Robinson, J. Emerson: my Army recollections (June 18, 1987)

Interviewee: Robinson, J. Emerson, b. 1915

Rank: Captain.

Interviewer: Torrie, Tom

An interview/narrative of J. Emerson Robinson's experiences during World War II. Captain Robinson served with the Saskatoon Light Infantry (M.G.). Interview took place on July 18, 1987.

ABSTRACT: Capt. J. Emerson Robinson Saskatoon Light Infantry (M.G.) Robinson_J_0121_01.mp3 (Side 1) Born on Oct. 22, 1915 in Radisson, Sask. Belonged to the 14th Canadian Light Horse (militia) in 1935, followed by the C.O.T.C. at university. Joined the Saskatoon Light Infantry on Feb. 2, 1940. After modest training sent overseas in fall 1940. An account of the long voyage to England (about two weeks). Through friends in the Canadian Press he always had an enjoyable time in London. Remembers sleeping through one heavy air raid during which his hotel was set afire. Reinforcement unit at Borden. Posted to the battalion in 1941. During training the Saskatoon Light Infantry changed its role to a heavy support unit, (30:00) adding to their existing Vickers machine guns, mortars and 20-mm. Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns. Promoted to captain. (45:00) Completely re-equipped before leaving for Sicily in 1943. They landed some days after the original landings and were soon involved in their support role. A quiet time immediately after the invasion of Italy, but this soon changed as Ortona was approached. (20:00) Came down with infectious hepatitis; after hospital spent several months as commander of a reinforcement company. Rejoined the battalion before the battle for the Liri River. Spent a miserable winter near the Po River. Commanded Headquarters Company. Reinforcements in very short supply. Relieved an infantry unit for a short time; an account of a small action. (Here Robinson refers to a Col. Snow of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. Possibly he meant to refer to Lieut.-Col. J.R. Stone.??) Comments on the Italian people. Moved to northwest Europe. Reorganized in Belgium. Crossed the Rhine into Germany, then recrossed and moved into Holland. At the end of the war drove into several Dutch villages to a very warm greeting. Remembers columns of heavily armed Germans marching to concentration points. (50:00) Robinson_J_0121_02.mp3 (Side 2) Story of the liberation of a Dutch village and the release of four Jews who had been hidden in a basement for years. Entered Rotterdam the day after the end of the war. Describes living conditions of the Dutch, many of whom starved to death. Moved truckloads of hardtack from the first ship to enter the harbour. Argument with a representative of the Dutch government-in-exile who thought that some of the food might fall into the hands of the black marketeers. With the aid of his revolver Robinson persuaded the Dutch representative that he was mistaken and carried on unloading the freighter. (12:00)

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Robinson, J. Emerson, b. 1915
• Torrie, Tom

Subject

• World War (1914-1918)
• World War (1939-1945)
• Personal narratives--Canadian
• Military history

Language

• eng

Date created

• July 18, 1987

Relation

• Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 2 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• Germany
• England

Coordinates

• 52.16045, -0.70312
• 51.5, 10.5

Additional physical characteristics

• One original sound tape reel (ca. 105 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 2 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.

Physical repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• sound recordings
• oral histories (literary genre)
• interviews
• reminiscences

Archival item identifier

• RJE_121

Fonds title

• Reginald Herbert Roy fonds

Fonds identifier

• SC104

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds

Date digitized

• July 27, 2007

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by AN, 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

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/tby4-s471

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