Mitchell, Pat J.: my Army recollections (November 20, 2006)
PublicInterviewer: Pratt, Will
An interview/narrative of Major-General Pat Mitchell's experiences during the Korean War and whilst serving with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Interview took place on November 20, 2006.
ABSTRACT: Major-General Pat Mitchell Biographical Sketch Born in Montreal 23 January 1931. Awarded B.A. in Philosophy by University of Montreal 1952. Joined Canadian Officers Training Corps in 1949, Regular Army in 1951, and served 35 years in the Armoured Corps. Has filled command and staff appointments at every level from Lieutenant to Major-General. Has served in Korea, Australia, Cyprus, the U.K., Belgium, Germany and coast to coast in Canada. Command appointments of importance are CO Canadian Reconnaissance Squadron Cyprus 1968, CO 8th Canadian Hussars 1969-71 and Commander 1 Canadian Brigade Group 1977-80. Key staff appointments were brigade Major 2 Canadian Brigade Group 1968-69, COS Militia Area Atlantic 1973-76, Chief Land Doctrine and Operations NDHQ 1980-83 and Chairman Military Agency for Standardization at NATO HQ 1983-84. Attended Australian Army Staff College 1963-64, taught at Canadian Army Staff College 1971-72 and was exchange instructor at British Army Staff College 1972-73. Attended National Defence College of Canada 1976-77, Class XXX. Retired to Calgary 1985, opened Hussar Consulting Ltd. and represented the Province of Alberta and private industry in Western Canada as a defence marketing consultant for five years. Appointed Honourary Colonel of the Regiment of the 89th Canadian Hussars in 1990 and served in that capacity for four years. Has lived in Victoria since 1992. Interview Notes This interview focuses on Mitchell's 1953 Korean posting as armoured troop commander in the Lord Strathcona's Horse 'A' Squadron, and his command in Cyprus in 1968 of the Fort Gary Horse 'B' Squadron. :30 Training at the COTC, 2:40 One month's warning for 1953 Korea posting, 12:00 N. Korean tunnels, 23:20 shifted from Recce to Tank Troop, 25:40 Standardization, Relations with US, 36:00 Leave in Japan, 47:00 Centurion Tanks, 53:00 Teaching in Meaford 1958, 58:00 Posted to FGH 'B' sqdn, 59:00 Training with Ferret Scout Car in Rocky Mountain House, 1:09:00 Diplomacy with Turk Cypriot leader, 1:14:00 Convoy Incident, 1:19:00 Greek Cypriot National Guard, 1:22:00 Good Relations With Fins, 1:51:00 Reserve Force, Recoilless Rifles, 2:08:30 Commentary on Peacekeeping, 2:13:00 Train for War
Rank: Major-General.
Interviewee: Mitchell, Pat J.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 51.5, 10.5
- 45.50884, -73.58781
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- Original recording (WAV) on compact disc (CD) in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- MPJ_502
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- November 20, 2006
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 4 bits and 8 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 44 kHz. Digitized by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2006. 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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Mitchell_P_0502_01.mp3 | Public |
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