ALISTER McATEER THOMPSON

Interviewer: Richard Savory

Abstracter: Jean Hawkes

Please note that the date given by the interviewer at the start of the recording (21 February 2001) is incorrect. The interview was conducted on 21st March 2009

TRACK 1

00:00 Interview identification

00:39 ALISTER McATEER THOMPSON born in 1922 at HEDGEHOPE

01:00 Father worked on RAILWAY – left district due to health Farm at MIMIHAU where young brother IAN born. Apparently bankrupt on farm – Toot (tutu) poisoning affected cows Moved to WYNDHAM – Operated lignite pit in REDAN STREET

02:27 Visited coal pit with mother's cousin from BELFAST, Northern Ireland. Delivery of morning tea – Described

03:14 Father closed pit – Out of work – To HAKATARAMEA VALLEY for harvest Older brother BILL – Mentioned Father and his brother had worked at McCAW'S – Conditions and pay – Described

04:35 Father's brother worked on KUROW DAM – Job offered – Not taken – Remained in WYNDHAM – Worked for TOWN BOARD – Duties explained 05:37 'Night Cart' – Described MATAURA RIVER – Mentioned

07:06 Self and two brothers often helped with 'Ash Collection' – Described

08:04 [SCHOOL]: Not teased about father's occupation – May have been shunned by some Family all known as good workers

08:53 Lived in MALTA STREET, WYNDHAM – Corner of ALMA STREET and FERRY ROAD

09.27 Father great gardener – Children not allowed to touch father's garden – Encouraged to have own.

10:07 Self does not agree with Food Banks – Explained

10:34 [MOTHER]: …

10:47 End of Track 1

TRACK 2

00:00 … Interruption – Visit by granddaughter SHARLENE with BRENDAN – Great great grandchildren YARNA (?) and BRITT (?)

00:34 Recording Agreement

01:07 [TEENAGE YEARS]: Involvement with METHODIST CHURCH – Described Rev J C R ASHWORTH – EDENDALE-WYNDHAM CIRCUIT included MORTON MAINS – Mentioned HOME MISSIONARIES – Explained

02:18 Efforts of Rev ASHWORTH increased congregation numbers – Bible Class – Socials in INVERCARGILL – Easter Camps at WINTON – BALCLUTHA combined DUNEDIN and SOUTHLAND – Single sex camps LOBB (?) FAMILY – Mentioned

04:22 [BIBLE CLASS]: ERIC HUMPHRIES of EDENDALE and MIMIHAU- WAIRAKIKI – ERIC McFARLANE (school teacher) church organist and choirmaster – Own parents involved

05:26 CHURCH REPAINT – Described Actions of REV ASHWORTH – Explained

06:18 Church now owned by WYNDHAM PIPE BAND

06:29 [METHODIST CHURCH]: Too many principles – Degrees for ministers – Small places forgotten – Membership decline No METHODIST churches in EDENDALE – WYNDHAM – MORTON MAINS - MATAURA – GORE – BALCLUTHA Mainly result of actions by heads of Methodist Church.

07:34 [TEENAGE YEARS]: WAR an interest but not talked about. Own family – five boys all served [OLDEST BROTHER]: BILL in 3rd Echelon to GREECE and CRETE – Taken prisoner on CRETE. [SECOND BROTHER]: JIM in 7th Reinforcement to the Desert in EGYPT and ITALY [SELF]: 10th Reinforcement to ITALY [YOUNGER TWO]: HUGH and IAN to JAPAN with Occupational Force HUGH with ARMY – IAN with AIR FORCE

09:15 [PARENTS' ATTITUDE]: Gave support – Pride – Mother's faith – All sons returned

09:56 [CRETE CAPTURE]: Older brother [BILL] 26 Battalion – Provost Corps – Interned in GERMANY Stalag 8B BURNHAM – SPARKIA – Mentioned

11:26 BILL had married – Wife at Woollen Mills in MILTON received official 'Missing' notification.

