In the Shadows of the Great War
Heroes Remember
Transcript
I grew up in the shadow of the Great War.
There were many what they called “returned men”
around and looking at those fellows,
and what the war had done to them
it took away all desire for
any form of military service.
I certainly never did intend to join the army.
In June 1940, we said, “Look, if we are going to
win this war, everyone will have to pitch in!”
So that’s when I joined the army.
It was the 20th of June, 1940 I joined the
3rd Canadian Infantry Division.
When I joined the 3rd Div Signals,
we were immediately sent to Kingston, Ontario
which was the largest at Barriefield, Ontario,
opposite Kingston, was the largest signals
training establishment in the British empire and
that’s where we got our signals training.
The rest of our training was ordinary
infantry fighting training because signals
go everywhere. We were up, artillery regiments and
signals up with the infantry to find out
where the gunfire is needed and to
radio it back and that’s the sort of work we did.
The division engaged, different units of the
division collectively engaged in
seventy six battles and
absorbed thirteen thousand casualties.
Description
Mr. Barr recalls his decision to volunteer for the army.
Vernon Barr
Mr. Vernon Barr was born November 11, 1921 in Cobourg, New Brunswick. Growing up in the shadows of the great war, Mr. Barr witnessed the return of Veterans and this left a lasting impression on him. Later in life when war was again declared, he volunteered to serve and became part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division as a signals/wireless operator holding rank of corporal. Mr. Barr travelled overseas on the O’Ryan and was part of D- Day and the Battle of Normandy. He remains very proud of his service during the Second World War. Postwar and back in Canada, Mr. Barr and his family moved to Wolfville, Nova Scotia where he resides today.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Recorded:
- June 3, 2014
- Duration:
- 1:35
- Person Interviewed:
- Vernon Barr
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Battle/Campaign:
- D-Day
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- 3rd Canadian Division Signals Corp
- Occupation:
- Signalman
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