World War II Photos - Howard Shepherd
The photos in this gallery (click on image below) were taken by my father-in-law, Howard Shepherd (9/6/1921 - 8/4/2006), during his time in Egypt, Syria, Turkey, and Italy, during the war years 1940 - 1945. He used a 'primitive' small film camera, even though he was apparently not allowed to possess one during his time in military service. These photos document something of young Howard's first big OE... but much more. They exhibit his wonderful artistic and photographic skills... beautiful and well considered compositions... captured fragments of time.
The following is from Howard's eulogy written by Neil Shepherd...
Dad was a Truck Driver and arrived in Egypt in 1940 at 19 years of age with the Second Echelon of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary force.
Here is where the stories dry up completely.
I have studied Dads war photos. Judging by the relaxed body language and standard of dress, it was definitely a citizens army, with seemly little of the military discipline the German and British soldiers were subjected to.
But an army of incredible courage and resourcefulness, that punched well above its weight.
There is a story that General Montgomery complained to General Fergusson that the New Zealanders were not saluting him. Sir Bernard replied, “Just wave to them and they will wave back.”
Also outstanding is how well they got on with the local population. Some of the group photos have happy looking little boys and teenagers standing completely unperturbed among the troops.
One welcome interlude that Dad could talk about was when the Division moved up to Syria in 1942.
There were vivid descriptions of how they left the desert and the landscape began to turn green, with wild flowers in abundance, with sheep and goats grazing, and the air turned cool and clear.
Dad was detailed to take a load of salvaged German aircraft parts up to Turkey. He was convinced that the Turks turned it all over to the Germans on arrival
He drove his Dodge truck thorough Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Nazareth, Beruit and Damascus right up to the Russian Border.
Then in 1943 the Division was moved to Italy. They landed in the instep of the Italian boot. Up the coast they went up the to Sangra River, along the German Gustav Line to Monte Cassino. This not the time or place to discuss that engagement, except to say that it should rank along side Gallopli in the National consciousness
The whole campaign was put into perspective when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 1944. Dad spoke of the New Zealanders on their side of the mountain and the Germans on theirs. Simply sitting there and watching Mother Nature go into action. On they went up Italy, through Rome and Florence, along the Gothic Line to the Adriatic Sea, and eventually to Venice.
At last I can tell a war story of Dad. He had driven along the causeway to the city and parked his truck by the railway station. Along came an American Jeep with 4 Yanks seated in it. It started bouncing down the steps towards the Grand Canal. A crowd of angry Venetians picked up the Jeep and threw it into the sea complete with the 4 Americans. No wheeled vehicle has ever entered the city of Venice.
Strangely Dad was still in danger when the war ended. His platoon was detailed to drive to Trieste, only to run into Marshall Tito and his partisans. One village would welcome them with flowers and beautiful maidens. The next with stones and rifle shots over the engine bonnets.
Italy is a beautiful country with wonderful people and a great culture. But it was a terrible place to fight a war in. The summers are blazing hot, the winters freezing and the terrain nigh on impassable. Yet Dad always had a great affection for Italy and all things Italian.
Eventually he was returned to New Zealand now aged 24, given 50 pounds, a suitcase of civilian clothes, a 2nd class railway pass and sent home.