Gonder, Harold Bertrand: my Army recollections (July 23 - August 9, 1985)
PublicAn interview/narrative of Harold Bertrand Gonder's experiences during World War II. Major Gonder served with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (M.G.). Interview took place on July 23. August 7, 8 and 9, 1985.
Interviewer: Hill, Mark C.
Rank: Major.
ABSTRACT: Maj. Harold Bertrand Gonder The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (M.G.) Gonder_H_0171_01.mp3 (Cassette 1, Side 1) "Hal" Gonder was born on May 19, 1909 in China where his parents were missionaries. Educated in an English-style school. Family returned to Ontario where he continued in school for a year, then left home at the age of seventeen; many odd jobs, "rode the rails" in 1931. Several positions in Toronto, warehouse manager in Halifax, and a position with a furrier in Ottawa. On Sept. 2, 1939 he joined the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (militia), not with a sense of patriotism, but because he was bored! Quickly promoted to sergeant. Partially trained, the unit was sent to be part of the garrison in Iceland. Crude living conditions at first; defenses were built, conditions slowly improved. The Icelandic population remained somewhat distant. Impressions of the defenses of Iceland. (45:00) Gonder_H_0171_02.mp3 (Cassette 1, Side 2) Promoted to sergeant. Left Iceland for Greenock in March 1941. Noticed an immediate increase in the volume of paperwork when they became part of the Canadian Corps! Impressions of wartime England. Continuous training with the Vickers machine-gun, an excellent weapon in defense and in support, but heavy to move. In Sept, 1941 sent to the O.C.T.U. at Borden. (45:00) Gonder_H_0171_03.mp3 (Cassette 2, Side 1) Classmate of Col. Jim Stone. When commissioned returned to his unit which he found greatly improved. As a result of commanding a winning guard in a divisional competition he was offered the appointment of A.D.C. to Maj.-Gen. Rod Keller, the G.O.C., 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Promoted to captain. Description of Maj.-Gen. Keller and senior officers. Returned to the battalion. In 1943 the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa became the support battalion for 3rd Division. Capt. Gonder's platoon was attached to the Canadian Scottish Regiment. Trained for D-Day in Scotland; security tight, endless briefings. (45:00) Gonder_H_0171_04.mp3 (Cassette 2, Side 2) Landed in Normandy three hours late due to engine trouble in the landing craft. Joined the Canadian Scottish Regiment which was well inland. In action against German tanks the following day. Moved to Plutot. Searched for snipers; wounded while moving forward in his carrier. Evacuated to England. In hospital at Taplow, the estate of Lady Nancy Astor. Reinforcement unit in Yorkshire. (45:00) Gonder_H_0171_05.mp3 (Cassette 3, Side 1) In considerable trouble when he refused to pay for kit lost in Normandy. Posted to a reinforcement unit in Ghent, Belg. Returned to the battalion in October. Appointed O.C. of headquarters company. Married a Canadian nursing sister. Conditions at the end of the war. Dutch civilians. Favorable impressions of the German soldier (very well trained). (48:00) Gonder_H_0171_06.mp3 (Cassette 3, Side 2) The German soldier. The intelligence officer. Additional comments on Maj. Gen. Keller. Returned to Canada; demobilized in Vancouver. Invited to join the Canadian Scottish Regiment in Victoria. Regiment slowly picked up after the war. Trained officer cadets. General coments on young men and military service. Served for seven years. Philosophy of service. Describes the annual wild game dinner of the Canadian Scottish Regiment. (48:00) Gonder_H_0171_07.mp3 (Cassette 4, Side 1) Job hunting, B.C. Electric sales department. Impressions of war. General comments on military career, the caring and concern, the drive to succeed. (45:00) Gonder_H_0171_08.mp3 (Cassette 4, Side 2) Laying up the colors of the Cameron Highlanders in Ottawa. (15:00)
Interviewee: Gonder, Harold Bertrand, b. 1909
- In Collection:
- 8 sound recordings (MP3)
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- Two original sound tape reels (ca. 300 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 4 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- GHB_171
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- March 11, 2009
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 32 kHz. Digitized by KG and 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 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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