Ferrie, Ronald Fraser: my Army recollections (June 10, 1987)

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Interviewee: Ferrie, Ronald Fraser, b. 1920

An interview/narrative of Ronald Fraser Ferrie's experiences during World War II. Major Ferrie served with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. Interview took place on June 10, 1987.

Rank: Major.

ABSTRACT: Maj. Ronald Fraser Ferrie Royal Canadian Corps of Signals Ferrie_R_0054_01.mp3 Born on Feb. 10, 1920 in Calgary, Alta. In 1935 he joined the local militia signals unit as a boy soldier. During the following year or so they became equipped with No. 1 wireless set, with a range of about three miles. Drill, courses and Sunday exercises kept the unit busy for two or three occasions per week. Summer camps at Sarcee and Dundurn. At the latter, in 1938, he was first introduced to vehicle-mounted wireless sets. (10:00) Describes uniforms. In 1938 was sent to Vimy Barracks, Kingston to qualify as a militia sergeant. During the 1939 Royal Visit to Calgary militia units were required to line the route in two locations. Fast movement was required after the Royal party had passed the first location. When war broke out they moved to Barriefield, just outside Kingston. A confusing time, during which morale suffered. Transferred to Vimy Barracks where accommodation and training equipment were good. Qualified as a radio operator. Officer training at Brockville, then additional signals training. Overseas in March 1942 to Aldershot. Posted to the Regiment de Maisonneuve. (30:00) A difficult time and a mistake since he had a poor grasp of French. By July 1942 he was transferred to 3rd Infantry Division Signals. Comments on exercises and the necessity, for signals staff, of immediately establishing communications after the exercise was over for the day. Appointed to the artillery signals section of 3rd Division Headquarters. Impressions of England. (40:00) Ferrie_R_0054_02.mp3 Main Signals problem was usually the breakdown of line communications: passing vehicles often broke wires. Substitute signals officer for the 13th Field Regiment, R.C.A. Then posted to 14th Field Regiment as signals officer. By now had good switchboard equipment, telephones, and the No. 19 wireless set (1943). In July of 1943 was the second-in-command of the operating section of 3rd Division Signals. Invasion training began in earnest in Scotland. For a short time was adjutant for 3rd Division signal reinforcement unit. Excellent experience, but was glad to return to the field as signals officer for the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (M.G.). (15:00) Communications network not as complicated for a machine-gun unit since companies came under tactical control of others. Landed in Normandy on D+12. Beaches very well organized, landed dry-shod. Divisional signals a very interesting position since most information passed through the hands of his unit. Bombed by the U.S. Army Air Force on the way to Falaise. Posted to command the operating section of Division Headquarters as a captain. Comments on the Scheldt Estuary, Ghent, Nijmegen where they spent the winter of 1944-45. During Operation Veritable flooding caused special signals problems. "Friendly" attack on Headquarters by R.A.F. Typhoons: luckily no casualties. Rhine crossed. Near Oldenburg when war ended. (40:00) Returned to Canada in Dec. 1945. Comments on occupation experiences in Holland. Stayed on with Signal Corps after the war. Retired in 1969. (47:00)

Interviewer: Torrie, Tom

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
  • 49, 0
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 90 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
  • FRF_054
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • May 29, 2007
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by AN, 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 2007. 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
file details Ferrie_R_0054_01.mp3
file details Ferrie_R_0054_02.mp3