Baptism by Depth Charges
Heroes Remember
Transcript
Description
Mr. Keith describes his eventful first day on the Thunder - hunting for a submarine outside Halifax Harbour, and the ship nearly being damaged by it's own depth charges.
David MacLeod Keith
Mr. David Keith was born on January 2, 1923, in Macklin, Saskatchewan. At age 3 his family moved to Outlook, where his father - a Veteran of the First World War, having served with the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry - after the war he worked as a school inspector.
In 1940, at age 17, Mr. Keith began to attend university but after struggling through the first year, the dean of the university suggested he take a year off. After receiving permission from his father Mr. Keith decided to enlist in the navy, he accidentally signed up for 7 years with the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve.Following 3 months training in Regina and an anti-sub course in Toronto, Mr. Keith was posted to the Thunder out of Halifax on July 14, 1942.
During the next three years he sailed on the Thunder, Dunvegan, and Mahone patrolling and escorting convoys.Returning home on August 18, 1945, he returned to university, later graduating with his BA in Education. After returning to the navy in 1949 for 2 years with UNTD as a staff officer, he became a teacher in 1951 and retired in 1983.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 02:08
- Person Interviewed:
- David MacLeod Keith
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Canada
- Branch:
- Navy
- Units/Ship:
- Royal Canadian Navy Reserve / Thunder
- Rank:
- Able Seaman
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