J L McAdam WWII StoryAuthor: Robert McAdam - Published At: 2013-09-17 20:59 - (75 Reads)

Brief history of John's war effort in WWII sadly lacking in depth. All I can say is his efforts with the 24th Battalion were highly commendable and placed the 2nd NZ Division alongside the Australians as Churchill's most favoured troops during this campaign. They took their objectives every time they were ordered, mainly by hand to hand fighting with the bayonet at night only to be let down by the British Armoured divisions and decimated. Fortunately John survived this and was with his unit till War ceased in North Africa 1943.

John Loudon McAdam 1915-1987

15/5/40 John single and 25 years old, joins the 24th Auckland Battalion main draft, NZ army in Otorohanga, trained to Papakura Camp for basic training.

26/8/40 Trained to Wellington to board the ship Empress of Japan on 27/8/40 (Later after Japan entered the war, ships name was changed to Empress of Scotland 1942).

Empress of Japan(Scotland) 1940.Private in Head Quarters(HQ) Company No 2 Platoon(AA) with the following men from Otorohanga : Lieut. R W Adams, Cpl HL Hammond, Cpl JH Graham, Pte WG Clarke, Pte RM Henderson, Pte L McDonald, Pte LS Turnbull, Pte Willis. Cpl Bill Addinell joined 24 Bn as a reinforcement in Egypt.

John front left end kneeling on Empress of Japan with Otorohanga boys en route to Egypt. Len McDonald 3rd from right at back under age at the time for enlistment and was the youngest in AA company.

28/8/40 Left Wellington bound for Egypt. Total of 2635 on board but only accommodation for 2250. Conditions were crowded and they were chronically short of equipment AA Platoon had no Bren guns.

29/9/40 Landed at Port Tewfik and trained to Maadi Camp near Cairo the next day.More training and the final equipping of the men with weapons including Bren guns and vehicles was carried out. Concluding with a live exercise involving live ammunition and artillery.

John overlooking Maadi Camp

Bren Light Machine Gun

SpecificationsWeight 22.83 lb (10.35 kg)Length 42.9 in (1,156 mm), Mk IVBarrel length 25 in (635 mm)Crew 2, firer and magazine/barrel changerCartridge .303 BritishAction Gas-operated, tilting boltRate of fire 500–520 rounds/minMuzzle velocity 2440 ft/s (743.7 m/s)

Effective range 600 yd (550 m)Maximum range 1850 ydFeed system 30-round detachable box magazine(Only 28 rounds were put in as it was prone to jamming with 30)

17/3/41 Left Alexandra on the HMS Ajax a British Cruiser (Fought in the Battle of River Plate with HMNZS Achilles against the German pocket battleship Graf Spee) bound for Greece with Lustre Force.

HMS Ajax

John with Bren Gun, Anti-Aircraft tripod and ammunition cases in Greece March, 1941

18/3/41 Landed at Piraeus then marched to camp at Mt Hymettus.

John on the far right in Molos near Ayia Trias, Greece with AA1 truck under camouflage camped for the day to avoid German fighter aircraft. March, 1941.

Germany invaded Greece on 6 March 1941. Its troops threatened to outflank the NZ Division to the west and thus precipitated a fighting withdrawal 320 kms down the eastern seaboard of the Greek mainland. This was

particularly hard as roads were often mule tracks with steep hill climbs and the constant fear of being attacked by German fighter planes during the day was ever present. Often troops laid up during the day under cover and only moved at night. The 24 Bn did not engage in any serious actions during this campaign. But 6 were killed, 4

wounded and 138 POW’s.

30/4/41 After a somewhat nervous 24 hours, it was debated whether 24 Bn would leave Greece due to a boat shortage, 6 Brigade (24, 25 and 26 Bn’s) were to be the last Allied troops to leave Greece. At night 24 Bn left there hiding place and drove down to near Monemvasia jetty. No lights on trucks only the last soldier at the back of the truck had a lighted cigarette for the driver following to follow, on what was barely a road in the

pitch black of night. After disembarking the trucks were pushed over a cliff with their equipment, soldiers only retaining rifles with a few rounds. AA company bought their Bren gun back. 24 Bn got back on HMS Ajax and

sailed for Crete but did not disembark at Suda Bay. The rest of 6th Brigade including 24 Bn returned to Helwan, Egypt missing the battle for Crete.

