Story: Personal grooming

Prisoner-of-war beards, 1941 (3rd of 4)

Prisoner-of-war beards, 1941

In the mid-20th century men were generally beardless, and the armed forces particularly emphasised the clean-shaven look. These two New Zealand soldiers, released after five weeks as prisoners of war in Libya in 1941, finger the beards they grew while in captivity.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, War History Collection (DA-01514)
Reference: DA-02347B
Photograph by M. D. Elias

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Bronwyn Dalley, 'Personal grooming - Men’s hair', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/38750/prisoner-of-war-beards-1941 (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Bronwyn Dalley, published 5 Sep 2013