A Maori Carving in Libya..

Various remnants were left behind by forces that were pursued and retreated by Rommel and his Axis forces over the course of the "backwards and forwards" North African campaign. Once a certain area was cleared the Allied RAF Desert force could establish itself behind the advancing Allied mobile forces on the ground, which of course included our own 2NZEF.

Here, more than likely at the Sirte Desert Air Force airfield in Libya some rather excited Kiwi RNZAF boys and i would hazard a guess and say the young Corporal on the left is of NZ Maori decent and was especially excited with the find..or moreover carved this himself.

 A rare commodity in the desert - a tree!

Photo taken 30 September 1943.