Sir John White : witness to history : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History at Massey University, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand
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Date
2016
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Massey University
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Abstract
Many contributions have been made to New Zealand’s literary record of the
Second World War, from the comprehensive War History Series that recorded each
action and every unit of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force through to the
memoirs of lowly contributors down the ranks. Everyone saw the war through
different eyes. While much has been written, so there is much still to be understood
about New Zealand’s contribution to the defeat of the forces of fascism and Nazism
between 1939-1945. By far the majority of those who served the nation declined to
talk, even to their families, about their experiences, preferring to keep them bottled
up, possibly as a result of what they saw, memories of lost comrades or believing nonparticipants
would not understand. Debate, controversy and study have gone into
many of the writings from the war and into the actions in which New Zealanders were
involved.
Typical of many of those who largely decided to retain their own counsel, a
not inappropriate description given his later status, was John White. He started the
war as a second-lieutenant and ended as a Major. He began his working life as a
solicitor and ended as a Supreme Court Judge, having also served as Solicitor-
General. This thesis largely relates to his unique role, as personal assistant to the
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd New Zealand Division, General
Bernard Freyberg, a figure of immense stature in New Zealand history.
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White, John, Freyberg, Bernard Cyril, Baron, New Zealand. Army. Division, 2nd, World War, 1939-1945, History, Biography, New Zealand, Research Subject Categories::HUMANITIES and RELIGION::History and philosophy subjects::History subjects::History