Durrance, Kathryn M.: my United Nations Protection Force recollections (November 10, 2007)

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An interview/narrative of Captain Kathryn Durrance's experiences whilst serving with the United Nations Protection Force. Interview took place on November 10, 2007.

Interviewee: Durrance, Kathryn M., b. 1963

ABSTRACT: Interview with Captain Kathryn Durrance Conducted by Elena Merritt on 10 November 2007 The interview begins with Captain Kathryn Durrance describing her role and experiences with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Balkans, UNPROFOR, in 1995. Captain Durrance served as a pharmacist with UNPROFOR. Then Captain Durrance explains her family background with the Canadian military. Captain Durrance's father served in the Canadian Navy and travelled frequently. Captain Durrance describes her relationship with her father, especially her perception of his job as a child. The interview then turns to Captain Durrance's experiences in Bosnia and Croatia with the United Nations peacekeeping mission, UNPROFOR. Captain Durrance tells about her family's reaction to her draft to the UNPROFOR mission and her family's continual support during the mission. Subsequently, Captain Durrance explains what the situation was like when she first arrived in the Balkans. Captain Durrance then discusses her personal ordeals with being emotionally and mentally prepared to witness the ethnic conflict. Seeing the conflict in the Balkans made Captain Durrance more thankful for everyday things. Next, Captain Durrance elaborates on the six-week training she received for the UNPROFOR mission, including convoy drills and technical skills. Exploring more about the mission's mandate, Captain Durrance discusses the UNPROFOR mandate and its effectiveness (24:00). Captain Durrance stated that she and her unit were only allowed to defend themselves if in imminent danger; they basically had to "run away" from serious situations. This discussion is followed by Captain Durrance explaining her viewpoint on whether she and the other Canadian soldiers received enough support from the United Nations and the Canadian public. As well, Captain Durrance discusses the obstacles for UNPROFOR and its completion. Captain Durrance, as an officer, also mentions her relationships with other Canadian soldiers and officers in her unit. As a woman in the Canadian military and serving with UNPROFOR, Captain Durrance describes what it was like to be a woman serving in the forces; she was thankful for her protective "brothers," her fellow Canadian soldiers (35:00). Captain Durrance describes an emotional and distressing experience when she was held at gunpoint by Croats while driving through a checkpoint. Her close relationships with other fellow servicemen and women greatly helped her through that difficult event. Captain Durrance then describes specific instances when she met local people in Croatia and her perception of their attitudes (54:00). She subsequently explains the prejudices and ethnic cleansing that she witnessed while in the Balkans, and how she and other soldiers coped with the mission. The interview concludes with Captain Durrance discussing her return to Canada from her mission. Specifically, Captain Durrance talks about the government services available to her, her memories of the mission and the conflict she witnessed, and her family's support (1:08). The interview then ends with Captain Durrance sharing how she remembers her service in the Balkans: she knows that she made a difference.

Interviewer: Merritt, Elena

Rank: Captain. Medals and Honours: Canadian Forces Decoration

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
  • 43.97233, 22.11567
Additional physical characteristics
  • Original sound recording (DVF) also available.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • DK_747
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • November 10, 2007
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 56 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 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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file details Durrance_K_0747_01.mp3 Public