Clarke, Bernard: my Army recollections (August 18, 1987)

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Rank: Captain.

An interview/narrative of Bernard Clarke's experiences during World War II. Captain Clarke served with the Canadian Scottish Regiment. Interview took place on August 18, 1987.

Interviewer: Torrie, Tom

ABSTRACT: Capt. Bernard Clarke The Canadian Scottish Regiment Clarke_B_0029_01.mp3 Born on Apr. 4, 1915 in Victoria, B.C. Joined the Canadian Scottish Regiment brass band in 1930. As a private went "active" with the unit in 1939. Lived for three or four months in the Bay Street Armouries, then moved to the former Relief Camp at Otter Point. Training was elementary, discipline tough. The unit then moved to the unfinished camp at Debert, N.S. Transport Sgt. Clarke stopped off at the General Motors plant in Oshawa, Ont. to pick up the unit's vehicles. While at Debert an attempt was made to train the unit as ski troops, but wiser heads prevailed. After a rough crossing to Britain, they arrived at Aldershot. Clarke explains living conditions, training, equipment, exercise Pirate, etc. Exercises were absolutely essential to the success of D-Day. Selected for officers' training. Returned to Gordon Head Camp in Victoria. As an experienced soldier he found the course fairly easy and a bit out-of-date. While there he helped to bring the training somewhat closer to overseas standards. (16:00) Returned to Britain in the fall of 1943. D-Day, landed in Normandy with the regiment. (25:00) Discusses some photographs with the interviewer. (35:00) Clarke_B_0029_02.mp3 Some discussion of battle and pre-battle experiences. In July wounded in the shoulder and arm. Repatriated to Canada. Nearly six months in Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver. Recounts his return to Canada with many German prisoners of war in the Queen Elizabeth. (47:00)

Interviewee: Clarke, Bernard, 1915-1991

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 45 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • CB_029
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • May 17, 2007
Technical note
  • 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

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file details SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail Public
file details Clarke_B_0029_01.mp3 Public
file details Clarke_B_0029_02.mp3 Public