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Harries, Maurice R.: my Army recollections (June 22, 1987)

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Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel.

Interviewer: Torrie, Tom

Interviewee: Harries, Maurice R., b. 1910

ABSTRACT: Lt.-Col. Maurice R. Harries Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Harries_M_0063_01.mp3 Born in Jan. 25, 1910 in Toronto. Employed before the war in the automotive business in London, Ont. Inquiries to the Army in Dec. 1939 resulted in a request by the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps that he accept a commission in that Corps in March 1940. Joined No. 1 Mechanical Vehicle Reception Depot as a "mechanist officer". Explains that, as a civilian, he had worked for a French company in carburetor, engine, and fuel development, and as a service manager in an experimental program by Goodrich Tire Company. He was sent directly overseas as a lieutenant after an "officer qualification course" of only a few days. Sailed on Apr. 15, 1940 for Liverpool, then to Camp Borden, Hampshire. There they received Canadian and British vehicles for issuance to the Canadian army. Due to lack of training and communication, many organizational difficulties occurred in the first few months. Anecdotes. Company commanders' course in Apr. 1942. Promoted to captain and second-in-command of No. 63 General Transport Company, then to No. 64 General Transport Company as acting commanding officer. Fell ill, went to hospital, met his wife, a Canadian nursing sister. Then back to 63 Company for several months as C.O. Was posted to II Canadian Corps headquarters as deputy assistant director of transport in 1943. Comments on army discipline. Position at corps headquarters involved supervision of corps transport, administratively now running much more smoothly. Moved to Normandy on July 6, 1944. Job expanded enormously, including rail traffic for the Canadian Corps. Motor vehicles underwent very heavy usage, requiring complete overhauls in the winter of 1944/45. Drivers were taught to do much of their own light maintenance. Major job scheduling and coordinating traffic control, loading and unloading with occasionally close to one thousand vehicles involved. From Nijmegen shipped supplies forward toward Cleve by night in DUKWs. Had to supply some food to undernourished civilians helping to load the DUKWs which improved productivity. Anecdote on capture of Boulogne. In Canada on leave in March 1945. War ended, commanded No. 6 Company in Halifax. Was posted to Ottawa as chief inspector of mechanical transport (a major). Pre-staff college studies, then Staff College in Kingston in 1950. As a lieutenant-colonel he commanded the R.C.A.S.C. School. Overseas to a transportation course in England. Ottawa again. Was appointed assistant quarter-master general (A.Q.M.G.) in England. Retired in 1961. General comments. Employed by the Emergency Measures Organization in Ottawa in Oct. 1961. (80:00)

An interview/narrative of Maurice R. Harries's experiences during World War II. Lieutenant-Colonel Harries served with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. Interview took place on June 22, 1987.

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 sound recording (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 52.16045, -0.70312
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 80 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
Physical Repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • HMR_063
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • June 1, 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
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file details Harries_M_0063_01.mp3