Canadian Military Oral Histories
User Collection Public
The Canadian Military Oral History Collection is composed of interviews of veterans of WWI, WWII, the Korean War and the War in Afghanistan. Over 370 recordings done by Dr. Reginald H. Roy and his students are the largest holding in this category. Historian Hal Lawrence also donated over 180 recordings that he collected of Canadian Naval personnel.
Collection descriptions
The following are descriptions of the major collections of interviews that make up the collection:
Reg Roy collection
Dr. Reginald H. Roy was the Chair of Military History (1968-1988) and the Social Sciences Research Centre (1970-75) at the University of Victoria. The Reg Roy fonds contains over 370 sound recordings of oral histories conducted over his career and was recognized by Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo in 2005.
Social Sciences Research Centre collection
This is an important subset of the Reg Roy collection of military oral histories and consists of extensive interviews with Major-General George R. Pearkes and other interviews with his family and a number of personal and professional associates for his biography entitled For Most Conspicuous Bravery: A Biography of Major-General George R. Pearkes, V.C., Through Two World Wars (1977).
Hal Lawrence collection
This collection includes approximately 120 interviews conducted by Commander Hal Lawrence in collaboration with National Defence/Défense nationale on the Canadian Navy (1940-1995). Some of these interviews have been transcribed and some are only available as transcripts.
Shawn Cafferky collection
This collection of 14 interviews by military historian Dr. Shawn Cafferky of the University of Victoria's Department of History were conducted in 1997 and refer to the experimental Squadron VX-10, and the testing and use of the Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King helicopter.
Military oral history class interviews
Since 2005, the History Department has offered a Military Oral History seminar course as a component of the Canadian Veterans Oral History Project, a joint project of the Royal United Services Institute of Vancouver Island (RUSI VI) and University of Victoria. The seminar course offers students the opportunity to interview veterans for course credit and the resulting interviews are deposited with University of Victoria Special Collections.
Elizabeth Hazlitte collection
This collection is comprised of six interviews with veterans of WWI conducted from 1983-84 by Elizabeth Hazlitte, a nurse at Victoria's Veteran's Hospital at the Memorial Pavilion.
David Stafford collection
This collection is comprised of nine interviews conducted by Dr. David Stafford, retired history professor at the University of Victoria, for his monograph on clandestine operations in WWII.
Copyright policy
The material is to be used solely for the purpose of research or private study. Any use of the copy for a purpose other than research of private study may require the authorization of the copyright owner of the work in question. The user must assume full responsibility for obtaining copyright permission to publish items in whole or in part.
Although the University of Victoria has permission to make the oral histories available to researchers, the copyright belongs to the interviewees. If extensive passages are used for publication, exhibition or presentation permission from the copyright holder is necessary.
Publication credit
The University of Victoria Special Collections will be given a copy of the book, article, exhibition catalogue, or supporting publication in all cases of publication, exhibition, or presentation of the oral history reproductions. In such cases a credit line citation should read as follows:
University of Victoria, Special Collections, Military Oral History Collection,
[Name of Interviewee], [Record ID Number]
Image: Elizabeth Hazlitte interviewing World War One veteran Egbert Browning in 1983
Permalink: http://vault.library.uvic.ca/collections/4a7eade6-d0b7-4807-8cd2-6eb9c5a66937
Collection Details
- Items 789
- Last Updated 2025-04-01
Parent Collections (1)
Works (789)
781. Interview with Warrant Officer Gary "Doc" Sandercock
- Title:
- Interview with Warrant Officer Gary "Doc" Sandercock
- Description:
- Narrator: Sandercock, Gary “Doc” 1942- Interviewer: Interviewed by Declan Smyth Interview Date and Location 11 March 2024, Victoria BC. Synopsis: This interview was with Gary Sandercock, the only member of the Canadian Army to ever serve on a Royal Canadian Navy Submarine. We explore how exactly this happened in the interview, but also including his time in Cyprus and career in NATO subs. Additionally, we discuss training exercises, interactions with fellow sailors, and the unique position of working as a medic on a submarine. 0:00 – 29:30 - Introductory questions (how an army medic ends up in the submarine service, start of service, end of service, occupational responsibilities) 29:30 – 52:00 - General questions about the nature of service (training, working conditions, deployments) 52:00 - - More technical questions about service (Missions, the different systems of the subs, problems that may have arisen during deployment) Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: At the very beginning of the interview, I address the fact that Gary is the only individual from the Canadian Army to ever qualify, let alone serve, on a RCN sub. This is mentioned a few times more throughout the interview, but I felt this was an interesting point, so I mentioned it right at the outset.
- Keyword:
- Medical Assistant Lvl 1-4 Course, Diving, HMCS Grilse, Hawaii, Boatswain/Bosun, Conning Tower, Skipper, Torpedoes, Honolulu, Baolo/Tench Class subs, War Games, Army, Sick Bay, Japan, and Juan de Fuca
- Subject:
- Submarines (Ships), Canada. Canadian Armed Forces, Canada. Royal Canadian Navy, Military history, and Soldiers
- Contributor:
- Sandercock, Gary and Smyth, Declan
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 2024-03-11
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/MovingImage
- Identifier:
- Interview #SC141_SG_915
- Extent:
- 01:12:27
- Alternative Title:
- Cold Warriors: The Royal Canadian Navy
- Geographic Coverage:
- Japan and Hawaii
- Coordinates:
- 20.78785, -156.38612 and 35.68536, 139.75309
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- reminiscences, oral histories (literary genre), interviews, and video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 4; Item: 915
- Fonds Title:
- Military oral history collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC141
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
- Technical Note:
- Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2024. Recorded in digital format by interviewer. Keywords supplied by interviewer. Metadata by KD.
