Fowler, Albert G.: my Canadian Forces recollections (November 9, 2009)

An interview/narrative of Albert G. Fowler's experiences as a military chaplain. Interview took place on November 9, 2009.

ABSTRACT: Padre Albert G. Fowler In this interview Padre Albert G. Fowler discusses his motivations for becoming a military chaplain, his religious and military background, and his overall military experiences. More specifically, Padre Fowler discusses his thoughts on the personal characteristics that might help or inhibit a individual's success as a military chaplain; how the chaplaincy fits within, and is seen by the military as a whole; the roles and duties of a military chaplain as both an officer and a clergyman, and the relationship between these two roles; how a chaplain's beliefs as a Christian interact with and influence his/her experiences as a military chaplain and military officer; and the differences and similarities between the duties and roles of the military chaplain in peace time and during war. Padre Fowler's interview provides excellent insight into the overall experience of the Canadian military chaplain. By drawing on personal experiences, such as his experiences as a chaplain during the FLQ crisis, stationed with NATO forces in Cyprus, stationed at multiple military bases throughout Canada, and at the Royal Military College in Victoria BC, as well as many other experiences, Padre Fowler illuminates the multi-faceted and challenging role of the Canadian military chaplain. 0:00:00 - Introduction 0:24:40 - Characteristics of Successful Military Chaplain 0:46:00 - Importance of Chaplains Being Non-Combatants 0:53:30 - Chaplains in Times of War 1:00:00 - Most Important Roles of the Military Chaplain 1:17:30 - Dealing with Questions of Morality: Christianity and Military Confrontation 1:39:00 - Difficulties of Being Both Clergyman and Military Officer 1:58:00 - Conscientious Objectors

Interviewee: Fowler, Albert G., b. 1942

Interviewer: Blencoe, Jonathan

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Blencoe, Jonathan
• Fowler, Albert G., b. 1942

Subject

• United Nations
• Canada. Royal Canadian Air Force
• Canada. Canadian Armed Forces
• Military history
• Turkish Invasion of Cyprus (Cyprus : 1974)

Language

• eng

Keyword

• United Nations--Peacekeeping forces
• War-- Moral and ethical aspects
• Olympic Games--(21st : 1976 : Montre?al, Que?bec)
• Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Personal narratives
• Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Chaplains
• United Nations--Armed Forces
• Conscientious objectors
• Ethics
• Canada--Canadian Forces Base (Holberg, B.C.)
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Peace--Religious aspects
• Canada--Royal Canadian Air Force--Catholic Chaplaincy Service
• Cyprus--Politics and government--1960-2004
• Canada--Canadian Forces Base (Petawawa, Ont.)
• War--Religious aspects
• Peacekeeping forces, Canadian
• Military chaplains--Catholic Church
• Peace--Moral and ethical aspects
• Military chaplains--Protestant churches.
• Cyprus--History--Turkish Invasion, 1974
• Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Régiment blindé du Canada, 12e
• Canada--Canadian Forces Base (Gagetown, N.B.)
• Fowler, Albert G. (Albert George), 1942- --Interviews
• Canada--Royal Canadian Air Force
• Military chaplains--Canada
• Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Officers
• United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
• Armed Forces--Conduct of life
• Que?bec (Province)--History--October Crisis, 1970
• Conduct of life
• Canada--Canadian Armed Forces--Chaplaincy Service

Date created

• November 9, 2009

Relation

• Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
• Title of paper: "Protestant Military Chaplains: A Question of Balance".

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 1 sound recording (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• Canada
• Cyprus

Coordinates

• 60.10867, -113.64258
• 35, 33

Additional physical characteristics

• Original sound recording (WMA) also available.

Physical repository

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

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

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

Genre

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

Archival item identifier

• FAG_598

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

• February 25, 2010

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 2010. 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/xcr7-9t52

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