#PE77
Ca. 1940s
Oblong Folio (ca. 38 x 24.5 cm or 15 x 9 ½ in). 38 alternating red and white stiff paper leaves (several smaller, five blank). 119 mounted gelatin silver photographs from ca. 17 x 12 cm (6 ½ x 4 ¾ in) to 5.5 x 4.5 cm (2 ¼ x 1 ¾ in); with three gelatin silver photographs loosely inserted from ca. 22.5 x 18 cm (9 x 7 in) to 14 x 8.5 cm (5 ½ x 3 ¼ in). Several images with “Passed by Naval Censor” ink stamps on verso; several images with period pencil or ink captions on verso. Period wood album fastened with metal bolts with title “Memoirs of the South Pacific” and illustrations of rural island life on front cover, “dedicated to my friend Ben Coolidge” and signature reading “Alfonso A. Senatore” on inner front cover. Mild scratching on front and rear covers; several mounts with minor tears on extremities; a few photos mildly faded; one photo repaired with tape; up to four photos previously removed from the album, but overall a very good album of interesting photos.
An interesting collection of 122 gelatin silver photographs of New Caledonia during World War II. New Caledonia was an important Allied base, with Naval Base Noumea constructed to be the base of the US Navy’s South Pacific Fleet in 1942.
Over 20 photographs show what is likely Naval Base Noumea, including ships beached and being unloaded, barracks, structures under construction, the carpentry shop, and construction sites with large spools of wire. One photograph is a group portrait of navy servicemen, identified in the caption on verso by their last names. Another photograph shows a parade of servicemen “on the day the boys received decorations” marching through a town (buildings in the background read “United Service Restaurant” and “O. E. Nelson Ltd.”). One large photograph shows three unnamed officers.
Over 25 photographs in the album show indigenous New Caledonians (likely Kanaks) and snapshots of their lives. They include portraits of families, girls wearing traditional dress, farming scenes, and street scenes (oxen-drawn cart, man carrying firewood). Several images show landscapes of New Caledonia.
Other photographs are snapshots of the compiler and his friends.
Overall, an interesting collection of photographs showing military activities on New Caledonia during World War II.