12:02 Delivery of information by self – Described Effects on mother – Described

14:49 Clarification of dates for 'Missing' brother and own enlistment...

15:00 End of Track 2

TRACK 3

00:00 Visit for BATTLE of CRETE Anniversary 23 May 1980 TV footage taken while self on CRETE

01:10 BETTY and self toured with 23 Battalion Association in 1980 – Described AUCKLAND – SINGAPORE – BANGKOK – CAIRO – ATHENS – YPRES (?) – THESSOLONICA 02:06 Honoured in many ways – Especially on CRETE – Described

03:00 Services at Cemetery – Airport [MALEME] – NATIONAL MONUMENT Travel by bus – Described Meeting with AMERICAN couple – Described New Zealand Cemetery at SOUDA BAY GERMAN Cemetery (? MALEME) – Mentioned

05:58 CRETE – Most moving

06:03 Effect of visit on those who had served (on CRETE) – Very moving – Explained NEW ZEALAND'S young servicemen – Mentioned

07:12 Group member's meeting with GERMAN cemetery caretaker – Explained Later Kiwi tourists treated well – Price reductions in shops – American's reaction

08:45 New Zealanders still welcomed on CRETE

09:08 Preparation of self for war service – Started work in grocer's shop – Learned to drive – McGLINCHY'S STORE became SOLOMON'S – JOHNSON'S Flax Mill at REDAN – Building at EDENDALE – Milked cows – Into Military Camp MOKORETA – TUTURAU – MIMIHAU – GLENHAM – 1934 INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY VAN – Mentioned

11:01 Train travel to camp – No others from area FRANK WILLIAMS from WYNDHAM at BURNHAM [camp] – Father tailor in WYNDHAM EDENDALE – mentioned

11:55 Arrival at BURNHAM – Uniforms issued in INVERCARGILL – Troop train Assignment to various units – Self stayed with INFANTRY – Different attitudes of men obvious – Explained

14:14 Self no regrets – Problems with leg – Officer's comment...

15:00 End of Track 3

TRACK 4

00:00 ...Duties on platoon march while at BURNHAM – Described 00:37 Sgt Major TOM WEST of BLUFF – Mentioned. Request for relieving cook – Explained . 01:14 Japanese involvement in war – Mobilisation – Extra cooks needed. Self offered permanent position as cook.

01:52 More than 12 months without leave due to situation with Japanese.

02:07 Being cook best job in Army – Described.

02:42 Cooks received 2/6 (two shillings and sixpence – 25cents) extra duty pay per day. Daily pay 7/- (seven shillings – 70cents)

02:55 Basic (parade ground) training completed. Many trained but not yet sent overseas.

03:33 1st Southland Battalion – 1st Otago – 1st Canterbury all in BURNHAM.

03:50 NELSON/MARLBOROUGH/WEST COAST – may have been near BLENHEIM.

04:06 Canterbury – Otago – Southland in Burnham – Men drawn from these and sent overseas.

04:23 Cobber (cook) sent to 'The Islands' had just turned 21. Self 18 when enlisted – Could not serve overseas until 21

04:52 Self sent to ITALY – Left in June 1943 – 21 in November. Parents signed papers to let him go.

05:13 Parents reactions – Father quite happy – Explained

05:40 SOUTHLAND REGIMENT – Showgrounds INVERCARGILL.

05:49 Harvest Camps NEW BRIGHTON RACECOURSE (QE ll PARK) to Harvest camps around CHRISTCHURCH.

06:15 On leave – Battalion moved to WAIWERA – Camps at CLINTON – GORE – WYNDHAM – WINTON.

06:44 Returned from leave – Sent to WINTON – Cook at Harvest Camp. Move to Showgrounds with SOUTHLAND Regiment. Final leave taken.

