Parkinson, Stewart Ronald: my Canadian Forces recollections (March 22, 2012)

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Interviewer: Balfour, Jimmy

An interview/narrative of Major Stewart Parkinson's experiences whilst serving with the Canadian Forces during the Cold War and the First Gulf War. Interview took place on March 22, 2012.

ABSTRACT: Major Parkinson talks first about his rise to Major in the Canadian Forces, which began in 1972 and included extensive training, many posts in Canada, multiple trips to Germany and Cyprus. He then goes on to talk about his year in Iraq as a UN International Observer: Arriving in Baghdad, inspecting Iranian complaints about Iraqi defence positions, and dealing with Iraqi Liaison Officers, and injuries in his hand, cheek, and torso from a landmine while out on patrol. He also discusses the intricacies of the UN, and the divide between Muslim and non-Muslim troops. He describes the logistical shift that was undertaken immediately preceding the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait that started the Gulf War. Recording 1 0:00 – 17:00 - Major Parkinson introduction, background, and career summary, including postings in Germany, Cyprus, Canada, and Iraq. 17:00 -23:00 - Working as a UN Military Observer in Iraq; Training; Medical preparation. 23:00 - 33:30 - Arriving in Iraq in 1989: first impressions; UN wages; troop diversity. 33:30 - 36:00 - Perception of UN posting in the Canadian Forces. 36:00 - 40:00 - First patrol in Northern Iraq; UN rules: No markings on maps in field. 42:00- 45:00 - Lasting impressions of terrible Iraqi drivers. 45:00 - 47:00 - Job dealings with Iraqi Liaison Officers; international tension. 47:00 - 51:30 - Tension and dispute with an Iraqi Liaison Officer. 51:30 - 59:56 - Description of routine of the 42nd Division in Northern Iraq: Stew is injured by shrapnel from a landmine. Recording 2 0:00 - 7:30- Landmine injury and treatment; Iraqi hospitals. 7:30 - 10:00 - Wife's notification of injury; leave in Canada. 10:00 - 12:00 - Leave policies in the UN; 5 leave trips. 12:30 - 16:00 - Religion, outlawed atheism, and UN troops from communist countries. 16:00 - 19:00 - Returning to Northern Iraq from leave; patrol descriptions; Iraqi TV. 19:00 - 20:00 - Reflecting of the wall coming down; reaction of communist troops. 20:00 - 23:00 - The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait; war-gaming the invasion. 23:00 - 27:00 - Iran-Iraq War; Lack of quality of Iraqi and Iranian soldiers; atrocities. 27:00 - 30:00 - Iraqi preparation for invasion of Kuwait; car accident. 30:00 - 38:00 - Division between Muslim and non-Muslim troops within the UN; UN troops spying for Iraq; emergency escape plans. 38:00 - 41:30 - Iraq under Saddam Hussein's reign: authoritarian rule. 41:30 - 48:00 - Changes in Iraq after the Kuwait invasion. 48:00 - 56:00 - Interacting with Iraqis; Differences between Iraqi and US military. 56:00 - 58:00 - Brief description of the last two months of Iraqi posting. 59:00 - 1:08:00 - UN mission observations; conclusion.

Rank: Major. Medals and Honours: Special Service Medal; Canadian Forces Decoration; Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal; United Nations IranIraq Military Observer Group Medal; United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus Medal

Interviewee: Parkinson, Stewart Ronald, b. 1953

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 39.76, -98.5
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
  • 35, 33
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • PS_707
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • March 22, 2012
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 160 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 2012. 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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file details Parkinson_S_0707_01.mp3 Public
file details Parkinson_S_0707_02.mp3 Public