Interview with Frank Bensemann

Outlines family background. Describes family farm in Supplejack Valley, life in Upper Moutere, childhood chores, mother's workload, fruit and vegetable growing, Church services and Pastor Appelt, parent's transport, hop, flax and tobacco growing and harvesting and first school days.

Mentions teachers Miss Prestidge, Mr White and Mr Bird. Talks about outbreak of World War II and being ballotted. Called to Burnham, moved to Ashburton Racecourse, then Blenheim. Called to Nelson to work on anti-aircraft gun and ballotted to Norfolk Island. Mentions Ian Holdaway and Joe Hill. Describes leaving Norfolk after Japanese retreat.

Talks about working at Baigents' Redwood Valley Mill. Mentions other locals including Theo Drogemuller and Martin Bensemann. Describes grandfather's farm, the planting of pines and planting of the Moutere hills.

Venue - Upper Moutere : 1995

Interviewer(s) - Jenny Briars

Venue - Interviewee's home

Accompanying material - Ewers and Bensemann family tree ; references to further reading

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s).

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 1515.

Portrait photograph of Frank Bensemann in 1995; photograph of Pastor Appelt of Upper Moutere and Hope from 1915-1923; portrait photograph of John Dietrich Bensemann

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies are available at OHLC-002204 to OHLC-002206