With the NZGH in Japan

660936 Tom Collier 6 NZGH 1947-48

At the end of WW2, New Zealand troops, with those of other nations, were sent to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces. Tom Collier was eager to join and, after a difficult start, was accepted for service as a clerk with the Medical Corps and posted to Kiwa, Japan. This is his story.

Way back in 1947 my mates had joined J Force but I failed the medical (varicose veins). I was determined to join but my GP did nothing to assist me saying "leave your veins alone". The sergeant in charge at the local Army Office knew how desperate I was to go to Japan and arranged for the operation at the local hospital (those were the days when we had an excellent hospital). However, when I was recuperating in hospital after the operation my GP did his ward round, so I immediately pulled sheets up and he went on his way although I'm sure he knew what was going on. I recovered and on 26 May 1947 I was marched in to Papakura Military Camp.

I was only in Papakura MC for about 8 days and I was home on final leave 3/6/47-14/6/47. On returning to Camp I was posted to the Medical Corps, I think they were in D Block. I was fortunate on one occasion to draw the right straw to attend Eden Park to watch the All Blacks play Auckland. The All Blacks had had a successful tour of Australia and almost unbelievably Auckland won. It was a great experience, first time at Eden Park to watch the ABs. Even going on leave to Auckland was mind boggling.

We boarded the Dunera on 15/7/47 and we were on our way to Japan via Fiji. Finally arrived at my home for the next year or so at Kiwa. All of us attended a meeting for posting to wherever. I was a nurseryman in Civvy St and I was told in NZ prior to embarkation that I would be in charge of Japanese labour to tend the vege gardens. However, postings progressed till there were only three of us left, and the RSM at that time, Roy Yearbury (later Captain) said "You three will be my Hospital Office Clerks".

The Hospital Office was manned 24 hours each day with the night shift on duty on the Telephone Exchange which was just across the passage from the Hospital Office. My garden job went west as the person in charge of that job was on leave and returning.

Every patient when reporting to the Hospital Office had what was called an A&D Card (Admission and Discharge) which we had to read, or should I say in most cases "decipher", Doctors' writing, write particulars in the Day Book and then send them to whichever Ward depending on each individual problem. At approximately 9 pm we would relieve the Nurse who was on duty on the Telephone Exchange and so start the night shift which would end at 8 am next day. Nurses manned the Exchange from 8 am to 9 pm. Night shift always afforded me time to catch up on my letter writing.

Thursdays at Kiwa were always welcomed by the Nurses as a salesman would arrive and set up in the Auditorium with his souvenirs. June Yearbury was a typist in the next office to ours and I'm sure she never knew I used to use her typewriter (one finger) to write home. After a while I became fairly quick at typing.

Finally Kiwa Hospital closed and re-opened at Ozuki, and on 17/9/48 I left for NZ on the Duntroon, arriving at Auckland on 5/10/48. A wonderful experience and some excellent friendships established. I often think that if it wasn't for the Area Office in Dannevirke I may never have had the chance to meet some great mates who remain to this day.

Tom Collier, 2002