“Am there somewhere, but that was the best cup of tea I’ve ever had. Just off the boat back from Greece, April, 1941”. John wrote this on the back of this photo and was probably very grateful to have made it back alive and

in one piece. John sitting on the bank, third from the right at the rear.

May - September/41 24 Bn rested and was restocked with reinforcements July, by August they were in training using tactical formations involving artillery and aircraft support in the desert over minefields and

through barbed wire with some limited Valentine tank help. At the time prevailing dust storms typical of the Western desert made life difficult for the men with a number developing respiratory problems. Sand made life

difficult getting into everything and wearing out equipment. Guns had to cleaned constantly.

18/9/41 24 Bn move to Baggush Box to complete desert training, 2nd NZ Division practise moving as a coordinated group through the desert

Baggush 1941

Camp at Baggush 30th October 1941. Bill Addinell sitting by his tent. Note water can.

11/11/41 The complete 2nd NZ Division leaves Baggush by Brigade groups with 6 Brigade (24 Bn) being the last to leave. Heading to Sidi Rezegh, Libya to take part in Operation Crusader to relieve the Australians besieged at the port of Tobruk.

22/11/41 Battle for Sidi Rezegh begins. 24 Bn take their planned positions but at a cost by hand to hand bayonet attack at night. Communications are bad between units causing chaos. Germans pretend to surrender in the morning being mistaken for South African troops and open fire when 24 Bn soldiers stand up to welcome them.

30/11/41 Disaster for 24 Bn John captured

6th Brigade surrounded by German army units, Sidi Rezegh battle lost, 24 Bn ceases to exist. Those not killed or captured, attempt to escape or hide until dark. John captured with Len McDonald and others, decides to escape while marching in a column of fellow POW’s. The word went down the column if you want to escape drop to the back of the column. Running for it when a whistle is blown and guards are distracted. Some kiwis are killed as they run from machine gun fire. John and Len are successful and return to NZ lines to fight another day. Few are this lucky. 24 Bn Casualties total 523 men. 101 killed, 145 wounded and 277 POW’s

Group off fellow 24 Bn soldiers holding Swastika flag, note bullet holes in truck and flag after Sidi Rezegh battle.The soldier at front left has been identified as Arthur Webster, 15 Platoon, C Company. He was captured after this and taken prisoner. He had a tough time off it and was mentally scarred for life. He never told his family anything and if any visitors came to his farm up north he went bush. This from Bruce Murcott Hamilton.

5/12/41 Survivors of 24 Bn arrive back at Baggush, 24 Bn rebuilt with reinforcements. John promoted to Lance Corporal.

Xmas Baggush 1941, camp butcher at work. Little hygiene here the flies were thick and a constant annoyance, passing disease on to the men.

12/3/42 2nd NZ Division leaves for Syria including 24 Bn. Syria’s climate was cold and inhospitable, locals distrusted foreigners and steal anything as the opportunity arises. Rations were lean. In fact this was probably the only period of the war when the men were really hungry. The mountain sheep from which their meat came were chiefly notable for a wealth of inedible by-products. Bone, skin, and gristle they grew in abundance, but very little meat. The vegetable was mainly native spinach, a large amount of which would boil down to almost nothing. Attempts were made to supplement rations by using grenades to kill fish in the streams, but on the whole there was little to be drawn from a country bordering upon a state of famine.

1/4/42 John promoted to Corporal

24/6/42 2nd NZ Division return to Egypt to assist in halting the Germans who have pushed the Allies back to El Alamein, Egpyt.

