Swan, Terrance David: my Canadian Forces recollections (March 12, 2012)

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Interviewee: Swan, Terrance David, b. 1947

Rank: Captain. Medals and Honours: Canadian Forces Decoration; United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus Medal; Special Service Medal; Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal

ABSTRACT: Captain Terrance Swan was stationed in Petawawa, Ontario, which influenced his decision to join the Canadian Airborne Regiment. He wanted to move to Edmonton and liked the idea of an “adventurous regiment.” Upon deployment to Cyprus he was an Army Captain he recalls training in the Mojave Desert and being sent back to Canada to prepare to be deployed to the Middle East. However, the trip was cancelled and half of the Canadian Airborne Regiment was sent to Cyprus for operational experience rather than a normal line regiment. He doesn’t remember receiving any special training for the operation as they were sent on short notice. However, he says that the regiment had the basic administrative skills that prepared it for the operation. Capt. Swan was sent to Cyprus after the Turkish invasion as part of Two Commando, he remembers his debriefing. Capt. Swan read’s UNFICYP`s mandate and how it was expanded later in the operation. For the first three months, he worked as the Platoon Commander. His duties were to organize the soldiers in their specific OP’s and make sure their equipment was correct and they were briefed on the situation and their mission. After three months, he was chosen to go to the UN headquarters in Nicosia to work as the Assistant Operations Information Officer. His job was to brief the Commander daily on the whole situation in Cyprus and physically meet with the various UN contingents. He remembers being issued a car and having a British helicopter on standby. He reflects on life within Cyprus and having to switch from the usual role that the Canadian Airborne Regiment played to the UN peacekeeping role. Capt. Swan compares the culture of negotiating between Turkey and Greece as well as the process of negotiations. Capt. Swan gives his opinion of the role that the Canadian Airborne played in Cyprus and the economic benefits of the UN presence. He reflects on the westernization of Cyprus and remembers seeing an American U2 plane in Akrotiri. He reflects on the media coverage in Cyprus and Canadian opinions of peacekeeping. Capt. Swan chose to leave the army while in Cyprus, he says that the futility of the situation influenced this decision. He remembers arriving off the plane and the living conditions and recalls his sadness at seeing refugees. He describes being delayed coming home and life after coming back to Canada. He concludes by commending the leadership of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. 00:00:00 – 00:01:59 – Reasons for enlisting in the Army and how he came to be part of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. 00:01:59 – 00:04:33 – Training prior to leaving Cyprus and being told the Canadian Airborne was being sent to Cyprus. 00:04:33 – 00:05:44 – Discusses the operational experience he had prior to Cyprus. 00:05:44 – 00:08:53 – Describes the debriefing and information received prior to leaving and on arrival. 00:08:53 – 00:10:41 – The UNFICYP mandate in Cyprus and the Canadian Airborne’s role in Cyprus. 00:10:41 – 00:18:17 – Describes his responsibilities as a Platoon Commander and later working at the UN headquarters in Nicosia as the Assistant Operations Information Officer. 00:18:17 – 00:19:21 – Describes having to stop Greek soldiers from mortaring next to UN property. 00:19:21 – 00:22:05 – Describes the life within Nicosia, both his perception of civilian life and the atmosphere on the Green Line. 00:22:05 – 00:25:43 – Discusses how the Canadian Airborne Regiment had to switch roles from an offensive force to a peacekeeping force. 00:25:43 – 00:29:28 – Negotiating with Turkish and Greek soldiers and the economic benefits of the UN presence. 00:29:28 – 00:30:56 – Reflects on the current atmosphere within Cyprus and westernization. 00:30:56 – 00:32:36 – What he saw in terms of “super power” intervention. 00:32:36 – 00:37:35 – Political atmosphere and the Canadian Media’s coverage. 00:37:25 – 00:38:53 – Reflects on impact that the Canadian Airborne Regiment had on Cyprus conflict. 00:38:53 – 00:41:41 – Remembers arriving in Cyprus, the living conditions and refugees. 00:41:41 – 00:46:18 – Coming home. 00:46:18 – 00:48:58 – Conclusion and signing of the Interview Release Form.

An interview/narrative of Captain Terry Swan's experiences whilst serving with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Interview took place on March 12, 2012.

Interviewer: Eriksson, Camas

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
  • 35, 33
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • ST_713
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • March 12, 2012
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 16 kbps and 16 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 Swan_T_0713_01.mp3 Public