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Date: 20 Oct 2009

From: MOTAT Telecommunications oral history project

By: Jury, Trevor Evered, 1926-

Reference: OHInt-1004-04

Description: Interview with Trevor Jury, born in Featherston in 1926. Outlines his family background and refers to starting work as a message boy at the Featherston Post Office when he was 14. Talks about his duties, and comments that the message boys did not deliver the casualty telegrams during the War. Mentions being sent to telegraph school in Wellington in 1942. Refers to learning to send and receive Morse code and having to achieve 22 words per minute. Recalls the June 1942 Wairarapa earthquake while he was in Wellington, the Herd Street post office building being flooded, and doing fire watch after the earthquake. Mentions joining the Home Guard and trying to set up a Morse light signal system in the Featherston area. Recalls seeing Japanese prisoners of war being marched to the prison camp, hearing about the riot at the camp, and the court of enquiry held at the Featherston court house. Discusses his work as a telegraphist and other duties at the Featherston Post Office when he returned from Wellington in 1942, working from temporary premises until a new post office was built. Recalls setting up Morse telephone lines each morning, and refers to Creed machines [teleprinters?] which were mainly operated by women. Comments on the difficulty of sending weather reports by telegram because numbers had up to six characters whereas letters had four. Recalls working night shifts in the telephone exchange. Mentions postmaster Jack Hislop and librarian Mrs Halpin who encouraged him to continue his education, and studying for University Entrance. Recalls the housing shortage after the War. Refers to low wages in the post office and difficulty of getting promotions. Recalls the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and being the Post Office staff member at Cross Creek station when the Queen and Prince Philip travelled to the Wairarapa on the Rimutaka incline railway. Discusses leaving the post office in 1955 and working for NIMU Insurance in Wellington as an insurance assessor. Mentions being active in the New Zealand Institute of Management and the Insurance Institute. Interviewer(s) - Megan Hutching Quantity: 1 digital sound recording(s). 2 Electronic document(s) (abstract). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 1.45 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHDL-001714, OHA-7521. Search dates: 1926 - 1940 - 2009 - 1955 Processing information: Description created from item label/housing. Item has not been previewed as part of processing.