LeReverend, Alfred H.: my Army recollections (November 17, 2005)
Rank: Private.
Interviewee: LeReverend, Alfred H.
Interviewer: Goertzen, Judith
ABSTRACT: Private Alfred LeReverend (Tape 1, Side 1) (000) Introduction and background. Description of his deception of the Canadian government and being able to go to war even though he was only sixteen at the time. (050) Discussion of 'the line" and the difference in people who served there. (120) Description of last mission prior to capture - had taken Esschen on the Belgium/Holland border and were waiting for reinforcements. October 24, 1944 attack ordered and foray started via a turnip field. (180) Treatment of German POWs was not "with kid gloves," LeReverend states that they were thoroughly searched and treated roughly. (250) Surrender of Canadian infantry to German forces - Germans were tolerant and did not mistreat the Canadian prisoners in any way. LeReverend describes the condition of the First Field Dressing station at Dortrecht, Holland that the Germans took him to and the mantle of guilt he experienced in seeing the German wounded. He was treated very well and given surgical priority. He also had the best meal he had received since leaving Canada. (320) Transportation by 'forty and eights' to Lingen. From there to Stalag XIB. His personal number was 119584. Hunger and diet - details of German provisions to prisoners. (400) Escape with Herbert Honsberger of Beamsville, Ontario. Escaped to get out of "the march" and what it entailed. (Tape 1, Side 2) (000) Starvation. The only joy was in finding a farmhouse and pilfering a tin of asparagus and watching a herd of deer who exemplified life and the "most marvellous thing [he] had ever seen." (100) Realization that the panzers on the road were going the wrong way, LeReverend decides to investigate and find out why. Extreme emotion after 60 years on finding a Sherman tank in the ditch guarded by Americans. (160) The end of the war and the personal consequences. Return to Canada and the difficulties of adjusting to still being a "teenager."
An interview/narrative of Alfred LeReverend's experiences during World War II as a prisoner of war. Private LeReverend served with the Canadian Army. Interview took place on November 17, 2005.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.25, 5.75
- 50.75, 4.5
- 52.52143, 7.31845
- 60.10867, -113.64258
- Original sound recording on audio cassette also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- LAH_528
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- July 31, 2012
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. 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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