Smith, Hershell A.: my Army recollections (September 2, 1982, and August 30, 1983)

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Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel. Medals and Honours: Distinguished Service Order (DSO); Military Cross (MC)

Interviewer: Bell, Chris

An interview/narrative of Hershell A. Smith's experiences during World War II. Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, D.S.O., M.C., served with the Ontario Regiment (11th Armoured Regiment)and the Canadian Grenadier Guards (22nd Armoured Regiment). Interview took place on September 2, 1982 and August 30, 1983.

Interviewee: Smith, Hershell A., b. 1920

ABSTRACT: Lt.-Col. Hershell A. Smith, D.S.O., M.C. The Ontario Regiment (11th Armoured Regiment) The Canadian Grenadier Guards (22nd Armoured Regiment) Smith_H_0188_01.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 1) Points out that war from a tank provided a very limited view of the surrounding world. After Falaise, pursuit. Wounded in the mouth just outside Abbeville; night movement, confusion, anti-tank fire; treated by German medical officer (prisoner); nearly captured. Later wound in face properly sewn up; returned to unit in two or three days. Considerable fighting in Belgium. Personally captured a number of Germans. Belgian civilians. Appointed commanding officer of the regiment in Dec. 1944. During an attack at the Hochwald (near Udem) his tank hit by shellfire, brewed up, shattered his leg, but managed to scramble out of the tank, applied tourniquet with lace from other boot. Hospital. Smith_H_0188_02.mp3 Evacuated by air to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital where he remained until the end of the war. In Canada, a member of the war amputees organization who talked to him in the Canadian Hospital train impressed upon him the value of an artificial leg which was later fitted at Deer Lodge Hospital, Winnipeg. Describes process of fitting the wooden leg. (45:00) Discusses the regular use of his bicycle every day; in fact has ridden 63,000 miles to date (1983). Philosophy of bicycle exercise. (14:00)

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Date created Relation
  • Special Collections holds an additional interview with Lt.-Col. Smith.
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 50.75, 4.5
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 74 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
  • SHA_188
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • March 11, 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

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file details SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail Public
file details Smith_H_0188_01.mp3 Public
file details Smith_H_0188_02.mp3 Public