Rose, H. J. F.: my Army recollections (June 6, 1978)
Rank: Captain.
Interviewer: Main, Chris D.
Interviewee: Rose, H. J. F.
ABSTRACT: Capt. H.J.F. Rose Royal Canadian Artillery Rose_H_0122_01.mp3 Born ca. 1910 in Oshawa, Ont. prior to the Great War. Lived in England for part of that war and returned to Victoria, B.C. where he was educated. An employee of the Bank of Montreal he joined the 5th British Columbia Coast Brigade, R.C.A. on Sept. 14, 1939. Commissioned at the end of 1940. Initially he was one of those manning the guns of an examination battery at Victoria harbour. Anecdote. Overseas in 1942 after a short stop at Petawawa where he joined the 3rd Medium Regiment, R.C.A. Describes equipment and personnel in a troop of medium artillery. (22:00) In England they had to guard against boredom caused by overtraining. Landed in Normandy in the latter part of June 1944. Was a forward observation officer with the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade near Falaise. Not many targets of opportunity; most often they fired in accordance with previously laid down fire plans. Rose_H_0122_02.mp3 In action at Cape Gris Nez against enemy anti-aircraft gun positions which produced a marked reduction in enemy fire during a raid by the R.A.F. Supported 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade during Operation Totalize. Later most often in support of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division. Belgium, Holland, and Nijmegen. Seconded to the 6th British Airborne Division in late 1944 in the special communications section (an innovation after the battle for Arnhem) as an artillery liaison officer. Participated with that unit in the crossing of the Rhine. Favourable comment on German tank quality. Criticizes the American supply system: sometimes their excellent rations were more plentiful than ammunition. Anecdote. (48:00) Outside Wilhelmshaven at the end of the war. Returned to Canada in Sept. 1945. Describes the German forces as producing very good soldiers, excellently equipped in many ways. (60:00) Back to the Bank of Montreal in Jan. 1946. (04:00)
An interview/narrative of H. J. F. Rose's experiences during World War II. Captain Rose served with the Royal Canadian Artillery. Interview took place on June 6, 1978.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- 45.50884, -73.58781
- 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
- RHJF_122
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- July 17, 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
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