28/6/42 24 Bn move to Kaponga Box to make good existing defences in the face of the German army approach

John's AA company in position with Bren gun on tripod Nth African desert 1942

21/7/42 24 Bn attack German lines at El Mreir depression and take their positions by bayonet with hand to hand fighting at night.

22/7/42 Disaster for 24 Bn

Disaster at first light, 24 Bn overrun by 21 Panzer Div waiting unseen just over the depression ridge. British tanks failed to provide backup support. Casualties 280 men out of 440. 53 killed, 57 wounded and 170 POW’s. 24 Bn ceases to exist once again and survivors are somewhat dispirited by another disaster due to lack of support from the British tank units. After this Freyberg decided to form NZ’s own armoured support.

25/7/42 Returned to Maadi camp, Egypt. 24 Bn out of action, remaining men transferred to 9 Training Brigade.

6/8/42 John moved to 31 Bn then 21 Bn

19/8/42 John admitted to hospital after suffering with chronic diarrhoea for past weeks. The contamination of food by flies was responsible for most of the dysentery and diarrhoea which was never wholly absent. The Western Desert had always bred flies in abundance, but the presence of armies, more especially along the railway line in the coastal region, had converted a pest into a plague. ‘Flies are at present Enemy No. 2’, read the warning in battalion routine orders, ‘but they can easily become Enemy No. 1 and cause casualties accordingly.’ Members of the Division's Field Hygiene Section visited each unit and gave instruction in anti-fly precautions, while a medical officer with a flair for the subliminal pointed out that ‘the psychological effect of killing flies and seeing them die is a great one’. As they drank cups of tea the flies would land in the tea and drown. Open latrines (which all armies used) especially in Italian camps were a major problem. The Italians often never covered or filled in after use.

31/8/42 John moved to 4 Aust Convalescent Depot

14/9/42 Moved to Reception depot

17/9/42 Moved to 31 Bn

20/9/42 Moved back to 24 Bn

8/10/42 John promoted to temporary Lance Sgt

23/10/42 2nd El Alamein battle begins.

All day on 23 October the men of 24 Battalion lay hidden in slit trenches, covered over with groundsheets to prevent detection by aircraft. It was a trying ordeal, but they were tired after the long night march and, seeing what lay ahead, it was only wise to conserve energy. At 9 p.m. they left the lying-up area and advanced under a bright moon towards the start line over gently sloping, shingly ground, sparsely covered with scrub. About 9.30pm the companies crossed the start line, marked with white tapes, and advanced to the opening line of the artillery barrage. At ten o'clock the guns switched from counter-battery, which they had been firing for a quarter of an hour, to open up on the enemy forward positions, the infantry lying flat while the change took place. The din of bombardment was terrific, and it seemed to the waiting troops that nothing could survive under so fearful a blasting; nevertheless, numerous flares were going up from the enemy's lines. John commented this was massive, the whole sky alight with flashes, explosions and the noise so loud all (including Kiwi’s) were deafened for some time after it finished. 24 Bn achieved objectives given, pushing the Germans back and taking new positions.

Bill Addinell leaning on an abandoned 2 cm Flak AA 38 German gun.

4/11/42 24 Bn relieved and withdrawn from the line, Germans in full retreat with 2nd Division in pursuit. Casualties 20 killed 86 wounded.

8/11/42 24 Bn arrives in Mersa Matruh. Of the few Germans still remaining, some were busily engaged in setting booby traps, of which the place was found to be full off, while others, doctors and orderlies, continued

their work at the hospital as though nothing had happened. Some Basuto prisoners of war, members of an African labour corps captured earlier in the year, had already broken out and were looting and smashing

indiscriminately. For the next ten days the men of 24 Bn spent their time in clearing up the wreckage of war and in routine training, swimming, and resting.

Main road into Mersa Matruh.

German flying boat in Mersa Matruh port

Bill Addinell standing amongst German graves at Mersa Matruh. These soldiers died in the early part of the 1st El Alamein Battle. Bodies were later moved to the El Alamein cemetery where they remain today.

