Interview with Bob Dunlop

Interview with Robert (Bob) Gordon Dunlop, born in Hawera in 1920. Talks about his family's background in Scotland and New Zealand. Comments on his father serving in the mounted rifles in Egypt and the south of France during World War I. Talks about the hardships growing up on a dairy farm in the 1920s, living in a two-bedroom house with a family of nine and milking cows in the early morning. Discusses food, clothing, family holidays, haymaking and his schooling. Comments on Maori land issues, politics and the Depression. Refers to working for stock and station agents after leaving school, first as an office boy, then as an auctioneer's clerk and later a junior agent with a car. Talks about Hawera Aerodrome being built on part of his grandfather's farm.

Recalls hearing about war being declared in Europe but not joining the army until he was 21. Talks about being assigned to serve in the Pacific after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour, and being sent to Fiji. Comments on doing construction work there, and later being sent to Norfolk Island. Refers to having Jack Marshall as Company commander. Talks about going to New Caledonia and then to Guadalcanal on American destroyers, and the devastation they found at Lunga Beach. Describes the taking of Mono Island by New Zealand troops, being in the first lot ashore, and some New Zealanders being killed by American shells. Refers to their 1914 Enfield rifles, dealing with fear and stress, and how officers dealt with the situation. Comments on the attitudes of veterans from Europe to Pacific theatre veterans after the war, and on the effects of his experiences on his life. Talks about being invalided out of the Army after returning to New Zealand and working on Alec Corrigan's farm for a time. Discusses returning to work for a stock and station agent, meeting and marrying Gladys, and their children.

Interviewer(s) - Anna Cottrell

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHDV-0024 - OHDV-0027

Quantity: 4 videocassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 1 interview(s). 3.32 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5094, OHDL-000789.

Search dates: 1920 - 1939 - 2000 - 1945

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

Alternative form available: Both printed and digital versions of the abstract are available

Listening copies are available at OHLV-0315 to OHLV-0318