The Canadian Army

Heroes Remember

The Canadian Army

Transcript

We have or had, in my day anyway, we had a discipline that was effective and it was not oppressive and I'm saying that when I look at some of the British units that we were in contact with. They, some of their men almost seemed to be afraid of their officers. I couldn't, I couldn't see how an officer could lead men that had that feeling about him, I don't know. You didn't find it in the Canadian Army or if you did it certainly, I don't think that type of officer would be, would remain in command of combat troops too long. They'd give him a desk job somewhere. There's a camaraderie in the Canadian Army that, well it's lasted till this day that's why you've got a strong Legion. Does that answer your question? Interviewer:It does, how would you rate them as a fighting force? Oh good, good. Where other troops went to ground under a mortar attack the Canadians knew, instinctively I guess that you cannot depress the mortar sights fast enough to keep up with a running man so they'd always charge the mortar, which was very effective. You couldn't, the other, the Americans and the British would go to ground on a mortar attack and call up artillery support. Canadians, if they were close would be, they'd run forward, get rid of it that way.

Description

Mr. Jamieson reflects on the Canadian Army.

Douglas K. Jamieson

Mr. Jamieson was the oldest of two boys in the family and was born in Toronto on April 3, 1919. At the age of sixteen he moved to Montreal. While in university Mr. Jamieson joined the Canadian Officer Training Corps. His unit was converted to a regular force unit and he was shipped overseas as part a reconnaissance unit in the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division with whom he served in England, France, Holland and Germany.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 01:54
Person Interviewed:: Douglas K. Jamieson
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Europe
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars-Recce
Occupation:: Reconnaissance Officer

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Date modified:: 2019-04-03