Canadians, The Very Best!
Mr. Bérard reflects on his lifelong resentment of Japan, has harsh words about Canada’s military decisions but finishes by expressing his total respect for the officers and men with whom he served.
Léo Paul Bérard
First name
Léo Paul
Last name
Bérard
Gender
M
Biography
Léo Paul Bérard was born in Ste Anne des Chenes, Manitoba, in 1915. He was one of only four of the family’s thirteen children to survive. His father was a farm and forest worker. Mr. Bérard studied carpentry in school, and helped his crippled brother to learn the trade. In 1933, he enlisted with the Winnipeg Grenadiers to join their ball team - he was given the rank of corporal. He pursued extensive NCO training, attaining the rank of sergeant. Mr. Bérard offers us a view of the Honk Kong/Japan internment through the eyes of a soldier who deeply respected his officers and men, and who was in turn respected by them. Many of his clips include very personal references of this sort. After returning from the war, Mr. Bérard remained in the Army, where he trained soldiers for the Korean deployment.
People old ID
389
People Language
E
I was Charged With Sabotage, I Thought I was Finished
Mr. Bérard describes working in the Kawasaki steel yards and being beaten for alleged sabotage of a pipe elbow.
I was Right on top of the Engine.
Mr. Bérard describes being shipped to Japan, defiance of the Geneva Convention by the Japanese, and an entertaining arrival in Nagasaki.
The Japanese Forced me to Saw Their Legs Off
Mr. Bérard describes being forced under threat of death to “shorten” the bodies of the dead to fit the smaller Japanese caskets, and risking his own safety to ensure that proper burials took place.
He Shouldn’t Have had Three Pips up There, he Should Have had Three Halos.
Mr. Bérard discusses the fact that the POW’s were blessed with terrific doctors. Despite this, these MD’s often suffered disappointment and humiliation.
Caster Oil Did the Trick
Mr. Bérard describes the food at Sham Shui Po, and how his discomfort leads to an unusual dietary supplement.
He was so Weak and so Gone, he was Eating Flies
Mr. Bérard describes Sham Shui Po barracks, and relates difficulties dealing with flies, bedbugs and general hygiene. He talks about respect given and returned for a bar of soap.
How Many of us are Going to be Left Around Here?
Mr. Bérard describes volunteering to nurse diphtheria patients at Sham Shui Po, and being reprimanded by the camp doctor over a Christmas singsong with those patients.
Inside the Wall Was a German Uniform
Mr. Bérard describes being held prisoner in a mansion, and accidentally finding a German uniform behind a false wall.
It (a grenade) Landed Right on the Breach of That Weapon
Mr. Bérard describes the events surrounding the surrender of his platoon, and a swift Japanese reprisal for a grenade attack by one of the prisoners.