Ross, Hugh Cameron: my Canadian Forces recollections (February 28, 2012)
Interviewee: Ross, Hugh Cameron, b. 1949
Interviewer: Stewart, Meghan
An interview/narrative of Major General Cam Ross's experiences whilst serving with the Canadian Forces in Africa. Interview took place on February 28, 2012.
Rank: Major General. Medals and Honours: Commander of the Order of Military Merit; Special Service Medal; United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus Medal; United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone Medal; United Nations Angola Verification Mission II Medal; Canadian Centennial Medal; Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal; 25th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal; Canadian Forces Decoration; Alberta Centennial Medal; Knight's Cross of the Polish Order of Merit
ABSTRACT: This interview began with a brief overview of Angola as a country and the challenges that it faced as a country. Major General Ross then spoke about his background, including joining the Canadian Forces, his education, and his deployment to Angola. Following his background, Major General Ross detailed his trip to Angola and his arrival there, including his first impressions of the country. He spoke quite a bit on the subject of health care challenges, including malaria (the South East corner of Angola being one of the few places in the world that has cerebral malaria), lighting, scorpions and snake bites. He then spoke about his area of responsibility in Angola, including some of the challenges surrounding transportation. Wrapping up, Major General Ross talked about the relationship between the UN and Canadian Forces, including the UN monitored elections that took place in Angola. 0:00 – 3:54: Preamble, talking about Angola, area which Major General Ross was responsible for. 3:54 – 13:54: Major General Ross’s background, deployment to Angola. 13:54 – 24:53: Arrival in Angola 24:53 – 36:51: Health care/challenges. 36:51- 52:30: UNITA/Government forces, transportation. 52:30- 1:11:31: UN relations with the Canadian Forces.
- In Collection:
- Angola--Transportation
- Angola--History--South African Incursions, 1978-1990
- United Nations--Peacekeeping forces
- Multinational armed forces
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Medical supplies
- United Nations--Election monitoring
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Medical care
- Angola--Description and travel
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Leaves and furloughs
- Operational readiness (Military science).
- UNITA
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Health risk assessment
- United Nations--Relations--Canada
- Elections--Angola
- Tropical medicine
- Unia?o Nacional para a Independe?ncia Total de Angola
- Angolans
- Angola--History--Civil War, 1975-2002--Participation, Cuban
- Canada--Canadian Army--Lord Strathcona's Horse Royal Canadians
- United Nations--Angola Verification Mission II
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Africa
- Election monitoring--Angola
- Operation Pastel (Angola : 1991-1993)
- Peacekeeping forces, Canadian
- Snakebites
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Personal narratives
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Operational readiness
- Angola--History--Civil War, 1975-2002
- Helicopters
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Angola
- Military missions
- Transportation, Military
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Supplies and stores
- Malaria
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Safety measures
- UNAVEM II
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Commissariat
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Barracks and quarters
- Ross, Hugh Cameron, 1949- --Interviews
- Medicine, Military
- Scorpions
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Military life
- Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Transportation
- Angola--Foreign relations--1975-
- Angola--Politics and government--1975-
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 35, 33
- 60.10867, -113.64258
- Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- RC_733
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- February 28, 2012
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps and 44 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
