Bailey, Harvey F.: my Army recollections (August 19, 1987)
An interview/narrative of Harvey F. Bailey's experiences during World War II. Major Bailey served with the Canadian Scottish Regiment. Interview took place on August 19, 1987.
ABSTRACT: Maj. Harvey F. Bailey The Canadian Scottish Regiment Bailey_H_0006_01.mp3 Born on March 19, 1913 in Saskatoon, Sask. Served in the militia from age fifteen: signals, artillery, and finally, in 1939, the King's Own Rifles of Canada (K.O.R.C.). Commissioned in 1940. Trained with the K.O.R.C. at Terrace, B.C. where adverse weather conditions presented a problem. Describes the armoured train which ran between Prince George and Prince Rupert and his low opinion of it. Sent overseas as a reinforcement officer in Jan. 1943. Posted to the South Saskatchewan Regiment (2nd Canadian Infantry Division). Promoted to captain, but felt he was not a particularly well-trained infantry officer. Requested a transfer to the Regina Rifles (3rd Canadian Infantry Division). On D Day + 17 he was sent as a reinforcement to Normandy where he remained in a holding unit for a month. Gives impressions of the landing, state of countryside, etc. Sent to Canadian Scottish Regiment. (20:00) Describes heavy bombing and civilian casualties in Caen. Comments that, on the basis of many interviews, the quality of troops received as reinforcements in Europe was not very high. Heavy fighting in Normandy. Bombing of our own forces due to a mix-up of target designation colours (smoke). (30:00) Wounded in action against enemy tanks. Rejoined the regiment in Holland. Speaks of the semi starvation of Dutch civilians, patrol activity, and Schu mines (anti-personnel) which posed a great danger. (45:00) Bailey_H_0006_02.mp3 Describes attacks on Emmerich and Cleve in Germany. Assumed command of his infantry company as a major. Heavy fighting; no daylight movement possible. Before unit was relieved one company was reduced to five effective members. Emotional return to the rear complete with pipers. Organized as many parties as possible in their rest area (great therapy). (20:00) Gives details of the company actions in the Reichswald and beyond. Additional comment on the fight for Emmerich. His company was reduced to thirty-six out of 125 men. Continuous shortage of reinforcements: received one officer and fifteen men. Describes the formation of an "advance to contact group", a small battle group consisting of a company of infantry, troop of artillery, section of anti-tank guns, mortars, and Bren gun carriers, and its use in operations. Everyone was a little more cautious as the end of the war approached. (32:00) For a short time after the war he commanded a small German town. A number of Polish slave labourers were released and placed in the local hospital. Civilian authorities were well-organized and cooperative. Returned to Holland to relieve British troops involved with the repatriation of German prisoners of war. (40:00) Returned to Canada, arriving in Moose Jaw on Aug. 16, 1945.
Rank: Major.
Interviewer: Torrie, Tom
Interviewee: Bailey, Harvey F., b. 1913
- In Collection:
- Emmerich, Battle of, Emmerich, Germany, 1945
- Armored trains
- Land mines
- Canada--Canadian Army--Combat sustainability
- Canada--Canadian Army--Canadian Scottish Regiment
- Canada--Canadian Army Overseas
- Canada--Canadian Army--South Saskatchewan Regiment (1936- )
- Germany (Territory under Allied occupation, 1945-1955)
- Civilians in war
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Rhine River Valley
- World War, 1939-1945--Manpower
- Reichswald, Battle of the, Germany, 1945
- Mines (Military explosives)
- Bailey, Harvey F., b. 1913.--Interviews
- World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Canadian
- Netherlands--History--German occupation, 1940-1945
- Caen, Battle of, Caen, France, 1944
- Kleve (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
- Canada--Canadian Army--Regina Rifle Regiment
- Friendly fire (Military science)
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Normandy
- Canada--Canadian Army--Military life
- Canada--Canadian Army--King's Own Rifles of Canada
- Canada--Canadian Army--Canadian Infantry Division, 3rd
- World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Germany
- D-Day, 1944 (Normandy invasion)
- World War, 1939-1945--Food Supply
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 49, 0
- 60.10867, -113.64258
- 51.5, 10.5
- One original sound tape reel (ca. 90 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- BHF_006
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- April 10, 2007
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by JW, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2007. 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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