Description
Mr. Leblanc talks about the Japanese guards and how he felt size played a part in who got beatings.
Jean Leblanc
Jean Leblanc was born in New Richmond, Quebec in 1932. His mother died when he was only three years old and he lived with his father and brother until he joined the army in 1940 at 16 years of age. Mr. Leblanc admits that he really didn't know what the army was all about at the time of enlistment.
Transcript
Well there was no problem for them to put the boots to ya. They’d kick you or hit you with a sword, not with the sword itself but with the handle and if you didn’t, it all depends on what kind of a mood they were in, they could have cut your head off, it didn’t matter to them.
Interviewer: For no reason....
No. Like I say, me, I don’t know, I was, see I was a, I wasn’t working for them. I wasn’t doing them a favor but I was trying to be as nice as I could when they were around. Myself, I never got touched because, I think it was because of my size. They were after the big guys.
Interviewer: For no reason....
No. Like I say, me, I don’t know, I was, see I was a, I wasn’t working for them. I wasn’t doing them a favor but I was trying to be as nice as I could when they were around. Myself, I never got touched because, I think it was because of my size. They were after the big guys.
Meta Data
Beatings by Guards
Medium
Video
Owner
Veterans Affairs Canada
War, Conflict or Mission
Second World War
Location/Theatre
Hong Kong
Campaign
Hong Kong
Person Interviewed
Jean Leblanc
Branch
Army
Units/Ship
Royal Rifles of Canada
Recorded
Duration
1:00