There were no ‘goodbyes’ when the Marines left New Zealand. On 30 October 1943, trainloads of men in full battle kit left Paekākāriki for Wellington where they boarded a fleet of 16 ships.
Their orders had implied a full-scale Divisional landing exercise north of Hawkes Bay but in fact, after they sailed, they learned that their destination was the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa, in today’s Kiribati. The defenders were well-supplied and well-prepared and, though greatly outnumbered, they exacted a heavy toll on the Marines in a battle that lasted from 20 to 23 November.
AK Transport.
April 5, 1943.
1st. MAC New Zealand.
These men of a U.S. Marine regiment crowd the rails of a transport as they look out on a city of this 'down under' country, a city which means LIBERTY in capital letters after their long months with none. These men trained seven days a week without any liberty. Most popular purchase once they got ashore was the American style milk shake.
Auckland, New Zealand
May 31, 1943.
S/Sgt. J.S. Allison
Next stop advanced base:
No band playsas these Marines board their war-bound transport.
Auckland, New Zealand
June 30, 1943.
Sgt. James A. Mundell
Take it easy MAC:
Marines boarding transport in the So. Pac.
Auckland, New Zealand
June 30, 1943.
Sgt. James A. Mundell
Convoy:
Destination Tarawa.
New Zealand
Oct. 1943
Higgins boats leave ship for shore.
(Wellington harbor)
Auckland, New Zealand
Nov 20, 1943
Marinesnz.com is the website of The Kāpiti US Marines Trust and part of a major project to collect, preserve and promote World War II US Armed Forces history from 1942-1944 in the Kāpiti district, north of the capital city Wellington, New Zealand. While our focus is the history surrounding Camps Russell, MacKay and Paekākāriki’ we also have an interest in Marines camps in other parts of the Wellington region and in the social history and friendships between Kiwis and Americans during this brief but all-important encounter.
KUSMT 1 Grange Park Avenue Raumati South, Paraparaumu 5032 New Zealand
Email: info@marinesnz.com