Interview with Ben Armstrong

Ben Armstrong recalls family background, childhood memories of Ngamatapouri where parents ran a general store, education, Waitotara Primary School, early employment as a message boy at Waitotara Post Office at the age of 13, Mrs Taylor the Postmistress, lack of training, visits of Head Office inspectors, work clothing, wages, Post and Telegraph Association, move to Waverley as postman in 1914, routines, Post Office examinations, work at Wanganui Telephone Exchange, interest in Morse code, work in the Telegraph Gallery in Wellington 1916, Jock Cameron an instructor at the Gallery.

Describes working at the Ohakune Post Office 1917 as a telegraphist, Mangaweka Post Office 1918, the town, social life, influenza epidemic 1918, peace celebrations 1918; work in telegraph, savings bank, engineers' office at Wanganui 1921-1924, marriage after moving to Levin, post office work in small offices, lack of electricity at Taupo up to the 1940s, work as senior telegraphist at Levin, female employees, Maori employees, changes in equipment, Depression in 1930s, team spirit in Post Office, social life.

Discusses duties during World War II as part of garrison force at Fanning Island, and later duties back in NZ. Recalls work as Postmaster at Taupo Post Office 1946-1954, retirement. Compares Post Office in 1950s to early days. Finishes with stories from his working days.

Venue - Tauranga

Interviewer(s) - Judith Fyfe

Venue - Ben Armstrong's home at Rimu Street, Tauranga

Accompanying material - Attached to printed abstract a copy of Chapter 4 from the book 'Harvey come quick' by Dorothea Joblin - contains reference to Ben Armstrong

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-000739 - OHC-000742

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3.07 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB-109.

Search dates: 1899 - 1984

Alternative form available:

Listening copies available OHLC-006651 - OHLC-006653, OHLC-006731