaxation, however, came only for about a week, for with one only remaining complete ASC company on the island work and requests for transport began to come afresh and in plenty. It was then that the company began in earnest again to live up to that name of undying fame which had been suggested in the early stages by one of the unit members—' The Tireless Twenty-Ninth '—a nom de plume of which the unit was justly proud.

Boats came to the ports of Nepoui and Nouméa carrying cargoes of ordnance and engineering stores, Nat Pat, medical and hospital equipment, etc., which had to be transported from the ship's side to wherever it was required. Reinforcement troops arrived from New Zealand and had to be transported from their disembarkation port to base reception depot, whilst troops returning to New Zealand on courses and medical grounds had also to be transported from BHD to places of embarkation. Always 29th MT vehicles and personnel were in demand for such transportation duties. It is fitting to mention that such demands wore in the majority of cases fulfilled to the satisfaction of all concerned, though not always without difficulty. A 'phone call page break

Soldiers worshipped in this native-built chapel in Bourail. It stood beside the main thoroughfare, near the building which was used by the YMCA

The National Patriotic Fund Board's store on Guadalcanal with the staff ready for actin

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A mechanic working at the power drill in a mobile machine shop

Robbie's Hall, the recreational bure built by the 29th MT Company

page 177from Base HQ to the effect that a self-contained detachment comprising cooks, clerks, mechanics and drivers to operate say 30 vehicles was required at either Nouméa or Nepoui at short notice for a week or a fortnight's duration unloading ships' cargoes often brought forth the reply, (But we have only 15 trucks that will roll!' Interrogation by Base HQ as to the whereabouts of the remaining vehicles produced the replies as to how many were despatched to Nouméa for rations, fresh meat and petrol; how many were engaged on local ration deliveries; how many were despatched with (or for) troops and for mail; and finally how many were in workshops undergoing repairs.

Every effort was always made, however, to fulfil the requirements in transport and personnel for such a task. These requests did not call only for work on the part of the drivers, who because of the many long hours they worked and the many miles they drove must never be forgotten, but also for work on the part of many of the sections of the company. The administrative staffs of both company headquarters and the platoon headquarters worked untiringly arranging and sometimes recalling from their other detachments on the island suitable personnel to undertake the duty of unloading the boat in question, while the composite platoon members, in conjunction with the unit quartermaster, arranged for the detachment's rationing, and the workshops platoon undertook to have repaired and in running order the balance of the vehicles required. Equally as important as the other sections In arranging for such a duty was that of the small section of which no previous mention has been made, that is the base supply officer and his small staff who were attached to company headquarters and whose duty it was to arrange for rationing in accordance with ration scales, not only for company members employed on the work but also for other units employed as working parties. To arrange all this necessitated on some occasions men of the various sections working as long as 24 hours a day. After arrangements for the detachment's despatch were finalised the men under command of a section officer took with them tents, bed-cots, blankets, mosquito nets and all other necessary gear and set to work. Duty was non-stop until the particular ship was finished and when the occasion warranted it the work was carried on for 24 hours. Each vehicle was allotted three drivers, each of whom usually' worked for eight hours.

The unloading of ships, which played a major part in the company's activities, was not always a simple task and did not always eventuate without incident. Probably one of the best remembered by many company members was when a detachment was all arranged and despatched to Nepoui after much difficulty because of an acute shortage of transport at the time. The men established themselves in their temporary camp and waited for a day and then word came through to the effect that the boat they were waiting on was drawing too much water to berth at Nepoui and would have to proceed down the coast to Nouméa. On receipt of this news the men returned to camp at Nemeara and after having a meal and refuelling their vehicles proceeded to Nouméa that same night to commence work there, not of course without complaining in no uncertain terms about this being just another typical army 'affair!'

