AUDIO

Interview with Maisie Munro (nee Hoskin)

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Date

4 Apr 2006 - 04 Apr 2006

By

Munro, Maisie Marian, 1922-2007; Hutching, Megan Alannah, 1957-

Reference

OHInt-0827-10

Description

Interview with Maisie Munro (nee Hoskin), born Petone, 18 September 1922. Talks about her father Barton Munro, a carpenter who was wounded in World War I, and her mother Marian (nee Baldwin) who was a dressmaker. Mentions hearing talk of war in the 1930s but not taking much notice. Recalls involvement with the Women's War Service Auxiliary and learning signalling which her father was teaching. Discusses enlisting in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) as a telegraphist, and being posted to wireless station ZLP on Tinakori Hill after basic training. Talks about male reaction to Wrens, learning to keep watch, and about being transferred to Waiouru where she had to live communally in an Army hut with other Wrens. Discusses life at Waiouru and the radio receiving station (ZLO) which had a teleprinter machine. Refers to the work receiving top secret messages which were sent to Wellington for decoding. Talks about limited options for leave in Waiouru, a Wrens basketball (netball) team, the Wrens not getting a rum ration, the camp YMCA, and dances with a Navy orchestra. Mentions that the naval personnel had no contact with the Army camp. Refers to becoming a petty officer, which allowed her to move to more comfortable quarters at Waiouru. Talks about her pay being sent to her mother with a small amount for herself. Refers to her fiance Ron Baird, a sergeant in the Army, being killed in the Pacific. Comments that she was married in January 1945 to Rex Randall and left the Navy before VJ Day because she was pregnant.

Interviewer(s) - Megan Hutching

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-015244, OHC-015245

Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s). 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 interview(s). 1.28 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5527

Abstract Available - transcript(s) available.

photocopy of photograph of Petty Officer Maisie Hoskin in uniform

Search dates: 1922 - 1939 - 2006 - 1945

Additional description

Alternative form available: A digital copy of the recording is available in the Library's Reading Room.

Use/Reproduction

Public use requires the written permission of the donor Copyright: Copyright is held by the Ministry for Culture & Heritage

Access restrictions

Restricted - Content cannot be accessed without permission - Access requires written permission of the donor

Part of

Second World War oral history project: Home Front

Format

1 printed abstract(s), 2 C60 cassette(s), 1 interview(s), 1.28 Hours and minutes Duration, Oral histories, Illustration: photocopy of photograph of Petty Officer Maisie Hoskin in uniform

There are 3 items in total.

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Interview with Maisie Munro (nee Hoskin), printed abstract

Date: 4 Apr 2006

From: Second World War oral history project: Home Front

Reference: OHA-5527

Description: Contents: Accompanied by: photocopy of photograph of Petty Officer Maisie Hoskin in uniform; partial transcript; questionnaire filled in by Maisie Munro Interviewer(s) - Megan Hutching Quantity: 1 printed abstract(s).