07:09 Harvest Camps – Duties described

07:20 Meal arrangements different in the south – Explained 08:03 Stipulations regarding farmers requiring work done after tea - Explained

08:29 One situation at WINTON – Described

09:05 Travel to ITALY via LYTTELTON – WELLINGTON – Advance group Ship 'NEW AMSTERDAM' – Dutch luxury liner – At sea when GERMANY went into HOLLAND.

09:55 'NEW AMSTERDAM' sailed to ENGLAND – gifted to British – Full Dutch crew stayed on. 10:16 Extra men in each kitchen – Self and one other in Soup Kitchen. Still received extra duty pay for doing less work. Required to peel sack of onions each morning. Other various jobs done.

10:47 Cooks' meals from Ship's Officers' Kitchen – Collected by Dutchman cook.

11:24 Emergency Drill on boat – Roll call error – Explained Cabin mate posted to 1GH Hospital Self probably posted somewhere else – Didn't check

12:37 Twice as many South Island men as North Island ones on ship. How self placed in 24 Battalion – Explained. Didn't want to come home without seeing Front Line.

13:21 Landed, initially, in EGYPT. Brother in MAADI CAMP – Visited self at MENA

13:59 Older brother claim – Claims didn't come through – Self left after main division

14:56 Base camp at BARI (Italy)...

15:00 End of Track 4

TRACK 5

00:00 … South of ITALY 00:08 Posted to 24th Battalion – Attack on ORSOGNA JACK GILLIES from OAMARU

00:39 Brother's arrangements for self to be transferred to same unit – Described. Colonel CONNOLLY – Officer commanding 23rd Battalion.

01:40 Transfer to 23rd Battalion – Described. 11 Platoon, B Company – SOUTHLANDERS – Mentioned

02:27 1st SOUTHLAND – Mentioned 02:52 Division had been at CASTEL FONTANA – ORSOGNA – Winter time.

03:12 New Year's Eve 1943-44 – Two feet of snow Conditions – Described 03:34 Platoon headquarters in a sand cave

03:45 Two sections out – One in cave as reserve

04:06 Self and JACK GILLIES on guard on New Year's Eve – Described. Effects of cold conditions – Men brought into cave.

05:00 Use of whisky and rum to treat 'frozen' victims – Described. No contact with Company Headquarters for two days.

06:00 Sergeant and some men to Headquarters – Returned with bunsen burner and food. Hot meal prepared – Snow melted for water. In these conditions for about one week.

06:38 Arrival of Maoris wearing white coats – Snow frozen on ground.

07:00 Night dispatch of men – Officer's instructions – Described Return to Company Headquarters

08:05 GERMAN attack – Described

08:20 Maoris had arrived in single file – Described. Not detected by Germans

09:11 Men had a spell – Self transferred – Time spent drinking. Supposed to do training – Methods of 23 Battalion – Described 10:17 Commanding Officer DICK CONNOLLY SANDY THOMAS returned to Division – In charge for attack on FLORENCE.

11:00 Attack – Described Captain McARTHUR in charge of B Company – Mentioned View from house on hill (enemy base) – Described

12:50 Most farms communal – Ten or twelve owned by one person and let out to families. Owner took much of crop.

13:14 Conditions quite different on visit in 1980 – Big areas had been ploughed.

13:21 [LEAVE] – Wine readily available – 'Trading' with locals using food etc. Treated well by local people.

14:30 Often accommodated in houses with families.

14:39 New Zealand did not waste food – Given to children.

15:00 Self returned to cooking...

End of Track 5

Track 6

00:00 … Men served returns (of meals) given to children – New Zealanders only ones to do this

00:24 Availability of women – Explained.

01:12 Food rations – Provision and delivery – Explained.

02:04 New Zealand Division on strike in EGYPT FREYBERG – FRASER (Prime Minister) – Mentioned Food supplied by BRITISH ARMY not enough – Amount increased. Ultimatum explained. British ration terrible.

03:48 Self sprained ankle just before going to CASSINO.

