Radio newsreel. 1943-12-29; NZ forces Christmas party.

Rights Information
Year
1943
Reference
177479
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1943
Reference
177479
Media type
Audio
Series
D series, ca. 1935-1950s.
Categories
Nonfiction radio programs
Radio news programs
Radio programs
Sound recordings
Duration
00:14:20
Credits
RNZ Collection
Wright, Noni, 1913-1964, Presenter
Miller, Robin T., Interviewer
Crawford-Compton, William Vernon, 1916-1988, Interviewee
Jordan, W. J. (William Joseph), 1879-1959, Speaker/Kaikōrero
Hargest, James, 1891-1944, Speaker/Kaikōrero
Park, Ronald Stuart 1895-1980, Speaker/Kaikōrero
New Zealand Broadcasting Service (estab. 1946, closed 1962), Broadcaster

Part 1: New Zealand Forces Christmas Party in England, Part 1. [ex BBC shortwave]

Presented by Noni Wright, her third Christmas Day party at the New Zealand Forces Club in London. Features a brief recording of Mr W. J. Jordan [New Zealand High Commissioner in London] who welcomes everyone to the Christmas gathering.

Robin Miller, New Zealand war correspondent, interviews some New Zealand men including: Wing Commodore Bill Crawford-Compton, one of New Zealand's crack fighter pilots, who speaks about his plans to go to the United States for further training; and Sub-lieutenant Keith Williamson talks about returning from the Mediterranean, and some of the action he was involved in.

Mr S.R. Skinner, New Zealand Naval Liaison Officer, sends greetings on behalf of a group of Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve officers and ratings, and talks about some the action they have been involved in. Noni Wright says there were many men of the Second Division in the club. Brigadier R. S. Park, O.I.C. New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Britain, speaks on behalf of the men of the Second Division. Noni Wright observes that, as always, at the club there were more New Zealand Air Force men than those of any other service.

Part 2: BBC announcer Noni Wright introduces more speakers from the New Zealand Forces Club Christmas Day party in London, who send Christmas greetings. RNZAF Group Captain A. J. Manson speaks on behalf of the men of the RNZAF in Britain and sends greetings to their families and to New Zealand airmen fighting in the Pacific.

Brigadier James Hargest sends Christmas wishes to his wife and family. He is speaking after escaping from a Italian prisoner of war camp, where he spent Christmas Day in 1941 and 1942. This is his first opportunity to send a greeting to his wife and family in New Zealand, and he also greets his colleagues in Parliament and comrades from the last war. He also greets those who were with him in the New Zealand Forces Club in 1940, the last time he was there, as well as New Zealanders serving in other theatres of the war.

Noni Wright comments that a lot of New Zealand nurses were at the Christmas party and Colonel Gordon, [Lt. Colonel W.P.P. Gordon] the officer commanding a New Zealand hospital ship [HMHS Maunganui], explains that they were luckily in port in time for Christmas Day. He comments that he served under Brigadier Hargest in World War I, then speaks on behalf of his medical staff. He says they have just carried a number of British 'Tommies' to the U.K.

A female BBC announcer identifies this as part of the series "With the New Zealanders in Britain."