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Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Wright was a doctor in the Medical Corps. At Gerawla he helped set up the hospital, but was also sports officer, responsible for making a rugby field as he describes here
Jim Barclay fought with the 27 Machine Gun Battalion all through the North African campaign. Here he recalls going to the pictures at the infamous Shafto's cinema at Maadi Camp.
Watt McEwan, a sergeant with Divisional Signals, describes the delights of the Burqa, the brothel district in Cairo during the Second World War
Eleanor Fraser served in the Women's War Service Auxiliary as a Tui in the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo. She left for Egypt in September 1941 with 29 other young women with whom she would work in the club, behind one of the counters supplying refreshments to the troops on leave. Here she describes the routine of the club

Hear George Mackay discussing his experiences at Cairo during the Second World War

War is often thought of as constant frontline action, but in reality troops are often out of the lines, training or on leave. And many of those who serve are not in front line units.
Lasting from 1940 to 1943, North Africa was the longest and most important land campaign fought by New Zealanders in the Second World War.
New Zealanders were only marginally involved in the initial British operations that threw the Italians out of Egypt late in 1940 and went on to inflict a humiliating defeat on them at Beda Fomm, near the El Agheila gateway.
The New Zealand Division fell back to the Alamein Line, where it took part in the first Battle of Alamein. At Ruweisat on 15 July, and El Mreir a week later, the New Zealanders carried out their part of the attack plans by seizing their objectives in successful night assaults.
Following the break-out from El Alamein the New Zealand Division reached the Libyan border by 10 November. It seized Halfaya Pass before being pulled out of the line. After recuperating near Bardia, it moved forward to the front at El Agheila in December.
Relaxing in a dugout canteen in North Africa
Infantry training: waiting for the order to advance
Questions for oral history interviews with veterans of the North African campaign
Maps showing the main locations in the North African Campaign of the Second World War
Going through the wire into Libya, November 1941
Shells bursting on the horizon at El Alamein, 1942
General Freyberg talking with Marshall Giovanni Messe after the Italian surrender in May 1943
Map of El Alamein, June 1942
Map of Tobruk, November 1941

Second World War soldiers bow their heads in prayer at an Anzac Day service at El Saff, Egypt, 25 April 1940.

Map of Libya, October 1942

Between November 1941 and May 1943 New Zealanders serving with 2 NZEF fought against the Italians and the German expeditionary force across the desert of North Africa.

Haane Manahi fought in the Maori Battalion in the Second World War and many thought he should have been awarded the Victoria Cross.