Interview with David William Silvester

David William Silvester born Frankton, Hamilton and lived there until the age of 20 years. Recalls memories of soldiers with wounds, crutches etc in Frankton after World War I, and peace celebrations in Hamilton including a ceremony and tree planting at school for a teacher who was killed in the war. Backgrounds involvement with Pacificism, with reference to youth director of Methodist church, bible class and attendance at conference in 1933 which led to becoming one of the first members of New Zealand Pacifist Society (1935/1936) and involvement with the Christian Pacifist Movement. Discusses: outbreak of World War II: interview with Public Service Commission Office; street meetings and soapbox once a week and sentence to Mt Crawford prison with Ormond Burton and Archie Barrington. Describes conditions at Mt Crawford and notes prisons were not fitted to take conscientious objectors, hence the commencement of detention camps. Refers to CO (conscientious objector) at Strathmore hospital who died from meningitis as it wasn't diagnosed. Recalls being sent to Waikune, with reference to Jeremiah Quill and then to Hautu. Refers to censorship of CO's letters and describes CO's mail run arrangements and escape attempts. Talks about involvement with Riverside Christian Pacifist Community after World War II.

Access Contact - see oral history librarian

Interviewer(s) - Julian McCarthy

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-007803-007805

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2064.

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

Alternative form available: Master copy on DAT C/- Julian McCarthy