Born Okanagan Valley, Vancouver 1920. Came to New Zealand ca 1932. Worked with the Hawkes Bay Electric Power Board before taking up nursing at the outbreak of WWII, training at Wellington Hospital. Volunteered to go to Greece as part of a team arranged by CORSO in 1945, sailing on the SS Mooltan.
Montgomery, Elsie Winifred, 1920-
Steven, Elsie Winifred, 1920-
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Audio
Interview with Elsie Montgomery
Date: 19 Oct 2000
From: Wartime nurses project
By: Montgomery, Elsie Winifred, 1920-
Reference: OHInt-0731/04
Description: Elsie Winifred Montgomery (nee Steven) born Vancouver, Canada 1920. Recalls coming to New Zealand ca 1932, working with the Hawkes Bay Electric Power Board and decision to train as a nurse at the outbreak of WWII, training at Wellington Hospital. Backgrounds decision to volunteer for relief work in Greece. Refers to Colin Morrison who headed the CORSO team which was an adjunct of UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Service). Recalls setting sail on the SS Mooltan December 1945 and mentions Dr Sylvia Chapman who was team leader. Describes life on board ship and stop overs in Ceylon, Bombay and Cairo. Talks about work conditions and customs in Greece. Comments on the amount of gypsies in northern parts of Greece and describes their needs. Discusses the political situation, the communist villages, nationalist villages, the civil war and the problems arising. Recalls return home in 1946 and marriage to Ian Montgomery. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Anna Rogers Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-012489 Quantity: 1 C90 cassette(s). 1 transcript(s). 1 Electronic document(s) - transcript. 1 interview(s). 45 Minutes Duration. Physical Description: Textual file - Microsoft word Finding Aids: Abstract Available - transcript(s) available OHA-4299, OHDL-000838.