[Ballantynes fire, 1947 - Sounds Historical]

A compilation by Jim Sullivan of items about the Ballantynes fire on 18 November 1947 which killed 41 people.

Extracts from the diary of Isla Whittingham, 18 years old at the time of the fire. Read by Sandy Powell.

Recollections by an unidentified Christchurch listener. Read by Sandy Powell.

Telephone interview with Sir Paul Molineux, (former head of the Security Intelligence Service), who was a Christchurch law clerk at the time and took part in the rescue work. He describes trying to reach trapped female staff and later seeing Mr Ken Ballantyne being rescued by a Fire Service member.

Broadcast on Sounds Historical, on Radio New Zealand National, 1997.