Yes, he had local sherpas (I think that's how you spell it) as guides.  As I
recall it was around 1953 but will stand corrected on the year.
 
Looked up some more details and found his name is spelt with two l's.  An old
copy of Encyclopaedia Britannica has him " Born on July 20, 1919, at Auckland,
and by profession an apiarist".
 
Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA