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NEW ZEALAND FRIENDS

"MOLLY"

THE INITIALS ON HER DRESS SEEM TO INDICATE THAT HER LAST NAME BEGINS WITH THE LETTER "H".
THE COUPLE SHOWN AT THE LEFT ARE BELIEVED TO BE MOLLY'S PARENTS.

IF YOU RECOGNIZE ANYONE IN THESE WWII PHOTOGRAPHS -- PLEASE CONTACT ME

Jim Hildebrand
j i m @ t a r a w a 1 9 4 3 . c o m

CHRIS CLARK ANDKENNETH HILDEBRAND WITH "MOLLY" AND HER MOTHER IN NEW ZEALAND

Peter and I exchanged many emails discussing what details could be seen in the background of the photograph of my uncle and three others, that was taken on a sidewalk in New Zealand. Peter was finally able to determine that the overhead sign in the background actually did say "TEEDS PHARMACY" although the firm is no longer in business. During the war, Teeds Pharmacy was next to the Bank of New Zealand, which was on Devon St West at the intersection of Brougham St, in New Plymouth. The photographic studio that printed the wartime photograph is also no longer in business, but the address is located a block or so down the street. This is an extraordinary piece of research, since this location is a considerable distance from where my uncle was stationed at Camp Paekakariki, near MacKays Crossing. The facade on the front of the bank has changed, but it is still in business at the same location. Peter had a photograph taken of himself standing in the same location as that shown in my uncle's photgraph. Several versions of this photograph can be seen the composite shown below. We are still searching for the full names of the ladies shown in the wartime photograph. Presently, the first name "Molly" is all that is known for certain.

In the photograph shown below, the wartime picture would have been taken on the sidewalk to the right of the red building, behind the blue car.