Stephen, Hugh Roulston: my Army recollections (March 30, 1983)

An interview/narrative of Hugh Roulston Stephen's experiences during World War II. Captain Stephen served with the Royal Canadian Artillery, the Canadian Intelligence Corps and the Special Operations Executive, Force 136. Interview took place on March 30, 1983.

Interviewee: Stephen, Hugh Roulston, b. 1913

Rank: Captain.

ABSTRACT: Capt. Hugh Roulston Stephen Royal Canadian Artillery Canadian Intelligence Corps Special Operations Executive, Force 136 Stephen_H_0071_01.mp3 Born on Apr. 25, 1913 in Guildford, Surrey, Eng. His family came to Victoria just before the war and in late Aug. 1939 he enlisted in the 5th (British Columbia) Coast Regiment, R.C.A. as a gunner. Was posted to 17th Searchlight Battery at Fort Rodd Hill. After a year he was commissioned and subsequently became Adjutant of the regiment. After Pearl Harbour he was unable, despite his best efforts, to proceed overseas to England. A large buildup of the Pacific coast defences occurred because of the fear of a Japanese attack. Volunteered to attend the Army Japanese Language School in Vancouver in 1943. Comments on the need for personnel capable of speaking Japanese and describes the school, curriculum, and instructional staff. A very intense and effective course. Upon graduation ten students were sent to the South East Asia Command after volunteering for what turned out to be the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.). Their choice of occupation included operating behind Japanese lines, front-line propaganda broadcasting units, or in psychological warfare. Flew to India in March 1945. Explains the testing and selection process at the Jungle Warfare School at Poona. A very small percentage was found suitable for the lonely work behind the Japanese lines. Was chosen for the Psychological Warfare Dept. in Calcutta in Apr. 1945 because he was good at Japanese written characters and had been a journalist for a short time in London, Eng. Describes propaganda newspapers and their purpose: to inform the Japanese of the military situation. Also prepared slightly gloomy official-looking reports, placed where the Japanese could find them, all in an effort to promote a pessimistic attitude in the enemy. Provides an account of the almost unheard-of use of Japanese prisoners of war for propaganda purposes. The Japanese were convinced that they would be assisting the Emperor of Japan to bring the war to an end. Very useful for their knowledge of colloquial Japanese. Makes some comment on the Japanese attitude toward the war, how their reaction to a given situation might be quite different from that of a westerner. Contrasts Japanese Army brutalities, which were fostered by the highest ranks, with the great civilities and formal social structures of civilian life. In providing surrender pamphlets they had to produce a feeling of nostalgia for Japan and for the importance of beauty in the Japanese life. Gives an account of the Psychological Warfare Dept., independently run, the staff, method of delivery (airdrop), and effectiveness, particularly in the last few months of the war. Was ordered to fly to Rangoon after its capture. Stephen_H_0071_02.mp3 (Side 2) Later flew to Singapore four or five days after the first allied landing. Japanese very cooperative. Took over Japanese-run radio stations and newspapers. Stephen produced a daily radio broadcast for the Japanese forces in southeast Asia with the full co-operation of a former employee of the official Japanese news agency who read the bulletins. Mentions the organized Japanese method of agreement by consensus. This experience promoted a change of feeling toward the capabilities of the Japanese people. In Canada the British were permitted to recruit Japanese-Canadians for service in the far east, but they were sent out as Canadians. Returns to a discussion of the Canadian feeling toward Japanese Canadians, west coast defences, the loyalties of the Japanese-Canadians, the necessity of removing them from the coast, and what he considers the disgraceful way in which their property was handled. Further accounts of early coast defence problems, Connie Smythe's "Sportsmans' Battery" of Bofors anti-aircraft guns, prospective military targets in B.C. and the U.S. northwest. At the end of the war he and some other Canadians in Singapore hitch-hiked home via the U.S. Navy to Philadelphia. Casualties of the S.O.E. were quite small compared to those in Europe. Demobilized in Canada. Attended the University of British Columbia for two years, then, with his father, purchased a large laundry and drycleaning business in Victoria. Entered civic politics, eventually becoming Mayor of Victoria.

Interviewer: Stafford, David A. T.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Stephen, Hugh Roulston, b. 1913
• Stafford, David A. T.

Subject

• Personal narratives--Canadian
• Military history
• World War (1939-1945)
• Canada. Canadian Army

Language

• eng

Keyword

• World War, 1939-1945--Jungle warfare
• Great Britain--Special Operations Executive--Force 136
• Japanese-- Canada--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
• Stephen, Hugh Roulston, 1913-2002--Interviews
• Prisoners of war--Japan
• Japanese--Attitudes
• Canada--Canadian Army--Coast Regiment (British Columbia), 5th--Searchlight Battery, 17th
• World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Canadian
• Japanese Language School (Vancouver, B.C.)
• Jungle warfare--India
• Defenses--Canada
• Psychological warfare--India
• Canada--Canadian Army--Canadian Intelligence Corps
• Canada--Royal Canadian Artillery
• Propaganda
• World War, 1939-1945--Psychological aspects
• Coast defenses--Canada
• Prisoners of war--Abuse of--Japan
• Allied Forces--Southeast Asia Command
• Military intelligence--Canada
• Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site (B.C.)
• Canada--Canadian Army--Military life
• Japanese Canadians--History

Date created

• March 30, 1983

Relation

• Also available as typewritten transcript (44 p.) in Special Collections.
• Part of the David A. T. Stafford collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 2 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• Canada
• Great Britain

Coordinates

• 54.75844, -2.69531
• 60.10867, -113.64258

Additional physical characteristics

• One original sound cassette (ca. 90 min.) : 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

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

Archival item identifier

• SHR_071

Fonds title

• David Stafford fonds

Fonds identifier

• SC406

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/david-stafford-fonds

Date digitized

• June 6, 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

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/tcq7-1h96

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