Oakes, Stanley Philip: my Air Force recollections (January 26, 2012)

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ABSTRACT: At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 Stan Oakes enlisted for the services at age 19. He was first assigned to man a searchlight battery in the Victoria Harbor. Feeling his skills in mathematics would better be utilized elsewhere he requested a transfer to the First Canadian Signals Regiment. After training in Britain he served as an artillery spotter in Italy and Holland until the end of the war. 0: 00 – 2: 39 – Initial work in searchlight battery in Victoria harbor and transfer into 1st Canadian Survey Regiment 2: 39 – 5: 08 – Training in Canada and Britain 5: 08 – 6: 34 – Lack of rain gear, losing his great coat 6: 34 - 11: 25- Shipping out to Italy, stopovers in Algeria and Sicily 11: 25 – 15: 27- Synopsis of route through Italy and Holland 15: 28 – 18: 55 -V-E Day celebration in Holland, overseeing German withdrawal, disbandment of the regiment and time in the hospital 15: 28 – 24: 39 -Manning an OP outside of Ortona, interactions with Gurkha troops 24: 39 – 26: 26 – Gurkha night patrols, distinguishing Canadians from Germans in Canadian uniform 26: 26 – 28: 14 – German attempts to disrupt artillery spotting and counter measures 28: 14 – 30: 25- Close call while flash and bang spotting 30: 25 – 37: 00 – Explanation of how artillery spotting in the Second World War worked 37: 00 – 37: 50 – Army clothing, intense hatred of wedge caps 37: 50 – 39: 47- Interactions with Italian civilians 39: 47- 42: 02 – Booby traps in Italy 42: 02 – 43: 44- Redeployment to Holland, trip up through France and Belgium 43: 44 – 46: 35 – Battles in Holland, Arnhem, overseeing the German withdrawal from Holland 47: 50- 50:00 – Taking German prisoners in Italy 50: 00- 54: 44 -Homecoming, discharge, 3 options for returning soldiers, reunion 30 years later 54: 44- 1:00:30-Health Problems for soldiers, motor vehicle accidents, medical kits 1: 00: 30 – 106:22- Practical jokes on the Battery Sergeant Major and other good times, end of interview

An interview/narrative of Bombardier Stanley Oakes's experiences during World War II. Interview took place on January 26, 2012.

Interviewee: Oakes, Stanley Philip, b. 1919

Rank: Bombardier.

Interviewer: Lundeberg, Faelan

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 54.75844, -2.69531
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • OS_717
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • January 26, 2012
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps and 44 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2012. 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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