One aspect of my research into the work of New Zealand’s broadcasting units, is to verify the names of the voices heard in the surviving recordings. Documents listing the names of the speakers were sent back to New Zealand with the discs, but they have long since disappeared, with only the discs surviving in theContinue reading “Uncovering J Force speakers’ names”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
“Five Māori…set out to do the impossible” – reporting the story of Takrouna
On April 23, a new film Sergeant Haane opens in cinemas, telling the story of a small group of Māori Battalion men fighting in North Africa. In this blog, I take a look at how the NZ Broadcasting Unit reported the extraordinary story. In April 1943 in the midst of World War II, the NewContinue reading ““Five Māori…set out to do the impossible” – reporting the story of Takrouna”
With the Kiwis in Japan – voices of J Force
On August 15, 1945 Japan surrendered to the Allied forces marking the end of World War II. With hostilities over, a new relationship with Japan was required. The United States took over military government of the country while a British Commonwealth Occupation Force, or BCOF, was set up to de-militarise Japan. Around 12,000 New ZealandersContinue reading “With the Kiwis in Japan – voices of J Force”
Some recent(ish) activity and こんにちは、日本 Hello Japan!
In April, Radio New Zealand featured an interview with Dan Clifford’s daughter Margaret, as part of its Anzac Day programme. You can listen to host Stacy Daniel’s interview with Margaret (and a few comments from myself about the recording of Dan) on RNZ’s website here. (And if you haven’t already read “Her father’s voice” theContinue reading “Some recent(ish) activity and こんにちは、日本 Hello Japan!”
Her father’s voice: the travels of a wartime sound disc
From Canada to New Zealand, then to Egypt and back – this blog explores the travels of one wartime sound disc and how its contents enabled a New Zealand woman to hear her father’s voice for the first time, 82 years after it was recorded. The observant reader will notice it has been a longContinue reading “Her father’s voice: the travels of a wartime sound disc”
Listening to the “Boys Overseas”
Victory Loan advertisement, The Listener, 15 Sept 1944, p.4 An article I have written about how radio listeners back home in Aotearoa New Zealand responded to the work of the mobile Broadcasting Units, has just been published by the New Zealand Journal of Public History. It discusses the overwhelming audience reaction to hearing the voicesContinue reading “Listening to the “Boys Overseas””
Voices of the Long Range Desert Group: the brains behind the S.A.S. “Rogue Heroes”
In World War II, a new British military unit was formed for raiding and reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines in the desert regions of North Africa. It was made up of men who were independent, self-reliant, physically and mentally tough. They had to be able to survive in the desert, without support, enduring extreme conditionsContinue reading “Voices of the Long Range Desert Group: the brains behind the S.A.S. “Rogue Heroes””
Jazz at Shepheard’s Hotel, 1941
British officers on the terrace at Shepheard’s Hotel during WWII [Photograph by George Rodger] In both World Wars of the twentieth century, New Zealand forces found themselves fighting in the Middle East. When on leave in Cairo, a fortunate few with sophisticated tastes and cash to spend, might have found themselves enjoying a drink atContinue reading “Jazz at Shepheard’s Hotel, 1941”
Public history talk on “With the Boys Overseas”
The online presentation I gave in May as part of Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage’s Public History series, is now available for viewing – or listening, if you prefer. The podcast version is on Spotify and Apple (Thanks to MCH for recording and uploading) It focuses on the home-front radio listener response toContinue reading “Public history talk on “With the Boys Overseas””
Life on board a 2 N.Z.E.F. troop ship: cramped, concerts and “Crossing the Line”
Some of the earliest recordings made by the Broadcasting Unit provide insight into life on board a 2NZEF troop ship, as it headed towards the war in late 1940.
Wounded, then shipwrecked: the powerful story of “A Simple Country Lad”
Wartime broadcasters called this story of a New Zealand gunner who was wounded and then shipwrecked “the most outstanding personal experience we have yet recorded.”
The Voices of HMS Neptune
Neptune Calling exhibition, Torpedo Bay Navy Museum Some of the most poignant recordings made by the Mobile Broadcasting Unit are now able to be heard in a new exhibit at the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum in Auckland, which opened this week. They contain the voices of 50 New Zealand sailors, recorded on board the RoyalContinue reading “The Voices of HMS Neptune”
Farewell Achilles, welcome to Perth, and a Canadian hero
As members of the first New Zealand Broadcasting Service mobile unit sailed towards the war in late August 1940, they began making recordings on-board their ship, the converted Canadian passenger liner, Empress of Japan. In these we hear a high seas farewell, a warm welcome to Perth and the voice of a Canadian war hero.
Where are the women? Recordings of New Zealand nurses in World War II
At least 90 percent of the New Zealanders recorded by the Mobile Unit were men – but there ARE some women’s voices. Who were they and where are they?
Ngā reo Māori nō te pakanga – Māori voices from the war
The recordings the Mobile Unit made with the men of the 28 (Māori) Battalion are probably the most well-known of all the recordings they made.
“With the Boys Overseas”
For the radio listeners back in New Zealand, the Mobile Unit’s most important role, the one for which it became best-known and remembered, was recording thousands of simple 15-20-second “messages home” from New Zealanders overseas.
On their way
The Mobile Units were initiated in February 1940 when the Director of the National Broadcasting Service, Professor James Shelley wrote to the government suggesting it might be a good idea to send broadcasters with the New Zealand Division to boost morale
Becoming mobile
In August 1940 the Listener magazine profiled the specifications of the Mobile Unit truck which had recently been tested at Trentham Army Camp and then driven through the streets of Wellington where it “caused considerable interest..