Attention!
Cette vidéo est disponible en anglais seulement.
Description
Mr. Letendre was assigned as reinforcement to "B" Company of the Calgary Highlanders in the midst of the battle for the city of Caen. He recalls the casualties on the first night of battle and reflects on being one of only six men in his company who survived the fighting that night.
Hugh Victor Letendre
M. Letendre est né le 4 mars 1925 dans le petit village de Lac Ste-Anne (Alberta). Comme Métis, il a appris à parler cri, français et anglais. Il faisait partie d’une grande famille : il avait un frère et huit soeurs. Son père était trappeur et faisait une pêche commerciale importante. M. Letendre a appris à chasser et à pêcher de son père. <br><br> À l’âge de 11 ans, il est devenu concierge de l’école à classe unique où il était également élève. Il balayait les planchers, préparait le feu le matin et transportait l’eau et le charbon. Pour tous ses efforts, on le payait quatre dollars par mois, qu’il remettait à ses parents puisqu’ils avaient très peu d’argent à l’époque. <br><br> Il s’enrôla à l’âge de 18 ans et il servit pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale comme carabinier dans les Calgary Highlanders. Pendant son déploiement outre-mer, il a servi dans la campagne de Normandie après le jour J. Après la guerre, il devint le chef de l’Association nationale des anciens combattants autochtones.
Transcription
I'll always remember my first battle. We got across this open field, and we got half way across and all of a sudden hell breaks loose, machine gun fire, shell fire, and we hit the ground. And I remember I was going to stick my head up and have a look to see what the hells going on. And he says "Keep your head down," he says, "might get it knocked off you know." And the word comes to me and says, "Curiosity kills the cat.". So from there on I tried to keep my head down. Because it was a hell of a barrage you know. But I, that was my first experience in battle.
Interviewer: What do you remember thinking about it. Do you recall any emotions running through you when this first happened?
No there was no emotions because it seemed like when hell breaks loose around you, it seems like you settle down. It's before you go in that seems to put the pressure on you but once it happens it seems that it's ok, you know what I mean. That you are there and you just do what you have to do right. And you see your buddies get it, you know and wounded and everything else. You do what you have to do.
Interviewer: During that first engagement with the enemy Mr. Letendre did your platoon or company take any casualties?
Not on that day, no, not on that day. But I remember later on in the day we advanced further and we got into just about night battle I guess. And there was about 125 strength I guess, somewhere around there, in our company. And the next day we regrouped and there was six of us. I was one of them. Then got the company back together and regrouped again.
Interviewer: What company was that of the Calgary Highlanders?
"B" Company
Interviewer: The rest were either missing, dead or wounded.
Either one, don't really know what happened. It was night, couldn't see what was happening. Fire all over.
Interviewer: Do you often think about that night?
Sometimes.
Interviewer: Why do you think it was Mr. Letendre that you and those other five men survived that fire fight?
Love of God I guess, I don't see any other reason. I guess I said many prayers when I was there too I guess, when things happen.