Story: Military and sport

Athletics competition, Nouméa (5th of 6)

Athletics competition, Nouméa

Troops take part in an athletics competition held by the 3rd New Zealand Division in Nouméa, New Caledonia. The 3rd Division was based at Nouméa from 1942 to 1944, with units sailing from there to take part in fighting in the Solomon Islands. Like their comrades in North Africa and Europe, the soldiers in New Caledonia had to deal with long periods of inactivity. The divisional commander, Harold Barrowclough, encouraged sporting competitions to keep up morale and fitness.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, War History Collection (DA-01514)
Reference: 1/4-020485-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.

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How to cite this page:

Ian McGibbon, 'Military and sport - Second World War and after', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/38728/athletics-competition-noumea (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Ian McGibbon, published 5 Sep 2013