Burns, E. L. M.: my Army recollections (October 23, 24, and 25, 1979)

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ABSTRACT: Lt.-Gen. Eedson Louis Millard Burns, C.C., D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C. The Royal Canadian Engineers Burns_E_0022_01.mp3 (Side 1) Born on June 17, 1897 in Montreal (d. 198-?). Indoctrinated into military life through his father who was a militia staff officer, a member of the Corps of Guides. Joined the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars (17th D.Y.R.C.H.) and by 1913 had risen to the rank of signal sergeant. Admitted to Royal Military College (R.M.C.) in 1914, he found it not that much different from his early boarding school life, except for rather more discipline. Some discussion of course work. (10:00) R.M.C. graduates had to take a militia commission, but not necessarily a regular commission. Many of the military staff were British; the academic staff, Canadian. At that time the course at R.M.C. was shortened largely through personal choice, a desire to get into the war. He was advised to join the Royal Canadian Engineers, into which he was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1915. Served in Canada until March 1916 when he went overseas with the 3rd Canadian Division Signal Company which, in fact, was composed of engineers. Discusses pay, leave, and the prominent military tailors, Hawkes Bros. of Saville Row. (32:00) In France he found that communications by means of the early field telephone were not very satisfactory, compounded by constantly broken wire. At the front, if time allowed, telephone wires were buried six feet deep as protection against shellfire, particularly at, and after, Vimy in 1917. (40:00) First interview ends. Flashback: prewar training and experiences with the 17th D.Y.R.C.H. (45:00). Burns_E_0022_02.mp3 Again comments on life at R.M.C. General military topics: 4th Canadian Division, conscription, politics, units, 11th Brigade Headquarters signal section, methods of passing messages, etc. (20:00) Comments that ex-telegraph operators were very valuable, since Morse code in much use. Special codes were established (1916), since the enemy was using sensitive listening devices. Remarks on the capture of Regina Trench/Courcelette in 1916. Burns became a staff officer with the 9th Brigade in March 1917, dealing with supply and personnel. Discusses preparation for, and the attack on, Vimy Ridge. Flashback to the Somme: awarded the Military Cross for maintaining communications under heavy fire, and, for the same action, his non-commissioned officers received Military Medals. Describes an unsuccessful gas attack as a preliminary to Vimy. After the failure the Germans allowed an unofficial cease-fire while the Canadians collected their dead and wounded. (45:00) Morale suffered in the two battalions involved. (48:00) Burns_E_0022_03.mp3 (Side 2 - audio not well-defined at the beginning). Discusses the effect of machine-gun fire. Passchendaele, Ypres salient. (13:00) Interview ends. Gen. Sir Arthur Currie, George Pearkes, various staff officers. (25:00) Became a "staff learner" and acted as liaison officer between forward battalions and brigade headquarters. Offers wide-ranging comments on general military conditions. (35:00) Returned to Canada in 1919. Stationed at St. John as an engineer officer. Occasional problems as postwar army short of logistic troops. (45:00) Burns_E_0022_04.mp3 Posted to the School of Military Engineering, Chatham, England for eighteen months. Returned to Halifax. On duty during the miners' strike at Glace Bay. Worked in the Survey Department in Ottawa. (15:00) In 1924 appointed as an instructor at R.M.C. in field engineering. Mentions Guy Simonds as a cadet. Staff College in Quetta, India. (2:00) Returned to Canada in 1930 to Quebec.

An interview/narrative of Eedson Louis Millard Burns's experiences during World War I. Lieutenant-General Burns, C.C., D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C. served with the Royal Canadian Engineers. Interview took place on October 23, 24 and 25, 1979.

Interviewer: Main, Chris D.

Rank: Lieutenant-General. Medals and Honours: Companion of the Order of Canada (CC); Distinguished Service Order (DSO); Order of the British Empire (OBE); Military Cross (MC)

Interviewee: Burns, E. L. M. (Eedson Louis Millard), 1897-1985

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 4 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 52.16045, -0.70312
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 180 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 2 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • BELM_022
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • March 20, 2009
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 32 kHz. Digitized by HC, JF and SC, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. ; WWI Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2009. 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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