14/11/42 John promoted to Sgt

20/11/42 24 Bn leave Mersa Matruh and join 2nd Division at Sidi Azeiz

4/12/42 2nd Division move out headed for El Agheila where the Germans have halted. No major action is encountered as Germans maintain retreat with some small limited rearguard actions.

14/12/42 John jaundiced and feeling unwell also exhausted from long service in action

23/12/42 Diagnosed with Hepatitis Infective by 23 Field Ambulance

25/12/42 Admitted to 1 NZ Army General Hospital (Christmas Day)

13/1/43 Moved out to Reception Depot

9/2/43 Moved to 31Bn

12/2/43 24 Bn arrive in Tripoli chasing the German army in retreat

12/2/43 John attends FAP Middle Eastern Weapons Training School

7/3/43 John moves to BTBA MEWTS weapons training school

11/3/43 24 Bn move on to Tebaga Gap battle without John. Casualties 58 killed 72 wounded.

28/3/43 Last enemy engagements for 24 Bn from Gabes to Enfidaville, Tunisia

15/2 to 6/5/43 John attended PL weapons “A” course at MEWTS result “B”

4/43 In Tripoli his lower back becomes painful for no apparent reason. John thinks it’s from long periods of standing (on duty and parades). Standing causes the pain.

10/4/43 Moved to Advanced base

16/4/43 Moved to 31Bn

26/4/43 Attend FAP 8th Army mines school course

Abandoned German gun tractor SdKfz 76 Flakmesstruppenwagen used to tow artillery(88mm) guns at Sousse, Tunisia

Abandoned German heavy artillery gun 17 cm Kanone 18 under camoflage in Sousse, Tunisia

Unidentified German aircraft flying over 24 Bn camp probably an Fi 156 "Fieseler Storch". Field Marshal Rommel used Storch aircraft for transport and battlefield surveillance during the desert campaign.

Three unknown cobbers of Johns resting with cup of tea boiled up in kersosene tin by a Chevrolet WB 4x2 30-cwt truck, rear wheel.

AA1 company truck dug into desert

2/5/43 Moved to CTBA 8th Army mines school

4/5/43 Admitted to 3 NZGH Out Patient ward for back pain, doctors find no abnormalities, but say he has lumbo-sacral strain and curable

10/5/43 Moved out to unit as Reinforcement

13/5/43 German army surrender unconditionally to Allies in North Africa, fighting ceases

18/5/43 Discharged with doctor comment “Think he is exaggerating” his back pain.

1/6/43 24Bn arrive back at Maadi camp Egypt.

It was decided that all men from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Echelons should be granted furlough leave back to New Zealand. John joins the furlough draught of NZ soldiers as he was in the 3rd Echelon.

15/6/43 Embarked to NZ on the liner Nieuw Amsterdam. An uneventful trip except as they were about to enter Hobart, Tasmania a railwayman standing at the ships forward rail saw a Japanese torpedo fired from a submarine miss the bow by 20 feet. A reminder that another war was in progress.

Painted in wartime grey, the Nieuw Amsterdam steamed a total 530,452 miles as a troopship in WWII.

12/7/43 Disembarked in Wellington, NZ

17/6/44 Discharged from the army after attending Waikato Hospital for ongoing back pain.

John did not return to the war as many of his fellows in the 24 Bn had to. They went on to fight the Germans with the 2nd Division in Italy till the German surrender 1945. Total of 179 killed, 670 wounded and 22 POW’s in Italy. Many did not want to return to war and were arrested and imprisoned in New Zealand, as was Len McDonald who was with John in Greece and Sidi Rezegh. Len relented and rejoined the 24th Bn in Italy. Len survived the war and died in 2006.John’s back stopped him from returning to the war, which was never cured and he suffered with till his death on the 4th October 1987 at 72 years from cancer. He's buried in the RSA section at Te Awamutu cemetery.

Interesting to note that John's brother Frank had joined the 2nd Division Artillery in North Italy 1945, but did not see action as the Germans surrendered.

