Camaraderie like you Wouldn’t Believe

Heroes Remember

Camaraderie like you Wouldn’t Believe

Transcript

When I went to Korea I was one hundred and twelve pounds. I had a picture I was going to bring it down and I forgot it. One hundred and twelve pounds and I met this, while I was out going to Korea, this lumberjack from Nova Scotia, I think he was. His name was Ralph. I can remember his name. He was a brute of a man and he took kind to me. I told him because I was so small I suppose he took a liking to me. I used to call him my buddy because I could do anything, he’d be alongside of me. But we were always together, camaraderie like you wouldn’t believe. I remember another friend of mine, a fellow Royce, his name was from B.C. He used to like to gamble, I didn’t gamble, I don’t know why, it’s funny, you know, I didn’t play cards or nothing but he loved playing cards. And I’d be up in my bunk in the night or almost asleep and he’d come up and he’d shake me, “Doug, give me a few dollars, would you, I got a good hand, give me a few dollars!” I said, “Go way boy will ya!” He said, “I’m going to win this!” I said, “Alright boy!” and I gave him a few dollars and he’d go down. The next morning I would see him, “Here, I just won, here’s some money!” I said, “I don’t want your money boy, just give me what you owe, you know!” So that was going on for so long that after a while when he’d give me the money I’d take it and I’d put it aside and whenever he’d want money then I would give it back to him. But it was great fun like that.

Description

Mr. England tells of some special relationships he made with fellow comrades sharing both the sad and humorous times during war.

Douglas England

Mr. Doug England was born February 9, 1931 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He was the oldest son of five children and at the young age of ten, he lost his mother and was cared for by his grandparents. Later, in his teenage years, Mr. England joined the Reserves and at the age of 19 transferred to active force. He joined the Royal Canadian Engineers and volunteered for service in the Korean War. After the war, Mr. England returned home to St. John’s and married. To this day, Mr. England volunteers at the local legions with a strong focus on commemorating the Korean War.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Recorded:: November 10, 2015
Duration:: 1:45
Person Interviewed:: Douglas England
War, Conflict or Mission:: Korean War
Location/Theatre:: Korea
Battle/Campaign:: Korea
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: Royal Canadian Engineer
Rank:: Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO)

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Date modified:: 2019-06-20