Description
Mr. Henry describes the numerous opposing factions in Lebanon and how they destabilized that country’s government.
William Henry
William Henry was born September 2, 1939 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. His father was a Second World War Veteran, which inspired Mr. Henry to join the School Cadet Corps. He received officer training and was commissioned in the 17th Recce, PEI Regiment. Upon completing his degree at Dalhousie University, he was re-commissioned in the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Mr. Henry eventually joined the Lord Strathcona’s Horse, attaining the rank of Major. His tours of duty included Cyprus, writing the orders of occupation for Sinai, and acting as an observer in Lebanon, a role he found difficult given his training as a military strategist.
Transcript
At that time, the time I served there, Lebanon was I guess the battle of choice. It was early in its times of troubles. The civil government had lost control and was breaking down. There was quite an influx of PLO, Palestinian refugees really who had been staying in Jordan had come into the Becca and the valleys in Lebanon because the Jordanians had sort of moved them out of their country. So you had this massive refugee group move in. The Lebanese parliament at that time was based upon a split based on religion, Christian, Muslim, etc., and of course this influx of people upset that. You also had what were, people called the Christians but which those of us that had to work with them called them the Filages. They were a form of Christian Lebanese. They were really proxy of the Israelis. The Israelis supplied them and trained them and helped them, particularly along the Litani River. So you had all of this going on. It was really quite an interesting place to say the least. Travelling through it unarmed and hoping that somebody didn’t take a shot at you.