Quan, Gordon: my Force 136 experiences (March 24, 2016)
Interviewer: Gallagher, Trevor
ABSTRACT: Military Oral History Project Interview Summary Narrator: Quan, Gordon. 1926 - Title: "We were dead once we flew into Burma.": Chinese Canadians in Force 136 Interviewer: Interviewed by Trevor Gallagher. Extent 1 sound recording (MP3) Length 01:09:48, file size 95.8MB Interview Date and Location 24 March 2016, Victoria BC. Synopsis: A somewhat rambling interview, in which themes were discussed not necessarily in chronological order. Gordon Quan was born in Cumberland, BC and grew up there, in Canton Province, and in Victoria. He worked at Victoria Shipyards and helped raise funds for the Chinese war effort before enlisting in the Army. Chinese Canadians in British Columbia had to wait to be conscripted before being allowed to enlist, and there was some controversy within the Chinse Canadian community about whether they should serve. Mr. Quan was among a group who volunteered for general (overseas) service as a means to advance the civil rights of Chinese Canadians. He was recruited into Force 136 immediately after completing his basic training and transferred to India for training. The war ended before he was sent on his first mission. He discusses the post-war campaign for the franchise, relations between Chinese Canadians and other non-Caucasian Canadians, and the attitudes of both Canadian-born and immigrant Chinese to Chinese Canadians' war service. 00:00- 13:24- Growing up in Cumberland, Canton Province, and Victoria; fundraising for Chinese war effort; enlistment in the Army. 13:24- 19:21 -Joining Army, decision to volunteer for general service, and recruitment into Force 136. 19:21 - 39:30- Transfer to India and Force 136 training. Intermixed with discussion of anti-Chinese racism and discrimination before and after the war. 39:30-50:55- End of war and transfer back to Canada. Demobilization in Nanaimo. Discussion of proposed mission into Burma. Post-war visits to East and Southeast Asia. 50:55-55:25- Post-war Army Reserve service. 55:25-01:09:48- Post-war campaign for voting rights. Discussion of Chinese Canadian - Japanese-Canadian relations during war. Comments on attitudes toward Canadian-born and immigrant Chinese toward Chinese-Canadian veterans' service. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 14:55 - 15:30 - Discussion of Chinese Canadian town hall meetings, the controversy regarding military service, and the decision to serve overseas in order to advance civil rights in Canada. Subject Key Words Civil Rights, Chinese Canadians, Force 136, Racism, Second World War, Southeast Asia Command, Special Operations Executive, Victoria Chinatown, Voting Rights
Interviewee: Quan, Gordon, 1926-
An interview/narrative of Gordon Quan's experiences during World War II. Quan served with Force 136 in Burma. Interview took place on March 24, 2016.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- QG_838
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 24, 2016
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps. 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 2016. 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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