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Elkington, Eric Henry William: my Army recollections (January 24, 1986)

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Interviewee: Elkington, Eric Henry William, b. 1893

Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel.

ABSTRACT: Lt.-Col. Eric Henry William Elkington, M.D. Canadian Army Medical Corps Royal Army Medical Corps Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps Elkington_E_0170_01.mp3 (Interview 2, interviewed by R. H Roy) Elkington was educated in Duncan and Victoria, B.C., then at McGill University medical school. In Victoria he was closely associated with the family of Sir Henry Crease whom he remembers as an elderly man. In 1914 he joined a field ambulance, part of the 2nd Canadian Division, in Montreal. In France he was a sergeant in charge of a party of stretcher-bearers. Remembers working with the 29th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Trench life. Takes illegal "pot shots" at Germans. Discusses rats and rations in the trenches. In late 1916 was returned to Canada to complete his medical degree. Elkington_E_0170_02.mp3 After graduation the army sent him to Vladivostok. Many Russian refugees dying of starvation. A dangerous city with little civilian authority evident. Attached to 16 Canadian General Hospital [sic] (Elkington himself later confirmed that he meant to say "No. 16 Field Ambulance in Siberia in 1919" instead of "16 Canadian General Hospital"). Experiences with Japanese troops. Tale of Maj. Ragasan, the interpreter. Medical problems were largely of the "civilian" type, not many war casualties. Remarks. (50:00)

Interviewer: Roy, Reginald H.

An interview/narrative of Eric Henry William Elkington's experiences during World War I and II. Lieutenant-Colonel Elkington, M.D. served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps, the Royal Army Medical Corps and the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. Interview took place on January 24, 1986.

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Date created Relation
  • Special Collections holds additional interviews with Lt.-Col. Elkington.
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 45.50884, -73.58781
  • 48.4359, -123.35155
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 60 min.) : 1 7/8 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
  • EEHW_170
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • July 7, 2006
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 80 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by 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 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
Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Actions
file details SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail
file details Elkington_E_0170_01.mp3
file details Elkington_E_0170_02.mp3