A Capital Suburb: Pipitea Thorndon
The American Invasion
John Pascoe, United States Marines at lunch, Anderson Park, Thorndon, Wellington, 26 January 1943, Black and white original negative, Photographic Archive, Alexander Turnbull Library, Reference: 1/4-000155-F
The American Invasion
When war broke out in 1939 Thorndon, along with the rest of New Zealand, prepared for invasion. Parliament grounds and the sides of the gully under the Hobson Street Bridge (now the motorway) were excavated for air raid shelters.
In the event, the invasion that Wellington experienced was an American one. As the war spread into the Pacific, the decision was made to send United States Marines to New Zealand to strengthen its defences.
The USS Wakefield arrived in Wellington harbour on 14 June 1942. The Cecil Hotel on the corner of Molesworth Street and Lambton Quay was commandeered as a club for United States Marines. This 1943 photograph shows US Marines having lunch in their barracks at Anderson Park, which was been converted to a camp and hospital for the Americans' use. During these years Wingate Street (now vanished under the courtyards to the side of the National Library) was noted for its 'houses of ill repute'.
You can read more about the 'American invasion' on the New Zealand History website
US forces in New Zealand – NZ History website
The permission of the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa must be obtained before any reuse of this image.
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| Collection | Photographic Archive, Alexander Turnbull Library |
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