Twelve thousand New Zealand Japan immediately after the Second World War. This book by Alison Parr records memories from those we know as ‘J Force’.
Based on revealing interviews with soldiers, airmen, nurses and members of the New Zealand Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, The Occupiers explores Kiwi life in the former enemy territory between 1946 and 1948.
Veterans recall the horror of witnessing the devastated city of Hiroshima
Some also reflect on shedding their intense wartime hostility and distrust to gain a surprising new understanding of the Japanese – achieved as they worked and lived alongside the ordinary people of the occupied land.
Unexpected, honest, touching and illustrated with archival photographs, many previously unpublished, these stories uncover a little-known but fascinating aspect of New Zealand
About the author:
Alison Parr is Senior Oral Historian at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. In her time with the Ministry Alison has been Master of Ceremonies for the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Gallipoli and the unveiling of the New Zealand Memorial in London New Zealand ’s Unknown Warrior home from France , and with Ian Johnston provided the commentary for the live television coverage of the event in Wellington
She is a former broadcasting journalist and worked for more than
25 years in radio and television. In that time she fronted both current affairs and arts programmes and for more than two years hosted Sunday Morning on National Radio. She won a World Gold Medal for interviewing at the New York Festivals International Radio Awards. She is the author of four books based on oral history, including Home: Civilian New Zealanders Remember the Second World War.
RRP $44.99 | PENGUIN GROUP (NZ)