Interviewer: Wood, Hannah

Interviewee: Mason, John William, b. 1923

An interview/narrative of Captain John Mason's experiences whilst serving with the Royal Canadian Navy. Interview took place on March 16, 2012.

ABSTRACT: This was a shorter follow up interview with Captain Mason. He discusses the deep sea diving training he received in the early days of his services. There is a continued discussion about the Unification of the Canadian forces. His time in Sweden is discussed as well as what he observed about communism while in Europe, sometimes in close quarters with his Soviet equivalents on Attaché tours. Mason was also asked about and discusses the importance of Remembrance Day and how he feels Canadians remember. The care he receives from Veterans Affairs and his opinions on American and Canadian political leaders. This is followed by his final statements. 0:00-2:50-His experience with diving training in RCN 2:50-12:50- Continuing discussion from past interview about his work as military Attaché to Sweden 12:51-17:10-Thoughts on unification continued from first interview 17:100-21:15-Thoughts on dethronement age and warfare in general 21:16-24:30-His experience with Veterans Affairs and feelings on their treatment of him. 24:31-31:21-Captain Masons thoughts on PTSD, counselling for veterans and public opinion of them 31:22-33:00-How he feels about veterans who don’t participate in Remembrance day activities. 33:01-36:05-Continued thoughts on Unification. 36:06-42:25-Captain Masons thoughts on modern Military issues and political figures past and present. 42:26-43:36- Closing comments

Rank: Captain. Medals and Honours: 1939-45 Star; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; Korea Medal; United Nations Service Medal for Korea; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea; Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal; Canadian Forces Decoration

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Wood, Hannah
• Mason, John William, b. 1923

Subject

• World War (1939-1945)
• Military history
• Canada. Canadian Armed Forces
• Korean War (1950-1953)
• Canada. Royal Canadian Navy

Language

• eng

Keyword

• Canada--Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
• Shipyards--Nova Scotia--Halifax
• Marine engineering
• Canada--Royal Canadian Navy--Sea life
• Quebec (Cruiser)
• Canada--Royal Canadian Navy--Naval Service Headquarters (Ottawa, Ont.)
• Mason, John William, 1923- --Interviews
• Obama, Barack
• Ottawa III (Destroyer)
• Defence Research Establishment Atlantic
• Veterans--Medical care
• United States--Politics and government--20th century.
• Veteran reintegration
• Marine engines--Maintenance and repair
• Veterans--Training of--Canada
• Pearson, Lester B.
• Fort Eirie (Frigate)
• Canada--Royal Canadian Navy--H.M.C.S. Stadacona
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Military attache?s
• Antigonish (Frigate)
• Buckingham (Frigate)
• Warfare--20th century
• Harper, Stephen, 1959-
• Hellyer, Paul, 1923-
• Korean War, 1950-1953
• Shipyards--Canada
• Canada--Royal Canadian Navy--Officers
• St. Croix II (Destroyer)
• Shipyards--Quebec--Montreal
• Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Organization
• Canada--Royal Canadian Navy--Enginemen
• World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, Canadian
• Canada--Royal Canadian Navy
• Warfare--21st century
• Canada--Royal Canadian Navy--H.M.C.S. York
• Canada--Embassy (Norway)
• Remembrance Day (Canada)
• Korean War, 1950-1953--Personal narratives, Canadian
• Algonquin II (Destroyer)
• Chaudiere (Destroyer)
• Veterans--Canada
• Kenya (Cruiser)
• War--Psychological aspects
• Canada--Politics and government--20th century.
• Marine engineers
• Canada--Embassy (Sweden)
• Royal Naval Engineering College (Great Britain)
• Canada--Royal Canadian Navy--Personal narratives
• World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations, Canadian
• Deep diving
• Canada--Embassy (Denmark)
• Niagara (Destroyer)
• Veterans--Services for--Canada

Date created

• March 16, 2012

Relation

• Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
• Title of paper: "Three Generations of the Royal Canadian Navy: An Oral History of the Canadian Navy: 1940-2000".

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 3 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic Coverage

• Korea (South)
• Korea (North)
• Canada
• Great Britain
• United States

Coordinates

• 40, 127
• 54.75844, -2.69531
• 60.10867, -113.64258
• 39.76, -98.5
• 36.5, 127.75

Additional physical characteristics

• Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.

Physical Repository

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

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

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

Genre

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

Archival item identifier

• MJ_737

Fonds title

• Military oral history collection

Fonds identifier

• SC141

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection

Date digitized

• March 16, 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

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/826r-re20

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