From Ruatoria to Cairo..

Around 1.5 million people were attempting to live in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, which was internationally swelled during the desert war in response to the Axis forces aggression.  With the Kiwis home of Maadi camp some 20 kilometres away, leave for our boys in Cairo would certainly open their eyes in numerous ways and for some.. never to be the same..

This magnificent sepia image taken in 1942 by a 2nd NZEF member gives a genuine feel as to the adjustments our loved boys had to endure..With New Zealands population at that time totalling 1.5 million, wartime certainly carried with it a wide range of adventures.