World War II Medals of Service issued to:

Sergeant J.L. McAdamSerial No. 24138

No 2 AA Platoon, HQ company, 24th Battalion, 6 Brigade, 2nd NZ Division

MEDALS-From left to right as mounted for wearing:

1939-45 Star - awarded for service in Greece and North Africa Sept 1940 to July 1943.

Africa Star - awarded for service in North Africa between Sept 1940 and July 1943.

Clasp to Africa Star 8th Army – Awarded for service with the 8th Army 23 Oct 1942 to 20 May 1943.

1939-45 War Medal - awarded to all full time members of the Armed Forces for 28 days service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 irrespective of where they were serving.

NZ War Service Medal - awarded for 28 days' full time service in any of the New Zealand Armed Forces

Greek WW2 War Medal - awarded for service in Greece 18 March 1941 to 30 April 1941. The Greek Commemorative War Medal 1940-1941 was instituted by Royal Decree of August 19th 1947. It was instituted to recognise the actions of the Royal Greek Armed Forces who took part in the war efforts from the outbreak of the war in Greece in 1940 until the fall of Crete in 1941. It was also awarded to foreign forces that fought on Greek soil. Although John did not personally have this medal he was entitled to it.

Sources:Official Histories of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939 – 194524 Battalion – RM BurdonThe Relief of Tobruk – WE MurphyBattle for Egypt – JL Scoullar

The 24th NZ Infantry Battalion(Pictorial History) – FL Phillips and HR GilmourUp the Blue – Roger SmithThe Desert Railway – Brendan JuddRecollections of an Old Soldier – WJ Woodhouse24th Battalion Association (disbanded April 2012)

Rod McAdam eldest son of JohnGraham McAdam youngest son of JohnWayne McDonald eldest son of Len McDonald (Media person for 24th Bn Association)Pauline Stables identified Bill Addinell (distant relative but knew Bill well and kept in touch with the family) Bill only had one daughter Judith who became a well known political journalist (Judith Addinell, elected first female chairman of Parliamentary Press Gallery 1978), she died 1995 before Bill (died 1998) and never had children.Alexander Heuser German Air War Historian verified unidentified German aircraft in desert photo to be an Fi 156 "Fieseler Storch".

Photos from John’s collection taken on a Kodak Junior 620 camera care of Rod.

We don’t know whether John acquired this camera before he left for North Africa or after he arrived.

The Kodak Junior 620 was a self-erecting viewfinder folding camera for type No. 620 film rolls.This camera is interesting as it was made by the German Kodak AG branch of Kodak in the former Nagel factory in Stuttgart, Germany. Introduced in 1933, production stopped in 1939. Its design followed conceptions of earlier Nagel roll film folders like the Nagel Triumph: self-erecting, Gauthier shutter, Anastigmat lens, brilliant finder plus collapsible frame finder, and focusable lens. Nagel Kodaks have good lenses, but the disruption of camera production in Germany during and immediately following WWII, necessarily limits Nagels to 1930s uncoated designs.

John’s service number on inside lid of camera case

Photographs of John’s camera

Leather Camera Case

I have put this together from the NZ Army archives both service and medical records, which were brief but lacking in war details. This is an overview with dates and events largely taken from the official war histories. Unfortunately due to the fact that the 24th Bn was wiped out twice, records for these events are incomplete. Key officers were either captured or killed so no official reports were able to be made. It is unfortunate these stories were not taken down before the men died. Off course most did not talk about the war after the event. John only started to tell me a few stories the night of Derek McAdam’s wedding in Hamilton, this should have prompted me to press him further. I only found one soldier (92) alive (Bruce Murcott, Hamilton) in 2013 who was an original in the 24th Bn, C company, 15 Platoon, Greece and North Africa. He was wounded the day before the Sidi Rezegh battle, in a probing attack by the Germans. He was taken to hospital for treatment so did not suffer the disaster. He did not know John.

Robert McAdam 17/2/2019