Unlike their First World War equivalent the Digger Pierrots, the Kiwi Concert Party was officially integrated into the army as an entertainment unit in the Second World War. For four years they followed the path of hostilities through the Middle East and Italy. This 1942 photo shows a performance at El Alamein, Egypt, just before the opening of a successful offensive. The Concert Party's members were fully infantry-trained and armed and sometimes found themselves under fire. After the war they toured New Zealand and Australia continually from 1946 to 1954. Listen to the professional-sounding harmonies in this rendition of 'The Kiwis on parade'.
Using this item
Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference:
DA-02711-F
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Nga Taonga Korero. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Sound Archives Nga Taonga Korero (U Series – Kiwi concert party/Reference number DAT165 Tk13)
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