Pope, Frederick Norman: my Army recollections (May 31 - June 22, 1982)
PublicInterviewee: Pope, Frederick Norman, b. 1911
Interviewer: Bell, Chris
An interview/narrative of Frederick Norman Pope's experiences during World War II. Lieutenant-Colonel Pope served with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Interview took place on May 31, June 7, 10, 15 and 22, 1982.
ABSTRACT: Lt.-Col. Frederick Norman Pope The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Pope_F_0182_01.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 1) Born on Nov. 4, 1911 in England where his father was an Anglican priest. Lived in Hong Kong, then England where he attended Bedford Grammar School. School cadet corps. Later joined the London Scottish Regiment (militia) where he was required to show that at least one parent was a Scot. Emigrated to Canada after a C.P.R.-sponsored agricultural course. Attended MacDonald College at McGill University to further his agricultural education. Edmonton and finally to a sheep ranch in Tofield, Alta. where he worked for board and lodging. Bellboy at the Banf Springs Hotel. Pope_F_0182_02.mp3 In Vancouver in 1938. There in Dec. 1939 he joined the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. Immediately overseas to England. Appointed intelligence sergeant. Experience with fifth columnist in England. (90:00) Pope_F_0182_03.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 2) Duties of intelligence sergeant. Describes prewar manufacturing of balloon fabric at Croydon. Officer selection process. Interviewed by Maj.-Gen. Pearkes. Trained in Canada, returned to England as a subaltern in the spring of 1941. Opinion of value of battle drill. Some feeling by the troops of being overtrained due to many years in England. Pope_F_0182_04.mp3 Future wife became a volunteer driver in order to go to England in Dec. 1941. Anecotes of early married life in wartime England. Hospital due to intestinal problem; long convalescence. To escape the reinforcement unit he hitchhiked back to his battalion. Sent to British intelligence school. Comments on Brig. Chris Vokes. (29:00) Pope_F_0182_05.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 1) Got along well with Vokes. Anecdote. Promoted to captain. Seaforth Pipe Band played in the village of Inverary; no locals attended because the band wore the Mackenzie tartan! Combined operations training. Troopship to Sicily. Describes the landing of the 2nd Infantry Brigade. As intelligence officer he kept maps and reports up to date. Battalion in reserve in Aug. 1943. (45:00) Pope_F_0182_06.mp3 Invaded Italy. In mountainous country had to live off the land to some extent. Liaison duties as staff officer (G.S.O. III) at divisional headquarters. Visited the Seaforth Highlanders for their Christmas dinner in the middle of the battle for Ortona. Describes methods used in house-to-house fighting, mouse holing, etc. Returned to Charlie Company of the Seaforths as second-in-command, then company commander. In March 1944 at the Hitler Line were supported very ably by the North Irish Horse. (45:00) Pope_F_0182_07.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 2) Returned to Canada to the staff college at Kingston, Ont. On return overseas in Feb. 1945 was stopped in Ottawa and posted to the directorate of military training. In Sept. 1945 attended U.S. Army staff college at Fort Leavenworth. Retained rank of major in the Interim Force. (35:00) U.S. Staff College. Returned to Ottawa; housing problems. Personal experiences. (47:00) Pope_F_0182_08.mp3 Posted to the tripartite committee on equipment standardization (Canada, U.S.A., Great Britain). Moved to London, England. War Office. Sometimes acted as liaison between British and Americans, particularly as to social customs. In 1951 posted as deputy adjutant and quartermaster general at millitary district headquarters in Kingston. (35:00) Pope_F_0182_09.mp3 (Reel 3, Side 1) Anecdote, militia unit, D.A.Q.M.G. Volunteered, but not accepted for Korean War. In 1954 was posted to the U.S. Staff College at Norfolk, Va. Army headquarters, Ottawa; logistic plans. Promoted to lieutenant- colonel in 1955. In 1957 became military liaison officer at the United Nations in New York. Involved with provision of the U.N. Force for Egypt. Worked for future prime minister, Mike Pearson, whom he considered to be a great boss and an excellent Minister of Foreign Affairs. Appointed G.S.O. I (cadets) where he was heavily involved with training programs. In 1959 commandant of the National Cadet Camp at Banff. Visited by the Queen and Prince Philip. (45:00) Pope_F_0182_10.mp3 Retired in 1962. Explains that in 1954 he was accepted into the P.P.C.L.I. as all staff officers in the regular force were required to belong to a regular force unit. Joined the personnel division of the Penitentiary Service. (08:00)
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel.
- In Collection:
- 10 sound recordings (MP3)
- 36.5, 127.75
- 40, 127
- Three original sound tape reels (ca. 300 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 5 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- PFN_182
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- April 21, 2009
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 32 kHz. Digitized by QL 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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