Lee, Ronald: my Force 136 experiences (March 18, 2016)
ABSTRACT: Military Oral History Project Interview Summary Narrator: Lee, Ronald. 1919- Title: "We were dead once we flew into Burma.": Chinese Canadians in Force 136 Interviewer: Interviewed by Trevor Gallagher. Extent 1 sound recording (MP3) Length 42:49, file size 58.8MB Interview Date and Location 18 March 2016, Vancouver BC. Synopsis: Ronald Lee describes life as a Chinese Canadian in Vancouver in the 1920s and '30s. He experienced severe racism, and rarely left Chinatown before going to Prince Rupert to work. He enlisted in the Army in 1943. He had previously tried to enlist in 1939, but had been rejected because of his ethnicity. Upon completing his basic training, he was recruited into Force 136 and sent to India and Ceylon for training. He trained as a signaller, but the war ended before he went on his first mission. He then describes his life on returning to Canada after the war, especially the marked decrease in racism and discrimination he experienced. He feels certain that his military service contributed to the granting of full citizenship to Chinese Canadians. 00:00-05:07- Growing up in Vancouver and his enlistment in the Army. 05:07-09:00- Enlistment and recruitment into Force 136. 09:00-17:00- Transfer to India and Ceylon via England, and Force 136 training. 17:00-24:40- Post-training waiting and his understanding of Force 136's role. 24:40 - 33:17- Life after the war, the campaign for the franchise and the changed treatment of Chinese Canadians. 33:17-42:50- Various other reminiscences of tropical diseases, travel in the 1940s. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 17:45- 18:25: realization of poor odds of survival. "We were told, we went into Burma, our chances of coming out was negative." Subject Key Words Civil Rights, Chinese Canadians, Force 136, Racism, Second World War, Southeast Asia Command, Special Operations Executive, Vancouver Chinatown, Voting Rights
Interviewer: Gallagher, Trevor
An interview/narrative of Ronald Lee's experiences during World War II. Lee served with Force 136 in Burma. Interview took place on March 18, 2016.
Interviewee: Lee, Ronald, 1919-
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- LR_839
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 18, 2016
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps. 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 2016. 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
