Places

Date: 20 Dec 1985

From: Interviews about Rotorua by Don Stafford

By: Moller, Jacob Randrup, 1891-1991

Reference: OHInt-0470/18

Description: Jack Moller was born in Napier in 1891. Describes how his father came out from Denmark in his late teens, worked in the Forty Mile Bush in the Wairarapa and then in Pahiatua and Palmerston North before moving to Taranaki after his marriage. Mentions he lived in Opunake, Otakio and Eltham. Talks about Chu Chong who started dairying in Taranaki. Recalls leaving school at fourteen and driving a five horse team. Describes departing for World War I on the `Arawa' and heading for Gallipoli. Recalls the landing at Anzac Cove and describes the fighting at Gallipoli in detail. Discusses the high number of casualties. Talks about being shot in both legs, rolling down a bank and being taken to the Australian hospital ship which took the six hundred injured men on board to Alexandria. Comments on the work of the nurses. Recalls some time spent in Egypt before returning to Wellington on the `Tahiti' in 1915. Describes the reception on the train trip home to Hawera, convalescence there and further convalescence at the King George V Hospital in Rotorua. Mentions the Lake House and Palace Hotel and fishing trips. Describes in some detail his involvement in the filming of the `Mutiny on the Bounty' by an Australian film company who hired some of the convalescing soldiers as extras. Mentions the involvement of Tai Mitchell and Ernie Svensen in roles. Recalls the leading lady was Australian Lottie Lyall. Describes filming at Whakarewarewa and Mokoia Island. Recalls a tangi at Whakarewarewa and a visit from the Governor-General. Mentions he was discharged from the army in 1916 and has been a member of the RSA since that date. Interviewer(s) - Don Stafford Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-2866.

Date: 1915

From: Denniston, George Gordon, 1885-1958 :Photograph albums relating to World War I including the Gallipoli campaign

Reference: PA1-o-862

Description: Album of photographs compiled by George Gordon Denniston illustrating a soldier's experience of of the Gallipoli campaign, April to September 1915. Photographer(s) unidentified. Album covers the period when Denniston left New Zealand in April 1915 for Egypt, and his time in a military camp there on the outskirts of Alexandria, from where, it seems, he left for Gallipoli. At the begining there are two photographs of the Samoan Expeditionary Force returning to New Zealand. The rest show soldiers preparing to leave and scenes on board ship which include stabled horses being fed en route, and dead ones being dropped overboard. Shipboard life and activities are well documented. There are many photos of fellow soldiers and some of the Asian crewmen. Ships and islands seen while passing through the Red Sea are depicted. Also some views of streets and people in Suez. Finally Alexandria and camp life. Over half the album is taken up with life and events at the military camp at Sidi Bishr which seems to have been situated near one of the suburban outskirts of Alexandria. This experience has been recorded in some detail, and includes social visits from women, views of French cavalry exercises, care and maintenance of the horses, native funerals and camp life in general. The last photograph inthe album shows a gun in action at Gallipoli. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).