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Ross, Hugh Cameron: my Canadian Forces recollections (March 9, 2012)

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Interviewee: Ross, Hugh Cameron, b. 1949

Rank: Major General. Medals and Honours: Commander of the Order of Military Merit; Special Service Medal; United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus Medal; United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone Medal; United Nations Angola Verification Mission II Medal; Canadian Centennial Medal; Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal; 25th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal; Canadian Forces Decoration; Alberta Centennial Medal; Knight's Cross of the Polish Order of Merit

ABSTRACT: Major General Cameron Ross spent two years at Royal Roads College (1968-1970) and then three years at the Royal Military College (1970-1973). He graduated in 1973 and went to Lord Strathcona’s Horse Regiment in Calgary where he assumed command of a Light Armoured Recognisance Troop. In the summer of 1974, he got a call with three days notice to take a troop of 27 soldiers to join the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Cyprus. He says that he joined the military for the free education and the promise of employment. MGen. Ross describes the training they received as “standard”. He arrived as part of the reinforcements for UNFICYP after the Turkish invasion. He remembers the plane trip to Cyprus and the lack of overseas deployment training. As the Troop Leader, he was responsible for the equipment, soldiers and the mission of his troop. He contrasts the organization of Armoured Recognisance versus Infantry. MGen. Ross describes the daily routine, attending “O Group” meetings and patrolling the Green Line. He remembers stopping firefights and evacuating Observation Posts and recounts one event in which he drove into a mine field and damaged his Lynx. He recalls a standoff with a Turkish Armoured Brigade. MGen. Ross reflects on the “sixth sense” of battle. He provides an anecdote in which he disobeyed orders to stop his troop from driving into an unmarked Turkish minefield. He remembers the standoff at Nicosia Airport. MGen. Ross reflects on the lack Canadian media coverage on the ground and the archaic equipment that the Canadian Airborne had to work with. On the topic of memories, MGen. Ross describes memories from his time in the military as being the strongest compared to his memories from the private sector, especially his memories from Cyprus. He concludes by reflecting on the problem of ending the operation in Cyprus and his personal involvement. 00:00:00 – 00:02:26 – Military Career prior to serving in Cyprus and reasons for enlisting in the army. 00:02:26 – 00:07:37 – Describes getting ready to deploy to Cyprus with only three days notice. First impressions of the Airborne Regiment and arriving in Cyprus. 00:07:37 – 00:10:12 – Outlines the rules of engagements. Reflects on the preparedness of the Airborne Regiment. Training, weapons, debriefing, etc. 00:10:12 – 00:38:29 – Compares the Armoured Recognisance culture to Infantry culture. Duties as a Troop Leader and the average day. Describes stopping fire fights and evacuating OP`s. Patrolling anecdotes. 00:38:29 – 00:56:15 – Turks as the enemy, anecdote about driving into a mine field and the “sixth sense” of battle. 00:56:15 – 01:02:34 – Canadian performance, Turkish advance on Nicosia airport, civilian contact and attitudes towards the UN presence. 01:02:34 – 01:07:34 – Equipment, vehicles, and weapons of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. Canadian media coverage. 01:07:34 – 01:15:47 – Formation of memories in the military. Remembers talking to a locomotive engineer on VIHA rail about memories. Awareness of international intervention. 01:15:47 – 01:27:07 – Current problem of ending the operation in Cyprus. The UN “business.” Opinion of how the UN handled the Turkish invasion. Conclusion.

An interview/narrative of Major General Cam Ross's experiences whilst serving with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Interview took place on March 9, 2012.

Interviewer: Eriksson, Camas

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
  • 35, 33
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
Physical Repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • RC_712
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • March 9, 2012
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 16 kbps and 16 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 2012. 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 SC141_MilitaryOralHistory_GenericThumbnail
file details Ross_C_0712_01.mp3