vandilay
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2005
- Messages
- 1,521
Hi ,
Here is an article I thought some of you may be interested in from a local paper, about a riot between NZ and US serviceman in 1943.[a lot of US serviceman where baced here before heading to the pacific]It makes you wonder how much tension existed between the various allies.
The battle of Manners street Wellington 1943
This Riot,which has passed into wellington legend as "'the battle of manners street''took place on the evening of sat 3 rd april 1943.
It began at the allied services club in manners street when,it is alleged serviceman from the southern united states refused to let some maori serviceman drink in the club.When the americans removed their army service belts to emphasise their point of view,New zealand service man joined in and the 'battle'' spread into the streets.
American military police who arrived to restore order,took sides and used their batons.The fighting spread to the a.n.a club in willis street,where belts and knives where used,and into cuba street.It has been estimated that over 1000 american and New Zealand ,troops where involved,aswell as hundreds of civilians.The battle lasted for about 4 hours before order was restored by the civil police.Many american soldiers were injured during this affray and at least 2 were killed.The battle of manners street was the ugliest in New Zealand history.
[owing to wartime censorship,no reference appeared in newspapers at the time]
Here is an article I thought some of you may be interested in from a local paper, about a riot between NZ and US serviceman in 1943.[a lot of US serviceman where baced here before heading to the pacific]It makes you wonder how much tension existed between the various allies.
The battle of Manners street Wellington 1943
This Riot,which has passed into wellington legend as "'the battle of manners street''took place on the evening of sat 3 rd april 1943.
It began at the allied services club in manners street when,it is alleged serviceman from the southern united states refused to let some maori serviceman drink in the club.When the americans removed their army service belts to emphasise their point of view,New zealand service man joined in and the 'battle'' spread into the streets.
American military police who arrived to restore order,took sides and used their batons.The fighting spread to the a.n.a club in willis street,where belts and knives where used,and into cuba street.It has been estimated that over 1000 american and New Zealand ,troops where involved,aswell as hundreds of civilians.The battle lasted for about 4 hours before order was restored by the civil police.Many american soldiers were injured during this affray and at least 2 were killed.The battle of manners street was the ugliest in New Zealand history.
[owing to wartime censorship,no reference appeared in newspapers at the time]
