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Buckingham, N. A.: my Army recollections (June 16, 1981)

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ABSTRACT: Lieut.-Col. N.A. Buckingham Royal Montreal Regiment Governor General's Foot Guards (21st Armoured Regiment) Buckingham_N_0009_01.mp3 Born on May 30, 1920 in Montreal, Que. McGill University undergraduate. In 1939 he joined the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars, then the Canadian Officers Training Corps at McGill. Commissioned into the Royal Montreal Regiment (Machine Gun) (R.M.R.) in July 1940. Machine Gun Training Centre at Valcartier Camp. Overseas in Oct. 1941 with a draft of the R.M.R. (10:00) Joined the regiment in late Nov. 1941 in billets at Cheam (suburban London houses). Given a choice by army headquarters, the R.M.R. opted to become 1st Corps Troops rather than part of an overseas division. The British decided that a corps machine-gun battalion was not effective and that the corps commander should have a reconnaissance battalion. Therefore, at the end of 1942 they became the 32nd Reconnaissance Regiment. In 1944 the unit was disbanded, since battle experience in Italy showed that a regiment equipped with armoured cars was of little use at corps level. Pressure from prominent Montrealers caused one company to be reconstituted as 1st Canadian Army Defence Company. (20:00) Posted to the Governor General's Foot Guards (G.G.F.G.) (4th Canadian Armoured Division) where he received a quick course on Sherman tanks. Landed in Normandy in 1944. Appointed supernumerary liaison officer at 4th Armoured Brigade headquarters. Was in attendance at the "O" Group (Orders Group) when the British Columbia Regiment (28th Armoured Regiment) (B.C.R.) was sent off on its disastrous adventure. Before Operation Totalize attended a very brief "O" Group given by Lt.- Col. W.W. Halpenny (commanding officer of the Canadian Grenadier Guards). Night attack; very slow, troops green. Problems at Rocquancourt on Aug. 9. Infantry did not like the tanks retiring to harbour at night: left them too exposed. B.C.R. pushed on ahead, apparently becoming lost. Buckingham sent on an unsuccessful reconnaissance to see if he could locate them. (45:00) Buckingham_N_0009_02.mp3 Returned to G.G.F.G. as intelligence officer just before Operation Tractable. Refers to duties. Describes tank casualties. One major cause was a tendency of Shermans to "brew up". Design fault: the five engines of the tank were served by one large manifold, somewhat lightly constructed. It fractured easily, thus pouring gasoline on the hot engines. Caused a low explosion which often blew the tank Commander out of the hatch. A solid hit anywhere might be enough. Crew often trapped, especially the wireless operator. Discusses the rescue of the B.C.R. Originally off course due to smoke and dust. Drivers tend to steer toward areas of greater visibility. Problems of resupplying units in battle. In his opinion the commanding officer's tank not suitable as a command post: awkward due to the extra wireless and other necessities carried. Eventually a properly fitted-out half-track was supplied. (30:00) Comments on regimental and brigade command structure. Mentions Typhoons attacking our own forces. Buckingham himself was attacked by a Spitfire as he was moving down a road. (33:00)

An interview/narrative of N. A. Buckingham's experiences during World War II. Lieutenant-Colonel Buckingham served with the Royal Montreal Regiment and the Governor General's Foot Guards (21st Armoured Regiment). Interview took place on June 16, 1981.

Interviewer: Roy, Reginald H.

Interviewee: Buckingham, N. A., b. 1920

Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel.

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 49, 0
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 78 min.) : 3 3/4 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
Physical Repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • BNA_009
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • May 10, 2007
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by AN, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2007. 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 SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail
file details Buckingham_N_0009_01.mp3
file details Buckingham_N_0009_02.mp3