Interview with Elsie Montgomery

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.

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

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