Books about the US Marines in NZ

Meet New Zealand Guide, drafted by Dr J.C.Beaglehole, Historical Branch of Department of Internal Affairs, 1942.

This guide for US servicemen stationed in New Zealand outlined aspects of New Zealand’s history, economy, culture and society. It revealed the mysteries of tea, scones, drinking hours and customs, Māori, Sundays, slang, horse-racing and road rules to newly-arrived American troops. View it online by clicking on the pages of the guide. 

Natives and Exotics: World War II and Environment in the Southern Pacific, Judith A. Bennett., University of Hawai’I Press, Honolulu, 2009.

Although the war’s physical impact proved significant, this study by an associate professor of history at University of Otago shows that the tropical environment offered its own challenges. Weather, terrain, plants animals – all played an active role as enemy or ally.

United States Forces in New Zealand: 1942 - 1945 Denys Bevan, Macpherson Publishing, Alexandra, NZ, 1992.

Originally intended as a record of United States naval ships that visited New Zealand ports during WW2, this book grew to cover all American units that came to New Zealand between January 1942 and December 1945. It is an irreplaceable coverage of their detailed movements and experiences.

The Yanks are Coming: The American Invasion of New Zealand, 1942 - 1944 Harry Bioletti, Random House NZ Ltd, Auckland, 1989.

This book reveals some of the social upheaval caused by the American ‘invasion’ and how it still influences the nature of New Zealand today

Follow Me Back in Time: Memories of WWII in New Zealand 1942 - 1943 Joan Ellis, privately published, New Plymouth, 2009.

After publishing A String of Pearls, Joan Ellis was interviewed for Steve La Hood’s film documentary, A Friend in Need. This led in 2007 to an invitation to a reunion of 2nd Marine Division Association in Washington DC and to many more reminiscences. To these she added memories from New Zealand women to create this sequel.

A String of Pearls: Stories from US Marines and New Zealand Women Remembering WWII

When Joan Ellis was growing up in Petone she met Marines at dances, family meals and through war work. In 1993 she attended a function to welcome a group of former Marines visiting New Zealand for the fiftieth anniversary of their arrival and later travelled to 2nd Marine division reunions in USA. This led to correspondence with some 300 men who sent her memories of their time in New Zealand, the core of this book. Joan was a foundation member of Kapiti US Marines Trust.

War Stories our Mothers never told us, edited by Judith Fyfe from a film by Gaylene Preston, Penguin Books NZ, Auckland, 1995. Nine New Zealand women remember the Second World War. They include Jean Andrews (Ngati Haumia) of Paekakariki, known as ‘The Marines’ Maori Mom’. The story of Jean and her mother Miriona Budge are also told on the Kapiti US Marines Trust’s interpretative panels for Camp Paekakariki

Beyond the Battlefield: New Zealand and its Allies, 1939–45, Gerald Hensley, Penguin Viking, Auckland, 2009.

A brilliant account by a retired diplomat of New Zealand’s sometimes rocky relationships with its wartime allies. Specially relevant to our theme are chapters entitled ‘Backing into Washington’, The Americans Arrive’, ‘The Manpower Dilemma’, and ‘Feeding the Allies’.

Commemorative booklet: the Friendly Invasion of New Zealand by American Armed Forces, June 1942–October 1944, June and Jack Hinton, Auckland, 1952.

This booklet, prepared for the 50th anniversary of the American arrival, provides a comprehensive record in photos, maps and text of all the camps and facilities that were constructed, region by region.

My Marine By Phyllis Johnston; Illustrations by Julia Crouth. Junior Fiction Book, Reed Publishing, Auckland 2001.

‘I was eight during World War Two, Thousands of American Marines came to New Zealand to fight in the Pacific. New Zealand families asked them to stay for holidays in their homes.’ A young girl is desperate to have a Marine of her own – just like hr sister Mary. But eight is way too young to go jitterbugging at the Saturday night dance. Just when it looks like she’ll never get her Marine, her mum comes to the rescue with a surprising twist to the family history.

In View of Kāpiti: Earliest Days to the late 1970s Barbara Macmorran

In View of Kapiti: Earliest days to the late 1970s, Barbara Macmorran, Dunmore Press Limited, Wellington, 1977. A general history in which the Marines presence is briefly described in context.

The Gilbert Islands in World War Two Peter McQuarrie, Masalai Press, 2012.

