Struan's War - Battlegrounds, Recreation and Sightseeing in North Africa, 1941-1944, in the Photographs and Diaries of New Zealand Division Gunner Struan MacGibbon

Ngaio Press, 2001. Corners slightly dog-earred.

Extraordinary because not only is it personal pictures of the war, but also excerpts from his diary about the time. As is reflective of attitudes at this time he refers to the locals generally as 'wogs' - but the diaries have a great deal of information which are about life in the army of North Africa - including recreation, weather, and even some manoeuvres in sketch form.This is a very personal account of the war from 1941-44 - you won't see pictures of bodies or battles- this is all about the war which they experienced, the people, the recreation, the visits to the holy land even. Ian Macgibbon, who has edited this book, has written a great deal on New Zealand military history and he has edited this judiciously to bring this part of the war alive. A nice addition to anyone interested in the war in Africa.