Taylor, Edward Drummond: my Army recollections (May 21, 1986)
An interview/narrative of Edward Drummond Taylor's experiences during World War II. Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor served with the Royal Canadian Engineers. Interview took place on May 21, 1986.
Interviewer: Roy, Reginald H.
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel.
ABSTRACT: Lt.-Col. Edward Drummond Taylor Royal Canadian Engineers Taylor_E_0138_01.mp3 "Peter" Taylor was born on Feb. 18, 1959 in Vancouver. Educated in public schools in England. Universities of Toronto and London. In 1934 worked in Yugoslavia with a mining company. Returned to university: Johns Hopkins, and then to Laval where he completed a Master's degree in Geology. Joined the 6th Field Company, Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers in North Vancouver, although he did not serve with them, moving directly to Petawawa Camp as a second lieutenant. Promoted to lieutenant and appointed intelligence officer. Overseas in 1940 to the British Intelligence School. Through his father's friendship with Sir William S. Stephenson (Intrepid) he found himself summoned to the War Office in London and seconded to the "Inter-Service Research Bureau", although he never met anyone in that organization. (15:00) Trained in Scotland, observed at a parachute school, studied railway sabotage. Apparently the idea was to get a "feel" for all of these facets of counter-intelligence. Returned to Canada to help start the counter-intelligence school at Whitby, Ont. where most of the students were Americans, sent from New York. (30:00) Among them were Federal Bureau of Investigation agents who were known only by their Christian names and some who could only be described as "thugs". A student body of only about ten to fifteen at a time. Formulated a scheme for a "fifth column" in B.C. should that province be invaded by the Japanese. Ordered by New York to show the scheme to the Chief of the General Staff in Ottawa, Taylor later proceeded to Pacific Command under cover as a security officer. He tramped through a large area of B.C. centred on Terrace. Comments on the armoured train. Plan finally abandoned when the danger receded. Sent to the staff college at Kingston. Overseas to regular army duty in the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Second-in-command of the 18th Field Company, R.C.E. In spring 1944 became part of the wireless cover plan to deceive the Germans regarding the invasion of Europe. He represented the 1st United States Army Group slated to invade the Pas de Calais. False movement orders and other operational wireless traffic for about two months before D-Day and for two weeks afterward. Went to Normandy as a staff officer, engineers, with 1st Canadian Army headquarters. (45:00) Taylor_E_0138_02.mp3 He was chiefly involved in writing operations orders and surveying the ground for operations. Injured in a vehicle accident and returned to Canada in 1945. (15:00) Taylor_E_0138_03.mp3 Appointed liaison officer to the U.S. Corps of Engineers in Washington, D.C. Later involved in joint U.S./Canadian winter exercises in the Yukon. Posted to Ottawa as a lieutenant-colonel. Anecdotes about the Yukon exercise. Personal philosophy toward the army. General comments. (35:00)
Interviewee: Taylor, Edward Drummond, b. 1915
- In Collection:
- 3 sound recordings (MP3)
- 44, 19.75
- 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
- TED_138
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- June 1, 2010
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, 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 2010. 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
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