Moving the Dead & Wounded - ‘Thanks God’

Heroes Remember

Moving the Dead & Wounded - ‘Thanks God’

Transcript

Interviewer: So at this point you have the rank of sergeant? Yeah. Interviewer: What's your first duty, towards your officers, and your comrades, your soldiers? Well my job, at first, I was the one in charge of stretcher bearers. And I had a medical officer which I reported to, but I was pretty well on my own. To organize evacuation, and wounded, and the dead. Interviewer: Quite a duty. Well I did it for several months. Interviewer: Can you.... is there one time that, that comes to mind, a story you'd like to share about that type of duty? Well I was very lucky, we had an area we called Camouflage Hill, and the old Chinamen used to shell that steady. And it was getting heavy shelling and I drug some wounded out and we got in the jeep and I knew the hill would be shelled, plus mud. And the only guy I could get a hold of to help me was the Protestant padre Filshay (sp). So he helped me push the jeep up over this mud pie, and a darn old Chinamen shell come floating in about three feet from us, and never went off. I think he said "Thanks God", or something. And it was.... if that had of blew up I wouldn't be here. Interviewer: You must of had a lot of fear right then. No... you gotta worry about the guys you're trying to get out.

Description

Mr Elliot describes his role as charge of stretcher bearers, and recalls being shelled while attempting to transport wounded men.

George Elliott

Mr. George Elliott was born in Eagle Hills, Alberta, on December 4, 1931, and now resides in Lacombe, Alberta. His father served during the Second World War and had a brother killed in the Second World War at Normandy. After serving the army during the Second World War , Mr. Elliott joined the Korean War service and at this time held the rank of Sergeant. He was among twenty one Canadians who were honoured for their service with the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Mr. Elliott was awarded the British Empire Medal. He was a member of the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Light Infantry. Mr. Elliott served as a stretcher bearer sergeant of the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. During his entire service, Mr. Elliott was recognized for his untiring efforts and his firm determination to never leave a wounded man. His actions were considered worthy of the highest praise and are a credit to the Canadian Army. Upon his return home from his duty in the service, never being wounded himself during his service, Mr. Elliott was accidentally shot in the neck resulting in him becoming a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair.

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