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Rockingham, John Meredith: my Army recollections (July 11, 1979)

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Rank: Major-General. Medals and Honours: Companion of the Bath (CB); Order of the British Empire (CBE); Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Interviewer: Roy, Reginald H.

Interviewee: Rockingham, John Meredith, b. 1911

ABSTRACT: Maj.-Gen. John Meredith Rockingham, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O. Canadian Scottish Regiment Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Rockingham_J_0184_01.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 1, interviewed by R. H. Roy) Despite his wish to command the R.H.L.I. on D-Day he was sent to staff college. Reappointed to command the regiment in mid-July. Twice bombed by friendly aircraft. Comments on attack on Verrieres. Heavy casuaties; every officer in one company. Tank support suffered heavily. Great admiration for the German infantry. During a counterattack one German tank stopped directly over Rockingham's slit trench. Driven off by P.I.A.T. (projectile, infantry, anti-tank) fire. Shelled by own artillery and mortars. Promoted to brigadier, 9th Infantry Brigade. (45:00) Rockingham_J_0184_02.mp3 Anecdote. Lt.-Gen. Guy Simonds. Familiar with relief of Maj.-Gen. George Kitching from command. Brigade commander must maintain enthusiasm of troops. Falaise, Operation Tractable. Describes the three battalions in his brigade. All were very good for certain operations. Philosophy of soldiering. Age of fighting troops. Mentions Brig. Churchill Mann, an excellent staff officer. Rockingham_J_0184_03.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 2) Returns to Falaise, dust conditions, troops involved. Later in August at Trun the Germans were decimated. Heavy defenses at Boulogne. Anecdote. Captured twelve hundred Germans in one morning. City surrendered to Brig. Rockingham. Comments on the general attitude of the French people. Sometimes not happy to be liberated by the Allies because of the general destruction that entailed. Morale of the troops, excellent support services. (42:00)

An interview/narrative of John Meredith Rockingham's experiences during World War II. Major-General Rockingham, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O. served with the Canadian Scottish Regiment and the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. Interview took place on July 11, 1979.

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Date created Relation
  • Special Collections holds an additional interview with Maj.-Gen. Rockingham.
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 3 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic Coverage Coordinates
  • 49, 0
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 102 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 2 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
Physical Repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • RJM_184
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • April 28, 2009
Technical note
  • Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 32 kHz. Digitized by KG, 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 2009. 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 Rockingham_J_0184_01.mp3
file details Rockingham_J_0184_02.mp3
file details Rockingham_J_0184_03.mp3