782. Interview with Charles Oliviero
- Title:
- Interview with Charles Oliviero
- Description:
- Narrator: Colonel Charles Oliviero Interviewer: Interviewed by Josh Kotorynski Interview Date and Location: 12 March 2024, Victoria BC Synopsis: The interview with Colonel Charles Oliviero started with a discussion about his life before the military, what led him to join, his time at RMC, the importance of discipline there, and cultural change over the decades. After that, Oliviero talked about why he originally decided to join the Navy, his success in training courses and the seasickness that led him to join the army. Next, Oliviero discussed his training to become an armoured officer and what it was like commanding both tank troops and armoured reconnaissance troops. The interview shifted focus to particularly devastating budget cuts in the 1970s, the importance of good mess culture in the CAF, how the lack of good culture leads to retention issues and the negative side effects of drawing on the CAF as a workforce for domestic disaster relief. The interview got back on track with a discussion about the surveillance capabilities of armoured reconnaissance and the importance of developing good individual soldier skills, with an example of Canada winning a NATO tank competition in Germany. The interview continued with Oliviero discussing anti-armour technology and how it has affected armoured doctrine, training and types of conflicts armoured doctrine was focused on during the Cold War, as well as skill fade in higher level strategy in Afghanistan in favour of focusing on lower level fighting skills. After that, the interview shifted gears to Oliviero’s time in Cyprus and the work-up training program the CAF had in place. The interview continued with Oliviero talking about his time in the Soviet Union for the Conventional Forces Europe Treaty Inspection, where he inspected Russian arms and tanks, then discussed his time in Germany and the lessons he brought back to Canada that he learned overseas. The interview shifted to a discussion on changing tank technology, Russian tank doctrine as well as some of the key cultural and national differences that affect the Russian military. The interview continued on the topic of technology, discussing the benefits and challenges of better STANO and thermal imaging technology in armoured reconnaissance, as well as how anti-armour weapons and drones are being used in Ukraine and briefly in combined arms defensive strategy. Afterwards, Oliviero discussed the devastating impacts of budget cuts in the CAF and briefly mentioned what the future of the armoured core could look like. The interview ended with a discussion about Oliviero’s career after the military as a civilian contractor, training multiple militaries as well as countless Canadians to go to Afghanistan and the lessons he learned from his time in the CAF. 0:00 - 01:29 Introduction, life before the military, reasons for joining. 01:29 - 6:55 Experience at RMC, discipline, change in culture. 06:55 - 9:40 Time as a navel cadet, training, what caused the switch to the army. 9:40 - 11:36 Reasoning for choosing the armoured core, decision to stay. 11:36 - 15:49 Training to become an armoured officer. 15:49 - 20:32 Commanding tank troops and armoured reconnaissance. 20:32 - 32:48 1970s budget cuts, mess life, retention issues, CAF as a workforce for disaster relief. 32:48 - 39:57 Surveillance capabilities of armoured reconnaissance, NATO tank competition in Germany, reliance on technology. 39:57 - 45:21 Anti-armour technology, effect on armoured doctrine. 45:21 - 50:50 Training, types of threats and conflicts, individual soldier skills. 50:50 - 52:06 Changes in training from the Cold War to Afghanistan, loss of higher-level tactics in favour of lower-level training. 52:06 - 56:00 Work-up training and deployment to Cyprus. 56:00 - 1:03:12 Conventional Forces Europe Treaty Inspection. 1:03:12 - 1:05:18 Experiences and lessons learned from Germany. 1:05:18 - 1:15:05 How tank technology changed, how Colonel Oliviero had to adapt to meet these changes, Russian tank doctrine, and cultural and national differences. 1:15:05 - 1:18:20 Effect of changing technology in other combat arms trades on the armoured core. 1:18:20 - 1:20:25 Challenges during armoured reconnaissance as thermal tracking technology changes. 1:20:25 - 1:22:45 Effect of improved STANO technology on armoured reconnaissance. 1:22:45 - 1:27:17 Anti-armour weapons and drones in Ukraine, combined arms defensive positions. 1:27:17 - 1:32:19 Current CAF budget cuts, how the CAF was able to recover from previous budget cuts. 1:32:19 - 1:33:08 Potential future changes to the armoured core, combined arms theory. 1:33:08 - 1:40:48 Working as a civilian contractor, lessons learned from time in the military. Suggested Clip for Archive: 56:00 - 1:03:12, Conventional Forces Europe Treaty Inspection.