03:50 British company came to take over – Request to cook breakfast. Ration 1 ½ small sausages and slice of bread Instead served 'Kiwi' breakfast – Described. Major JONES – Mentioned

05:19 Canned sausages – Described.

05:51 Cooked while in ITALY

06:00 Activity prior to moving to CASSINO British Company had taken over.

06:09 Platoon split – Put into two houses – Self went for extra candles – Ankle injury – Explained.

07:27 Entered Army at 18 – 18 months in New Zealand – Effects on body weight. Mother not concerned about health – Self probably fittest ever been.

07:55 Often comments about Army food but self felt they were well fed. No cause to lose weight Occasionally bouts of diarrhoea (trots) – Cooks often blamed

08:33 Old WW1 man in 1st Southland Battalion as Commissioned Quartermaster Ration 1/9 (one shilling and nine pence – 18cents) per day – reduced to 1/4 – reaction from other Quartermasters. Mutton Flap Stews for breakfast – Described. Old man was retired.

10:22 Young person appointed Commissioned quartermaster – Rapped over fingers for raising amount to 1/10 (one shilling and ten pence – 19cents)

10:43 Snack break during interview – Described.

11:15 After marriage self and BETTY (wife) often cooked together. GIRLS BRIGADE – ST JOHN AMBULANCE CADETS – METHODIST FAMILY CAMPS – MATAURA FLORAL ART CLUB – SOUTHLAND FLORAL ART – Mentioned

11.58 Cooked at CAMP COLUMBA – CATLINS – TAHAKOPA (said as Tarkope) – EDENVIEW TARINGATURA – Mentioned

12:25 Self only original trustee of EDENVIEW CAMP still living. METHODIST CHURCH sold camp to Mrs LUMSDEN – Many improvements made – Described as beautiful.

12:55 Building of EDENVIEW started about 1956 – Trust formed. ERIC HUMPHRIES instigator – Property bought from DONALD BROS Timber from Eric's place at WAIARIKIKI (said as Worakiki) – cut at MATAURA mill.

13:48 ERIC'S place was past MIMIHAU. BURKE'S HILL – WYNDHAM – YOUNG'S HILL – MOKORETA – MIMIHAU SCHOOL – Mentioned. In self's day road finished at FRAZER'S – Now opened right through to MATAURA. MATAURA CEMETERY HILL – Mentioned. 14:49 (Edenview) Camp built mainly with voluntary labour...

15:00 End of Track 6

Track 7

00:01 Would not try to build with voluntary labour today. Some days 60 or 70 men working on camp – Never worked on Sunday. Worked Saturdays or holidays.

00:33 BERT MORGAN (Invercargill) – Trustee – Had his men doing jobs he thought too big for voluntary men.

00:47 Laying the hall floor – Described

01:09 First camp at EDENVIEW Easter 1960 – Few Returned Servicemen involved. STAN SERVICE – Treasurer (Chief Accountant SOUTHLAND BUILDING SOCIETY) – BERT MORGAN – VIV ALLOTT (ALLOTT & EUNSON)

01:52 Self young man in METHODIST CHURCH – Joined Army – To ITALY – Been to CAIRO – Situation regarding alcohol – Explained.

02:51 Respect and Honesty instilled at home – Learned real meaning of Discipline and self-respect

03:22 Compulsory Military Training – Mentioned

03:36 [ITALY]: Moved to FLORENCE

04:25 Recalled to cooking – two cooks taken out with jaundice. Captain McARTHUR

05:23 Three cooks per company. Recall of self – Explained

06:14 Start at 2am to cook breakfast – Dishes washed 9.30 or 10pm when men returned. Christmas 1944

06:56 Two cooks returned – Self to stay on until after Christmas. CASTEL FONTANA – Mentioned

07:22 Self enquired about other placements. Name put forward for Div Headquarters – Interview Arrangements to form 9 Brigade – Explained

08:48 Delay and confusion over appointment – Described. BOB RICHARDSON of DUNEDIN (qualified baker and pastry cook) – Mentioned 10:04 Finished up in TRIESTE

10:12 Moved down to PERUGIA to FLORENCE transit camp

10:35 Army offered opportunity to go to ENGLAND for two weeks.

