Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search veterans.gc.ca

Joining up Just Seemed Like the Thing to Do!

Heroes Remember

Joining up Just Seemed Like the Thing to Do!

Transcript
Yes, I went to the recruiting centre in Peterborough. And without a medical, or being sworn in, or anything, they give me a ticket, train ticket, to go to Ottawa, all by myself. So, I went to Ottawa. And I was met by a military person and taken to the fair grounds, where we were housed for some weeks, I don’t remember how long, probably three or four weeks, in an old agricultural building. They had double bunks in there, and it was kind of primitive. Well, I joined an anti-aircraft regiment, and one of the battery commanders in my regiment was Connie Smythe. We had our basic training in Cornwall, Ontario, and I can remember it being a lot of fun. From there, we went to Petawawa, and from Petawawa, we went overseas. So I was in the forces for about seven months, I guess, before I went over. No one is ever prepared to go to war, but we were happy with what we were doing. Except, the 40 mm Bofors weapon, which we were supposed to use, wasn’t available for practice or anything, or training on it, until we got to England. There, we finally got together with our weapon. For the next two years, we spent on coastal defence. Never fired a round in two years.
Description

Mr. McKerracher speaks about his decision to join the army. He provides detail of his basic training and travel overseas as part of the anti-aircraft regiment.

Neil McKerracher

Mr. McKerracher was born in Saskatchewan, on January 15, 1923. Nineteen-years-old, and eager for adventure, he moved to Ontario and decided to join the army. He became a member of the anti-aircraft regiment, and after receiving basic training in Petawawa, Ontario, he was shipped overseas. He served with coastal defence in Colchester, England. Mr. McKerracher was married in England during the Second World War. Post-war, he and his wife moved to Calgary, Alberta, where they raised their four children. Having no appetite for civilian life, Mr. McKerracher was eager to enlist for the Korean War. During his service in Korea, he was wounded by a mortar fragment, yet continued to serve in battle, holding the rank of Captain. Military life being his passion, Mr. McKerracher joined the Regular Force after his service in Korea. In 1953, he accepted a deployment to Germany, and lived there with his family for two years before returning to Canada. Mr. McKerracher retired from service life in 1978.

Meta Data
Medium:
Video
Owner:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
1:53
Person Interviewed:
Neil McKerracher
War, Conflict or Mission:
Second World War
Location/Theatre:
Canada
Branch:
Army
Occupation:
Gunner

Copyright / Permission to Reproduce

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Youtube

Related Videos

The 40 mm Bofors

The 40 mm Bofors

Mr. McKerracher describes the type of guns used and the responsibility of the gun crew when manning a post.

Aircrafts Colliding

Aircrafts Colliding

Mr. McKerracher speaks about witnessing aircrafts colliding and the fear experienced during the Battle of Falaise.

Getting Married in England

Getting Married in England

Mr. McKerracher speaks about meeting his bride and getting married while serving in England and the difficulty he felt returning to civilian life.

Getting Hit by Mortar Fragment

Getting Hit by Mortar Fragment

Mr. McKerracher describes his experience of getting wounded by shrapnel when carrying the commanding officer’s map board.

Bringing his Family to Germany

Bringing his Family to Germany

Mr. McKerracher speaks about his opportunity to bring his family to Germany during his Regular Force service and the positive experience this was for his children.

Date modified: