The Second World War at home

The interviews that appear in this feature were recorded for the book Home: civilian New Zealanders remember the Second World War, written by Alison Parr and published by the Penguin Group in 2010.

Marian Beech

Marian Beech was born in England in 1917, immigrating to New Zealand aged 11. Marian's brother, Edgar Harvey, was among the thousands of servicemen who died during the war.

Related audio:

• Marian recalls her response the morning after she heard the news of Edgar’s death
• Marian thinks about what might have been had her brother and other young New Zealand men not been killed in the war

Marjorie Browne

Marjorie Browne was born in Napier in 1924. During the war Marjorie became engaged to fellow pacifist Merv Browne, whom she corresponded with and visited in detention.

Related audio:

• Marjorie recalls how Merv passed messages to her and other friends and family, and meeting with him when he escaped from detention
  

Merv Browne

Merv was born in Whanganui in 1922. He was a committed pacifist who refused military service. He was detained by the authorities at camps like Hautu detention camp, from which he escaped.

Related audio:

• Merv recalls the changes he saw take place at Hautu detention camp that resulted in his escape

(NB: Merv's interview was recorded by Megan Hutching for another project.)

Mae Carson

Mae Carson was born in Wellington in 1923. In 1941 she began training as a nurse at Wellington Hospital, graduating in 1944. Two years later she moved to Queen Mary Hospital in Hanmer. Mae later married Bill Carson, a patient she met there.

Related audio:

• Mae recalls her feelings at the beginning of the Second World War
• Mae recalls her feelings at the end of the war
• Mae speaks about her husband, Bill, who suffered from 'anxiety depression' due to the war

Ross Cooper

Ross Cooper was born in Helensville in 1923. When the war began he was working on the family farm in Waikato. He wanted to enlist but his father successfully appealed his conscription on the grounds that he needed him on the farm. Ross opposed the appeal.

Related audio:

• Ross recalls opposing his father's appeal and how he coped with all the farewells for friends going off to war

Nancy Gillespie

Nancy Gillespie was born in Christchurch in 1925. A young woman during the war, Nancy and her friends formed a young women’s club to 'liven things up' at their local community hall in Dunsandel. The girls arranged dances with musicians and guests from out of town.

Related audio:

• Nancy recalls what motivated them to organise these dances, how they were run and who attended

Joyce Harrison

Joyce Harrison was born in Wellington in 1927 and attended school in Wellington during the war. Her family had a bach at Paekākāriki on the Kāpiti Coast, north of the city. This was one of the areas where American troops were based.

Related audio:

• Joyce recalls her feelings at the beginning of the Second World War
• Joyce recalls the air raid trenches and practices at her school
• Joyce recalls finding their property had been taken over by the Marines

Joyce Maclean

Joyce Hardham was born in Wellington in 1909. She married Gilbert Maclean in 1930. During the war they lived on a family farm at Paraparaumu, north of Wellington, with two small children.

Related audio:

• Joyce recalls thinking about where the Japanese would come from if they invaded and what she and her family would do

Sheila Smith

Sheila Smith was born in 1922 in Rangiora, North Canterbury. During the war she worked for the Women's Land Corps on an orchard near her home town. She became engaged to Ken Smith, a soldier, in 1943. Ken returned safely to New Zealand in 1946; four months later he and Shirley were married.

Related audio:

• Sheila recalls that they did the same work as the men but received far less money
• Sheila recalls following Ken's campaign with concern and how sewing helped her get through some long nights during the Battle for Cassino

Riria Utiku

Riria Utiku (Ngāti Tama, Te Āti Awa) was born in Wellington in 1916. In 1941 she married Rangi Utiku (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa). Riria, her husband (who was turned down for the army because of his health) and her sister Hinga were all 'manpowered' during the war.

Related audio:

• Riria recalls how Rangi felt about not being able to go to war
• Riria recalls her reaction to be manpowered
• Riria recalls that in addition to being manpowered her sister was not allowed to keep her Māori name

Also interviewed, but not included in this feature, were Nancy Earle, June Fleming, Joyce Hay, Derek Hume, Connie Katae (interviewed by Susan Fowke), George Kaye, Dot Kelly, Margaret Prain, Geraldine Sharp and Thora Simpson. All the interviews have been deposited in the Oral History Archive at the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.