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Guilford/Guildford NZ Directories - 1939 to
1943
NZ Time Line: Src:
1936 Reserve
Bank taken over by state. State housing
programme launched.
Jack Lovelock wins
Olympic gold and sets world record for 1500m. Jean
Batten's record flight from England. Working week reduced from 44 to
40 hours.
1937/1938 RNZAF set up as separate
branch of armed forces. Free Milk in schools introduced. Social
Security Act establishes revised pensions structure and the basis of a
national health service.
1939 Sep:
War declared on Germany Enlistment in the 2nd New
Zealand Expeditionary Force begins. Formation of a Māori
Battalion for 2NZEF with Bernard
Freyberg appointed commander HMNZS
Achilles takes part in The Battle of
the River Plate.
- 1940 Jan:
First Echelon of the 2NZEF
leaves New Zealand arrives Feb at Maadi Camp in Egypt.
- Prime Minister Michael
Joseph Savage dies - Peter
Fraser becomes Prime Minister.
- Apr: Formation of No. 75 (NZ)
Squadron of the RAF
- Jun: New Zealand declares war on Italy. RMS Niagara
hits a mine off Bream Head, Northland
- Aug: Home
Guard established. German raider Orion sinks the
steamer Turakina off Cape Egmont.
- Oct: Stanley Graham
kills 7 in shooting spree near Hokitika
- Nov: German raiders sank Steamer Holmwood off the Chatham
Islands and Rangitane sunk by 480 km from East
Cape and December: New Zealand steamer Komata sunk
by German raiders off Nauru
- Sidney Holland
becomes Leader of Opposition; military service conscription. German
mines laid across Hauraki Gulf.
1941
May – June: New Zealand forces suffer heavy losses in the Battle of Crete.
Dec: New Zealand declares war on Japan following the attack on
Pearl Harbor. Pharmaceutical and general practitioner medical
benefits introduced.
1942 Fears
of a Japanese Invasion prompts precautions such as air raid drills.
Membership of the Home
Guard became compulsory for men aged between 35 and 50. Battle of the
Coral Sea. New Zealand troops in First
and Second
Battles of El Alamein. Food rationing introduced. Mobilisation of
women for essential work. Jun: First 5 ships of American troops from the
37th US Army Division land in Auckland. First American Marines from the
1st Corps Division land in Wellington.
- 1943 New
Zealand troops take part in invasion of Italy.
- Feb: Mutiny by Japanese prisoners of
war at Featherston
prisoner of war camp results in 48 Japanese dead, 61 wounded, plus
one NZ guard dead and 11 injured guards.
- Apr: Battle of
Manners Street between American and New Zealand servicemen
- Jun: Several Marines drown during landing exercises at Paekakariki. Aug
- Sep: Eleanor
Roosevelt visits NZ
- Sept: General
election, Labour re-elected.
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