Main, John: my Army recollections (April 29, 1978)
Rank: Sergeant.
An interview/narrative of John Main's experiences during World War II. Sergeant Main served with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, the Calgary Regiment (14th Armoured Regiment), the British Columbia Dragoons (9th Armoured Regiment). Interview took place on April 29, 1978.
Interviewee: Main, John, b. 1915
ABSTRACT: Sgt. John Main The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada The Calgary Regiment (14th Armoured Regiment) The British Columbia Dragoons (9th Armoured Regiment) Main_J_0104_01.mp3 Born in 1915 in Scotland. His father was a member of the 72nd Battalion, C.E.F. (Seaforth Highlanders) and the family moved to Vancouver in 1919. Sgt. Main joined the Seaforth Highlanders in May 1940. Basic training at Currie Barracks in Calgary where he eventually became a physical training instructor. Comments on camp conditions and the need for personal discipline to become a successful soldier. Volunteered to join The Calgary Regiment when it was mobilized in 1941. Camp Borden in May 1941, overseas in July. Promoted to corporal. Tank training on Salisbury Plain, issued with Churchill tanks then stationed on the south coast of England. (20:00) Extensive sea assault training before Dieppe. Posted to Aldershot as a sergeant gunnery instructor the day before the unit left for the raid on Dieppe. Rejoined the regiment six months later. Spent four weeks on duty at Gen. Montgomery's headquarters. Great admirer of Montgomery and of Gen. Alexander whom he later met in Italy. Claims there was no resentment among the troops about the Dieppe raid. The regiment was rebuilt and equipped with Sherman tanks in Scotland. Loaded aboard landing ships, tank (L.S.T.) for the twenty-eight-day voyage to Sicily, one squadron aboard each ship. (35:00) A member of C Squadron. Impressions of Sicily, fairly quiet. Italy: in support of the 8th Indian Infantry Division. Great troops who commanded the respect of the Canadians. Describes some tank/infantry actions. A hard-fought battle at "Vino Ridge" outside Ortona. (45:00) Main_J_0104_02.mp3 Came down with malaria, ordered to return to Canada as an instructor, but his transit papers were lost and he missed his boat. He next found himself as a reinforcement for the British Columbia Dragoons on the Gustav Line (after suffering another attack of malaria). Anecdote about new troop officer. While a member of the reconnaissance troop of the B.C.D.'s (15:00) he captured a number of German prisoners and shot and wounded an Italian who attacked his prisoners. Interesting methods of interrogation of P.O.W.'s by their Polish intelligence officer. (25:00) Anecdotes about life and personalities in the unit, including "Trapper" Martin, his gunner, who with great accuracy and at considerable range destroyed a scout car of the Indian army. In late winter 1945 he was due to be returned to Canada for health reasons, but was "waylaid" in England, promoted to acting sergeant-major, and finally was sent home in his substantive rank as sergeant. A great experience: a mixture of both great boredom and great excitement. (43:00)
Interviewer: Main, Chris D.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- 51.05011, -114.08529
- One original sound tape reel (ca. 90 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- MJ_104
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- July 11, 2007
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by AN, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2007. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail |
|
|
|
Main_J_0104_01.mp3 |
|
|
|
|
Main_J_0104_02.mp3 |
|