Dudley, Robert Woodhouse: my Army recollections (March 16, 1983)

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Rank: Captain.

ABSTRACT: Capt. Robert Woodhouse Dudley The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada The Lovat Scouts The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Dudley_R_0049_01.mp3 (Side 1) Born on Nov. 23, 1924 in Vernon, B.C. Grew up and was attended school in Vancouver, B.C. Joined the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada cadets in 1937 and was a boy soldier in 1939. Unable to go overseas (underage), he reverted to the cadets and in 1941, on the day when he wrote his last high school exam, he signed up as a reinforcement for the Seaforths. He passed quickly through the system and, when a sergeant, in the spring of 1942 he returned from overseas and was posted to Gordon Head for officer training. After passing the advanced course at Camp Borden he was promoted to lieutenant. (Interview returns to the militia.) He was a keen cadet: two or three nights per week on training; in 1939 was the youngest soldier on parade in the guard of honour for King George VI who spoke to him. First experience in a beer parlour at summer camp (Sidney, B.C. in 1938) earned him a public spanking from his platoon sergeant. The Seaforths were a real family unit: much interest in one's civilian life. Excellent non-commissioned officers. (25:00) A great social life for the cadets and the battalion, highland games, regimental "holidays", dances, etc. (35:00) Returns to overseas experience: in 1941 he and a friend were informed by the Regimental Sergeant-Major that, because of their ages, their prospects for promotion as non-commissioned officers were very limited and that they should apply as officer candidates! Only seventeen at his Officer Selection Board, but that was no problem, since he had earlier lied about his age. Anecdotes. (45:00) Dudley_R_0049_02.mp3 Some repetitive remarks. When he returned as an officer to England he attended a beachmasters course at the Combined Operations School in Scotland. Seconded to the Lovat Scouts (4 Commando) for several months. Broke his back in a training accident and, after three months recuperation, he volunteered to join the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. At least satisfied that he had been with the Commandos on raids to Norway and France. To Italy: landed in Naples in 1944. Hitler Line in May. Very heavy fighting: his platoon suffered twenty casualties out of twenty-eight personnel. Heavy tank casualties. Great admiration for the North Irish Horse who were in support. (30:00) Battle anecdote. Gothic Line. Speaks well of German troops. The war in Italy was an infantry war, perhaps more than in northwest Europe. Comments on the family spirit of the Edmonton Regiment which still carries on. (45:00) Dudley_R_0049_03.mp3 (Side 2) Good times and grim times. One of his corporals always wore a top hat when going into action. Naviglio Canal anecdote. Wounded in the arm. Moves to northwest Europe. In Holland on Apr. 24, 1945, led an attack on two farm buildings. Threw a grenade through an upstairs window, entered the front hall to find his grenade bouncing down the stairs toward him. Twenty-three wounds. To him, a slow-motion affair. After morphine and a shot of rum, was carried out by German prisoners. Battalion medical officer poured more rum, then by stretcher jeep to field hospital where he passed out. After V E Day, in a British hospital, in plaster, flat on his back, he volunteered to join the Pacific Force. Joined the postwar army: administrative jobs, School of Infantry. Airborne School in 1948. Joined 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Took a platoon of picked troops to the United States Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School in North Carolina. The best soldiers they had ever seen! Comments on new battalions formed for Korea. In Korea Sept. 1951 as adjutant of the 1st Battalion, then commanded D Company. Much patrol activity. Compared to Europe fairly quiet, but interesting. "One was grateful to be able to take part in a war, however mundane". (37:00) Dudley_R_0049_04.mp3 The unit spent 287 days in the line without a break (a record). Quite comfortable in Korea; American supplies, good food, good cooks. Personal reaction to Korea: very relaxed, and realized then that he was a professional. After the war he took a contingent of the 1st Battalion to the Coronation in 1953. Korean medical problems often Far Eastern diseases. In his opinion American Mobile Army Surgical Hospital units not as good as Canadian medical units. Returned to Canada to regimental duties. Medical category lowered, offered promotion and a transfer to the Service Corps. Refused and asked to be retired after twenty years service. (47:00)

Interviewee: Dudley, Robert Woodhouse, b. 1924

An interview/narrative of Robert Woodhouse Dudley's experiences during World War II and the Korean War. Captain Dudley served with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, the Lovat Scouts, the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Interview took place on March 16, 1983.

Interviewer: Falconer, Cameron

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 4 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 40, 127
  • 39.76, -98.5
  • 36.5, 127.75
  • 54.75844, -2.69531
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 135 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 2 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
Physical Repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • DRW_049
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • May 30, 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 Dudley_R_0049_01.mp3
file details Dudley_R_0049_02.mp3
file details Dudley_R_0049_03.mp3
file details Dudley_R_0049_04.mp3