Work on Africa display starts

Ruapehu Bulletin, 8 September 1992, Page 5

Work on Africa display starts

By

Jan

Savell

On 23 October 1942 the 8th Army (which included the 2nd New Zealand Division) attacked the Geimans at E1 Alamein. The attack was successful under the leadership of General Montgomery and it was the start of an advance which pushed the Germans westwards across the desert of North Africa. On the same day fifty years later a North Africa display will open at the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum. Hours of work have already been done on planning the exhibition and the display team are now in the process of getting the individual items ready. Authenticity is very

important to the soldiers involved in preparing the display. "It has got to be as realistic as possible" said Corporal Roger Bidois, Curator for Accoutrements. His job involves collecting

items of personal equipment other than weapons or clothes. For the display he will create an authentic tent from the North Africa campaign, webbing and even World War Two boots. A Long Range Desert

Group (LRDG) vehicle has been loaned to the museum and will form the centre piece for the display. Soldiers are manufacturing upholstery for the vehicle, and altering any parts that are not original ones. "We're changing an axle

because the one on the LRDG wasn't genuine. In fact we're even putting in a different gearbox so that the gear sticks coming out of the floor will be the right ones," said Sgt Mark Priestly, Technology Curator for the Museum.