- Keyword:
- Cold War, Fire fighting, Armoured vehicles, Drones, Afghanistan, Combined arms, Budget cuts, Training, Cyprus, Ukraine, Technology, Tanks, Reconnaissance, Disaster relief, Germany, Soviet Union, Navy, and RMC
- Subject:
- Military education, Drone aircraft, Military history, Cold War (1945-1989), Canada. Canadian Armed Forces, Military supplies, and Soldiers
- Contributor:
- Oliviero, Charles and Kotorynski, Josh
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 2024-03-12
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/MovingImage
- Identifier:
- Interview #SC141_OC_928
- Extent:
- 01:40:48
- Alternative Title:
- The Significance of Technology in Combat Arms Trades
- Geographic Coverage:
- Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Cyprus
- Coordinates:
- 35, 33, 33, 66, and 49, 32
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- reminiscences, interviews, oral histories (literary genre), and video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 8; Item: 928
- Fonds Title:
- Military oral history collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC141
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
- Technical Note:
- Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2024. Recorded in digital format by interviewer. Keywords supplied by interviewer. Metadata by KD.
783. Interview with Eric MacArthur
- Title:
- Interview with Eric MacArthur
- Description:
- Narrator: Colonel Eric MacArthur Interviewer: Interviewed by Josh Kotorynski Interview Date and Location 12 March 2024, Victoria BC Synopsis: This interview started with an introduction to MacArthur’s life before the military, growing up in a military family and his reasoning for joining the infantry. MacArthur then discussed his time in school at Royal Roads and RMC before getting into his training to become an infantry officer, what his experiences were like and, things that he thought could have been done better, changes he made as an instructor, as he discusses later in the interview. The interview continued with questions about his time as a junior officer commanding an infantry platoon in the 2nd Royal Canadian Regiment. The focus shifted to his time working with the British army, working at a much higher command level and gaining different experiences than he would have back in Canada. MacArthur then talked about the mess culture in Britain, how important it was, and how he tried to bring that back with him when he came back to Canada. The topic of training courses came back, but this time, MacArthur was an instructor on them. He was able to influence change in the courses that he thought focused too little on actual infantry tactics and instruct those more. After this, MacArthur talked about the transition from an operational role to an administrative role, then to being a student on courses, a shift that happened many times throughout his career. After this, he discussed the challenges and different types of conflict the infantry was preparing for during his career and the impact of improving communications technology. He answered some questions about the work-up training and actual deployment to Cyprus, then got into some of the complications, the adoption and change in the capability of new military technology and used small arms as an example. The questions then got more into theory, specifically the relevance of the infantry and how the role of the infanteer has changed between the Cold War and now. The significance of taking and holding ground in the role of the infanteer changed dramatically through MacArthur's career; when he first joined, there was major emphasis put on being able to hold ground, but with Cold War doctrine developing, the focus shifted to the elimination of the enemy in a mobile conflict. Next was a brief discussion about STANO technology, the differences between light and mounted infantry, and how armoured vehicles and air mobile capabilities with helicopters change that. MacArthur then talked about the core of the infantry being the infantry section and how all other capabilities are built around that. The next questions were about the adoption and increased training in dispersed operations as well as the CAF taking mortars away from the infantry and removing their indirect fire capability, which MacArthur believes is a big mistake. The interview then shifted focus to Canadian air defence capabilities and the lack there of, drone use in the CAF, recruiting issues and how the recent budget cuts affect these. The last military-focused questions covered Canadian readiness to fight a war and potential future changes to the infantry. The interview ended with a discussion about MacArthur's post-military life, his job as a professor, teaching across the world but as a civilian, and even teaching Ukrainians before the conflict escalated. 0:00 - 04:37 Introduction, life before the military, reasons for joining the infantry. 04:37 - 06:00 Royal Roads and RMC. 06:00 - 07:26 Basic training and infantry officer training. 07:26 - 08:25 Time as a junior officer commanding an infantry platoon, 2 RCR. 08:25 - 13:00 Exchange with the British army, Company 2IC, Learning experiences. 13:00 - 14:18 Mess culture. 14:18 - 16:08 How experience gained through training and working as a platoon commander translated into instructing on courses. 16:08 - 18:02 Transition from operations to administrative role. 18:02 - 20:15 New challenges and types of conflict. 20:15 - 23:35 Changing communication technology. 23:35 - 26:05 Work-up training and deployment to Cyprus. 26:05 - 31:30 Complications brought on by military technology, adoption of new technology and small arms, and change in capability. 31:30 - 32:41 Relevance of infantry. 32:41 - 34:02 Change in the role of the infanteer between the Cold War and now, the cost of war. 34:02 - 37:15 Taking and holding ground, German doctrine, dispersed operations. 37:15 - 38:35 STANO technology. 38:35 - 40:58 Light and mounted infantry, role of armoured vehicles. 40:58 - 43:00 The infantry section, platoon, company and battalion. 43:00 - 46:52 Dispersed operations, ADO in Ukraine, ADO in the CAF, bringing mortars back to the infantry. 46:52 - 49:00 Current air defence capabilities of the infantry, NATO air defence capabilities, point protection. 49:00 - 51:22 Drone use in the CAF. 51:22 - 55:19 Current CAF budget cuts and their impact on operational readiness and recruiting issues. 55:19 - 58:21 Canadian readiness to fight a near-peer conflict. 58:21 - 59:46 Potential future changes for the infantry, increase in protection (air defence, electronic warfare). 59:46 - 1:04:20 Post-military life, working as an educator and advisor, teaching Ukrainians. Suggested Clip for Archive: 34:02 - 37:15, Discussion on infantry doctrine changing throughout the Cold War, taking and holding ground is no longer significant.
