Places

Date: 19 Dec 1984

From: New Zealand Post Office Oral History Project

By: Norriss, Lewis Edward, 1895-1992

Reference: OHInt-0070/12

Description: Lew Norriss describes his family background, childhood, education, early work in bookbinding section of Nelson Evening Mail, the town of Nelson ca 1908, work as a message boy at the Port of Nelson in 1909, postmaster - Clem Eggleton, post office building, mail boats, the sinking of the ship 'Kowhai', duties, salary, the local policeman, the publican at the Pier Hotel, working conditions, uniform, work as postal messenger in the mailroom at Nelson Post Office ca 1911, other staff, the watersiders' strike in 1913, work as telegraph cadet at Nelson Post Office in 1913, speed of sending morse, different styles of sending which could be hard or easy to read. Recalls service in France during World War I, the scene at the Somme in 1916, being wounded and the amputation of his leg, being sent to wireless school at Wimbledon, England, becoming an instructor, return to New Zealand in 1918, Armistice Day in Nelson, work as telegraphist at Taihape Post Office 1919-1929, difficulty in settling down, marriage to Alice Woolhouse. Describes the introduction of motor registration, differences in quad and duplex sets, local identities in Taihape in the 1920s, effect of the Depression in 1930s, sealing of mail bags, work as postmaster at Paraparaumu Post Office in early 1930s, the staff, hours, mail delivery. Describes work as supervisor of telegraph at Whakatane Post Office in 1930s, details of duties, refers to Tim Cummings who was in charge of police station, post office security, in charge of signals in the Home Guard during World War II, duties as postmaster at Kilbirnie Post Office, Wellington in 1940s, relationship with inspectors, retirement. Access Contact - See oral history librarian Venue - Raumati Interviewer(s) - Hugo Manson Venue - Lew Norriss's home at Raumati in Wellington Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-000801 - OHC-000803 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.28 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 123. Black and white photographs as follows:. Lew Norriss, ca 1917. Lew Norriss in group photograph of staff at telegraph office, Nelson in 1919. Lew Norriss and counter staff at Kilbirnie Post Office in 1944. Lew Norriss at opening of Paraparaumu Automatic Telephone Exchange, undated Search dates: 1895 - 1984

Date: 3 Jul 1989 - 03 Jul 1989

From: World War I Oral History Archive

By: Jamieson, William, 1894-1994

Reference: OHInt-0006/43

Description: Gives family background and details of childhood in Wellington and on farm at Dalefield near Carterton. Recalls carpentry jobs in Masterton building houses and at Hamilton making cheese vats before his enlistment in New Zealand Field Artillery and training at Featherston. Describes his training and voyage to Europe in the 'Pakeha', fire on board after departure, ports of call at Sydney, Capetown. Details of training camp at Chadderton, Ewshot, Etaples with reference to routine of the 'bull ring'. Recalls Dickiebusch camp, Ypres, Mailly Maillet, Bapaume, Le Quesnoy, describes German 'pill box'. Wounded and returned to England to recuperate at Dollis Hill. Describes war conditions, went through all the battles of the second Somme 1918, recreation leave in London and Glasgow. Recalls fellow soldiers, Holder, Mulligan, Lockhart, Nees and Henderson. Returned to New Zealand via Newport News (United States) in 1919. Describes his experience with Patriotic Society and with RSA, details of his carpentry and building jobs since World War I. Refers to World War II job building Japanese prisoner of war accommodation at Featherston and an incident with Japanese prisoners of war. Venue - Carterton Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton Interviewer(s) - Nicholas Boyack Venue - Mr Jamieson's home at 21 Wyndham Street, Carterton Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 4 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 485. Black and white photographs:-. Bill Jamieson, undated. Bill Jamieson [in army uniform], undated

