Threads of Memory (2015)

DateMonday 20 April 2015 to Friday 24 AprilCollection SummaryThreads of Memory was a First World War 100th commemoration project held at Tauranga City Library to record our people's memories of their First World War ancestors. Organised by Library Staff it involved support from the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Radio Broadcasting Department, including students Jacob Pua, Liam Robson, Alison Curtis and Kara Ranken-Whitehouse.DescriptionMonday 20 April 2015

Ron Collingwood talked about his father George William Collingwood (1896- 1959), who served in France and Passchendaele.

Margaret Shields talked about her uncle John Watson, who was either of the Durham Light Infantry or the Northumberland Fusiliers.

Susan Brocker discussed her grandfather Thomas McGee (1889- 1954) who served with the Wellington Mounted Rifles.

Dr Robin Scoular came in to tell us about his father Stuart Scoular (c 1893-1949), who served as a Medical Officer in the New Zealand hospital in France from 1916 to 1919.

Julie Richards remembered her great grandfather Reginald Secker Snr (1884-1917).

Tuesday 21 April 2015

Sheryl Hobson talked about her grandmother's brothers, The O'Gorman Brothers.

Paul O'Neil came to talk about grandfather Alfred James Cowley (1892- 1970).

John Foster talked about his grandfather John McLaren Lett (1877-1917) who was one of sixteen children. John fought in the Boer War as well. He also talked about his father, Albert Edward Lett (1903-1967), who was a Homeguard Commander in the Far North during the Second World War.

Des Price talked about his three great-uncles the Swenson Brothers

Yola Swindells told of her father Alfred Joseph Swindells (1893-1978), who was a Territorial and served from the first day of the war with the British Army Medical Corps and later with the RAF.

Sandra Culham, talked about James Joseph Hamilton Nisbet (1895-1973), who was wounded during the Battle of the Somme but survived and was later awarded an MBE.

Eleanor Burkin shared about her mother's cousin Carl Owen Jorgensen (1889-1970). Carl served with the NZ Army Medical Corps and was at Gallipoli during the evacuation. He also served in France and later at the Hornchurch Military Hospital in England.

Shirley Arabin came in to tell us about her aunt Kate Booth (1885-1952), who was a nurse at Aotea Convalescent Home in Heliopolis, Egypt.

Barbara Turner remembered her father Peter Wallace (1897-1965), who was a fitter in the Merchant Navy during World War I.

Thursday 23 April 2015

Phil Sinclair shared about three great uncles, the Fleming Brothers.

Elizabeth Rust talked about Robert Long, an Irish relative who was captured by the Turks at Suvla Bay.

Harley Couper described the life of Andrew Dougall Blair (1872-1955) his great grandfather who as part of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve cleared mines and commanded Q.17, a honey-trap decoy ship targeting German U-boats.

Stephanie Smith told us about her grandfather Stanley Edward Oppenheim (1892- 1966), who served as a postal worker during World War I.

Kathleen Gillanders told us about her father William Duncan Gillanders (1894-1958) who served at Gallipoli and Palestine.

Friday 24 April 2015

John Barnard shared about six of this father's brothers, the Barnard Brothers who served during World War I.

Paul Ronayne told us about his John Gregors Petersen (1895-1915) who was killed in action at Gallipoli.

School student Miriama told us about her third great uncle Eric Sargesen who died on 13 September 1915 from wounds received in action at Gallipoli.

Audio Visual Files

Photographs

2015 Threads of Memory memorial wall

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Threads of Memory (2015)