I. Preparation

From the beginning of the Third Division as the 8th Brigade Group in Fiji until the middle of 1943, the battalions provided their medium machine-gun support from their own D companies. Towards the end of June 1943, however, an adaption of the establishment in use in the Middle East forces was introduced although, whereas in the Second Division there was a machine-gun battalion (the 27th) which supplied the vickers support for the whole division, it was decided that each brigade should have one company of vickers gunners on which to draw. Obviously this new company had to be attached to brigade headquarters and accordingly one platoon was selected from each of the 29th, 34th and 36th Battalions to form the 8th Brigade Machine-Gun Company.

This reformation took place on 2 June when the main parties moved into the selected camp site just north of Bouloupari on the Thio-Bouloupari Road. Major G. W. Logan was appointed to' command the company, with Captain S. G. Dinniss as second-in-command and he had as platoon commanders Lieutenants W. A-Richardson, D. A. MacMorland and L. J. Hockey. Lieutenant J. Sherwin joined the unit a few weeks later. Warrant-Officer Second Class W. J. McCluggage was appointed CSM and Staff-Sergeant G. Auger became CQMS; the selection of the personnel of each platoon was left to the battalion from which it was drawn.. Naturally, the announcement of the chosen few was an event which provided lively speculation in each battalion. Everybody could see that life in the small unit would be preferable to that page 78in a battalion. The pleasure of those selected at their being relieved of the distasteful boredom of battalion route marches, manoeuvres and duties was tempered with the knowledge that 'many an old comrade would have to be left behind to start a new career as a footslogger. A small advanced party had been in residence for two or three days in order to make the camp ready for the main body, and they greeted the new arrivals with Wellsian stories of the tenacity of the abundant mosquitoes who were to dominate the camp during the whole period the company occupied it.

The first few weeks were spent in camp construction, as everything had to be started from the very beginning. Roads had to be formed, tent sites and their surroundings cleared, and sanitation provided before anything else was attempted. Unfortunately, but necessarily, bark had to be collected. Of all the multitudinous jobs which fell to the lot of the private in Necal this was easily the most unpopular with the majority, not because it required any great exertion but rather because of the absolute boredom which always went with it. When the camp had been completed the area took on a vastly different appearance, and was yet another example of how the Kiwi can make himself comfortable with a few old boxes and a handful of nails. Camp life was much the same as most members of the company had been experiencing for the preceding two years, except that being in a small isolated unit everyone was allowed just that extra freedom which makes the difference between a humdrum existence and quite an enjoyable time. Due to the lack of any communal amusement only individual enterprise saved the nights from becoming periods of boredom and throughout the evening, until 2200 hours, a nocturnal prowler might hear low sounds of 'Full on Jacks' or' I'll go the lot.' Among the sergeants' tents bridge was played in more or less the manner of Ely Culbertson. As time wore on some of the more studious began to play chess, mainly it was rumoured that one could remain half-conscious for so long and yet appear to the casual observer to be thinking intensely.

The camp was situated in a very central spot for the purpose of training. A short cross-country walk (although at the time the word 'short' would have been questioned) brought us to the symmetrical peak reputedly belonging to one Tilly. This proved to be ideal for all types of machine-gun training with its oppor-page 79tunities for direct and indirect fire, with crests to clear. Of course, the 'long carries' which this area provided were rather unpopular with the rank and file of the company. Very little formal training was done, most of the time being spent on interesting all-day manoeuvres of a type which could be enjoyed by even the lowly private. Major Logan was particularly keen to see the company well served as far as sport was concerned, and it was quite usual to see nearly 75 per cent, of the unit parading in football attire to play those platoon matches over which more enthusiasm was raised than if they had been test matches. Wednesday afternoon was the regular time for these Homeric struggles, and on Saturdays the company's elect played B teams from the battalions and the company B team played a company team from one of the battalions. As may be expected, the Saturday matches failed to produce the rivalry and humour of the Wednesday games but some really fine football was witnessed.

The first exercise on which the unit was tested as a combination was the seven-day manoeuvre which involved the capture of La Foa and Moindou, after travelling over 40 miles. The company was split up into the three platoons, one of which was attached to each of the battalions. As the exercise was of a definitely offensive type, medium machine-guns were not very extensively used and the company's main job was to transport its gear from the starting point not far from Bouloupari to Moindou. In the class of very commendable deeds falls the performance of lighting a fire in the pouring rain, carrying the guns all day through the mud and slush (which was always ankle-deep), and then making oneself comfortable in a rain-soaked coconut plantation. If there is any truth in the saying that a soldier is happy when he is grumbling this was one of the most enjoyable periods of our life, although it was agreed that, considering the lack of transport and the conditions, the company could look back on its first manoeuvre with a feeling of a job well done.

