AUDIO

Interview with Neva McKenna

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Date

8 Dec 1991 - 08 Dec 1991

By

McKenna, Neva Yvonne Clarke, 1920-2015

Reference

OHInt-0060/17

Description

Neva McKenna was born in Gisborne on 20 April 1920. Describes her Gisborne childhood and her grandmother, Eliza Jane Fox, who was a musician, writer and member of the Gisborne Hospital Board. Talks about her enjoyment of school and jobs at the office of a Crown solicitor and then with the Valuation Department and the Department of Maori Affairs. Comments on the public service work ethic. Talks about her father's death. Recalls the Napier earthquake. Mentions playing basketball, running and swimming for Poverty Bay. Describes her engagement to Geoff Chambers and working in Whakatane when she heard that he had been killed in action.

Describes the impact of his death and the part that it played in her volunteering to go overseas in the clerical division of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). She went to Italy and served as Officer commanding the Clerical Division of the WAACS. Recalls her three years in Italy in detail. Talks about everyday life in the army, work relationships, ciphering, male-female interrelationship, hitch-hiking round Italy and civilian life in Italy. Comments on American and British troops. Talks about getting engaged to a Scotsman who was killed three weeks later.

Describes returning to New Zealand and being invited to work in the Prime Minister's Department. Comments on New Zealand post World War II and the psychological effects of the war.

Venue - Mangonui : 1991

Interviewer(s) - Jane Tolerton

Venue - Mangonui

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004727; OHC-004728

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s).

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 837.

Photograph of Neva Clarke McKenna near Bari (Italy) in 1944; photograph of Neva McKenna about 1990

Use/Reproduction

Public use requires the written permission of donor Copyright: Gaylene Preston Productions

Access restrictions

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

Part of

Women in World War II Part I

Format

2 C60 cassette(s), 1 printed abstract(s), Oral histories, Illustration: Photograph of Neva Clarke McKenna near Bari (Italy) in 1944; photograph of Neva McKenna about 1990

There are 3 items in total.

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