- Keyword:
- Mortars, Cold War, Air defence, High-level command, Ukraine, Britain, Armoured vehicles, Budget cuts, RMC, Drones, Cyprus, Royal Roads, Reconnaissance, Infantry, Helicopters, Indirect fire, Doctrine, Training, and Dispersed operations
- Subject:
- Military education, Canada. Canadian Armed Forces, Drone aircraft, Soldiers, Artillery, Military history, Cold War (1945-1989), and Military supplies
- Contributor:
- Kotorynski, Josh and MacArthur, Eric
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 2024-03-12
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/MovingImage
- Identifier:
- Interview #SC141_ME_927
- Extent:
- 01:04:20
- Alternative Title:
- The Significance of Technology in Combat Arms Trades
- Geographic Coverage:
- Great Britain and Cyprus
- Coordinates:
- 35, 33
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- reminiscences, interviews, oral histories (literary genre), and video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 8; Item: 927
- Fonds Title:
- Military oral history collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC141
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
- Technical Note:
- Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2024. Recorded in digital format by interviewer. Keywords supplied by interviewer. Metadata by KD.
784. Interview with Colonel (Ret'd) Michael Hanrahan on the Rwandan Genocide of 1994
- Title:
- Interview with Colonel (Ret'd) Michael Hanrahan on the Rwandan Genocide of 1994
- Description:
- Narrator: Hanrahan, Michael, 1951-. Interviewer: Interviewed by Faith Brown. Interview Date and Location 14 March 2024, Victoria BC. Synopsis: Hanrahan begins by describing his early childhood as the son of an officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He notes his long military career, outlining his deployments all over the world including the United Kingdom, Central Affric, and the Middle East. He played an essential role during the Rwandan Genocide providing logistical support to Romeo Dallaire and the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in 1994. Hanrahan goes on to describe the massacre sites and interactions with local populations throughout his time in Rwanda. He touches on the aftermath of the conflict, specifically mentioning the struggles faced by his men regarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 0:00 – 1:28 – Growing up as the son of an officer in the Royal Canadian Airforce. 1:29 – 2:02 – Enlistment as an officer cadet and finishing his military career as a Colonel. 2:03 – 22:17 – Overview of military career from military college, deployments in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Affric and employment with the United Nations. 22:18 – 29:00 – Pre-mission knowledge on the situation in Rwanda and first deployment with report recommending immediate aid. 29:01 – 30:00 – Displaced person camps and aid reintegrating civilians back into their villages after the genocide. 30:01– 30:54 – Arrival of Infantry Battalions and patrol of the country. 30:55 – 33:01 – Orphanages and description of the Canadian Forces at Christmas with the children. 33:02 – 36:40 – Second Deployment to Rwanda and observations of the situation, Canada Day. 36:41 – 38:49 – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the 20-year reunion of Canadian soldiers after the genocide. 38:50 – 43:33– Witnessing the genocide and massacre sites, church complexes. 43:34 – 45:46 – Life at headquarters and the Amahoro Stadium. 45:47 – 56:25 – Interactions with local populations and the impact of fresh rations. 56:26 – 59:50 – Overall impact of the genocide and peacekeeping officers. 59:51 – 1:01:03 – Personal impact of Rwandan Genocide. 1:01:04 – 1:07:10 – Role of peacekeeping on the international community. 1:07:11 – 1:13:20 – Departure from Rwanda, difficulties leaving the country and having to use bribery. 1:13:21 – 1:20:00 – Reintegration into Western Civilization. 1:20:01 – 1:22:48 – Conclusions. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 30:55 – 33:01 – Orphanages and description of the Canadian Forces at Christmas with the children. 36:41 – 38:49 – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the 20-year reunion of Canadian soldiers after the genocide. 38:50 – 43:33– Witnessing the genocide and massacre sites, church complexes. 59:51 – 1:01:03 – Personal impact of Rwandan Genocide. 1:01:04 – 1:07:10 – Role of peacekeeping on the international community. 1:07:11 – 1:13:20 – Departure from Rwanda, difficulties leaving the country and having to use bribery.
- Keyword:
- S4, Church Complexes, Romeo Dallaire, UNEF II, Infantry Battalions, Bribery, Orphanages, Christmas Day, Combat arms, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Calgary, Rwandan Genocide, Massacre Sites, Peacekeeping, Bosnia, Cyprus, Kigali, Canada Day, and United Nations (UN) New York
- Subject:
- Soldiers--Mental health, Rwandan Civil War (Rwanda : 1994), Post-traumatic stress disorder, Peacekeeping forces, Canadian, Military history, United Nations, Soldiers, Canada. Canadian Armed Forces, Peacekeeping forces, and Genocide
- Contributor:
- Hanrahan, Michael and Brown, Faith
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 2024-03-14
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/MovingImage
- Identifier:
- Interview #SC141_HM_916
- Extent:
- 01:22:48
- Alternative Title:
- The Devil’s Touch: An Examination of the Rwandan Genocide.
- Geographic Coverage:
- Cyprus, Rwanda, and Alberta--Calgary
- Coordinates:
- 51.05011, -114.08529, -2, 30, and 35, 33
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- interviews, oral histories (literary genre), reminiscences, and video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 5; Item: 916
- Fonds Title:
- Military oral history collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC141
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
- Technical Note:
- Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2024. Recorded in digital format by interviewer. Keywords supplied by interviewer. Metadata by KD.