10:45 Took up the offer – Visited mother's people in BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND

10:57 Travelled by army trucks to CALAIS, FRANCE. Stop-overs at transit camps – GERMAN Prisoners of War doing cooking

11:30 Special efforts to decorate table for Kiwi soldiers – Described.

12:00 Ten days leave extended if no ferry crossing – Self had 14 days due to no crossing of channel. Announcements over BBC

12:30 Travelled by ferry from CALAIS to FOLKESTONE – Bus to LONDON – Free passes on trains in ENGLAND

13:11 Self applied to go to BELFAST – Sent to wrong port – Return to LIVERPOOL - Train to STRANRAER, SCOTLAND

13:51 Two sailings to IRELAND – Reaction of self – Described

14:32 Arrived at BELFAST – Taxi to 1 CAVE HILL ROAD – Missed cousin...

15:00 End of Track 7

Track 8

00:01 … Self in sitting room of aunty's home. Reason for missing each other – Explained. BILL [oldest brother] – Mentioned

01:03 Mother from Ireland – Had talked a lot about family.

01:32 Mother brought up in Whiteabbey on outskirts of Belfast.

01:40 Self's visit to Whiteabbey by cycle – Described.

02:14 Visit to pub – Described.

02:37 Relationship of auntie to self's mother – Explained. UNCLE BOB – Mentioned.

02:51 UNCLE Jim manager of linen mill. Cousin LESLIE been in Navy – At home – Visits.

03:10 Visited another cousin whose husband was a butcher – Pub crawl. Concert in Theatre – Walk home – Explained.

04:22 Talked till 2.0am without disturbing family.

04:45 Return to ENGLAND – Stayed with cousin (RAE) whose husband was in Air Force LIVERPOOL – Mentioned

05:25 Returned in 1980 RAE living in LONDON – Visited RAE'S Sister. RAE didn't remember previous visit by self – Did remember BILL. BOB'S pub crawl – Mentioned.

06:23 Return to transit camp in ITALY – Wait for boat to come

06:46 Travel arrangements – Explained. Departed from BARI – Train from FLORENCE – Described

07:56 Arrived in NEW ZEALAND 13 January 1946

08:12 Self found list from Southland Times of all servicemen who arrived January 1946. (Note: Probably on the 'ORTRANTO') Did not suffer homesickness

09:07 Self often wished had stayed in Army – Enjoyed the life. Decided against rejoining.

09:29 {At this point interviewer recaps conversation lost as machine paused and not restarted) – Interviewee repeats what has been missed...

10:52 Landed at LYTTELTON – Port welcome – Described.

11:31 Free telegrams – One sent to parents at EDENDALE – One to BETTY at TERRACE ROAD, MATAURA – Detail of message to BETTY.

12:07 Welcome at MATAURA STATION – Met at EDENDALE.

12:37 Father's actions towards self and Betty – Described.

13:23 Photograph taken in 1943 – BETTY.

13:46 First met BETTY at Bible Class social – EDENDALE – Self home on leave.

14:08 Prior to her death BETTY reflected on earlier comments – 62 years together. Waited two and half years for self to come home.

14:55 Many marriages broke up.....

15:00 End of Track 8

Track 9

00:01 … because of the separation.

00:29 31 years boot repair and retail MATAURA – Closed to go on tour with 23rd Battalion MIDDLE EAST – GREECE – CRETE – ITALY – EUROPE – LOS ANGELES – Mentioned.

01:07 Wonderful trip.

01:25 Remained in MATAURA after shop closed – Did repairs until about 2006 when moved to GORE – 57 years boot repairing.

01:51 Plant in storage for museum – Hopes of central one at GORE for EASTERN SOUTHLAND – History from self has been taped

02:30 Worked for MATAURA BOROUGH COUNCIL 3 ½ years when shop closed – Described.

