Brodsky, Kathleen: my Cold War recollections (November 6, 2007)
Interviewee: Brodsky, Kathleen, b. 1934
An interview/narrative of Kathleen Brodsky's experiences during the Cold War. Interview took place on November 6, 2007.
ABSTRACT: Interview with Kathleen Brodsky 6 November 2007 (0:19) Born May 18th, 1934 London Ontario. Brother served in the Airforce in World War II, father was in the army in World War I. (1:17) Married husband at 18, husband already enlisted. (1:33) Family did not view military as positive element because that would mean she would be moving away. (2:06) First posting in Calgary, lived off-base. (3:24) Posted to London, ON where daughter is born, then to Petawawa. (5:06) No entertaining duties, social life revolved around the Mess. (6:07) Posted to Germany, sailed across with her two small girls through a mild hurricane. (8:13) Husband had a place waiting for them on arrival, not too concerned about money because dollar is worth 4 marks. (11:50) Cold War fears- evacuation plan. (15:46) No real entertaining- no dining room table. Would get together for tea with other wives. (20:00) Posted back to Canada, to Picton, and husband posted to Cyprus. (27:12) Daughter told at school that her father is not away, as Mrs Brodsky told her, but is dead. (29:06) Husband promoted, and single moves began without battalion. Posted to Chilliwack. (30:51) Worked for a year with BC Family Services in Chilliwack. (33:33)Husband sent to India and Pakistan for a year, she goes to visit, daughter is married while husband (her father) is away. (34:00) On return from India, husband is posted to Toronto, but after a brief stay, Kathleen returns to Victoria. (35:53) Husband posted to Royal Roads University, continues there after retirement. (37:52) Expectations of officer’s wife, she is “Mrs Husband’s Rank.”
Interviewer: Hutchison, Sarah Beth
- In Collection:
- Housing--Ontario--Picton
- Royal Roads University
- Housing--Ontario--London
- Housing--Ontario--Petawawa
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Barracks and quarters
- Soldiers--Family relationships
- Families of military personnel--Services for
- Brodsky, G. W. Stephen
- Army spouses--Etiquette
- Brodsky, Kathleen, 1934- --Interviews
- Cold War--Personal narratives, Canadian
- Canada--Canadian Forces Base (Lahr, Germany)
- United Nations--Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
- Officers' spouses
- Military dependents
- Army spouses
- Families of military personnel
- Retired military personnel
- Families of military personnel--Housing
- Canada--Canadian Army--West Germany
- Children of military personnel
- Canada--Canadian Forces Bace (Chilliwack, B.C.)
- Canada--Canadian Forces Bace (Petawawa, Ont.)
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Messes
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 51.5, 10.5
- 60.10867, -113.64258
- Original sound recording (CDA) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- BK_742
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- November 6, 2007
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps and 44 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in 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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