785. Interview with Mike Cooke
- Title:
- Interview with Mike Cooke
- Description:
- Narrator: Cooke, Michael Charles, 1942-. Interviewer: Interviewed by James Ziolkoski. Interview Date and Location 14 March 2024, Victoria BC (Ziolkoski); 15 March 2024, Perth Australia (Cooke). Synopsis: This interview is with Mike Cooke, on his experiences as a naval and commercial diver. He describes his Navy career, including his experiences on HMCS Gatineau as a Ship’s Diver, and on HMCS Granby as a Clearance Diver. He also describes his career as a commercial diver, and his participation in several key events in the development of saturation diving. 0:00 – 0:41 – Introductions. 0:41 – 3:38 – Life before joining the Navy and enlistment. 3:38 – 5:39 – First involvement with diving operations. 5:39 – 6:50 – Description of tending a dive. 6:50 – 9:08 – Experiences as a sonar tech and with torpedo anti-submarine operations. 9:08 – 17:05 – Experiences with Clearance Diving training; differences between a Ship’s Diver and a Clearance Diver. 17:05 – 27:16 – Experiences as a Clearance Diver, posted to HMCS Gatineau and HMCS Granby. 27:16 – 34:24 – Reflections on Navy career and leaving the Navy, explanation of ranks. 34:24 – 49:53 – Experiences as a commercial diver. 35:54 – 41:10 – Experiences with saturation diving. 41:10 – 45:11 – Reflection on naval experience and commercial diving, saturation diving in the Navy. 45:11 – 49:01 – Limitations of saturation diving, physical effects of saturation diving. 51:19 – 53:55 – Reflecting on changing technology and diving. 53:55 – 56:05 – Reflecting on the role of Clearance Divers in the Navy. 56:05 – 58:59 – Concluding remarks.
- Keyword:
- HMCS Gatineau, HMCS Granby, Ship’s Diver, Saturation diving, Clearance Diver, and Commercial diving
- Subject:
- Soldiers, Submarine warfare, Saturation diving, Submarines (Ships), Military history, Canada. Royal Canadian Navy, and Scuba diving
- Contributor:
- Ziolkoski, James and Cooke, Michael Charles
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 2024-03-14/2024-03-15
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/MovingImage
- Identifier:
- Interview #SC141_CM_919
- Extent:
- 00:58:59
- Alternative Title:
- Exploring the Roles and Responsibilities of Clearance Divers in the Royal Canadian Navy
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- oral histories (literary genre), interviews, reminiscences, and video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 6; Item: 919
- Fonds Title:
- Military oral history collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC141
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
- Technical Note:
- Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2024. Recorded in digital format by interviewer. Keywords supplied by interviewer. Metadata by KD.
786. Interview with Ross Fetterly
- Title:
- Interview with Ross Fetterly
- Description:
- Narrator: Ross Feterly Interviewer: Justin Lucoe Interview Date and Location: March 14 2024, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Synopsis: Interview begins with a brief description of entering military service and overall career in the armed forces, including final rank achieved and medals awarded. Followed by background questions regarding the UN tour in the Golan Heights, such as the main goals of the UNDOF mission, size and composition of the contingent and previous knowledge or beliefs. Mission specific questions followed regarding daily life, interactions with locals, challenges and successes, and accomplishment of goals. Next were questions regarding the thoughts on the deployment in hindsight, current situation in the Middle East and connections drawn between the two, and overall success of the mission. Ended with post career questions about service in the armed forces, biggest lessons learned, favourite memories and advice for young soldiers. 0:00:06 - 0:03:20 - Introduction, growing up in Northern Quebec, moving to Kitimat and back to Montreal. Job at RBC before joining RCAF as finance and logistics officer. 0:03:20 - 0:08:53 - Overall career postings, overseas deployments, rank progression and medals. 0:08:53 - 0:18:25 - Description of UNDOF mission, members and size of contingent, personal roles and living conditions, rank during mission. 0:18:25 - 0:25:45 - Previous knowledge of the area, preconceived views on area, work with Israeli liaison officer, description of Second Intifada. 0:25:45 - 0:38:20 - Daily life, rest and relaxation time travel to Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Israel. Living conditions, interaction with Syrian conscripts, armed on deployment, thoughts on locals and combatants. 0:38:20 - 0:49:38 - Biggest challenges encountered and successes achieved, mission accomplished goals, overall views on deployment, changes in opinion, success in short term, thoughts on present day. 0:49:38 - 0:53:58 - Connections between mission and present, changing perspectives, possible future solutions. 0:55:58 - 1:05:24 - Overall views of career in CAF, biggest lessons learned, best memories from deployment, advice for younger soldiers and leaders. Suggested Clips for Archive: 0:35:25 - 0:36:05 - Interacting with the Syrian conscripts in Damascus who were sent for two week blocks at checkpoints, providing all water and food supplies themselves. 0:24:05 - 0:25:40 - Interaction with a Syrian man in Damascus who believes he has a house in the Golan Heights where Israeli villages are, and at some point he will be back there to live.