03:02 Part-time jobs – MATAURA GOLF COURSE about 7 years – Selling JIM'S CLEANING RAG SERVICE 11 ½ years in total – Described.

04:52 Reflections on contributions to MATAURA on return from war service.

05:18 MATAURA SCHOOL COMMITTEE for two 3 year terms METHODIST CHURCH – Mentioned.

05:44 MATAURA BOROUGH COUNCIL – 1953-1959

06:18 About 1960 involved with ST JOHN AMBULANCE – President of ASSOCIATION in MATAURA – AMBULANCE DRIVING – Described.

07:08 With BETTY cooking for ST JOHN CADET CAMPS – METHODIST CHURCH FAMILY CAMPS at FRANKTON – GIRLS' BRIGADE – FLORAL ART CLUB. CAMP COLUMBA – EDENVIEW – TARTOOK (TAUTUKU) – FRANKTON – Mentioned Army training as a cook useful

08:20 Commanding Officers in Army – General attitude of most – described.

09:10 Platoon Commander's attitude – Described.

09:59 BOB LEPPER 1st SOUTHLAND returned from WW1 – Promotion through ranks – Described. On parade soldier – Off parade gentleman.

11:13 A R COCKERELL of GORE returned from WW1 – Change of rank – Described. Real gentleman – Real soldier.

11:52 Medical examination in UFS HALL, TAY STREET, INVERCARGILL – Described. BOB LEPPER and A R COCKERELL – Mentioned

12:31 Welcome by Officers – Described Ability of officer to remember self and others – Described

13:42 Reactions of New Zealanders to Returned Service personnel.

14:12 VETERAN'S BADGE more recognition that RSA Badge – Possible reason given.

14:26 Eligibility for and wearing of VETERAN'S BADGE – Explained...

15:00 End of Track 9

Track 10

00:00 Wearing of Service Medals – Described. ANZAC DAY – Mentioned.

00:41 Government recognition of returned men – Treated right. WAR PENSIONS – Mentioned.

01:07 Self now on 85% WAR PENSION – Increase from 45% – Explained.

02:33 Identification of some health issues – Mentioned.

02:53 Heart attack – Mentioned.

03:27 Change from Superannuation to Veteran's Pension Differences – Explained War Pension – Mentioned.

04:21 Funeral expenses for BETTY (wife) – Allocation – Explained.

04:54 Well treated by WAR PENSIONS staff – Very helpful.

05:27 Recap of varied life – Army – Shoe repairing – Community service HEDGEHOPE – PYRAMIDS – ITALY – EUROPE – IRELAND – Mentioned

06:03 Interviewed at (home) 20 DENTON STREET, GORE

06:41 A R COCKERELL – NEW BRIGHTON RACE COURSE – EDENDALE – Mentioned. Incidents related to return of HUGH to EDENDALE – Described Self was AWOL (Absent With Out Leave) 08:16 Self returned to CHRISTCHURCH and NEW BRIGHTON. 08:30 Self before Company Commander to explain AWOL – Referred to OC (Officer in Charge) Colonel COCKERELL. 08:54 Confined to Camp for weekend – AWOL explanation given to the Colonel. Case Dismissed.

09:49 Incident involving self and A R COCKERELL in MATAURA AMBULANCE – Described.

10:52 Arrival at COCKERELL'S home – Described.

11:15 JIMMY LEADER of RIVERTON – Dare devil MAJOR POMEROY, Voluntary Territorials – Described

12:00 Treatment of LEADER by POMEROY – Described 28 days at ROLLESTON COLLEGE (Army Prison, is still a prison)

12:42 JIMMY in trouble just before arrival of COCKERELL – Appeared before COCKERELL – List checked in presence of POMEROY.

13:19 Charge dismissed – LEADER'S comments to fellow servicemen.

14:08 Closing comments

14:30 End of Track 10