About this Item
Reminders of the war in the Pacific, particularly in the New Guinea/Solomon Islands area, are recorded photographically here, taken 25 yars after the conflict against Japan had ended. These relics were widespread and evident through the combat areas, representing all aspects of the Pacific war --- partly submerged in the sea, becoming overgrown by the jungle, set aside to recall the ferocity of war, which the wreckge made evident. The book is a co-operative effort by Robert Howlett (text) and photographer Bruce Adams. Locations where the majority of photographs were taken include New Guinea, Lae and Salamaua, Papua, the Solomon Islands, the Gilbert Island and Darwin, with a section devoted to the "Coastwatchers." In addition to the extensive collection of combat reminders--- such as planes, ships, tranks, coastal defences, wrecked harbours and military instillations --- visual attention is also drawn to the civic recovery in an area of the globe that previous to WWII had minimal experience of modern war. This was to be their introduction to the "industrial' age. The major impact of ":Battleground." is its visual presentation, but this is well supported by the text material which effectively summarises cause and effect for this "battle ground." (An interesting adjunct to the book is the inclusion of a NZ Government issue of a 1943 Solomon Islands area map, approx 70 cm by 50 cm, with a nuimber of pencilled apparant flight paths with various notes adjacent those lines. On the map reverse are two pencil passages which are difficult to decipher. This map was included in the book, loosely enclosed, at the time of purchase.) First edition from Reeds, 223 pages, illustrated throughout with colour and b/w relic photographs, many double page spreads, interspersed with attractive civilian scenes conveying post-war recovey progress, colour tone end-paper theatre maps. Green cloth hard covers with red spine titles are VG+, ditto the text block, no inscriptions. A heavy item at almost 1.3kg unpacked; would require additional postage for overseas delivery.
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