Edwards, Murray C.: my World War II experiences (March 14, 2015)
An interview/narrative of Murray Edward's experiences during World War II. Interview took place on March 14, 2015.
Interviewee: Edwards, Murray C.
Rank: Major.
ABSTRACT: Military Oral History Project Interview Summary Narrator: Edwards, Murray C. Title: The Second World War the Soldiers History Interviewer: Interviewed by Taylor Youngblood Extent: 1 sound recording MP3 2:01 hours Interview Date and Location: 14 March 2015, Victoria B.C. Synopsis: The Interview with Major Murray Edwards describes his involvement in training officers for the Second World War. He was in the Canadians Queen’s Own Rifles starting with his training at Niagara on the Lake in Ontario. During this training it was because of a lecture he gave on how to darn socks that he was noticed to be involved in training. Major Edwards then arrives in Aldershot in Britain as he was about to join in battle he was chosen by (D) Group to be involved in a new experimental school. He states that the school was needed because the Canadians going to Britain were unprepared. The school was in Crookham the purpose of the school was that the Canadian soldiers would go to this school for five weeks and would go through a complete refresher of what they should know and then they would be graded weather they would be ready to join a battalion in Britain. He was then asked to attend a Officer Selection Center so he could obtain further information to be able to train soldiers, there he was quizzed on a series of questions and passed. Major Edwards was sent back to Canada to receive pre-OCTU training in Ontario as he passed this course and was asked to be an instructor he said yes because he was hoping to modernize the training and change it from the First World War techniques that were clearly not working in modern warfare. He had to go to Vernon B.C to attend the battle school for further training, on the train he ran into British Major John Macdonald who had shut down the Vernon School and replaced half of its staffs because it was not efficient. Major Macdonald asked Edwards to stay and work at the Vernon school he agreed. Major Edwards stayed there until close to the end of the Second World War. When discussing the Vernon Battle school Major Edwards will discus Canada’s focus on safety over reality and the need for battle inoculations and live firing when training. He will describe the many tactics used to train the officers and the importance of humor in teaching serious lessons. At the end of the interview he briefly discusses his involvement in the Korean War. This interview gives a detailed look into the failure of Canadian training programs during the Second World War. As well as discus the success in training soldiers because of working with the British Army and using their training procedures. Interview Log: 0:00 – 3:11 Childhood and father’s involvement in the First World War. 3:11- 8:52 Joining the service, training at the University Armories and Niagara on the lake. 8:52 – 27:53 In Britain, asked to stay in Britain, Experimental refresher school, Selection Center. 27:53- 35:29 Sent Back to Canada, On the Queen Marie, anecdote about German POW’s on the ship, critiquing the Canadian Army’s transport of the men. 35:29- 50:00 Training at Stanley Barracks, Sent to Vernon Battle School. 50:00 1:15:45 Life at the Vernon school, transformation of school under Major Macdonald, discusses conscription, training tactics. 1:15- 1:20 Story about his brother as a POW in Asia. 1:20- 1:28:50 Military Career, thoughts on WWII 1:28:50- 1:46:50 Battle inoculation training, Combined Arms training, Retreat training, Reading Ground, Critique of Canadian arms, Relationship with students. 1:46:50 – 2:01 Army Career, and Korea. 2:01 the end. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 3:11- 8:52 Story of his Lecture on darning socks, this changed his career. 17:30-24:50- Selection Center, amazing story on him being asked about bee keeping in a test. 27:53- 35:29 Example of how Canadians transportation system was poor compared to Britain’s. 59:30- 1:15 His teaching techniques using humor. 1:33- 1:36:09 Example of Battle inoculation, including using chicken bones. 1:39- 1:42: 49 Thoughts on weapons in the Second World War. 1:37:02- 1:39:16 Saw the first Jet plane fly 1:43: 27- 1:45:24 Story of men he trained thanking him for saving their lives. Subject Key Words: Canadian Training Second World War Second World War Vernon Battle School Officer Candidate Training Queens Own Rifles University Armories Niagara on the lake Aldershot Batmen Fatigue man (D) Group Headquarters Experimental Officer Refresher School Officer Selection Center Queen Mary Pre-OCTU Rockville Major John Macdonald Training Tactics Conscription Zombie Protest Combined Arms Vickers Machine Gun Bren Gun Canada’s Failure in Training Battle Inoculation Realism in training Korean War
Interviewer: Youngblood, Taylor
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- Original sound recording (AIFF) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- EMC_828
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- May 6, 2015
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 128 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 2015. 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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