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Interview with Hazel Rowe (nee Davis)
Date: 15 Feb 2006
From: Second World War oral history project: Home Front
By: Rowe, Hazel May, 1923-2014
Reference: OHInt-0827-11
Description: Interview with Hazel Rowe (nee Davis), born Christchurch, 23 July 1923. Talks about her father Leonard William Davis, a station master with New Zealand Railways, and her mother Bertha Cecilia (Bessie, nee Bull). Refers to her father, a World War I veteran, being an Air Force reservist in World War II and spending time in the Solomon Islands. Talks about her brother being in the merchant navy during the War, and her future husband in the Air Force. Recalls attending WWSA (Women's War Service Auxiliary) meetings, learning drill and signalling. Discusses enlisting in the Army in 1942 and basic training at a camp at Addington racecourse where she was promoted to drill sergeant after three weeks. Talks about conditions in the camp, food, accommodation and discipline. Outlines beginning officer training at Trentham Army Camp but then being sent to the Melrose school of artillery for training as a range-finder for anti-aircraft gunnery. Refers to being posted to the Mt Pleasant anti-aircraft battery (port hills above Lyttelton) in February 1943. Mentions living conditions at Mt Pleasant, the behaviour of male sergeants towards the women, lectures from the Army Education Welfare Service, and a wooden fence between the men's and women's huts. Refers to the arrival of radar at the battery. Describes being transferred to Burnham Camp to work in WAAC (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps) headquarters. Recalls officers including Mavis Davidson and Vida Jowett, the camp swimming pool, entertainment, and a snow storm in 1945. Discusses the uniform, inspections, mail censorship, and men with venereal disease having to wear yellow patches. Recalls the arrival in Burnham of British ex-prisoners of war who had been in Changi prison camp. Mentions being discharged from the Army in December 1945 and marrying Edward (Ted) Rowe in January 1946. Interviewer(s) - Megan Hutching Accompanying material - printout from Women's Royal Army Corps website (4 p.) including two webpages about Sergeant Davis Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-015246, OHC-015247 Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 2.07 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5528 Abstract Available - transcript(s) available. photocopy of photograph of Sergeant Hazel Davis in uniform Search dates: 1923 - 1939 - 2006 - 1945