Interview with Derek Hume

Interview with Derek Hume, born in Auckland in 1925. Outlines his family history. Mentions his solicitor father, who had served in World War I, had a stroke on the day World War II was declared. Recalls the large family home in Gillies Avenue was subdivided into flats during the Depression. Mentions they had an orchard and kept poultry on their large section. Talks about his childhood and schooling, and being able to attend Kings College only because his father had been on the governing board. Refers to talk of war and singing patriotic songs at school.

Talks about his brother Larry joining up, being sent to Australia to train as a commando, but being killed in 1942 on his first day in action. Mentions cousins who were killed in action. Describes the casualty lists in the newspapers and the reactions of parents and other adults. Explains that once the Japanese entered the war people felt it would go on for years. Talks about getting most of their news from newspapers rather than radio, and comments that victory in the Battle of the River Plate gave people a boost. Mentions the Battle of the Coral Sea was a turning point, but they did not know about the bombing of Darwin. Describes digging trenches at school, air raid practice and a plane crashing near the school. Recalls training with the Kings College school cadets including first aid, morse code and bomb disposal training. Talks about having to leave school at 17 as his mother was unwell and his father had died.

Discusses working for Firestone after he left school, the wartime tyre permit system, and bartering excess permits for other goods and food. Describes joining the Navy when he was 18 and being sent to England in January 1945 after basic training. Refers to sailing in a convoy of 86 ships across the Atlantic where one ship was torpedoed and six were lost in a storm on the way. Comments on damage in London and Plymouth and seeing the last doodlebug over London. Recalls VJ Day, having had submarine training and expecting to go east until the atomic bomb was dropped. Reflects on the impact of the war, and his brother's death not having the effect 'it should have' because of their age difference.

Abstracted by - Erin Flanigan

Interviewer(s) - Alison Parr

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-022547 - OHC-022549

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3.10 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-7332.

Photocopy(?) of a black and white photograph of Derek Hume (1942); printout of a colour photograph of Derek (2007)

Search dates: 1925 - 2007