- Keyword:
- Canadian Armed Forces, Middle East, Israel, United Nations (UN), Golan Heights, Deployment, Second Intifada, Peacekeeping, United Nations Disengagement and Observer Force, Area of Separation, Watch towers, and Mission
- Subject:
- United Nations, Military education, Military history, Peacekeeping forces, Canadian, Peacekeeping forces, and Canada. Canadian Armed Forces
- Contributor:
- Lucoe, Justin and Fetterly, Ross
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 2024-03-14
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/MovingImage
- Identifier:
- Interview #SC141_FR_930
- Extent:
- 01:05:24
- Alternative Title:
- Canadian UN Peacekeeping in the Middle East
- Geographic Coverage:
- Middle East
- Coordinates:
- 33.13906, 35.85869
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- oral histories (literary genre), reminiscences, interviews, and video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 9; Item: 930
- Fonds Title:
- Military oral history collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC141
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
- Technical Note:
- Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2024. Recorded in digital format by interviewer. Keywords supplied by interviewer. Metadata by KD.
787. Interview with Lieutenant Commander (Ret'd) Charlie Hierons on Submarines in the Royal Canadian Navy
- Title:
- Interview with Lieutenant Commander (Ret'd) Charlie Hierons on Submarines in the Royal Canadian Navy
- Description:
- Narrator: Hieron, Charles (Charlie) J. Dec 30, 1948. Interviewer: Interviewed by Austin Follestad. Interview Date and Location 15 March 2024, Victoria BC. Via Zoom. Synopsis: Charles (Charlie) Hierons, was born in Croyden England, and eventually moved to Epson. He attempted to join the Merchant Marine at 15, but it didn’t work out. He then applied to the Royal Navy as a ‘boy entry.’ He describes his early years in the Royal Navy as particularly brutal. He eventually sought to become an artificer, and trained at HMS Fisgard. After training he eventually volunteered for submarines and served on a nuclear submarine. He was eventually asked to apply to become an officer, which he was accepted for. His career in the Royal Navy was cut short after an argument with his Commanding Officer. He decided to move to Canada where he continued to serve on submarines. He remembers choosing to serve on submarines because he wanted to be on the winning side. He recalls that serving on a nuclear submarine and a diesel-electric submarine was a very different experience. He saw training and the acquisition of one’s ‘dolphins’ as a very important part of submarine life. He remembers tense moments of politics during his service on a ship loaned to the RN during the Falklands war, in which they debated what flag to fly. He recalls almost being arrested in the US as he was technically a British citizen on a Canadian submarine. He recalls the development and testing of new mk24 torpedoes. He also participated in the rescue effort after the Ocean Ranger disaster. He remembers that ‘opposed transit’ ASW exercises were extremely grueling, to the point that he once fell asleep on a periscope. He remembers that submariners were extremely close to one another, and that it was because of training for him. He remembers a visit by Pierre Trudeau that resulted in political pressure to push through inadequate Canadian officers, which almost ended in disaster. He remembers extensive manpower issues. Eventually he was promoted to LCdr and became a combat systems trainer in Victoria. He remembers having to sneak away from the submarine community. He served on MARPAC on the West Coast to prepare Victoria-Class submarines for service there. He served on a torpedo test range working with Americans and serving on American subs for a bit. In his opinion the biggest change in RCN submarines during his time there was that they had become just like a ‘job’ and had lost much of their espirit de corps. 0:00 – 2:16 – Life before the military. 2:16 – 5:31 – Life in the Royal Navy as a ‘boy entry.’ 5:31 – 7:24 – Continued training. 7:24 – 10:20 – Becoming an officer. 10:20 – 12:56 – Discharge from the Royal Navy. 12:56 – 18:35 – Coming to Canada. 18:35 – 20:11 – Why choose to serve on Submarines? 20:11 – 33:53 – Serving on Nuclear Submarines versus Diesel Electric Submarines. 33:53 – 36:00 – Serving as a Training Officer. 36:00 – 41:09 – Serving on a RN Submarine exchange during the Falklands War. 41:09 – 46:23 – Role of RCN Submarines after his exchange. 46:23 – 51:31 – Experience with Submarine Training Exercises. 51:31 – 1:04:06 – Submarine Society/Importance of Training. 1:04:06 – 1:08:20 – Service after Submarines. 1:08:20 – 1:09:40 – Serving on American submarines. 1:09:40 – 1:16:02 – Opinion on changes within RCN submarines. 1:09:40 – 1:16:02 – Opinion on changes within RCN submarines. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 41:09 – 46:23 – Serving as a Canadian Submarine Crew during the Falklands War
- Keyword:
- Opposed Transit, Diesel Electric, MARPAC, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Electrical Engineering, US Navy, Falklands War, Mk24, Mk8, Pierre Trudeau, Boy Entry, Cold War, Submarines, Torpedoes, Exchanges, British, Victoria-Class, Oberon-Class, Polaris-Class, HMCS Okanagan, Artificer, Ocean Ranger, Naval Officer, Nuclear, O-Boats, Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Perisher, NATO, and Dolphins
- Subject:
- Soldiers, Falkland Islands War (1982), Submarines (Ships), Submarine warfare, Cold War (1945-1989), Canada. Royal Canadian Navy, Military education, and Military exchanges
- Contributor:
- Follestad, Austin and Hieron, Charles
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 2024-03-15
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/MovingImage
- Identifier:
- Interview #SC141_HC_906
- Extent:
- 01:16:02
- Alternative Title:
- FROM MICE TO SOUP TO DOLPHINS: UNDERSTANDING THE LEGACY OF THE CANADIAN SUBMARINE SERVICE TOWARDS THE END OF THE 20TH CENTURY
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- reminiscences, interviews, oral histories (literary genre), and video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 1; Item: 906
- Fonds Title:
- Military oral history collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC141
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
- Technical Note:
- Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2024. Recorded in digital format by interviewer. Keywords supplied by interviewer. Metadata by KD.