The next red-letter day on the calendar was the occasion of the brigade parade on 9 July at the Dubois Memorial Field, just north of Ouengi, when all ranks were inspected by the GOC and the Hon. F. Jones. The company was given pride of place on this occasion as it was the leading section of the brigaded units, and our OC, Major Logan, was in command of that part of the parade. When Captain Dinniss alighted from his truck on the page 80company's arrival at the field he was unfortunately knocked over by another truck and his multiple serious injuries necessitated his immediate removal to hospital. Captain Dinniss was to have controlled the machine-gun company during the parade; a last minute promotion had to be effected and Lieutenant Richardson discharged the duty exceedingly well at such short notice. This was one of his last outings with the company, as he was soon to leave for New Zealand on a course which kept him about three weeks behind the unit until Christmas, when he arrived in time for the beer issue. But alas, his was the last course as all others were soon to be cancelled for obvious reasons. Not long after this Captain Timms, of the 14th Brigade MMG Company was transferred to the company to fill the vacancy caused by Captain Dinniss' accident. At this stage the company began to be inundated with a flood of rumours which dwelt largely on a frightful route march over the Thio Pass, a jaunt varying in length from 80 to 110 miles according to the time of day and the source. Although it received official mention, finally an order was issued only two days before the agony was due to commence in earnest. This order cancelled the march and substituted a week's rest at Thio for the whole brigade in its stead. The relief of Lucknow could not compete with this edict as a morale booster. The majority of the company left for Thio by truck and pitched camp between the river and the railway line, about one mile from the sea in perhaps the most pleasant spot in which they had yet slept. Major Logan wisely gave the holiday-makers full freedom with the sole stipulation that they appear for meals promptly or not at all. For the first few days a large proportion of the tourists were to be seen hovering around the town's female population and escorting them to the open-air pictures which were shown every night, but as the week wore on the ranks of the Don Juans thinned and only the most persistent kept up with the field. The majority of the company spent their time in sporting mood, swimming at the beach or in the river, and playing cricket and football. The large open fields provided excellent opportunities for the football and cricket enthusiasts who, well into the evening, could be heard practising their selected sport. After that they took a quick dip in the river in order to refresh themselves for the poker game or picture show which was to round off a perfect day. Those not addicted to physical exertion often chose to visit the mine (or was page break

Where the river meets the sea

Malsi paradise, a scene on Mono

Members of the 8th Brigade MMG Company after a sleepless night on Mono Island during the Treasury Island action

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Major G. W. Logan, officer commanding the 8th Brigade MMG Company. He also commanded 'Logan force' during the Treasury Island action

Major S.R. Rice, who succeeded Major Logan in command of the company

Private J. Jack, of the 8th Brigade MMG Company, who was killed in action

page 81it the wine-shop) up the valley. By placing one's lite in the hands of the Javanese engine-driver, the journey to the mine was made quite interesting, providing both a welcome break and a return to almost civilised means of transport. On the whole it was with regret that the holiday-makers set off on the return journey to camp. They would have been more regretful had they known the true nature of the truck ride which was before them. The winding road, stifling heat and choking dust made it one of the most unpleasant trips we had ever endured. When the majority returned to Bouloupari the party under Captain Timms, who had remained in camp, left for Thio to have their week of holiday.

With the 14th Brigade at this time ready to travel north the most widely discussed topic in camp was the date of the company's departure for the Solomons and the nature of the work to be done there. Many and varied were the guesses advanced, but very few foresaw what was actually to happen. The company was soon in the throes of packing, with new clothes to be issued, old clothing and equipment to be replaced, and all web gear had to be camouflaged. It was here that we first made the acquaintance of our new jungle suits and jungle boots ceased to be merely useful for football or cricket. Small groups squatted in scattered heaps frowning over gear which had seldom seen the light of day, while from the quartermaster's store voices were raised in protest and supplication as the powers-that-be issued or changed clothing in the usual sizes of too large and too small. As playtime had now ended, from now on the guns had quite unheard-of attention lavished on them. Sergeant Phipps had been whisked away early one morning as an advanced party of one, to go north with the 14th Brigade, and on 31 August the first of the loading parties left for Noumea. One group went to Camp MacRae to assist with the work on shore while another boarded each of the three ships. The balance of the company followed on 3 September and was divided among the boats as follows:—Company headquarters and No. 1 platoon on the President Adams; No. 2 platoon on the President Hayes. and No, 3 platoon on the President Jackson. Each platoon travelled with its old battalion. At 2.30 pm on the next day, 4 September, the convoy left Noumea and headed north.