Landing Ships Under Fire, Treasury Island, 1943, by Russell Clark (10315928144)

New Zealanders from 8 Brigade, 3rd New Zealand Division, helped their American allies clear Mono Island of its Japanese defenders, landing on the island on 27 October 1943. While New Zealand’s effort in the Second World War was largely focused on fighting in the Northern Hemisphere, NZ also played a significant role in the Pacific War against the Japanese. An important part of this campaign was the struggle for control of the Treasury Islands, a small group of islands to the south of Bougainville in the Solomon Islands On 16 October orders were received from 1 US Marine Amphibious Corps to seize and hold Mono and Stirling Islands, in order to establish a long-range radar station on Mono. The New Zealanders landed on Mono Island at approximately 6.25 a.m. on 27 October. They immediately came under enemy machine-gun fire, including from Cummings Point on nearby Stirling Island.

The landing enjoyed ‘excellent naval and air support’ and the New Zealand and American forces managed to establish a beach-head. By the end of the day 21 New Zealanders had been killed and 70 wounded. American units under the brigade’s command suffered nine killed and 15 wounded. Although the Japanese defenders were outnumbered, Mono’s geography afforded them some protection. The island rose steeply from the sea to a cone a little over 300 m high, and its dense forest cover concealed many caves in which the enemy was able to hide. Flushing Japanese soldiers out of their concealed positions was a slow and difficult task which took days to accomplish. By 12 November 8 Brigade Group had killed 205 Japanese and taken eight prisoners. New Zealand casualties had risen to 40 killed and 145 wounded.

The War Art displayed here [Landing ships under fire, Treasury Island (3rd NZ Division), 27 October 1943] was painted by Russell Clark. Russell Stuart Cedric Clark was an Official War Artist during the latter stages of the Second World War, his works depicting the war in the Pacific theatre where he was serving. In March 1942, Clark approached Prime Minister Peter Fraser offering his services as a war artist. He was called up for military service in November 1942, but was assigned to a vehicle depot as a sign writer. It was not until 1944 that he was appointed an Official War Artist, and in February of that year he joined the 3rd New Zealand Division in Pacific theatre as a temporary second lieutenant. He remained in the Pacific (he spent most of his time in the Solomon Islands) until November 1944, when he returned to Wellington and was assigned to Army Education and Welfare Service (AEWS) until he was discharged in July 1946.

This sketch as well as other items from the Archives New Zealand War Art Collection can be viewed online at the following link - warart.archives.govt.nz/

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