War is Terrible

Heroes Remember

War is Terrible

Transcript

War is terrible. But when you’re young, you don’t think of the consequences, you think of the adventure and that’s what you do. I’m not a hero in any shape, you know, I’m not a brave man. Really, underneath I’m a little bit of a coward I guess, I don't know. But I’ve always figured, you know, it took a bit of guts to go ashore there from the landing craft. But in those instances, you have established relationships with your buddies. Don’t let them down, they’re your buddies. Even you might be scared and I was scared many a times. I was very proud to be a Canadian volunteer. We had a population in that time about ten, close to ten and a half million and fielded an army or air force, a navy, you know, all combined, of nearly a million men. Now that from ten million of a population, that’s a feat. And we were, our war effort for production and sending food and so on, it's unsurpassed. We had a good effort there but if you can avoid war by negotiation by all means do it because I don’t like to see young men, you know, when you go there to the grave site, you’ll see the age of these young men and if you could just picture your brother or your cousin or something of that age. It’s not a glorious thing, it’s massacre, it’s slaughter. I’m just an ordinary guy and I was happy to do my bit.

Description

Mr. Hannam provides his view on the sadness of wartime and how he is so very proud of Canada’s contribution.

Bud Hannam

Mr. Bertram “Bud” Hannam was born in Toronto, Ontario May 27, 1925. Having parents that immigrated to Canada in early 1912, and growing up in time of depression Mr. Hannam holds great admiration for his father, considering him his hero working as a prospector and providing so well to his family during very difficult times. Later in life Mr. Hannam moved from Toronto, to Montreal then settled in Ottawa. He decided to join the service after receiving his education. Initially joining with the Cameron Highlanders Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Mr. Hannam’s service as an infantryman would be short lived knowing that the life in the infantry was not for him. A new opportunity came for Mr. Hannam when he joined with the 23rd Field Ambulance as a stretcher bearer also providing him with a better chance to get overseas. Overseas, June 1944, a part of the D-Day invasion, on 2nd wave, Mr. Hannam served as stretcher bearer caring for the wounded. In honor of his service to our soldiers and the French people, almost 70 years later, Mr. Hannam is recognized for his service and presently has a school house/library named in his honor in the small town of Basly, France, the former casualty clearing station where he cared for the casualties during this invasion. In the town of Basly, to this day, Mr. Hannam is considered a true hero for the care he provided during Canada’s wartime. Mr. Hannam resides in Ottawa with his wife Rosey who has been an inspiration in keeping the honor of his service alive.

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