Tears Ran Down my Eyes
Heroes Remember
Tears Ran Down my Eyes
Transcript
Description
Mr. Berry describes the emotional impact of visiting the cemetery at Groesbeek, Holland during a post-war pilgrimage.
Irving Malcolm Berry
Irving Berry was born on March 10, 1924 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. He attended South End School, but left school early to find work. At the time that war broke out, he was working as a porter for the bus company, earning $3.50 per day. Mr. Berry was aware that the recruiting officer in Halifax was prejudiced against blacks, but managed to successfully enlist. His training took place in Camp Borden, and then he shipped overseas, joining the 86th Bridging Company, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. Mr. Berry’s active service in France began twenty-one days after the D-Day invasion. His company’s responsibility was to deliver bridge building components to the Front, and if needed, assist in the actual construction of new bridges. Three major areas of activity were the Seine, Arnheim, and the Rhine. Mr. Berry left the Armed Forces after the war, but reenlisted in the RCASC in1952. He retired with the rank of Sergeant in 1974.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 2:23
- Person Interviewed:
- Irving Malcolm Berry
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Europe
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- 86th Brigade Company
- Rank:
- Sergeant
- Occupation:
- Bridging Crew
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He’s not gonna take me, I heard he’s prejudiced.
Mr. Berry describes how he enlisted despite a prejudiced recruiting officer.
That was horrible, that was my first experience with war.
Mr. Berry describes the devastation at Caen and the accidental bombing of Allied troops at Falaise Gap.
Work Responsibility with the 86th Bridging Company
Mr. Berry gives a general description of the 86th Bridging Company’s responsibilities, and then describes three incidents related to the delivery of material to theatres of action at the Seine River, the Rhine River and at Arnhem, evacuating Canadian paratroopers.
He must have got drunk and fell in the canal.
Mr. Berry describes the 86th’s advance into Brussels, the elation of the civilians, and how an off-hand remark erroneously implicated him in the death of a member of his Company.
How could you look at a little kid and say no.
Mr. Berry describes with great compassion how the Canadian Army did its best to feed starving children.
You’d never survive without the comradeship.
Mr. Berry describes the bonding and comradeship in his Company, and how in later years he was able to reestablish contact with a wartime pal.
I wasn’t happy as a civilian.
Mr. Berry describes his reenlistment in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and how good Military life proved to be for him.
There’s no glory in war.
Mr. Berry reflects on war in general and discusses the gratitude of the Dutch.
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