II
New Zealand Interlude

Following a short period of leave, the division re-assembled in Auckland, and the 7th Field Ambulance found itself in Papakura Camp. Here we set about the task of re-fitting the unit and building up our strength and equipment to that of a full field ambulance. At this stage we lost our commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Stoney Johnston. Despite his earnest reiteraition that he was within the age limit (which, we estimated, I would have made him an eighteen-year-old medical officer in the last war), his secret was out and he had to bid farewell to his unit. We lost many of our officers at Papakura and at the time of our brigade march past before the new general officer commanding, Major-General H. E. Barrowclough, CB, DSO, MC, we boasted but two officers—the adjutant-quartermaster and the I transport officer. This state of affairs did not last for long. I Before leaving Papakura our new commanding officer. LieuI tenant-Colonel S. Hunter, NZMC, had arrived, Major Barrow-clough, Captain Archer and Lieutenant Gordon had returned to page 22the field, Lieutenant G. F. McEvedy had replaced Lieutenant Somerville as transport officer, and we were even graced by the presence of a chaplain, Padre E. O. Sheild.

In October the 8th Brigade transferred to the Cambridge district. The move was made a training exercise in the form of a three-day march to Ngaruawahia, via Tuakau, a distance of over 70 miles. Ngaruawahia, on the third night, was a welcome sight, as was the town hall, which was made available for sleeping quarters. Next day we journeyed by truck to Fencourt, some four miles from Cambridge, where our advanced party had prepared a camp in a well sheltered paddock on Hunt's farm. Life at Cambridge was most enjoyable, the people of the district doing all in their power to entertain us and make us at home.

Except for some officers, our personnel strength had been built up before we left Papakura. At Fencourt Captain J. E. Giesen joined us to command A company (Major Earrowclough, as second-in-command, was commanding the new headquarters company), and Lieutenants D. Rogers and C. C. Foote and Second-Lieutenant K. H. Parker were also marched in. Staff-Sergeant W. J. Preddy, an original stalwart of the 7th Field Ambulance in Fiji, had been transferred to us in Papakura from the Tamavua Hospital and was commissioned as quartermaster, leaving Lieutenant Wilson free to devote his energies to the job of adjutant. It was here, too, that we took under our wing No. 2 Field Surgical Unit, commanded by Major G. E. Waterworth, who had as his anaesthetist Lieutenant J. J. McDonald.

For the first time since its reconstitution in March, 1942, the unit had the responsibility of a hospital at Fencourt. This, in reality, was but one of the aspects of training for a future role envisaged by the new assistant director of medical services of the division, Colonel J. M. Twhigg, DSO. Other training consisted of long route marches, night compass marches over strange country bristling with unsuspected hedges, cow-yards and wandering stock, and fullscale manoeuvres. Of the latter (The Battle of the Kaimais' was undoubtedly the most spectacular. It was our first manoeuvre with our newly acquired American transport, and the tough country, and appalling weather conditions gave the vehicles a solid week's trial. Despite the mud and wet and cold we took time off from complaining to be impressed by what the jeep and the four-by-four truck fitted with a winch could accomplish. Our drivers thoroughly enjoyed the experience of page 23carting patients and supplies up and down seemingly impossible slopes, through swirling creeks and along tracks with mud well over the wheels of the vehicles. For the manoeuvre we had air support from the RNZAF, and the most notable feature of this was the dropping of supplies (and rum) by parachute to the weary forward patrols of the battalions. The exercise was a good one and we learned much from it.

Returned to Fencourt, an advanced party of five under Captain Archer left us for an unknown destination. However, we soon learned that they had arrived at New Caledonia, and we set to work to find out what we could of the country. When we discovered that we would probably be camped in isolated areas the indefatigable Padre Sheild, ably assisted by the equally tireless 'town traveller,' Private Joe Setters, set to work to procure battery radios, sports gear and sundry items ranging from flea powder to a sewing machine, all of which they anticipated would be of use overseas.

As Christmas Day drew near we were standing by, packed and awaiting embarkation. We had a splendid Christmas dinner in camp and three days later embarked on the West Point at Auckland. As we made our way up the gangway to the ship each individual was handed a card, and, when Lance-Corporal H. R. Robinson read his he was heard to exclaim in surprised and gratified tones, 'Well, at last the army begins to appreciate the common soldier. Fve got a cabin.' Later, when 'Robbie' was seen on deck looking a little disconsolate and was asked how he liked his cabin he replied, 'Oh, it's good. The other 673 blokes in with me like it too.'