788. Interview with Lieutenant Commander (Ret’d) Kevin J. Macdonald
- Title:
- Interview with Lieutenant Commander (Ret’d) Kevin J. Macdonald
- Description:
- Narrator: Lieutenant Commander (Ret’d) Kevin J Macdonald Interviewer: Interviewed by Callum Thomson Interview Date and Location 17 March 2024, Via Zoom. Synopsis: Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Kevin J Macdonald speaks of his career in the Royal Canadian Navy. Beginning as an officer cadet while at Royal Roads University and the Royal Military Collage, to involvement Narcotics interdiction, defence procurement and finally a posting at NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) during the first gulf war. 0:00 - 0:30 – Preamble. 0:30 – 7:14 - Early life, family military history and reasons for joining the Royal Canadian Navy. 7:14 – 19:21 - Officer cadet training at Royal Roads University and the Royal Military collage. Training at sea. 19:21 – 31:15 - Narcotics interdiction on the west coast. Cooperation with the US navy. 31:15 – 35:36 - Time as course training officer, Computer science degree. Operations officer at CFB Esquimalt. 35:36 – 37:43 - Participation in Canadian patrol frigate procurement process. 37:43 – 41:55 - Role of Combat control officers and training. 41:55 – 48:09 - Time as a Submariner weapons officer, the end of the Canadian Nuclear submarine program. Cooperation with Australia. 48:09 – 54:23 - Seconded to NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE). Opinion on the origin and true purpose of NATO. 54:23 – 59:00 - Stumbling into being selected for NATO posting. 59:00 – 1:05:43 - Role as an intelligence officer at Allied Command Europe (ACE), Intelligence maritime and policy officer. Experience working with allied military personnel after fall of Berlin wall. 1:05:43 – 1:08:30 - NATO response to Invasion of Kuwait 1990, 1st Gulf war planning, Operation Desert Shield and Storm. 1:08:30 – 1:16:28 - NATO concerns about Kurdish insurgency in Turkey, possibility of Iraqi Incursion. Structure of ACE mobile force, Canadian involvement. 1:16:28 – 1:18:45 - Training for NATO posting, Operations experience in Canadian Atlantic fleet. NATO intelligence training. 1:18:45 – 1:27:17 - Retirement, Post-coldwar military spending cuts, Force reduction plan. 1:27:17 – 1:31:31 - Social expectations at SHAPE, soft diplomacy, Image of Canada in Europe, Canada as a bridge between Europe and the United States. 1:31:31 – 1:32:07 – Conclusion. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 59:00 – 1:05:43 - Role as an intelligence officer at Allied Command Europe (ACE), Intelligence maritime and policy officer. Experience working with allied military personnel after fall of Berlin wall, German reunification. Concerns about integrating former Warsaw Pact personnel into NATO and lingering German territorial claims in eastern Europe. 1:05:43 – 1:16:28 - NATO response to Invasion of Kuwait 1990, 1st Gulf war planning, Operation Desert Shield and Storm. NATO concerns about Kurdish insurgency in Turkey, possibility of Iraqi Incursion. Structure of ACE mobile force, Canadian involvement.
- Keyword:
- Turkey, ACE, Atlantic fleet, Gulf War, Defence procurement, Kuwait, RCN, Intelligence, Submariners, Pacific fleet, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, CFB Esquimalt, Allied Command Europe, NATO, Submarines, Iraq, 1st Gulf War, CFB Halifax, Narcotics interdiction, Royal Canadian Navy, Saddam Hussein, and SHAPE
- Subject:
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Canada. Royal Canadian Navy, Submarines (Ships), Submarine warfare, Military history, Soldiers, and Persian Gulf War (1991)
- Contributor:
- Macdonald, Kevin J. and Thompson, Callum
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 2024-03-17
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/MovingImage
- Identifier:
- Interview #SC141_MK_908
- Extent:
- 01:32:07
- Alternative Title:
- Canadian Military Diplomacy: The Role of Defence Attaches, Liaisons and Seconded Personnel
- Geographic Coverage:
- Canada. Canadian Forces Base (Esquimalt, B.C.), Turkey, Kuwait, and Iraq
- Coordinates:
- 48.4311, -123.4317, 29.5, 47.75, 39, 35, and 33, 44
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- oral histories (literary genre), interviews, reminiscences, and video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 2; Item: 908
- Fonds Title:
- Military oral history collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC141
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
- Technical Note:
- Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2024. Recorded in digital format by interviewer. Keywords supplied by interviewer. Metadata by KD.
