Interview with Lieutenant Navy Yves Lessard
Narrator: Lieutenant Navy Yves Lessard Interviewer: John Thomson Interview Date and Location: Wednesday, February 28, 2024 and Wednesday, March 6, 2024 - 260 Albert Douville, Mont St-Hilaire, Quebec J3H5S9. Via ZOOM Synopsis of the Interview Lieutenant Navy Lessard initially joined the army reserves followed by enlistment in the RCN. He underwent arduous training as a Ship’s Diver and then became a Hull Technician and worked on several different ships. In order to advance his career, Lessard trained as a Clearance Diver. Lessard then describes the routine, everyday duties of a Clearance Diver. This is followed by explanations of how Clearance Divers assist other Branches of the CAF. He describes his involvement in the repatriation of wounded and deceased Canadian soldiers from Afghanistan as well as Clearance Diver assistance in the flooding of the Vallée du Richelieu, PQ. Career High-lights included achieving every rank, serving as Deputy Commander of the Recruit School, and completing military exchanges with the French Navy and the Belgium Navy. Interview Time Log: First Interview 02:04 – 04:00 – Early life and initial military career in the Canadian Army Reserves. 04:00 – 07:42 – Joined the Royal Canadian Navy Initial Posting and training as a Ship’s Diver. Posted to HMCS Protecteur followed by posting to HMCS Preserver. 07:43 – 10:07 – Definition of a Hull Technician. Responsibilities of a Hull Technician. 10:08 – 15:50 – Decision to become a Clearance Diver. Intense Preliminary Course. Clearance Diver Training. 15:52 – 27:24 – Routine, everyday tasks of a Clearance Diver. 27:29 – 39:26 – How Clearance Divers assist other branches of the CAF. 39:30 – 46:37 – Repatriation of wounded and deceased Canadian soldiers from Afghanistan. 46:38 – 50:25 – Clearance Diver assistance with the flooding of the Vallée du Richelieu, PQ. 50:27 – 58:36 – Career Highlights. Second Interview 1:00:47 – 1:13:34 – Exchange with the French Navy. 1:13:37 – 1:32:04 – Exchange with the Belgium Navy. Significant Stand-Outs in the Interview Initial training as a diver and as a Clearance Diver. Training standards. Everyday routine tasks of a Clearance Diver. Assistance to other branches of the CAF. Military exchanges with the French Navy and the Belgium Navy.
- In Collection:
- Interview #SC141_LY_925
- 01:34:11
- A Brief History of Royal Canadian Navy Clearance Divers
- 33, 66
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 7; Item: 925
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2024. Recorded in digital format by interviewer. Keywords supplied by interviewer. Metadata by KD.
- 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