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Leaving Camp

Heroes Remember

Leaving Camp

Transcript
When the Christmas came of that year, winter of ‘39, ‘40, I don’t recall, there’s a bit of an incident but I won’t mention it, the Royal Regiment, the RCR was at Valcartier, were not gone then, so when I arrived at Valcartier that morning, we, we were, we had to be, go straight to the medical room because... So basically the bunch of NCO’s from Quebec going to Valcartier, we were so displeased of having to spend the part of the winter up at Valcartier. Coming out from Levis, the Levis Ferry if you know the area, on the right hand side there’s a Quebec Liquor Board store and the regimental sergeant major, nice guy, ex-policeman at Levis, he was a sergeant of police in Levis, he said, “Let’s go to the tavern, and get a glass of beer, and keep your glass.” So we went to the tavern, got a small glass of beer and put the glass in our winter... And next door to it was the LCBO and we all bought a Bowles, a bottle of Bowles Gin. So we’re five of us with five bottles of Bowles Gin for a thirty miles drive to Valcartier. Well, I don’t recall getting beyond the track at about five miles from Valcartier. So we were supposed to report at one-thirty but I reported the next morning. So the RCR look after me, so I’ve had some friends from the RCR ever since I think.
Description

Mr. Robitaille talks about being with the Royal Canadian Regiment at the Valcartier camp.

Guy Robitaille

Guy Robitaille was born October 2, 1920 in Lauzon-Lévis, a small military town. Mr. Robitaille had four brothers and three sisters. His mother died in 1925 and his father died in 1936. After his father's death, Mr. Robitaille made the decision not to finish school, but rather to work and help his family. On August 26, 1936 he received his mobilization papers and started full time with the army. Shortly after, he transferred to the Vandoos training centre. In August, 1941, he arrived in Brockville, Ontario where he became an officer and later returned to Valcartier. In Italy, wounded in the thigh and chest, Mr. Robitaille spent nine months in hospital where he went through five operations. While in hospital he heard on CBC radio that he had received the Military Cross. In November, 1943, he returned to Canada to recover in a Québec City hospital. Upon recovery, he returned to service with the Canadian Army.

Meta Data
Medium:
Video
Owner:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
02:09
Person Interviewed:
Guy Robitaille
War, Conflict or Mission:
Second World War
Location/Theatre:
North America
Battle/Campaign:
Italian
Branch:
Army
Units/Ship:
Royal 22e Régiment
Rank:
Platoon Officer
Occupation:
Intelligence

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