A Gun Sergeant’s Duty

My duty … I had a gun crew, a six man crew, and I would have probably a bombardier or a lance sergeant with me and four gunners. I was responsible for them and a driver, and a gun tractor, and a gun. You did guard duties and that as a sergeant. They did, you know, duties other than being with you. But when you went in a field to a firing or anything else, or a scheme, that same group of gunners were yours. They went with you and they stuck with you. I had a crew that was loyal to this fellow and loyal to the regiment and that’s all that mattered, because the regiment was home. They’re a family, and whatever they get into, I stuck up for them. If the gun pits had to be dug deeper, they dug ‘em and I dug with them.

Mr. Bannerman speaks about his responsibility as a gun sergeant and the loyalty of the crew during wartime service.

Gordon Bannerman

Mr. Gordon Bannerman was born September 13, 1921. He was raised in Neville, Saskatchewan with his three brothers and a sister. His father served in the First World War with the 1st Canadian Field Ambulance. Following in his father’s footsteps, Mr. Bannerman enlisted and became a member of the 17th Field Regiment Artillery. He began his military career as a general service gunner and was soon promoted to sergeant. He trained in Petawawa, Ontario, was sent to Aldershott, England, eventually fought in Italy from 1943 to 1945 and through northwest Europe to the Netherlands in 1945. During his service time, Mr. Bannerman had plenty of close calls and was wounded by mortar fire. As a sergeant major, he considered himself a good listener who maintained strong morale amongst his fellow soldiers. After the war, Mr. Bannerman and his wife, Edith, whom he met in 1945, settled in British Columbia.