Pacific War - Talk by Lieutenant-Colonel F. L. Davis

Talk by Lt-Col. F.L. Davis, Commanding Officer of the 29th Infantry Battalion. He says it was one of the first in the Pacific area, and is made up of men from all over New Zealand. They were originally the 5th and 6th reinforcements.

The unit was in Fiji for over 14 months then it was returned to New Zealand, in July 1942 and was stationed in Waikato for further training. It was then sent to New Caledonia on garrison duty. Early in September 1943 it was moved from New Caledonia to Guadalcanal. Lt-Col Davis had served in the Middle East and Greece and Crete under Maj-Gen Kippenberger, as says the men of the 29th are just as well-trained and competent as the men over there.

After a stay of of six or seven weeks on Guadalcanal they embarked, on the 25th October onto ships and on the 27th October arrived off the rocky coast of Stirling Island. He describes the landing under fire.

The Japanese fired on the boats from well-sited machine gun posts down on the water line, but all the boats reached the beach and unloaded the soldiers into the jungle. The boat coxswain and an officer were wounded and a gunner had a bullet lodged in his foot. The first few days were hectic, patrolling in bad weather in jungle country with short rations.

He ends by sending a personal greeting to his wife and family and a Christmas greeting on behalf of all the men in his battalion