This is unedited raw film footage, shot by Academy Award winning US Marine cinematographer Norman T. Hatch for a US newsreel that was never completed, provisionally titled 'Meet New Zealand'. Around 21,000 Marines were stationed in camps around the Wellington region from June 1942 until November 1943. Most of their time was spent training hard preparing for the war in the Southwest Pacific against the Japanese.
A US Marine military band plays in the Central Park camp, Brooklyn, Wellington. One of the many sites around Wellington used by the US Marine Corps as a campground for American expeditionary forces. After the band performs there is a flag raising ceremony.
A vast crowd scene in Lambton Quay, Wellington, looking towards the King’s Chambers building on the corner of Willis Street and Willeston Street. Soldiers in uniform can be seen amidst a sea of formally dressed civilians. (This scene possibly follows after the parade seen in NTSV: F318886?).
Headquarters Marine Band lead a procession of Marine athletes including a group of young women competitors, in the opening ceremony of a ‘track meet’ held on the Basin Reserve sports ground. A large crowd of spectators line the surrounding banks. Segments of events shown include men’s hurdles, laps of the track, men’s and women’s sprints, cycling, walking, high jump, and throwing horseshoes (including trick shots!).
Short sequence shot for British Pathé: A troop of Marines parading at Camp McKay, Paekākāriki. A row of 75mm Howitzer guns on wheel mounts are shown in the campground.