789. Interview with Captain (Ret'd) Dermot Mulholland on Submarines in the Royal Canadian Navy
- Title:
- Interview with Captain (Ret'd) Dermot Mulholland on Submarines in the Royal Canadian Navy
- Description:
- Narrator: Mulholland, Dermot P.,1963 Interviewer: Austin Follestad. Interview Date and Location 20 March 2024, Victoria BC. Via Zoom. Synopsis: Dermot Mulholland was born in Dublin, Ireland, but immigrated to Canada in 1970 and grew up in Ireland. He remembers a consistent interest in the sea because his father was a merchant mariner. Once he graduated highschool he spent 4 years at Royal Roads military college. He had always been very interested in submarines, and mentioned his interest to the military. He remembers that one day, without any explanations to his classmates, he was taken away to submarine training. He remembers being drawn to submarines through books and TV, and thought of them as a challenge that was different than the rest of the navy. He called the submarines a ‘cowboy outfit.’ He remembers going on a ‘familiarization’ trip on HMCS Onondaga one summer and finding submarine life quite appealing. He explained how submarine crews operated in a way that was extremely unique within the navy. He remembers being derogatorily called a SPUT (surface puke under training) during his time training on a submarine, in which he spent 8-9 months in on-the-job training. He remembers serving with both Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy exchanges, and participating in an exchange himself to England, where he served as a Canadian navigator under an Australian captain on a British ship. He had very high praise for the Oberon-class submarines in Canadian service at the time. He remembers submarines being utilized as ‘clockwork mice’ by the navy, as he saw that they were reluctant to embrace the potential of submarine warfare instead of just Anti-Submarine warfare. He remembers participating in numerous CASEX (Combined Anti-Submarine Exercise) exercises which he recalls were quite restrictive. He also recalls participating in Operational Surveillance Patrols against Soviet missile submarines during the Cold War. He eventually rose through the ranks and was given the change to participate in the Perisher Submarine Command Course. He explained that Canada was instrumental in creating courses to help submariners pass, and eventually in taking over Perisher from the Royal Navy. He took the 2nd ever Perisher course run in Canada. He remembers during his first command of HMCS Okanagan he participated in recovery operations after the Swiss Air crash, in which they recovered the black boxes of the plane. He eventually retired from submarines, only to be pulled back in after the acquisiton of the Victoria-Class submarines, where he held two more commands before going back to surface ships. He was instrumental in implementing the SubSafe quality control system in Canadian submarines. He was part of the board of inquiry for the HMCS Chicoutimi fire, and remembers training Chris Saunders on a different submarine months before he was killed. He believes that the legacy of the incident still hangs over RCN submarines today. In his opinion some of the biggest changes in RCN submarines during his service were the introduction of SubSafe, Mk48 Torpedoes, and the rehabilitation of Perisher. 0:00 – 2:38 – Pre-miltiary life, Military college. 2:38 – 4:43 – Interest in submarine service, Selection for submarine service. 4:43 – 12:40 – Why choose submarines? First submarine experience. 12:40 – 21:10 – difference between surface ship service and submarine service. 21:10 – 26:33 – Training on a submarine. 26:33 – 30:19 – Exchanges with Commonwealth navies. 30:19 – 34:49 – Opinions on the Oberon-Class Submarines. 34:49 – 46:28 – Operations in the 80s and 90s. 46:28 – 49:43 – Moving up the ranks. 49:43 – 55:03 – Perisher Submarine Command Course. 55:03 – 58:32 – Commanding officer of HMCS Okanagan, Victoria-Class submarines. 58:32 – 1:00:23 – Shore Jobs, return to surface ships. 1:00:23 – 1:14:40 – HMCS Chicoutimi fire 1:14:40 – 1:18:02 – Opinion on the biggest changes in RCN submarines Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 1:00:23 – 1:14:40 – Description of HMCS Chicoutimi fire incident, fallout
- Keyword:
- Torpedoes, Oberon-Class, Submarine fire, SOSUS, Anti-Submarine Warfare, HMCS Chicoutimi, HMCS Onondaga, HMCS Windsor, Royal Navy, Mk48, Royal Roads, Cold War, Victoria-Class, GIUK gap, Submarine Warfare, Commonwealth, Perisher, OSPs, SOCT, Submarine Officer Continued Training, Swiss Air 111, Submarines, CASEX, Royal Canadian Navy, Operational Surveillance Patrols, SOUP, HMCS Okanagan, Royal Australian Navy, O-Boats, and SubSafe
- Subject:
- Military operations, Naval--Submarine, Canada. Royal Canadian Navy, Submarine warfare, Military history, Canada. Canadian Armed Forces, Canada. Canadian Armed Forces. Canadian Submarine Service, Soldiers, Submarines (Ships), Cold War (1945-1989), and Military education
- Contributor:
- Follestad, Austin and Mulholland, Dermot P.
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 2024-03-20
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- 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
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/MovingImage
- Identifier:
- Interview #SC141_MD_905
- Extent:
- 01:18:02
- Alternative Title:
- FROM MICE TO SOUP TO DOLPHINS: UNDERSTANDING THE LEGACY OF THE CANADIAN SUBMARINE SERVICE TOWARDS THE END OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- reminiscences, interviews, oral histories (literary genre), and video recordings (physical artifacts)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 1; Item: 905
- Fonds Title:
- Military oral history collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC141
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/military-oral-history-collection
- Technical Note:
- Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2024. Recorded in digital format by interviewer. Keywords supplied by interviewer. Metadata by KD.