Macdonald, Bruce F.: my Army recollections (September 4, 1980)
Rank: Major-General.
An interview/narrative of Bruce F. Macdonald's experiences during World War II. Major-General Macdonald served with the Calgary Highlanders and the Fort Garry Horse. Interview took place on September 4, 1980.
Interviewee: Macdonald, Bruce F., b. 1917
ABSTRACT: Maj.-Gen. Bruce F. Macdonald The Calgary Highlanders Fort Garry Horse Macdonald_B_0094_01.mp3 Born on July 2, 1917 in Edmonton (died in 198-?). Graduated in 1940 from the University of Alberta where he had been a member of C.O.T.C. In 1939 accepted as air crew by the R.C.A.F., but parental pressure caused him to finish his university courses. In 1940, as the R.C.A.F. was not immediately accepting air crew, he took advantage of an opportunity to join the Calgary Highlanders at Currie Barracks. He was asked to transfer to Lord Strathcona's Horse and joined the regiment in Listowel, Ont. as the first "civilian" officer to be taken on strength by that former permanent force unit (1941). Met their first tanks (old) at Camp Borden. In late 1941 they were posted overseas to England. (15:00) Explains the tactical game of "tankie, tankie" in which men represented tanks, a rather bitter joke in his opinion. Comments on the Aldershot barracks and a more recent visit to the same place. First tanks were obsolescent "General Lee", American models. Appointed officers' mess secretary and sports officer. In late 1942 appointed to divisional headquarters as camp commandant or "principal janitor", as he calls it. Promoted to captain. Anecdote regarding Maj.-Gen. Bud Stein whom he "lost" on a scheme. Comments that many senior generals did not seem to be attuned to armoured warfare, although it was true that most had no prior experience with this form of warfare. Neither did they take particularly well to regular use of wireless communication. (35:00) Attended the Canadian Army Staff College in Kingston in 1943, a tough four-month course "on the nuts and bolts of the military arts". Posted, while a major, to 6th Canadian Infantry Division in Prince George, B.C. as the G.S.O. III (Operations) in Nov. 1943. After seven months he was flown to England, reverting to captain, and appointed to the liaison staff at army headquarters. Comments on that organization and on Gen. H.D.G. Crerar and his position as commander of the 1st Canadian Army. (45:00) Macdonald_B_0094_02.mp3 Policy decisions discussed and also political attributes required of an army commander. He was part of the advance party to Normandy for Army H.Q. In late July 1944 appointed to Fort Garry Horse (2nd Armoured Brigade) in command of "B" Echelon. During Operation Totalize he acquired some armoured personnel carriers from the battlefield, loaded them with ammunition and petrol only to have them mistakenly bombed by the U.S. Air Force, killing half a dozen men and setting the armoured personnel carriers on fire. He was able to put out the fire in one and eventually managed to get through to the regiment only to find that they did not need additional supplies! Appointed to brigade H.Q. as G.S.O. III. (15:00) Unfortunately his lack of wireless experience caused the brigade problems during the attack on Quesnay Wood. He feels this was partly due to the command technique of the brigade commander, Brig. J.F. Bingham, who left part of the brigade staff ignorant of his operational orders. Bombing by the R.A.F. caused a breakdown in the brigade wireless net. He was on duty for as long as thirty-six hours without sleep. Severe fatigue altered his judgement and actions. Brigadier's whereabouts unknown for a time; Macdonald not fully in the picture. (25:00) Returned to his regiment for a while. Appointed brigade major for 4th Armoured Brigade where he was happy to find a considerable change in command methods. There was always sufficient staff, radio sets worked well, efficiently produced radio logs, message records, etc. (38:00)
Interviewer: Roy, Reginald H.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 51.05011, -114.08529
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- One original sound tape reel (ca. 90 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- MBF_094
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- June 21, 2007
- 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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