From Artillery to Infantry

Heroes Remember

From Artillery to Infantry

Transcript

And I remember this captain from Yorkton, Saskatchewan. He had me in, he said, "You can't go to an infantry, this is a higher branch of the service, artillery". I said, "My brother is putting in a claim for me." He said, "Why would you want to go to the infantry?" I said, " I don't want to sit here trying to shoot down air planes with a BB gun." I said, "And not only that," I said, " I'd like to maybe see, anybody I kill." I said, "I'd like to be able to see who I'm killing, right face to face." That's exactly what I said to this captain. He was so disgusted or something with me that, bang he signed that thing and I was out of there within a couple of hours.

Description

Mr. Keys describes why he transferred from the artillery to the infantry.

Herman C. Keys

Mr. Keys was born on September 15, 1916. He grew up in Balcarres, Saskatchewan which is sixty miles east of Regina. Mr. Keys started school at the age of six and quit in grade ten, at which time he went to Ontario to find work. His father owned a hotel which he sold before Mr. Keys was born. He also owned two farms and later became a cattle buyer. He died when Mr. Keys was twelve. His mother came from England and was a housekeeper for his father. Mr. Keys had a brother, named Mel and a sister. Mel went into action with Mr. Keys in Dieppe. Mel was wounded but survived the war. Mr. Keys joined the South Saskatchewan Regiment as a rifleman and was a member of the merchant marine for three years prior to enlisting.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 00:46
Person Interviewed:: Herman C. Keys
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: South Saskatchewan Regiment
Rank:: Lance-Corporal
Occupation:: Rifleman

Language selection

From Artillery to Infantry

Heroes Remember