Interview with Joyce Harrison

Interview with Joyce Harrison (nee Morton), born in Wellington in 1927. Talks about her family background, growing up in Karori as an only child with older parents, and being very self reliant. Refers to starting school at six, going to Samuel Marsden school when she was 10 and being 'knocked into shape'. Comments on the headmistress's narrow vision of careers available for women. Mentions the family's bach at Paekakariki.

Talks about the buildup to war when she was 13, 'ripples in the family' from World War I, and her father being called up for air raid warden service. Describes him spending nights on duty on a government building with his tin hat, bucket of sand and gas mask. Mentions her mother had worked in the War Office during World War I. Describes attitudes to England and Empire. Comments on the family's financial situation during the war, her mother sewing clothes and her parents' vegetable garden. Refers to shortages at school and air raid practice. Talks about fear for those leaving and not knowing when it would end. Recalls the departure of the Second Echelon in 1941, watching alone from a hill and sketching. Reflects that adults took the war work of children seriously and this brought home to them the seriousness of the situation. Mentions blackouts, seeing search lights from Wrights Hill, and feeling more protected in Wellington than at Paekakariki. Discusses the American Marines at Parkakariki and a gun emplacement (without gun) being built on their section there. Recalls the sadness and guilt when word came that so many marines had died. Talks about listening to the BBC news at Paekakariki but not following the progress of the war closely in newspapers, and the effects of lists of names. Refers to war news at the cinema and its patriotic tone. Recalls VJ Day, people celebrating in town, cold bitter weather and church bells ringing. Comments on wartime perceptions of the Japanese. Reflects on the effects of war on her as a teenager with restrictions and shortages, and her realisation that with men being killed she might not be able to get married.

Abstracted by - Erin Flanigan

Interviewer(s) - Alison Parr

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-022541 - OHC-022542

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7330.

Photocopy(?) of a black and white photograph of Joyce Harrison (c 1940); printout of a colour photograph of Joyce (2007)

Search dates: 1927 - 2007