Description
Mr. Hurd discusses being offered a Captain's commission to serve at an alien internment camp near Quebec City. Later he takes a demotion to lieutenant to join the Royal Rifles. He eventually becomes a regimental quartermaster, regaining his rank of Captain.
Lionel Hurd
Lionel Hurd was born on February 3, 1907 in Maple Leaf, P.Q. He was the eldest of three sons. After finishing school he went to work in a lumber yard, and then out to the gold mines in Kirkland Lake. In 1936 he became a surveyor. Despite being married with two children, Mr. Hurd enlisted in 1940, serving as a Captain at an internment camp near Quebec City. He then took a demotion to Lieutenant in order to join the Royal Rifles. Mr. Hurd was soon a Captain acting as regimental quartermaster. After the fall of Hong Kong, he was fortunate to be imprisoned with the other officers, thus avoiding much of the misery experienced by the non-commissioned ranks.
Transcript
Lieutenant-Colonel McAulay he came out of the 7th or 11th, we had amalgamated at that time and he became the district recruiting officer. So I took a few holidays and I walked into his headquarters and he said, “I’m just sending for you. There’s a vacancy for a captain on alien internment operations, would you take it? ” I said, “Yes, I will.” I ended up at a prison camp but I remember having to look after these civilian internees in Quebec City and when I got to know these people, I felt sorry for them. I don’t think they were enemies at all but they Germans by birth, mostly Jews, they had fled Hitler and war does strange things.
I didn’t like it. So the Royal Rifles was mobilized just about that time and there was vacancies there so I dropped from captain down to lieutenant and went and spent that next winter in Newfoundland with the Royal Rifles and I eventually came up to quarter master with the Royal Rifles and I carried a captaincy - the pay was better. Lucky I did because when we were locked away in prison for nearly four years there was a lot better pay coming to me when it was over than if I was lieutenant, I needed it, I was a family man.
I didn’t like it. So the Royal Rifles was mobilized just about that time and there was vacancies there so I dropped from captain down to lieutenant and went and spent that next winter in Newfoundland with the Royal Rifles and I eventually came up to quarter master with the Royal Rifles and I carried a captaincy - the pay was better. Lucky I did because when we were locked away in prison for nearly four years there was a lot better pay coming to me when it was over than if I was lieutenant, I needed it, I was a family man.
Metadata
Alien Internment Camp
Medium
Video
Owner
Veterans Affairs Canada
War or Conflict Term
Second World War
Location/Theatre
Canada
Person Interviewed
Lionel Hurd
Branch
Army
Units/Ship
Royal Rifles of Canada
Military Rank
Captain
Recorded
Duration
1:40