In addition to the Battle of Tarawa, this book tells of the periods of Japanese and American occupations, of coast-watching and German raiders. The author has used oral and written accounts of people who were directly involved, as well as official records in archives in Kiribati, Fiji, Tuvalu, New Zealand, the United States and Australia.

In the Pacific from Points Unknown : one Marine’s Journey in WWII with Art, Photos and Letters, P.G.Navarro and Mark Navarro, privately published, San Bernadino CA, 2014.

Porfirio Navarro, a first generation Mexican American, had artistic skills that landed him in the Second Marine Division’s mapping unit. His vivid account of three years across the high seas, into New Zealand and through the jungles of New Hebrides and Saipan is illustrated with numerous drawings, paintings and photographs. His New Zealand base was Camp Judgeford on Porirua Harbour.

A Long Way from Home: the Diary of Lillian Glenmore, Whangateau, 1943, My Story, Lorraine Orman, Scholastic New Zealand Limited, New Zealand, 2005.

Lillian's diary begins in 1943 when she and her sister Joyce travel north to Warkworth to stay with their grandparents. Neither girl is keen to go. At the end of February the US troops arrive – all 5,000 of them.

Home: Civilian New Zealanders Remember the Second World War Alison Parr, Penguin NZ, Auckland, 2010.

The author was Senior Oral Historian at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Wellington, New Zealand. Based on frank in-depth interviews, Home reveals the reality of civilian wartime life in New Zealand – ordinary lives lived in extraordinary times.

Brief Encounter: American Forces and the New Zealand People 1942 - 1945 Jock Phillips, with Ellen Ellis

Brief Encounter: American Forces and the New Zealand People, 1942–1945: an illustrated essay, Jock Phillips with Ellen Ellis, Department of Internal Affairs, Historical Branch, Wellington, 1992. This book was produced in association with an exhibition at the National archives, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the presence of American service personnel in New Zealand from June 1942.

No Job Too Hard: A History of Fletcher Construction, Volume II: 1940–1965, Jack Smith, Steele Roberts Publishers, Wellington, 2014.

Written by a former managing director, this volume of a trilogy covers the war years when Fletcher was appointed Commissioner of Defence Construction with spectacular results.. It deals with his building of huts, camps and hospitals for NZ and US troops, and defends against accusations of war profiteering.

No Bended Knee: The Battle for Guadalcanal. General Merrill B Twining, USMC (Ret.), Random House, United States, 1996.

Lieutenant Colonel ‘Bill’ Twining’s war began in New Zealand, where he was sent in early 1942 to prepare for the arrival of the 1st Marine Division. In a few days, he and two New Zealand engineering officers allocated sites for the main camps at Paekakariki, four specialist camps to the south and nine facilities around Wellington. As liaison he helped plan their speedy construction and arranged for the troops’ reception on June 14 1942. He then had a critical role in preparing for the capture of Guadalcanal and Tulagi, where he was a key staff officer for General Vandegrift until the Division was relieved in December. His writing is vivid, fast-moving and often scathing of ‘stuffed shirts’.

Battle Cry Leon Uris, G B Putnam’s Sons, United States, 1953

This was Uris’s first best-seller and has remained in print ever since. It was filmed in 1956 The book tells the story of how a diverse group came together to form an effective team, as well as describing the battles they fought in, including the Battle of Guadalcanal, Tarawa and the Battle of Saipan. Also described are their boot camp experiences in San Diego and their two assignments to US Marine camps in New Zealand, the first time for preparatory training for the Battle of Guadalcanal and then back again for rest and recovery before the Tarawa campaign. Their experiences in New Zealand reveal the very different cultures of the two allies, and how much the young marines enjoyed the hospitality of the local people, in spite of being what has been called a 'friendly invasion'. Uris was based at Camp Mackay and describes route marches, culminating in a marathon trek from Paekakariki to Foxton and back.

Dear Harriett: Letters from a WWII Marine in the Pacific, G.F.Jerry Walsh, Galde Press, St Paul, Minnesota, 1995.

PFC Walsh was a member of the 2nd Marine Division. On their arrival in November 1942 he was based at Camp Mackay. After fighting In Guadalcanal from January to February 1943 he was based at Camp Russell until departing for Tarawa in November 1943. This is a collection of letters to his wife that provide a running account of the life of a WWII Marine in boot camp, in combat and during times of respite in friendly New Zealand.

Pilgrimage of Memories to New Zealand, February 7 - 22, 1963, Second Marine Division Association

Pilgrimage to New Zealand, February 1968, Second Marine Division Association