The unloading of ships played a major part in the company's activities, but it should be understood that the 29th MT Company was not solely engaged in this type of work, for its trucks and drivers were always on New Caledonia's dangerous and dusty roads. Large convoys loaded with empty petrol drums, ordnance equipment and other goods for shipping from the island proceeded to Nouméa, 120 miles away almost every day to return with supplies of rations to Base Supply Depot No. 2 and petrol, diesel kerosene and oil to the camp POL dump. The company's indent for rations was in turn collected from the base supply depot and broken into unit lots and distributed to all units in the area every ten days. POL supplies were also always available for collection by units while perishable goods such as fresh meat, fresh butter, vegetables and fruit had to be collected from Nouméa upon its arrival, stored in the company's large refrigerator and distributed to all units the following day. A daily bread delivery was also in operation, the bread being first collected from the 1st Field Bakery every morning, whilst during several months of the year trucks and their drivers went to all parts of the island to collect oranges, mandarines and vegetables which were purchased from the French and were in turn distributed to all units. In addition to these transport duties the company also operated a daily transport service for the carriage of mail (both private and official), passengers and all priority goods, through the island. This run was known as the DP (despatch point) service and was so named page 179because drivers had various stopping places along the road where they would call and deliver any goods and collect any awaiting for despatch. This service was taken over from the 10th MT Company just prior to its departure for the forward areas, and at the commencement a truck travelled from Nouméa in the south to Ouaco in the north, a distance of some 230 miles, while another one did a daily southern trip. After all troops had vacated the Ouaco area the distance of the DP run was decreased from Nepoui to Nouméa and later from Moindah only, to Nouméa.

Life in the 29th ASC was not just a life of driving vehicles practically all the time, as is popularly supposed. That is one of the misconceptions of the ASC's activities. Work of all natures had to be undertaken, and many unit members did not even drive a vehicle during the whole of their stay in New Caledonia. Much work on camp construction and camp maintenance had to be carried out. Cook-houses, mess rooms and ration stores had to be built and with so many vehicles and so much traffic constantly around the camp area metalling, especially during the rainy season from February to April, was an almost permanent duty. It is probable that while engaged in work of this nature that Driver Doug Brown was inspired to write one of his many popular unit songs which went to the tune of 'The Yellow "Rose of Texas' and of which the words of the chorus began:—

The Tireless Twenty-ninth,
I like it not a bit,
Instead of driving trucks all day
I'm slaving down the pit.

Let it not be imagined that life was all work and no play, however, for the 29th MT Company. Far from it. Monotony had to be overcome and the OCs who realised this set out to institute many facilities for recreational purposes. With the assistance of hired native labour and Driver 'Robbie' Robertson's valuable architectural guidance a large recreation hut in the form of a native bure was built. This was most appropriately named 'Robbie's Hall.' Here many of the men spent long evenings playing games, writing to their loved ones, reading, having a sing song around the piano (always a popular pastime on the night of a beer issue), listening to a visiting American or New Zealand concert party or to a band recital, playing in a card tournament and at times trying to better their financial position page 180by watching and investing on a miniature race meeting. A great night in the hall was when the 2YA concert party paid the company a visit. It was then that many unit members saw, heard and enjoyed something they had not seen nor heard for many months. Girls in person from their own native country acting and singing in a language they knew so well but which they had never heard in a female voice since leaving New Zealand shores! Truly a very welcome and a very much appreciated show. The company at one stage organised and staged a concert of its own titled 'Naughty Nemeara Nights' in Robbie's Hall. Several neighbouring units were invited to the concert and all acclaimed it a success, for it was then that much unknown talent was revealed. Of particular interest in the programme was a ballet dance performed by some of the company's 'would be' female personalities. With costumes and cosmetics borrowed from sisters and the local residents they made a very fine showing under the leading lady 'Miss' Fitchett.

Pictures though usually screened in the open among the niaouli trees two or three nights a week were on wet nights shown in the hall and many neighbouring camps allowed their personnel to attend and enjoy a good film in comfort. Seating accommodation was limited so many desirous of getting a good view improvised chairs, the designs of which would almost put a modern furnishing company to shame.

