Seccombe, Garth Turon DCM
Production date
1940-1945
1940-1949
Description
Garth Seccombe was born in Whangarei 27th October 1915.
During the World War II, he served with 'C' Squadron, Divisional Cavalry, 2nd N.Z.E.F. He travelled first to the UK for orientation, and was then transported via Cape of Good Hope to serve in the Middle East and Crete where he was wounded and taken as a Prisoner of War (POW) 1st June 1941.
A collection of personal letters from Garth Turon Seccombe to his father Gilbert Garfield Seccombe written while the former was serving overseas during World War II. The first letters decribe the voyage to England and service in the Middle East. The remaining consist of postcards to his father sent while in the POW Camp, after being captured in Crete. Included is a card sent on New Years Eve 1943 mentioning how he spent Christmas.
Object detail
1940-1949
Part 1
Folder 1:
Letters 'Dear Dad...'
1. May 7 1940 - 'On Board' enroute to UK. 2pp
2. August 12 1940 - UK - re. training. 8pp
3. September 2 1940 - UK - re. training and war progress 6pp
4. October 25 1940 - UK - re training, family news and war progress 7pp (double sided).
5. November 13 1940 - UK - re training, billets war progress, recreation, preparations to leave England etc 9pp
6. December 21 1940 - Embarkation leave, visit to Seccombe family in Devon, genealogy and family information. 9pp
7. Feb 2 1941 - at sea - 6pp
8. Feb 20 1941 - at sea - 15pp (double sided)
9. Mar 20 1941 - Middle East - in the desert. 9pp (double sided)
10. May 7 1941 - Middle East - war news. 4pp
Part 2
Folder 2:
Letters (aerograms) "Dear Dad..." sent from POW Camps
11. Jan 15 1942 "The first batch..."
12. April 1942 "Well, after a long..." (top flat missing)
13. August 15 1943 " Received yours..."
14. November 5 1943 "Your 11/8..."
15. October 18 1944 " Received your 9/6..."
16. December 5 1944 "Well here we are again...
17 Jan 7th 1945 "The date of this..."
Part 3
Folder 3: Letters and letters 'Dear Dad..." sent on release from POW Camp
18. May 9 1945, London, "Well here we are again back in good old Blighty..." 1p
19. May 25 1945, London, "Well how are things now?..." 1 p
20. July 6 1945, Seccombe farm, Devon. "You will notice (10 pp)
21. September 5 1945, At Sea, "Well I'm homeward bound... 1p
22. 'To be Taken Prisoner of War'. unattributed notes on what is was like to be taken as a POW by German soldiers before being handed over to the Italian Army. (typescript)
23. August 28th 1945. Narrative 'At Last we are homeward bound... describing the voyage home to NZ. 41pp
Part 4
Envelope
postcards to 'Dear Dad' sent by Garth from POW Camps
24. 25/2/42 'At last mail...'
25. 25/3/42 'That was great news...'
26. 15/6/42 'And how are you...'
27. 5/8/42 'many Happy returns...
28. 4/9/42 'We are still...
29. 17/10/42 'Perhaps Evelyn has...
30. 14/11/42 'Have been thinking...
31. 12/2/43 'Was sorry to hear...
32. 3/4/43 'Was very pleased to receive...
33. 18/4/43 'Well old timer...
34. 2/5/43 'Well how are things...
35. 8/5/43 'Anzac Day was a...
36. 15/6/43 'Your letter of the ...
37. 4/6/43 'Was pleased to receive...
38. 21/6/43 'Today is fine...
39. 19/7/43 'Mail has been very...
40. 25/7/43 'Rec this morning...
41. 2/9/43 'Received your...
42. 16/9/43 'Was very pleased...
43. 22/11/43 'Time is flying and Xmas...
44. 11/12/43 'Mail has been bad...
45. 20/12/43 'Here it is Xmas again...
46. 31/12/43 'It wants but an hour to 1944...
47. 23/1/44 'Your interesting letter...
48. 14/2/44 "letter day again...
49. 5/3/44 'I hope your health...
50. 21/5/44 'Mail has been ...
51. 5/6/44 'Received your 18/3...
52 18/6/44 'The prophecy in your last letter...
53. n.d. 'some more exam papers...
54. 5/8/44 ' received your 2/6/44 ...
55. n.d. 'papers have not yet...
56. n.d. 'that pumice land...
57. 23/8/44 'Your May9th...
58. 5/8/44 'Well the eldest son is here...
59. n.d. 'the time to...
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