AUDIO
Interview with Ben Armstrong
- Date
- 28 Nov 1984
- By
- Armstrong, Benjamin Murray, 1899-1990; Fyfe, Judith Mildred de Visme, 1944-
- Reference
- OHInt-0070/01
- Description
Ben Armstrong recalls family background, childhood memories of Ngamatapouri where parents ran a general store, education, Waitotara Primary School, early employment as a message boy at Waitotara Post Office at the age of 13, Mrs Taylor the Postmistress, lack of training, visits of Head Office inspectors, work clothing, wages, Post and Telegraph Association, move to Waverley as postman in 1914, routines, Post Office examinations, work at Wanganui Telephone Exchange, interest in Morse code, work in the Telegraph Gallery in Wellington 1916, Jock Cameron an instructor at the Gallery.
Describes working at the Ohakune Post Office 1917 as a telegraphist, Mangaweka Post Office 1918, the town, social life, influenza epidemic 1918, peace celebrations 1918; work in telegraph, savings bank, engineers' office at Wanganui 1921-1924, marriage after moving to Levin, post office work in small offices, lack of electricity at Taupo up to the 1940s, work as senior telegraphist at Levin, female employees, Maori employees, changes in equipment, Depression in 1930s, team spirit in Post Office, social life.
Discusses duties during World War II as part of garrison force at Fanning Island, and later duties back in NZ. Recalls work as Postmaster at Taupo Post Office 1946-1954, retirement. Compares Post Office in 1950s to early days. Finishes with stories from his working days.
Venue - Tauranga
Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe
Venue - Ben Armstrong's home at Rimu Street, Tauranga
Accompanying material - Attached to printed abstract a copy of Chapter 4 from the book 'Harvey come quick' by Dorothea Joblin - contains reference to Ben Armstrong
Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-000739 - OHC-000742
Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3.07 Hours and minutes Duration.
Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB-109.
Search dates: 1899 - 1984
- Additional description
Alternative form available:
Listening copies available OHLC-006651 - OHLC-006653, OHLC-006731
- Use/Reproduction
- Public use requires the written permission of the donor and the interviewee Copyright: Held by the donor
- Access restrictions
- Restricted - Content cannot be accessed without permission - Access requires written permission of the donor
- Part of
- New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
- Format
- 4 C60 cassette(s), 1 printed abstract(s), 3.07 Hours and minutes Duration, Oral histories, Equipment used: Marantz Superscope cassette recorder and Shure SM 58 microphones
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Copyright
All Rights ReservedInterview with Ben Armstrong, printed abstract
Date: 28 Nov 1984
From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
Reference: OHA-0109
Description: Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s).
Interview with Ben Armstrong, tape one (side b)
Date: 28 Nov 1984
From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
Reference: OHC-000739B
Description: Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Arrangement: Tape sequence - 1 of 4 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s).
Interview with Ben Armstrong, tape two
Date: 28 Nov 1984
From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
Reference: OHC-000740
Description: Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Arrangement: Tape sequence - 2 of 4 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s).
Interview with Ben Armstrong, tape four
Date: 28 Nov 1984
From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
Reference: OHC-000742
Description: Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Arrangement: Tape sequence - 4 of 4 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s).
Interview with Ben Armstrong, tape three
Date: 28 Nov 1984
From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project
Reference: OHC-000741
Description: Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe Arrangement: Tape sequence - 3 of 4 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s).