Potts, John T.: my Army and Air Force recollections (June 18, 1979)
Interviewer: Main, Chris D.
ABSTRACT: Lieut. John T. Potts Royal Flying Corps Royal Air Force Potts_J_0118_01.mp3 Born on June 13, 1898 in Lincolnshire. At the age of seventeen (1915) he joined the 2nd/5th South Staffordshire Regiment. First saw service in Dublin in 1916 during the Irish rebellion. Comments on conditions of service in Ireland. Marched from Dublin to Belfast during one nine-day period carrying 140 lbs. of equipment and weapons. Applied for a commission on his return to England. Posted to the 3rd Officer Cadet Battalion at Bristol. Volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps just after commissioning in late 1917. During his training he flew the DH-6 (de Havilland two-seater) and later in the FE 2b, a single engine "pusher" aircraft used as a night bomber toward the end of the war. Describes bombload, range, flying suit, etc. Reinforcement depot in France, then to No. 101 Squadron, R.A.F. in Apr. 1918. On operations anti-aircraft fire kept the bomber at between two and three thousand feet during raids which were performed by single aircraft dropping one bomb at a time against bridges and railways in enemy territory. Potts_J_0118_02.mp3 Occasionally made two raids on one night. The FE 2b was a reliable aircraft, although the engine in the rear posed considerable danger to the crew during forced landings. In Sept. 1918 his aircraft engine sustained damage, caught fire and upon crash-landing he suffered fairly serious injuries. He was unconscious for a month. In hospital in London when the war ended. Discharged in Dec. 1918 as unfit for further service. Emigrated to Canada in 1922, worked in a bank in Alberta, then for the provincial government. Commissioned in the Canadian army in the Second World War and trained recruits until discharged on medical grounds in June 1943. Moved to Victoria, B.C. where he was employed by the federal civil service. (58:00)
An interview/narrative of John T. Potts's experiences during World War I and II. Lieutenant Potts served with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force. Interview took place on June 18, 1979.
Interviewee: Potts, John T., b. 1898
Rank: Lieutenant.
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- One original sound tape reel (ca. 60 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- PJT_118
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- May 17, 2010
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF and SC, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. ; WWI Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to 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
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