Coppinger, Stephen J.: my Army recollections (August 11, 1987)
PublicAn interview/narrative of Stephen J. Coppinger's experiences during World War II. Lieutenant Coppinger served with the British Columbia Dragoons (9th Armoured Regiment) and the Calgary Regiment (14th Armoured Regiment). Interview took place on August 11, 1987.
Rank: Lieutenant.
ABSTRACT: Lt. Stephen J. Coppinger The British Columbia Dragoons (9th Armoured Regiment) The Calgary Regiment (14th Armoured Regiment) Coppinger_S_0034_01.mp3 Born on March 13, 1920 in Winnipeg, Man. Early in the war he began an unsuccessful attempt to join the navy as an officer candidate while still serving in the 96th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery of Edmonton. In the winter of 1942 he joined an armoured regiment as a trooper. Underwent officer training at Camp Borden. He considers that to have been a very good, effective course with much emphasis on mechanics and mathematics. Practical aspects included learning the jobs of all those "other ranks" likely to be under his command: radio, driver, gunner, as well as general military training. Discusses high reliability of the Sherman tank, but also the deficiencies in armour and armament. Later on the Shermans were armed with the seventeen-pounder gun which helped to redress the balance somewhat. (20:00) While engaged in a staff job at Camp Borden he managed to post himself overseas. Queen Elizabeth; Aldershot. Later was part of an advance party of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division to North Africa. After two months the regiment (British Columbia Dragoons, 9th Armoured Regiment) went to Italy and shortly thereafter went into action at the Hitler Line. Supporting the infantry at the Melfa River, the last major water barrier before Rome, all the tanks of Coppinger's troop were knocked out (two killed, eleven wounded, of fifteen men). The tanks burned easily, the ammunition quickly catching fire. His clothes on fire, he received serious burns to hands, face, and legs. (35:00) Coppinger_S_0034_02.mp3 In hospital he was treated by a new "wet dressing" method favoured by the burns surgeon, a Maj. Moore from Montreal, which markedly reduced scar tissue. In hospital for six weeks, and another month convalescing before he was sent to a reinforcement unit. Posted to the Calgary Regiment of the 1st Army Tank Brigade, south of Florence. As an acting captain he commanded the reconnaissance troop of eleven tanks and forty-four men. (45:00) Their lighter tanks had the turrets removed and were armed with machine guns only. In early 1945 transferred to France. A rough voyage caused the reconnaissance troop to miss the regimental train. He had to scrounge flat cars in Marseilles for the trip to Belgium. Took an anti-mine course. Fought in Holland until the end of the war. Left Holland in Sept. 1945. Comments that a good side of war was the provision to many young men of man management skills, responsibilities, and a maturity beyond their years. The army wanted Coppinger to continue in the postwar military, but decided to take his discharge (not without difficulty!) in 1946. (12:00)
Interviewer: Torrie, Tom
Interviewee: Coppinger, Stephen J., b. 1920
- In Collection:
- Queen Elizabeth (Ship)
- Hitler Line (Italy)
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Canadian
- Canada--Canadian Army Overseas
- Military training camps--England--Aldershot
- Camp Borden (Ont.)
- Canada--Canadian Army--Field Battery, 96th
- Coppinger, Stephen J., 1920-2002--Interviews
- Canada--Canadian Army--Armoured Regiment (Calgary Regiment), 14th
- Sherman tank
- Soldiers--Wounds and injuries--Canada
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Africa, North
- War wounds
- Melfa Crossing, Battle of, Italy, 1944
- Canada--Canadian Army--Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Dragoons), 9th
- Canada--Canadian Army--Officers--Training of
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Netherlands
- Canada--Canadian Forces Base (Borden, Ont.)
- World War, 1039-1945--Medical care
- Tank warfare
- Military reconnaissance
- Canada--Canadian Army--Canadian Armoured Division, 5th
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 46, 2
- 60.10867, -113.64258
- One original sound tape reel (ca. 60 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- CSJ_034
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- May 18, 2007
- 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
This page supports the Zotero and Mendeley browser extensions simply click on the extension widget in your browser to save the objects citation.
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Visibility | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail | Public |
|
|
|
Coppinger_S_0034_01.mp3 | Public |
|
|
|
|
Coppinger_S_0034_02.mp3 | Public |
|