The hall though constructed only from rough bush timber and thatched with niaouli bark was attractively decorated in the interior by placards carved by Driver 'Lofty' Hume, one par-ticulary fine example being of 'The Tireless Twenty-ninth' inscribed in old English lettering under the 'NZ Onward' badge, and an ASC badge carved within the 'Onward' one. Drivers Len Whitworth and "Ray Fitchett also did much to add to the hall's attractiveness by making stage decorations and painting-several different back stage scenes.

As time progressed timber was procured and a floor put in the hall and the company held some three or four dances to which Sisters, WAACs and French girls were invited as partners. Though the females were usually outnumbered by about three to one good times were had by all. Kanakas and Javanese were not usually invited but many lined the outside of the hall and with smiles of white pearly teeth, often the only thing to indicate their page 181presence on a very dark night, watched the dance over the four foot high bark walls. Robbie's Hail was a great company asset in so far as a morale builder went and much credit is due to all those who took part in its construction and decorating, not forgetting Sergeant Alf Jenkinson who worked untiringly arranging native labour to assist with the collecting of material and the building work. Alf had never learnt the French language but with what little he learnt of it in New Caledonia and his sign language he managed to produce the goods and ensure that the Kanakas engaged earned all of their few francs a day.

A large creek ran through the camp area and after many attempts a large dam was eventually built across it to form a deep freshwater swimming pool-Here all kinds of elaborate diving boards were erected and many an enjoyable moment was spent after working hours by company members. With New Caledonia's climate swimming both in summer and winter months was always a popular pastime. Many good swimmers improved on their style while many who could not swim at all became very proficient in the art during their stay with 'the 29th.' It was possible to have six lanes 33 1/3yards long in the pool and swimming sports and carnivals were not uncommon. The pool was sometimes floodlit at nights by the workshops personnel and in addition to inter-platoon sports the company's neighbouring camp, artillery training depot, which also had a first class swimming pool, was often challenged to a game of water polo or asked to compete in swimming sports. In return the 29th MT Company members also competed against artillery training depot swimmers at their aquatic sports meetings. It was a long time, however, before a dam of a permanent nature was constructed as several were built only to be swept away by a flood over night. Just prior to the unit concert Captain Lex Grieves and a gang of men had built what they considered the dam of dams—a miniature Mohne in fact. They completed it in every detail but on the night of its completion a flood came and swept the whole thing away. This was a fitting opportunity for one of the company wags to insert among the many other advertisements in the 'Naughty Nemeara Nights' programme the following advertisement:—

Grieves, Grieves & Grieves,
Let us build you a dam,
Guaranteed to hold water over night!

Adjacent to the swimming pool the company also installed a very ingenious system of hot showers so that the men could have a hot shower, always very much appreciated after return from convoy duties, a cooling swim or both if they felt so inclined.

The 29th MT Company was not essentially a training unit but was likened more to a large carrying concern. The commanding officers appreciated that the successful organisation and control of the company depended largely upon the men being fit and in excellent health. They therefore spared no efforts to insist that all men took part in some form of organised sport. Saturday afternoons were set aside for sport and provided demands for labour and transport were not too heavy a mid-week day was also made a sports afternoon. The company had some excellent sportsmen who participated in cricket, hockey, rugby, soccer and baseball matches; boxing and wrestling tournaments, athletic meetings and swimming championships. In the ASC rugby representative team for the Barrowclough Cup in July 1943 the company was represented by nine players. This whole ASC team played good rugby, winning the first two rounds for the cup, but the team was finally defeated by the 29th Battalion in a very close game ending 8 to 6. Many good inter-sectional games of soccer, cricket and rugby were also played, even if New Caledonia's climate was not always as favourable as it might have been for those indulging in sports of this nature, and the company usually entered one and sometimes two soccer, hockey, rugby, baseball and cricket teams in the base competitions, Two exhibition rugby games were played at Nouméa between a team of base representatives and the 8th Brigade team. Here again the base team was well represented by 29th MT players. These exhibition games proved most interesting to New Caledonia's crowds of cosmopolitan onlookers. New Zealanders had always been under the impression that American football was a pretty fast and furious type of game. One of the company's onlookers was therefore somewhat amazed when an allied spectator came up to him shortly after one of these exhibition games began and said in the true and typical American style, 'Gosh darn, how many men have to be killed in this rugby game of yours before a win is declared?' At one time South West Pacific swimming championships, in which several first rate American swimmers participated, were held in New Caledonia at Nouméa, and it was at these championships in which the com-page 183pany also entered several contestants that Staff-Sergeant Jack McLean made fame as a New Zealand swimmer by winning' two of the events.

