Memories of Service 5 - Gwen Stevens

Gwen Stevens was one of the last survivors of World War ll's top secret Auckland Combined Military Headquarters. There she plotted grid references from New Zealand’s coastal radar, tracking the coming and goings of ships and aircraft. The threat of a Japanese invasion had everyone on edge. At one point there was panic when it was believed an aircraft carrier had been detected off the coast. All services were mobilised, but it turned out to be a mistaken reading of the Three Kings Islands. Over 70 years later, Stevens' recall remains clear. Stevens passed away on 1 January 2018.

It was quite frightening at times, because sometimes the Americans wouldn’t turn on their IFF (Identification, friend or foe) and we didn’t know who they were. It could have been the Japanese. We got quite angry with the Americans sometimes.

– Gwen Stevens

Key Cast & Crew

David Blyth

Interviewer, Producer, Director

Patricia Stroud

Producer, Research

Stephen Latty

Camera, Sound

Edward Larsen

Editor

Jed Town

Composer