Date: 9 Oct 1989 - 09 Oct 1989

From: World War I Oral History Archive

By: Lawrence, Charles George, 1897-1991

Reference: OHInt-0006/47

Description: Family background, death of father in 1901, life with grandmother on West Coast, how he became shellshocked, work on West Coast, attitude on West Coast to territorials, military. Enlistment, training at Trentham and Featherston, left with 17th Reinforcements in 1916, Sling Camp, attitude to British instructors, impression of United Kingdom, food at Sling Camp and training, Etaples, One Blanket Hill, Messines, Ploegsteert Wood, Passchendaele, experience as a sniper, refusal to kill German, infantry hit by own artillery shelling at Passchendaele, sniping incidents, Nimot, General Godley, Braithwaite, fighting during Second Battle of the Somme, German pill boxes and wounded by shell in 1918. Recalls American hospital at Le Havre, pleurisy, trench feet, Brockenhurst Hospital, convalescent home at Torquay, food in France, views on French, prostitutes, venereal disease, Ettie Rout, entertainment companies, two-up, YMCA, relationship with officers, lice, self inflicted wounds, executions, suicides, conscription, gas attacks, return to New Zealand, war brides, career since war, health, rehabilitation, opinion of RSA, drunkeness, job as a frameworker, territorials, bringing German rifles back to New Zealand, home guard (Fort Dorset during World War II). Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton Interviewer(s) - Nicholas Boyack Venue - Mr Lawrence's home at 45 Britannia street, Petone Accompanying material - Copy of newspaper article 'No regrets - 65 years together', Evening Post, 21/4/1988 Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002684 - OHC-002686 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Physical Description: Textual files Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 489, OHDL-000334. Black and white photograph of Charlie Lawrence, 1989

Date: 4 Jul 1989 - 04 Jul 1989

From: World War I Oral History Archive

By: Morriss, William Murray, 1897-1992

Reference: OHInt-0006/58

Description: Describes family background, father first settler around Eketahuna, Rongokokako School, details of farm work, Cadets, patriotism, Scandinavian settlers, enlistment under age, reaction of parents, Trentham and Featherston Camps, the 'send-off', dances at Rongo Hall, transport on 'Ararima', Capetown, racism in South Africa, Sierra Leone. Arrival at Sling Camp, English civiliams, prostitution, Les Waterish, training as a signaller, talking to Germans in Ploegsteert Wood, training and living conditions at Sling Camp, Etaples, 21st birthday in Glasgow, Pont de Nieppe, why he missed Passchendaele, trench feet, treatment and later post-war trouble, Wattle Dump, the Second Somme, detailed description of killing, being wounded, dressing station at the Salvation Army, recovery at Walton-on-Thames, bayonetting Germans, sees Nicholas win a Victoria Cross, gas, lice, and rats. Recalls two-up, rum, singing, change in attitude to religion, UK troops, cakes from New Zealand, Private Nimot, shell shock, post war recovery at Hanmer Hospital, executions, English brides, T E Y Seddon, heart ailment, Sling riot, return to New Zealand in 1919, work for farmers near Sling Camp in UK. Describes in detail getting rehabilitation farm and shell shock treatment in 1921, treatment at Hanmer Hospital, condition of farm, formation of RSA in Eketahuna, surviving the 1930s depression, what he told civilians about the war. Venue - Eketahuna Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton Interviewer(s) - Nicholas Boyack Venue - At Murray Morriss' home at Rongokokako, R.D.2, Eketahuna Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 500. Black and white photographs:-. Murray Morriss, 1989. Murray Morriss and his sister, undated [Murray in army uniform]

Date: 19 and 22 Oct 1988 - 19 Oct 1988 - 22 Oct 1988

From: World War I Oral History Archive

By: Wysocki, Claude Shennan, 1896-1990

Reference: OHInt-0006/84

Description: Describes family background, emigration of his father's family to New Zealand and settlement in Marton and Dannevirke. Describes employment of his father and uncles, and his own job with 'Dannevirke Bush Advocate', newspapers in Dannevirke, news of outbreak of war, Cadets, Territorials, enlistment, training at Trentham with Rifle Brigade, final leave, sailed on 'Ulimaroa' ca 1917. Discusses his brothers' career in the army, ports of call - Sierra Leone and Capetown. Venereal disease, prostitution in London, sick parades, food on transport, disorganisation of the army, Brocton Camp, further stories on army disorganisation, training at Brocton, training as grenade thrower. Recalls transport to France, Second Battle of the Somme, Mailly Maillet, Valenciennes, Bapaume, effect of sniper fire, wounded by shrapnel, Le Quesnoy, recalls Armistice, shell shock, self inflicted wounds, drinking, 'nosegay' tobacco, rats, saluting, Sling Camp riot at Larkhill, relations with Chinese labour crew, morale of New Zealand troops in 1918, gambling and two-up, chaplains, return to New Zealand. Describes return to Dannevirke, gratuity, marriage, career in newspapers post war, commercial printing, detailed views on RSA and Anzac Day parades, future of RSA, Rifle Brigade reunions. Venue - Auckland Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton Interviewer(s) - Nicholas Boyack Venue - Mr Wysocki's daughter's home at Murrays Bay, Auckland Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002793 - OHC-002795 Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration. Physical Description: Textual file Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 526, OHDL-000358. Black and white photograph of Claude Wysocki, 1988