Edmondson, John S.: my Army recollections (November 3, 2009)
PublicInterviewee: Edmondson, John S., b. 1919
ABSTRACT: Lieutenant-Colonel John S. Edmondson Lieutenant-Colonel John S. Edmondson enlisted in the reserves in 1935 in the Saskatchewan Border Regiment, later re-named the South Saskatchewan Regiment. In the interview conducted on 3 November 2009 Edmondson describes the lead up to the Dieppe raid and training exercises on the Isle of Whyte (06:30-08:30). He gives a detailed account of his memories of the morning of 19 August 1942 that follows a chronological timeline of landing, moving towards his company’s objectives, and withdrawal (08:30-27:00). Edmondson goes on to talk about what positions he held after the Dieppe raid until his regiment was sent back to France in early July 1944. Having briefly mentioned landing in Normandy he outlines his experiences during the battle at Verrières Ridge on 20 July 1944. He talks about his encounter with a German panzer in a wheat field on Verrières Ridge and about the withdrawal he was forced to order in the aftermath (47:30-58:00). He concludes the interview with some general remarks about how he was wounded, taken out of the war, and on some of his beliefs about leadership (58:00). Enlistment 00:30-03:30 First impressions of England 03:30-06:30 Training exercises on the Isle of Whyte 07:00-08:30 Description of the South Saskatchewan Regiment’s raid on Pourville 08:30-26:00 Evacuation from the beaches 26:00-29:00 Aftermath of the Dieppe Raid 29:00-32:00 Description of the time between August 1942- July 1944 32:00-37:00 Landing in Normandy 37:00-39:30 Description of the Battle for Verrières Ridge 39:30-45:00 Run in with German tank 45:00-47:00 Description of SSR withdrawal at Verrières 47:30-51:00 Explanation of some of the failures at Verrières 51:00-58:00 General comments on military career 58:00-end At the beginning of the second interview with Lieutenant-Colonel Edmondson several events that occurred during the Dieppe raid are discussed (00:30-09:30). He answers questions about the timing of events, the awarding of medals, and artillery support. Edmondson goes on to talk at greater length about his initial experiences in Normandy in the Caen/Ifs area (10:00-16:00). He takes up the battle of Verrières Ridge once more but pays more attention to questions about leadership, tank support, and the activities of other regiments. He describes taking command of the entire South Saskatchewan Regiment at one point and goes through what his duties were in late July and early August 1944. He refers to Operation Totalize (52:00), mentions the events leading up to the SSR attack on Falaise (55:00), and concludes with his injuries suffered after running over a German anti-tank mine (1:06:00). Edmondson finishes the interview questioning how his actions in the Second World War will be remembered (1:14:00). Comments on several questions related to the Dieppe Raid 00:30-09:30 Reflection on Normandy campaign in early July 1944 10:00-16:00 More detailed description of the battle at Verrières Ridge 16:00-30:00 Description of the events following withdrawal from Verrières Ridge 30:00-34:00 Re-supplied and reinforced 34:00-38:30 Back on the front line 38:30-41:00 Description of Commanding Officer relieved from duty 41:00-44:30 Description of a defensive position near Ifs 44:30-49:00 Rocquancourt 49:00-52:00 Operation Totalize 52:00-55:00 Actions around Falaise 55:00-1:02:30 Move into Falaise 1:02:30-1:06:00 Description of running over a mine 1:06:00-1:09:00 Field Hospital 1:09:00-1:14:00 End of the War, Reflections on Canadian soldiers, questions about the war 1:14:00-end
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel.
Interviewer: Hill, Ryan
An interview/narrative of John S. Edmondon's experiences during World War II. Interview took place on November 3, 2009.
- In Collection:
- Rocquancourt, Battle of, Rocquancourt (France), 1944
- PzKpfw I (Tank)
- Caen, Battle of, Caen, France, 1944
- Canada--Canadian Army Overseas
- War wounds
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Canadian
- World War, 1939-1945--Medical care
- Falaise Gap, Battle of, France, 1944
- Military training camps--England--Isle of Wight
- D-Day, 1944 (Normandy invasion)
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Normandy
- Verrières Ridge, Battle of, Caen (France), 1944
- Soldiers--Wounds and injuries--Canada
- Dieppe Raid, 1942
- Canada--Canadian Army--South Saskatchewan Regiment (1936- )
- Mines (Military explosives)
- World War, 1939-1945--Hospitals
- Edmondson, John S., b. 1919--Interviews
- Operation Totalize, 1944
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 49, 0
- 60.10867, -113.64258
- Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- EJS_603
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- November 15, 2009
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 48 kbps and 22 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 2009. 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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Edmondson_J_0603_01.mp3 | Public |
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Edmondson_J_0603_02.mp3 | Public |
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