Madden, John Russell: my Army recollections (1987)

Rank: Major.

Interviewee: Madden, John Russell, b. 1924

ABSTRACT: Maj. John R. Madden 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Madden_J_0102_01.mp3 (Side 1) A member of the University of Manitoba C.O.T.C. at seventeen years of age. Volunteered for the Winnipeg Rifles, but changed to the Parachute Regiment in Jan. 1943. (10:00) Anecdote. Trained at Fort Benning, Ga. Graduated, returned to Camp Shilo in March 1943. Discusses the conduct of "refusing to jump". Early parachutes were somewhat rough to use. Commanded a platoon of the "demonstration company" which toured as part of a war bond campaign. Overseas in July 1943; impressions of England. Joined the 6th British Airborne Division. (40:00) Compares the British and American attitudes toward training. Tough battle drill, re-qualified under the British system. Loyalty to the group was all important; they had to want to belong for it was very easy to be returned to their original unit. (45:00) Madden_J_0102_02.mp3 Comments that there seems to be some feeling against being elite in the modern forces, but being special has its advantages. Comments on some brother officers: a certain degree of predictability desirable when dealing with the troops. Transit camp. (15:00) Describes the drop into Normandy on D-Day. Worried because there seemed to be only five others of his "stick" who landed near their target, a bridge over the Orne River. On D + 1 marched back to divisional headquarters, picking up stragglers on the way. No major attacks during his ten days in Normandy, but constant attrition due to shelling. Discusses patrolling. Battle discipline explained. Much co-operation in action between all ranks. Fighting patrols. (48:00) Madden_J_0102_03.mp3 (Side 2) A platoon officer's assessments both before and during battle. Criticism of the battalion commanding officer; lacked hands-on control. In contrast their brigade commander (Brig. Hill) frequently visited the company position. Called upon to reinforce the Black Watch of the 51st Highland Division which was not in good operational shape. Defended the battalion headquarters. Heavy mortaring; platoon sergeant killed. (20:00) Accidentally wounded by the discharge of his own machine-gun during a heavy mortar attack. Wound in the hand became seriously infected; eight weeks in hospital. Later was involved in the fighting in the Ardennes and at the Maas River. (33:00)

An interview/narrative of John Russell Madden's experiences during World War II. Major Madden served with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. Interview took place ca. 1987.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Madden, John Russell, b. 1924

Subject

• Operation Overlord
• Military history
• World War (1939-1945)
• World War (1914-1918)

Language

• eng

Date created

• approximately 1987

Relation

• Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 3 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• England

Coordinates

• 52.16045, -0.70312

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

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

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

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

Genre

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

Archival item identifier

• MJR_102

Fonds title

• Reginald Herbert Roy fonds

Fonds identifier

• SC104

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds

Date digitized

• July 10, 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

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/0shz-a113

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