Post War Depression

Heroes Remember

Post War Depression

Transcript

One of my worst times of all, was when I came out of the army. I didn't have a wife interested in me or a girlfriend at home. Come home to mum and dad. I got quite depressed. I missed my mates. God, I missed them. What am I to do, you know, I'm 27. That was the worst thing, not the war. After the war for a while anyway. I have a couple of poems in my book, you'll read them, that I wrote. Interviewer: Can you expand that, on that for me? Help me understand that through all those years and all those horrible things with your mates, and then almost in an instant, you're separated from them. That's right. Interviewer: Help me understand that, what you go through. It's as bad as quite a lot of things, I guess. I mean, don't forget, you've been years with guys, looking at death up around every corner and suddenly you're... it's all over. You can't believe it. You thought you'd be jumping for joy. Well, I'm sure that it would be, not completely different, but certainly somewhat different, for a man who's got a couple of kids at home and a dear sweet wife. But I, it was a long time before I got settled down at all. I got over it eventually, that's for sure.

Description

Mr. Tee tells us how difficult he found things after the war was over.

Ronald Tee

Mr. Tee was born in Portsmouth, England, on December 1, 1919. His father served with the navy in the First World War and after retiring from the service moved his family to a small village called Pinner in Northern London. At the age of 20, Mr. Tee found himself being "called up" to the British Army. In February 1940 he joined the Queen's Royal Regiment and was posted to Newcastle. He later volunteered and joined the Reconnaissance Corp. Regiment (later part of the Royal Armoured Corps.) and became a member of the 56th Reconnaissance Battalion. He remained with this unit until the end of the war and held rank as Troop Sergeant. Mr. Tee received an honourable discharge from the service on September 11, 1946. In 1953, Mr. Tee and his family moved to Canada to start a new life. They now reside in Kingston, Ontario. Throughout his lifetime Mr. Tee has been known for his determination, courage, enterprise and his enduring motto of "Keep your chin up mate!" He has written a book sharing many stories and experiences he had as a British soldier during the Second World War.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 2:06
Person Interviewed:: Ronald Tee
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Europe
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: 56 Recee Unit (Armoured)
Rank:: Troop Sergeant
Occupation:: Armoured Car Commander

Language selection

Post War Depression

Heroes Remember