Interview with Joe Sandys

Interview with Joseph (Joe) Francis Sandys. Born in 1922 in Liverpool, England. Background parents Margaret Sandys (nee Bolton) and Joseph Sandys and siblings. Educated at St Alexander's Catholic school, Bootle, Liverpool, until 14 years old. Describes first jobs as butcher's boy, grocer boy, laundry and ship galley boy. Details voyage to New Zealand, jumping ship in Wellington and getting work at Lane Walker Rudkin in Christchurch. Says he gave himself up and spent two weeks in Paparua prison on remand and that Harvey Rudkin supported him in court case with shipping company. Talks about working at Exide Batteries, Taylors Drycleaners and Public Works Department at Staveley. Says went to Methven to make concrete pipes for Surrey Hills. Describes volunteering for World War Two service at 17 years old, telling them he was 21. Describes training at Trentham in 1940, and going on 'New Amsterdam' to Sydney in 1941 with the 5th Reinforcements. Details trip to Port Tewfik, Egypt via Ceylon on board the 'Aquitania'.

Describes training with mines at Maadi Camp, and being assigned to 13th Railway Construction Company. Talks about going to Mersa Matruh and El Alamein. Says he was chainman to Charlie Ensor from North Canterbury. Details his role and railway construction, use of Indian labourers, sand storms and getting bombed and strafing. Talks about working for ten months in Beruit and Syria, helping South Africans put in a tunnel by the sea front. Mentions contact with the Vichy army. Says division went to Bari, Italy and disbanded, and he was allotted to 7th Field Engineers. Describes work as mine sweeper during Cassino campaign. Refers to first job at Scissors Bridge, being held up at Rimini, and being taken prisoner overnight with 8th field engineers and 23rd Battalion. Expands on horrifying experience of Monte Cassino, minnie whopper shells, dead bodies, dry rations and V for Victory cigarettes. Refers to British bombing the monastery and the Americans bombing a hospital. Talks about driving through snow to Trieste, meeting Tito's outfit (Yugoslav troops), and escorting German prisoners of war back to Egypt. Mentions waiting at Maadi Camp to go home. Describes voyage home on the 'Strathaird' and hearing about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Recalls arrival home from World War two. Wife Agnes Sandys talks about Joe meeting her family and getting engaged. She comments on nursing her mother, their marriage 9 October 1945 and the birth of their children.

Joe Sandys talks about working in the council yards in Methven and Highbank power house. Says purchased fish and chip shop with loan from Dan Smith. Describes problems running the business and filing for bankruptcy. Outlines jobs as barman at the Canterbury Hotel (known as the Brown pub, Methven) and Pudding Hill sawmill until he cleared his debts. States he worked 26 years at garage owned by George Goldsmith, Campbell MacPhail and Gluyas Motors. Describes activites after his retirement in 1982. Mentions buying state house with State Advances loan. Expands on visit to England to see where he was bought up. Refers to meeting relatives and his sister and husband visiting New Zealand.

Abstracted by - Nicola Robertson

Interviewer(s) - Kathryn McKendry

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-016774 - OHC-016775

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2 Electronic document(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration.

Physical Description: Textual files - Adobe PDF

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-6037, OHDL-001832.

Search dates: 1922 - 2007

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

Alternative form available: A digital copy of the abstract is available in the Library’s Reading Room