AUDIO
Interview with Bill Wiggins
- Date
- 12 Sept 1988 - 12 Sep 1988
- By
- Wiggins, William Robert, 1899-1991
- Reference
- OHInt-0006/83
- Description
Describes in detail family background (father at Chelsea Sugar Refinery), education, employment, and life in Auckland pre war (selling 'Truth' newspapers, warehouse work), apprenticeship as a blacksmith and details of work. Recalls enlistment, guarding ammunition factory in Normanby Road, ceremonial duties, military funerals, the Mount Eden Guards.
Transfer to being a guard at Motuihe Island, details of guard duty, relations with German internees, anti German feeling in Auckland, living conditions of internees, various anecdotes, Count von Luckner Kircheiss, his escape from Motuihe in detail, Dr Schultz. Transport overseas with the 41st Reinforcements, morale among conscripts, death of "Taffy" Herbert Lloyd Dash. Describes ports of call, especially Capetown, submarine attacks. Recalls arrival at Sling Camp, training and discipline, military burials at Tidworth Cemetery in detail, and being accidentally gassed, describes sensation, Tidworth Hospital, being transported back to New Zealand as an invalid.
Describes first marriage, children, Moerewa freezing works, then a slaughterman, his career with various freezing works in detail, involvement with RSA at Kawakawa and other places, Anzac Day parades, effect of gassing on his life, being a freezing worker during the 1930 Depression, the bobby calf scheme and calf pools. Recalls venereal disease prevention, relations with British, hobbies, deep sea fishing, views on present RSA, and government.
Venue - Auckland
Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton
Interviewer(s) - Nicholas Boyack
Venue - Ranfurly War Veterans' Home, Auckland
Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002790 - OHC-002792
Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s) in two parts. 3 Electronic document(s) - transcript, summary. 1 interview(s). 3 Hours Duration.
Physical Description: Textual files
Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available AB 525/1 - 2, OHDL-000362.
Black and white photographs:-. Bill Wiggins, 1988. Bill Wiggins, 1988. Bill Wiggins and striped marlin, ca 1960s. Bill Wiggins and second wife, Dorothy, 1948. Bill Wiggins, his daughters, and brother, during World War Two. Bill Wiggins, fishing trip, 1921. Bill Wiggins and daughters, 1941. Bill Wiggins and Dave Whitehead, undated. Bill Wiggins, 1915
- Additional description
Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.
Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-008558 - OHLC-008560
Both printed and digital versions of the transcript are available
- Use/Reproduction
- Restricted - public use (publication and broadcasting) requires the written permission of the Chief Librarian Copyright: Copyright in the sound recording and transcript is held by Jane Tolerton and Nicholas Boyack
- Access restrictions
- Partly restricted material
- Part of
- World War I Oral History Archive
- Format
- 3 C60 cassette(s), 1 transcript(s) in two parts, 3 Electronic document(s) - transcript, summary, 1 interview(s), 3 Hours Duration, Oral histories, Electronic records (Digital records), Electronic documents, Textual files, Illustration: Black and white photographs:-, Illustration: Bill Wiggins, 1988, Illustration: Bill Wiggins and striped marlin, ca 1960s, Illustration: Bill Wiggins and second wife, Dorothy, 1948, Illustration: Bill Wiggins, his daughters, and brother, during World War Two, Illustration: Bill Wiggins, fishing trip, 1921, Illustration: Bill Wiggins and daughters, 1941, Illustration: Bill Wiggins and Dave Whitehead, undated, Illustration: Bill Wiggins, 1915, Equipment used: Sony WM-D6C
Click to request to view this item, access digital version (if available), and see more information.
Copyright
All Rights Reserved
Interview with Bill Wiggins, printed transcript
Date: 12 Sept 1988
From: World War I Oral History Archive
Reference: OHA-0525/1 - 2
Description: Quantity: 1 transcript(s) in two parts.
Interview with Bill Wiggins, tape two
Date: 12 Sept 1988
From: World War I Oral History Archive
Reference: OHC-002791
Description: Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton Interviewer(s) - Nicholas Boyack Arrangement: Tape sequence - 2 of 3 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s).
Interview with Bill Wiggins, digital transcript
Date: 12 Sep 1988
From: World War I Oral History Archive
Reference: OHDL-000362
Description: Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton, Nicholas Boyack Accompanying material - transcript (2 files) accompanied by brief summary Quantity: 3 Electronic document(s) - transcript, summary. Processing information: These files have been migrated to a different format for purposes of preservation and access
Interview with Bill Wiggins, tape one
Date: 12 Sept 1988
From: World War I Oral History Archive
Reference: OHC-002790
Description: Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton Interviewer(s) - Nicholas Boyack Arrangement: Tape sequence - 1 of 3 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s).
Interview with Bill Wiggins, tape three
Date: 12 Sept 1988
From: World War I Oral History Archive
Reference: OHC-002792
Description: Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton Interviewer(s) - Nicholas Boyack Arrangement: Tape sequence - 3 of 3 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s).