William Patrick Watt (Bill)

Interviewer: Cathy Macfie

Abstract: Cathy Macfie

1:00 Born in INVERCARGILL but shifted at early age. Spent first four years at ASHBURTON. Recalls early CHILDHOOD MEMORIES. Describes visits to grandparents’ boarding house; incident with Alsation dog; trip with father up Ashburton River bed to get firewood. Explains context 1931-32 Depression Years. Father worked at Ashburton Grain Store. Remembers ‘Assyrian’ lady at boarding house.

3:00 (Break in conversation; visitor arrives.)

3:15 Explains how ‘Assyrian’ lady and her niece sold haberdashery from an old-fashioned pram with big springs. They travelled from town to town by train and were regular visitors throughout South Island.

3:45 Recalls journey from Ashburton to TIMARU on mixed good train when 4 years old. Stopped at every station. Journey took 4 hours, ‘seemed forever to me’. Father originally a POLICEMAN; rejoined the police force at Timaru in 1932. Eight years old when mother died. Went to school in Timaru.

5:00 (Short pause in recording.)

5:10 Mother died in CHILDBIRTH [brother JOHN]. Describes help provided. Arrival of DOROTHY MACDONALD, friend and neighbour from MATAURA to look after the family. Father and Dorothy eventually married.

5:40 Father transferred to WAIMATE when Bill was 9 or 10 years old. Killed in vehicle accident [1939] when going to investigate murder/suicide in back country. Explains. Bill was 11 years old. Stepmother brought family to Mataura, including own son [DAVID born 1938].

6:17 Describes domestic arrangements. Stayed with father’s mother for 18 months. Reflects on 1939. ‘You grow up fairly quickly in those circumstances.’ Little opportunity to meet grandmother before then – no family car until Waimate. Describes ‘lovely lady, strict disciplinarian’. HOUSEHOLD JOBS included polishing silver, mowing lawns and cutting edges.

8.12 WORLD WAR II, attention focussed on wireless broadcasts. Scottish lodger JOHN CURRIE a keen fisherman; MEAT RATIONING meant diet became dominated by ‘blasted’ trout.

9:30 Went to MATAURA SCHOOL – Standard 4. Compares with CONVENT SCHOOLS attended up north. Found learning standards of private [church] schools considerably ahead.

10:37 Recalls influence of WORLD WAR II on school life. In last year at MATAURA PRIMARY SCHOOL [Standard 6] pupils had to dig slit trenches around playground boundary. Describes difficulty presented by tree roots. Spent 3 years at GORE HIGH SCHOOL. Details training undertaken by CADET UNITS. Recalls high standard of training in small arms equalled or bettered AIR FORCE. [Joined in 1946.] Key training role played by male teachers.

14:15 Left school at 16 years. First EMPLOYMENT at WENDONSIDE FARM as farmhand. Describes arrival and isolation. Every 2-3 months took mail car to GORE on Friday night. Describes initial challenge of fencing stony plain under ‘picky’ supervision of manager Howard Hay. Hands a ‘sea of blisters’.

16:36 Explains choice of FARMING for career. Describes period as cowman in Central Otago; also OVERSOWING hill country on OLD MAN RANGE from horseback. Returns to Wendonside. Explains reasons for temporary shift.

19:07 Applied to join J FORCE TROOPS to garrison Japan but too young [18 years]. Accepted by Air Force in June 1946. 5-6 months training in Christchurch, then nearly 12 months in Fiji. Marvellous experience. Explains. Work involved air movements – transporting passengers and freight. No long term ambition to serve in Air Force. Explains.

21:33 FARMING (continued). Position at GLENARAY STATION as tractor driver in late 1947. Recalls knowing next to nothing about tractors but learned on the job ‘very quickly’. Five tractor drivers employed at Glenarary.

23:30 Six single men in huts. JIM MAHON was single fencer and agreed to swap jobs. Employed as high country FENCER for 2½ years. Enjoyed work. Explains. Pack horses important. Durability of fenceposts varied. Details timber used.