From Britain to Sicily: the Convoy
Heroes Remember
From Britain to Sicily: the Convoy
Transcript
Description
After leaving the Salisbury training camp to see action in Sicily, Mr. Horowitz talks about the good and the very bad memories aboard the convoy.
Robert Horowitz
Mr. Horowitz was born in Cornwall, Ontario, on August 30, 1919, of Jewish parents who immigrated to Canada from Russia. He grew up in Montreal where he studied at Lord Arthur School and then moved on to Montreal High. He enlisted with the Régiment de Trois-Rivières in the latter part of 1939 when he was 20 years old and still in high school. Mr. Horowitz attended Camp Borden during the winter of 1939-40 for approximately 1.75 years. He first set foot on European soil in Scotland and trained in Salisbury. He saw action for the first time in Sicily and the southern part of the Italian peninsula before being wounded in Tremali. Following the war, he spent some time with Veterans Affairs assisting Canadian Veterans in England and later retired in Canada.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 02:03
- Person Interviewed:
- Robert Horowitz
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Europe
- Battle/Campaign:
- Italian
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- Three Rivers
- Occupation:
- Gunner
Related Videos
Innocence Lost
Mr. Horowitz describes how he was first ignorant to what was happening in Europe and then so tormented by the atrocities he heard that he left his girlfriend to enroll.
Brothers in Arms
Mr. Horowitz describes how the English and the French of his regiment got along and became close friends through adversity.
Enlisting
Mr. Horowitz describes why and how he enlisted. He also talks about his parents' reaction to his enrollment.
Training Improvisation
Mr. Horowitz explains how he and his regiment had to improvise because of somewhat inadequate equipment during training, but were finally honoured for it.
Sir Winston Churchill
Mr. Horowitz talks about Winston Churchill's leadership.
The British
Mr. Horowitz talks about the British and how they treated Canadians.
Salisbury Food Riot
Mr. Horowitz talks about the British (Scottish) training camp of Salisbury. More specifically about a riot caused by the poor quality of food being served that brought them on the verge of mutiny.
Battle Ready Canadians
Mr. Horowitz talks about the Canadians' eagerness to go to war while "idle" in Salisbury training camp.
Tank Specialists
Mr. Horowitz talks about how he and his five man team became multi-tasking tank specialists during training in Salisbury.
The Bob Gladnick Anecdote
Mr. Horowitz talks about a very funny American soldier named Bob Gladnick who pretended to be of a much higher rank when a group of approximately 1000 Italian soldiers surrendered to him and how he was then promoted for it!
Battle Strategies
Mr. Horowitz talks about how they managed to foil the Germans even though they had inferior tanks (less range). He also mentions how they sometimes had to use donkeys because of weather conditions.
Honoured Heroes
Mr. Horowitz talks about how and why his regiment became the most decorated regiment of Canadian history and the only one that got an Irish decoration.
Father Wilheim
Mr. Horowitz talks about the Padre who comforted him after his radio operator's death and helped him face his own possible demise.
Taking Sicily
Mr. Horowitz talks about how (mostly how fast and relatively painlessly) the Allied forces took Sicily from the Germans and the Italians.
After Sicily
Mr. Horowitz talks about what happened when they left the island of Sicily for Italy (the continent). He describes the first few battles, German weapon superiority and how the terrain played to the German advantage.
Comparing Enemy Soldiers
Mr. Horowitz talks about what happened when they left the island of Sicily for Italy (the continent). He describes the first few battles, German weapon superiority and how the terrain played to the German advantage.
Consequences of a Wound
Mr. Horowitz talks about what happened after he was wounded in Termoli: first sent to hospital, then bumped from country to country, having to leave his wife and daughter in England, returning to Canada, getting his wife back, his recovery and his discharge.
Helping After the War
Mr. Horowitz talks about moving back to England and working for Veterans Affairs there and then coming back to Canada but not wanting to work for Veterans Affairs here (to move on with his life).
Admiration for The British
Mr. Horowitz continues talking about how he admired the British. He also talks about Canada-England post war relations in a very humorous way.
Lest We Forget
Mr. Horowitz talks very wisely and philosophically about what we have, have not and should have learned from the war.
A Message to Today’s Youth
Mr. Horowitz advises today's youth on what they should get out of the war (the past) and how it is inextricably tied in to their future.
Remembering
Mr. Horowitz remembers his own involvement, how he would have done it again and tells us how to honour the fallen and their families and what we should remember on Remembrance Day.
- Date modified: