Stokes, Bertram Oliver, 1896-1994

Date: June 1916, July 1916

By: Boyack, Nicholas John, 1961-

Reference: PAColl-1256

Description: Photograph of a wedding Family photograph Photographs relating to World War One Quantity: 8 photocopy/ies in one envelope.

Date: 13 Sept 1988 - 13 Sep 1988

From: World War I Oral History Archive

By: Stokes, Bertram Oliver, 1896-1994

Reference: OHInt-0006/75

Description: Recalls family background, immigration of father and mother to New Zealand (Dunedin), education in Wellington, early employment, the YMCA Cadets and competitions, Captain Ateo Frandi, Territorials (Garrison Artillery), Fort Dorset, enlistment, Featherston Camp, reaction of family, Reg Blackburn, sailed with 15th Reinforcements on 'Ulimaroa', Capetown, race relations, arrival in United Kingdom, Sling Camp and Etaples, training, arrival at Front - Jan 1917 with 13th Battery, duties as a driver (horses), describes Messines and Hill 63, German resistance, how his life was saved by a pocket book. Recalls leave in Edinburgh and London, prostitution, venereal disease in UK and Germany. Describes deaths at Passchendaele in his battery, the mud, unofficial truces, Maori Pioneer Battalion, views on Haig and Passchendaele, songs, Westhoek Ridge, General Foch, the Armistice, the Army of Occupation, impressions of Germany and German civilians, billets, lice, sanitation, trench feet, looting, drunkeness, discipline, Sling Camp riots - 1919, trench raids, attitude to officers, Major Tommy Farr, attitude to French. Discusses return to New Zealand on 'Northumberland', prohibition vote, return to work, effect of war, influence of Methodist Church, marriage, post war career, attitude to RSA and Anzac Day, views on rehabilitation, visits to Europe and former battle sites. Venue - Auckland Other - Textual file Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton Interviewer(s) - Nicholas Boyack Venue - Mr Stokes' home at 15 Carnavon Avenue, Glendowie, Auckland Accompanying material - Copy of extract from Bert Stokes' diary, 1917; Copy of 'Bloodbath veterans meet again', Auckland Star, 12/10/1988; a copy of 'A return to Passchendaele', Oliver Riddell, unknown source and date - two page article looking at incidents from the diary of Bert Stokes; copy of 'NZ veteran, 92, back in Flanders', Tony Verdon, Evening Post, 15/7/1987; copy of 'Survivors of Passchendaele in Glendowie Probus Club', Glyn Filer, Probus News, Autumn, undated. Accompanying material - OHA-0517/4 - Copy of 'Chapter two: "I go to war" - The years of World War One', from the reminiscences of Bertram Stokes; 78 pages. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002766 - OHC-002770 Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s) in three parts. 1 Electronic document(s) - summary. 1 interview(s). 4.20 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available AB 517/1 - 3, OHDL-000359 (summary only). Black and white photographs:-. Bert Stokes, Alex Craig, Vic Martin, undated. Bert Stokes and writing kit, undated. Gunner Bert Stokes, undated. Bert Stokes at Featherston Camp, June 1916. Bert Stokes having a haircut at Featherston, undated. Group of soldiers including Bert Stokes at Featherston Camp, undated. The Stokes family, undated [Bert Stokes as a child]

Date: [1868-1920], [1970-1980]

From: Wesley Methodist Church (Taranaki Street, Wellington) : Records

Reference: MS-Papers-5691-4

Description: Comprises correspondence re aspects of church administration, especially relating to land purchase, contracts, accounts and lease. Also comprises Webb Street Primitive Methodist Church Mutual Improvement Society syllabus (1884-1885); Wellington Methodist Central Mission Order of service (1918) and Aro St Methodist Sunday School committee minutes (1916-1920) (incomplete), draft chronology of the Wesleyan Day School, including teachers in charge, brief bibliography and available archives and some reminiscences of Wesley Church on its centenary in 1980 by B O Stokes. Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: [1868-1920], [1970-1980]

From: Wesley Methodist Church (Taranaki Street, Wellington) : Records

Reference: MS-Papers-5691-2

Description: Comprises correspondence re aspects of church administration, especially relating to land purchase, contracts, accounts and leases. Also comprises Webb Street Primitive Methodist Church Mutual Improvement Society syllabus (1884-1885); Wellington Methodist Central Mission Order of service (1918) and Aro St Methodist Sunday School Committee minutes (1916-1920) (incomplete), draft chronology of the Wesleyan Day School, including teachers in charge, brief bibliography and available archives and some reminiscences of Wesley Church on its centenary in 1980 by B O Stokes Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1879, 1914, 1916-1919, 1921

By: Stokes, Bertram Oliver, 1896-1994

Reference: MS-Group-1815

Description: Papers comprise diaries, 1917-1918, and letters. The letters are mainly letters written by Stokes to his parents and other members of his family while he was on active service. Also included is a small quantity of inward correspondence to Stokes and his parents from friends and relatives and military and other ephemera relating to Stokes' war service. Stokes was educated in Wellington and joined the firm of John Chambers and Sons in 1912. In 1916 he was called up for military service and served in France and Belgium as a gunner in 13 Battery, New Zealand Field Artillery. He saw action at Ypres, Messines, Passchendale and the Somme. After several months with the Army of Occupation in Germany Stokes returned to New Zealand and worked for John Chambers until his retirement in 1958. Quantity: 28 folder(s). 0.46 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holographs, mss, typescripts and printed matter Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donated by Mr B O Stokes, Auckland, 1993