Interviewer: Main, Chris D.

An interview/narrative of A. C. Vassar Hall's experiences during World War II. Captain Hall served with the Regina Rifle Regiment. Interview took place on June 7, 11 and 15, 1979.

Rank: Captain.

ABSTRACT: Capt. A.C. Vassar Hall The Regina Rifle Regiment Hall_A_0174_01.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 1) Born on June 19, 1909 in Saskatchewan. Joined the 12th Machine Gun Battalion in southern Saskatchewan. Commissioned ca. 1932. Transferred to The Regina Rifle Regiment. Offers comments on the training, social life, and attitude of those in the militia. Mobilized on June 1, 1940 as part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Training began at Dundurn Camp where the unit became part of the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Overseas in 1941, conditions in England. Describes duties as quartermaster of the regiment, adapted to the British system of drawing and accounting for stores. Commanded Headquarters Company which consisted of most of the administrative personnel of the battalion. Designated the D-Day landing officer in order to provide liaison between the fighting companies and the vehicles, stores, etc. which were in nineteen different ships. (45:00) Hall_A_0174_02.mp3 Much loading and unloading of ships while the unit was training in Scotland. Assault training on the Isle of Wight. Loaded aboard the Llangibby Castle (landing ship, assault) on June 1 and spent the next few days practicing with their assault craft. Given very detailed last-minute instructions. Landed at Courseulles-sur-Mer fifteen minutes behind the first assault troops. As Headquarters Company commander he quickly organized the beach to provide support for the Regina Rifle Regiment. Mines took a toll of landing craft, particularly as the mines became covered by the rising tide. Comments on the very fast replacement of vehicles and equipment destroyed by enemy action. (35:00) Hall_A_0174_03.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 2) Explains his D-Day landing tables which specified landing craft, times, personnel, contents, etc. Verified location of forward companies and dispatched vehicles and supplies through beach exits. Moved off the beach on June 8. Hall_A_0174_04.mp3 Rejoined the regiment in time to come under heavy attack by enemy armour, but they were beaten off by anti-tank weapons. (42:00) Hall_A_0174_05.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 1) Continues with account of close fighting. Comments on the enemy. Recollections of Caen in July. Moved on toward Falaise; "friendly bombing". Closing the Falaise gap, afterwards into open country. Held up at the Seine. In September observed heavy bombing attack on Calais, then the attack on Cap Gris Nez. Excellence of the supply system throughout the campaign. (45:00) Hall_A_0174_06.mp3 Leopold Canal where the Royal Montreal Regiment assisted the Regina Rifles Regiment and were severely dealt with by the enemy. Operation Veritable, crossing the Rhine. Flooded area around Cleve caused many problems. Heavy casualties. At war's end was in Brussels on a twenty-four hour pass, stayed a few more hours to celebrate. Returned to Canada. Demobilized in March 1946. General remarks on veterans' and military organizations. (31:00)

Interviewee: Hall, A. C. Vassar, b. 1909

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Hall, A. C. Vassar, b. 1909
• Main, Chris D.

Subject

• Operation Overlord
• Canada. Canadian Army. Royal Montreal Regiment
• Military history
• World War (1914-1918)
• World War (1939-1945)

Language

• eng

Date created

• June 7, 1979 to June 15, 1979

Relation

• Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 6 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic Coverage

• Québec--Montréal
• England

Coordinates

• 52.16045, -0.70312
• 45.50884, -73.58781

Additional physical characteristics

• Two original sound tape reels (ca. 195 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 3 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.

Physical Repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• interviews
• reminiscences
• sound recordings
• oral histories (literary genre)

Archival item identifier

• HACV_174

Fonds title

• Reginald Herbert Roy fonds

Fonds identifier

• SC104

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds

Date digitized

• March 31, 2009

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 32 kHz. Digitized by QL, 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 2009. 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

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/5xew-3n34

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