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Digging Holes

Heroes Remember

Digging Holes

Transcript
It's hard to explain, unless you're there. Especially at times like, if you was sitting there and the artillery coming down on you, not a thing you could do, just sit there . . . take it. But, at least if you're on the front lines you could see what was going on. You'd have a chance to do something, either go ahead or go back or try to keep under protection of some kind. I dug more holes in the ground over there than you could plow up in a month. Interviewer: Can you tell us about that? Digging holes in the ground. Every time you stopped you dug a hole to get in for protection . just about every time and it didn't take you long, you get them shells coming over. Interviewer: You knew you had to get protection. You go pretty fast. Then we just dig it big enough for two fellas to get in. Sometimes, well then you couldn't lay down and sleep. You had to sit down and sleep. Interviewer: Fear of being struck? Well, that's how big your trench would be, it wouldn't be big enough to lay down in you just . . . you could sit there. Interviewer: So at this point, are you afraid? Well yes you were. You had to be afraid of all that stuff. It was more . . . you were afraid more, I think, when you were just sitting there and the artillery coming down and to think that you couldn't do nothing about it. But, when you go in on attack, cause you was moving anyway, you know, it kind of took some of the fear away from you, while you was on the move. You didn't know what you were hitting. You were hitting a lot of mortar fire, shell fire, machine gun bullets, rifle bullets . all at the same time. You get kind of used to it, after a while, you know. Like you're going in like that. You'd . . . they'd be shelling you and you'd listen and you could tell if they were over top of you or not. And you would hear them coming, just hesitated and (inaudible) and you're going trying to hit the objective what you were heading for. At least the trenches or whatever it was, you know. You'd get there as fast as you could.
Description

Mr. Gouchie tells us that he dug more holes over there (France) than you could plow up in a month and explains why.

Earl Gouchie

Mr. Gouchie was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, on February 21, 1917. He comes from a family of four sisters and three brothers. His father was a part-time farmer and mill worker. Growing up during the depression and having a Grade eight level of education, Mr. Gouchie had very little opportunity for employment and worked in the local lumber woods until he decided to join the army. After the declaration of war, Mr. Gouchie was one of the first men to join the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. His regiment sailed to Southern England and received three years of training in preparation for the landings on D-Day in Normandy. The North Nova Scotia Highlanders have been recorded as being known to have fought many bloody battles during wartime. Mr. Gouchie was part of the 2nd wave during the D-Day invasion and admits he would never want to go through it again. After the war, Mr. Gouchie returned home to Amherst to be with his wife and family. He became very involved with the construction of a mural recognizing the contributions of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment. Mr. Gouchie coordinates the parades each year for Remembrance Day celebrations in Amherst. He has never allowed his service in the army to be forgotten and the contributions given by himself and his fellow soldiers. Mr. Gouchie feels the young people of today should experience army life and realize the true meaning of discipline.

Meta Data
Medium:
Video
Owner:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
2:36
Person Interviewed:
Earl Gouchie
War, Conflict or Mission:
Second World War
Location/Theatre:
France
Battle/Campaign:
Normandy
Branch:
Army
Units/Ship:
North Nova Scotia Highlanders

Copyright / Permission to Reproduce

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