Ross, Norman H.: my Army recollections (May 27 - July 4, 1980)

An interview/narrative of Norman H. Ross's experiences during World War II. Major-General Ross served with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada. Interview took place on May 27, June 16 and July 4, 1980.

Rank: Major-General.

Interviewer: Thackray, William S.

ABSTRACT: Maj.-Gen. Norman H. Ross The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Ross_N_0186_01.mp3 (Reel 3, Side 1) Administrative job in Ottawa. Washington, D.C. for four years as general staff officer, grade I. Liaison officer to Pentagon during the Korean War. Training area for 25 Canadian Infantry Brigade. Excellent co-operation by the Americans; much equipment required. Americans puzzled by Canadian insistence on paying for the brigade on a per man per day basis, and on time every month as well! Promoted to colonel and director of manning. Difficult time maintaining the strength of the army. Started psychological testing at this time. Standards of recruiting were raised. Introduced more effective leave schedule for the armed forces; morale booster. Three years as military attache in Tokyo. Hard work maintaining Canadian independence working closely with Americans and British. (45:00) Ross_N_0186_02.mp3 Became chief of staff, Western Command. Explains command structure. Unification changed the command system for the worse. Promoted to brigadier, area commander, New Brunswick. National survival. Camp Gagetown problems, usually due to lack of proper funding. Imperial Defence College. Deputy chief of general staff. Concerned with equipment and the operational control of the army. The air force system of command not good for the army, but originally supported unification because believed that savings could be realized. Feels that, on the whole, until 1970 the army supported the concept. At that time they did not realize that there would be a serious deterioration of the effectiveness of the land forces. The air force had the organizational inside track. Disdain for the Minister of National Defence. Blames the air force for successfully exerting influence in the loss of area command in the Army and for the failure to improve the logistic system (45:00). Basically the air force method does not work well except for their command and operational structure which, Ross points out, is very good indeed. Ross_N_0186_03.mp3 (Reel 3, Side 2) The army did not come out well -- see the McKinnon Report during the short-lived Clark Conservative government. Partly the fault of senior army officers who lacked a cohesive policy. Worries that the army cannot field an operational force without depriving the static staff in camps and other facilities. A loss in operational efficiency, perhaps of major proportions, is in effect. In 1968 commanded the intelligence and security branch where he was quite independent. This service has done well under unification. (33:00)

Interviewee: Ross, Norman H., b. 1915

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Ross, Norman H., b. 1915
• Thackray, William S.

Subject

• World War (1914-1918)
• Military history
• Armed Forces--Officers
• Korean War (1950-1953)
• World War (1939-1945)

Language

• eng

Date created

• May 27, 1980 to July 4, 1980

Relation

• Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
• Special Collections also holds additional interviews with Maj.-Gen. Ross.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 3 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• Korea (North)
• Korea (South)

Coordinates

• 36.5, 127.75
• 40, 127

Additional physical characteristics

• Two original sound tape reels (ca. 261 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
• reminiscences
• oral histories (literary genre)
• interviews

Archival item identifier

• RNH_186

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

• January 19, 2010

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF, 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 2010. 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/gstd-cj67

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