Sleeping Conditions and Food

We did all our training together, we slept under canvass, we got rained out, we slept in a blanket; you carried one blanket with you where you didn't have a tent. And sometimes you'd sleep on it, even the ground wasn't level and you ended up always rolling out and getting waken up cold and having to crawl back up and cover the blanket on. Oh stuff like that, and the food wasn't the best either mind you. But, I guess it was, it kept you going anyway.

Mr. Keys describes the sleeping conditions and the quality of the food.

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.

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 00:34
Person Interviewed:: Herman C. Keys
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Europe
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: South Saskatchewan Regiment
Rank:: Lance-Corporal
Occupation:: Rifleman

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