Taking Leave in Edinborough

Heroes Remember

Taking Leave in Edinborough

Transcript

Well, mostly I remember taking a leave in Edinborough with a friend of mine who had an aunt living there. Yeah, a guy named Jock Hasty (sp), he was in my regiment, he was in a quarter master in the QM store. And I remember walking down one time, I don't know where Jock was, away somewhere, and I was walking down the main drag, and then Princess Street in Edinborough, and this was a Sunday afternoon and a beautiful big limousine drove up and the chauffeur was sitting outside and those limousines were, the owner was sitting inside. And he stopped and he squeezed a bulb on the horn, you know on the back. So I walked over and he just nods his head to the back and the window rolled down and there was a dear old lady in there. And she says, in perfect, no Scottish accent, really, you know, well brought up. I mean this was gentry or as they called in those days, you were talking to. And she asked, "You Canadians, we're so happy that you're over here to help us." And she wanted to invite me to come up for tea. Well, you know, twenty-four years old, I wasn't looking for something more than tea really went I was going around there but I thanked her very much and said I had to meet, I made excuses, I said I had to meet my friend later on but I thanked her very much and I said, "Yes we're over here to do our bit for the country."

Description

Mr. Keys describes the time he took leave in Edinborough.

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:: 01:43
Person Interviewed:: Herman C. Keys
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Scotland
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: South Saskatchewan Regiment
Rank:: Lance-Corporal
Occupation:: Rifleman

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Taking Leave in Edinborough

Heroes Remember