Description
Object description
New Zealander conscientious objector in New Zealand, 1939-1945; served as medical technician and photographer with Friends Ambulance Unit in China, 1945-1948
Content description
REEL 1 Background in New Zealand, 1918-1939: family's migration from Galashiels, GB to Invercargill, New Zealand, 1919; development of pacifist beliefs; education; career as photographer. Recollections of period as conscientious objector in New Zealand, 1939-1945: story of being prevented from continuing teacher training course at Dunedin Teachers' College after registering as conscientious objector, 1939; reaction of family and neighbours to status as conscientious objector; patriotic atmosphere in New Zealand; role of Returned Soldiers Association (RSA) in promoting patriotism; comparison of attitudes to war in New Zealand and Europe; treatment of conscientious objectors in First World War; emergence of anti-war movement; aims and activities of Christian Pacifist Society; opinion of Reverend Ormond Burton; attitude of churches to war; opinion of British peace groups during 1930s; awareness of international events and attitude to Nazi regime; registering as conscientious objector, 1939; exempted categories; treatment of Quakers and other religious objectors; description of tribunal and granting of conditional exemption; opinion of scheme for conscientious objectors to be directed into non-war work and pay rate; work in bacon factory, 1941-1944; attitude of military and general public towards conscientious objectors.
REEL 2 Continues: further details of tribunal system in New Zealand; detention camps; comparison of treatment of conscientious objectors in New Zealand, GB and US; story of being accepted for Friends Ambulance Unit China Convoy, 6/1944; members of New Zealand team; preparations; uniform; pay. Recollections of period as medical technician and photographer with Friends Ambulance Unit in China, 1945-1948: journey to Kutsing, China, 1945; organisation and role of Friends Ambulance Unit in Kutsing; comparison of different nationalities; work as photographer and medical technician; construction of medical equipment and artificial limbs from parts of crashed aircraft; coining of slogan 'Bombers into Bedpans'; living conditions of Chinese; traveling with charcoal convoys; method of crossing rivers.
REEL 3 Continues: comparison of attitudes of missionaries and Friends Ambulance Unit towards Chinese; celebrations to mark end of Second World War, 15/8/1945; opinion of treatment of Kuomintang troops; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945; work with Japanese prisoners of war and civilians in hospital in Hankow; story about Jung Tse Fu and concealment of medical equipment; attitude to reconciliation with Japanese; story of Christmas service, 25/12/1945; making electronically wired gate to protect Japanese girls from Chinese Kuomintang troops; reaction to acts of retribution against Japanese prisoners of war; comparison of Japanese and Chinese attitudes to pacifist beliefs; journey with Dr John Leighton Stuart into Communist held territory.
REEL 4 Continues: story of helping Korean prisoners of war; further details of working with Japanese prisoners of war; removing bomb from well in Wuchang; relief work in Henan, Chengchow and Chungmou; work as photographer and filmmaker in Shanghai and Kwei-yang; role of Chinese Industrial Co-operatives; opinion of Rewi Alley and role in Chinese/New Zealand relations; role of Friends Ambulance Unit delivering funds to United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration ( UNRAA) in Communist held areas; comparison of Communist and Nationalist regimes in China; story of returning to work with Presbyterian Church in China, 1949. Aspects of period working for Presbyterian Church in New Zealand, 1951-1987: attitude of young people in New Zealand to war and pacifism; opinion of Labour Government.
REEL 5 Continues: question of New Zealand's unique position in world; problem with Maoris; opinion of New Zealand's involvement in Vietnam War; reflections on contribution of Friends Ambulance Unit during Second World War; attitude to current peace movements, (1987); role of women in Friends Ambulance Unit.
