New Zealand - The Long Range Desert Patrol, Western Desert, 1941. These patrols, consisting of small parties of men experienced in desert warfare, would trek thousands of kilometres into the desert to infiltrate enemy lines. - Photo from The Weekly News #603566 Military history of New Zealand during World War II - In total, around 140,000 New Zealand personnel served overseas for the Allied war effort, and an additional 100,000 men were armed for Home Guard duty. At its peak in July 1942, New Zealand had 154,549 men and women under arms (excluding the Home Guard) and by the war's end a total of 194,000 men and 10,000 women had served in the armed forces at home and overseas. - Conscription was introduced in June 1940, and volunteering for Army service ceased from 22 July 1940, although entry to the Air Force and Navy remained voluntary. Difficulties in filling the Second and Third Echelons for overseas service in 1939–1940, the Allied disasters of May 1940 and public demand led to its introduction. Four members of the cabinet including Prime Minister Peter Fraser had been imprisoned for anti-conscription activities in World War I, the Labour Party was traditionally opposed to it, and some members still demanded conscription of wealth before men. From January 1942, workers could be manpowered or directed to essential industries. - Access to imports was hampered and rationing made doing some things very difficult. Fuel and rubber shortages were overcome with novel approaches. In New Zealand, industry switched from civilian needs to making war materials on a much larger scale than is commonly understood today.[citation needed] New Zealand and Australia supplied the bulk of foodstuffs to American forces in the South Pacific, as Reverse Lend-Lease. With earlier commitments to supply food to Britain this led to both Britain and America (MacArthur) complaining about food going to the other ally (and Britain commenting on the much more generous ration allocations for American soldiers; General Marshall admitted that the meat ration was too large, but he was not going to challenge the ration set by Congress). By 1943 there was a manpower crisis, and eventually the withdrawal of the Third Division from the Pacific. - In winter 1944 the government hastened work on docks and repair facilities at Auckland and Wellington following a British request, to supplement the bases and repair yards in Australia needed for the British Pacific Fleet. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_New_Zealand_during_World_War_II) Those Were the Days - Those Were The Days presents a nostalgic look at life from the much loved glossy pages of The Weekly News. The Weekly News was one of the great success stories of New Zealand journalism. It is also part of our national history. Founded in 1863 as The Auckland Weekly News Town & Country Journal, the Weekly, as it came to be known, won a place in the public's affections. Famous for its bright pink cover, this magazine brought the events and people of the country and the world to the towns and scattered rural hamlets of New Zealand and served to unite the nation as no other publication has done. - Although the Weekly closed down in 1971, it continues to be fondly remembered and indeed there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of homes in New Zealand in which anything from one or two copies to hundreds of issues are still cherished. - Those Were The Days presents in six volumes a social history of New Zealand as seen through the pages of The Weekly News, the celebrations and tragedies, the happenings of everyday life. Each book in the series forms a vivid documentary of that era. - Compiled by Phillip Ridge - ISBN 10: 1869470354 Click the link provided at the top to purchase the book through the MAD on New Zealand Shop - Supporting New Zealand Authors and Artists