Places

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.

Date: 1982-1984 - 15 Jul 1995 - 01 Jan 1982

From: Hawkes Bay oral history project

By: Paton, Robert, 1929-1995

Reference: OHInt-0438-11

Description: The first tape is Robert Paton talking without an interviewer. Robert Paton was born in Ferryden, Scotland in 1929. Recalls his mother's wedding to his stepfather, not knowing what to call his stepfather and feelings towards him. Talks about his half brothers and sisters who were christened although he was not, playing outside, fishing, holiday jobs, poverty in the area, some Christmases without presents, his enthusiasm for reading, school and being educated only enough to become a worker. Recalls Boys Brigade, Sunday School and Church. Recalls his peers were mainly in the building industry. Talks about leaving school in 1943 and a variety of jobs until starting his apprenticeship as a bricklayer in 1945. Recalls working in the Orkney Islands, Inverness and the Hebrides. Mentions World War II. Discusses alcohol, and joining the Labour Party. Talks about finishing his apprenticeship in 1950, National Service for two years and emigrating to New Zealand in 1954. Describes his free passage under the immigration scheme, meeting Joyce Molland on the `Captain Cook', the egalitarianism of NZ society, starting a business in Featherston and the attitude of contractors and workers. Recalls marrying in 1956 and having children Murray and Kirsty. Comments on Featherston being a good place to bring up children. Describes involvement in Play Centre, Home and School, Jaycees, the Labour Party, the Wairarapa Football Association, the Featherston Chronicle and the Drama Group. Describes moving to Plimmerton, building an Ian Athfield designed home in Paremata and wife Joyce's work. Recalls that people left for Australia in 1975-1976 because of the economic situation and the Muldoon government. Interviewer(s) - Joyce Paton Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2142. Photograph of Robert Paton in 1976 Search dates: 1929 - 1995

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: 15 -31 Jan 1992 - 15 Jan 1992 - 31 Jan 1992

From: Women in World War II Part I

By: Foss, Doreen, 1925-

Reference: OHInt-0060/19

Description: Doreen Foss was born in Featherston on 13 March 1925. Talks about the death of her mother when she was ten, a number of housekeepers taking care of the family and her father's remarriage. Recalls her schooling, leaving to become a housemaid, an earthquake, working at the Karitane Hospital and life in Wellington. Describes being manpowered into the land army, working on a dairy farm, and getting cow pox. Mentions an instance of sexual harassment. Recalls working on a pig farm near the Japanese prisoner of war camp at Featherston and comments on the camp. Talks about the war effort in the Featherston district, fundraising, farewell dances and other dances, blackouts, rationing and coupons. Recalls working for the Bidwill family till her marriage to Jim Foss. Describes the birth of a son and carrying on as a working mother. Comments on attitudes to this and to class. Talks about her two jobs, pumping petrol at the service station during the day and pumping beer at the Royal Hotel at night. Describes the operation of the dairy which they built and called the Signal Box Dairy in Featherston. Venue - Featherston : 1992 Interviewer(s) - Cathy Casey Venue - Featherston Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004723; OHC-004724; OHC-004725; OHC-004726 Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 836.

Date: 8 July 1992 - 08 Jul 1992

By: Grenfell, Norman Wilfrid, 1908-2001; Casey, Cathy, 1957-

Reference: OHColl-0075/1

Description: Norman Wilfred (Wilfrid ?) Grenfell born Wellington 1908. Recalls life as a clerk before the outbreak of World War II. Gives reasons for grading because of flat feet. Became 2nd Lieutenant and was attached to 75th Light Brigade and was involved in training men. Mentions threat of Japanese landing. Recalls being transferred to Featherston Camp and journey which took 2 hours and 40 mins by train from Wellington. Reference to Charlie Gardiner. Describes officers mess and recalls barbed wire and first impressions of Featherston. Discusses the Japanese prisoners held at Trentham. Recalls not being there during the riot - arrived months later but was responsible for seeing that blood stained clothing was burned. Recalls hearing reactions of those who were at the camp during riot and the efforts he made to find out what happened to bodies and describes information received. Mentions some Japanese prisoners - Nakiama (no 1 boy), Adachi (a sub Lieutenant) and Oby (Obi). Describes Saturday morning parade when 100 Japanese prisoners marched down Main St, Featherston and type of work done by prisoners. Talks about prisoners escapes. Describes artefacts which he picked up. Reference to canes, card sticks and mahjong set. Mentions Court of Inquiry held into incident at Featherston and keeps a transcript of it. Refers to Keith Robertson who gave evidence at inquiry. Recalls end of war and Japanese marching out with reference to Sandy Ashton (an interrogater). Describes social life at the time and the hospitality received from the Donald family who were in the Wairarapa since 1840 and ran a dairy farm - Reference to Aunt Bessy and import of first butter making machine. Recalls meeting wife and marriage. Other topics covered include: Featherston after departure; building of tunnel; reverting back to civilian life and intervening 50 years. Fred Howell of Heritage Featherston sat in on interview but didn't take part except to comment when Norman was showing artefacts. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Featherston Abstracted by - Gabrielle McLaughlin Interviewer(s) - Cathy Casey Venue - 112 Fitzherbert St, Featherston Accompanying material - Newspaper clippings from Wairarapa Times Age, of Editorial Features run by Cathy Casey on Featherston Camp prisoners during World War II. Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004986-004987; OHLC-001254-001255 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1. 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB-0963. Search dates: 1908 - 1992