Colin Franklin-Browne's memories. Part 1.

Rights Information
Year
2008
Reference
242806
Media type
Audio
Item unavailable online
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Rights Information
Year
2008
Reference
242806
Media type
Audio
Item unavailable online
Categories
Interviews (Sound recordings)
Sound recordings
Credits
RNZ Collection
Franklin-Browne, Colin, Speaker/Kaikōrero
Radio New Zealand (estab. 1989), Broadcaster

Former opera singer Colin Franklin-Browne of Wellington, recalls memories of his childhood:
1. Mother and washing day
2. Crayfish and swing
3. Mother in service
4. Babies and start of train trip to Auckland
5. Train continues to Auckland
6. Trentham races
7. School picnic
8. Hulks and trains

9. WWI and patriotism
"Unless you had lived through it, I don't think anyone could understand the intense patriotism and hysterical fervour before the First World War, when the Empire was at its peak and the general feeling was that the British Army and the Navy were invincible.
When the war broke out, I can't describe the intense feeling throughout the whole population. there was no thought of any consequences, you just had to fight for your King and Country. I remember seeing processions along Lambton Quay and four people carrying a piece of canvas about 12 by 6. They walked along behind the procession with bands playing and invited people to throw money into it for the war purposes. They got so heavy with coins thrown by people along the footpath, that it dragged on the ground and they had to go and empty it and go back for more. They had penny trails and all along Manners Street, from Perrott's Corner, they put pennies right along the footpath from edge to edge and they endeavoured to reach Courtenay Place.
Young men were coerced into going to war by young women who would send them a white feather in the mail, with no name or address.
They marched off in their thousands onto the troop ships. I can remember going down to the wharf to wave goodbye to my uncles, Uncle George and Uncle Jim Flavell [?] I think the ship was the Athenic. They sailed away and we never saw them again.
It was a sad time, a time of anxiety, over-ridden by tremendous patriotism. We had to salute the flag every morning. We were brought up on Kipling's idea of Empire, Henry Newbolt's poetry and it was drilled into us what a mighty empire we had.
They took thousands of horses overseas to pull gun carriages and for officers to ride, and out of all those horses only one ever came back to New Zealand."

10. Raft and bees
11. Up the transmitter
12. Flying