In April 1944 the base units organised a rifle contest. Although as has already been said the 29th MT Company was not to all intents and purposes a training unit, it decided to enter a team which-would have to compete against well-trained and first-class infantrymen and other good rifle shots. The company was indeed proud when it was learned that its team had won the contest. The following letter in relation to the contest received by the OC from the base commandant bears witness to the fact that as well as being a hard working and efficient unit the company also had many good sportsmen:—

Base Units Rifle Contest.

Would you congratulate the team from the 29th MT Coy on the very fine performance they put up, in winning the above competition-I am very sorry indeed that I could not be present at the finals. I have always been very proud to have the 29th MT Company under my command. They carry out the duties which pertain to their own special branch of the service in a highly satisfactory manner; they have a good team of swimmers, good wrestlers and boxers, and now they win the rifle contest. I am very pleased indeed to see it.

Upon seeing this letter one company member commented that there was only one thing the brigadier had omitted and that was that the company also had good marchers. At an athletic sports meeting at the base training depot, the 29th MT, in addition to participating and winning several of the events, entered a team for a marching display and won it, This was another very creditable performance, especially when it is remembered that marching for the ASC overseas is regarded more as a novelty than a routine duty as in an infantry battalion.

Leave for a week's duration in Nouméa was allowed company members but unlike most other units this did not appeal to 29th MT Company members, especially drivers, as Nouméa presented nothing new to the majority of them. Often the company's Nouméa leave allocation was not fulfilled. Later on, however, Major Lament obtained permission to establish a rest camp near the picturesque little township of Ponerihouen, which nestled among the hills and flamboyant trees on the eastern coast near page 184the large Ponerihouen River. Parties of about 20 men were permitted to spend a week's leave there when they could be spared from the company and spent their time reading and resting, visiting French families and places of interest, fishing and swimming in the river or at the beach.

So life went on in the 29th. The company had a remarkable record for the many months it spent in New Caledonia. In six months under base command the vehicles' speedometers turned just on a million miles and during the whole of the unit's existence there was only one fatal accident. A great spirit of good comradeship and good fellowship that will always remain was built up among men who-had come from all walks of civilian life. These men worked well and spent many leisure hours together. Then in January 1944 came the great news that certain personnel who had spent 12 months or more overseas were to return to New Zealand on a six weeks' furlough. Needless to say great disappointment was expressed when it was learned that only some six men were returning from the 29th in this first draft. However, a further draft was returned later and then came word that many men from the Third Division were being recalled home for employment in essential industries. Men who had not volunteered for industry but preferred to carry on in the all-important job they were doing were granted furlough. Shortly after some two or three industry personnel drafts had left the company a force rear party was organised, to which a section of the 29th MT Company was attached and given the title of the supply and transport company. It was then that all realised that the whole division was being returned to New Zealand. Early in the month of October 1944, therefore, the remaining members of the company said with many memories, but without many regrets, au revoir to New Caledonia—land of the niaouli—and set sail for that land of which it has been said is without parallel and which all the 29th MT Company members realise only too well is correct.