Motorcycle Convoys

Heroes Remember

Motorcycle Convoys

Transcript

In England, not in action, but in England, convoys of the regiment, now the convoys were seven miles long, a regiment took seven miles long with, but you see with that it had to be 50 yards between each gun and vehicle, stretched out. You had to pass by that, seven miles of vehicles, to get to the Front to stand at the next crossroads and, holding your arm out the right direction that they'd go, they'd turn. You see, the roads in England it's, you have to, you have to, did you ever travel the roads in England? Without any signs whatsoever pointing in the right direction, find your way through some towns and villages. On the map it showed a Y. You'd come up and there's a Y. If you took the right one, you'd end up in, jammed into their whole outfit behind you, would be jammed into a, a barn yard or a, or a dead end street. That wasn't the Y at all. The Y went that way, it didn't show on the map that it went that way. But that's the way it was and so maps were killers. So to keep the regiment in tact on the way for a two day's trip up to Sonnybridge in Wales, subalterns were on motor bikes and you continually leap-frogged ahead, now you're passing often, you know, the roads are about like that with hedges on both sides, and you're passing by the right hand side and you're passing, you're, you're brushing your sleeve on the squads going by here, and you're brushing the ivy on the thing there, and you're doing 70 miles an hour that's the only way you are ever get to the Front. With the thing wide open. So you had to be pretty well trained, even, even so, the hospitals, wards were full of motorcycle accidents. They were full of them.

Description

Mr. Blackburn talks about the dangers of riding a motorcycle in a convoy.

George Blackburn

George Blackburn was born in Wales, Ontario, on February 3, 1917. His father started out as a steam shovel runner in building the railroads in the United States. George also worked in journalism for a little while. In 1940 after the war had broke out he decided it was time to join the services. He was rejected from the navy and the air force because of his poor eye sight. It was then that he joined RCA. He went through training and it was there that he learned valuable lessons. George was part of the 4th Regiment. He experienced the Battle of Normandy. There he was a gunnery officer. Upon his return to Canada, Mr. Blackburn made Ottawa his home. His list of occupations include newspaper reporter, Director of Information of the Federal Labour Department, and Director of Fair Employment Practices. In addition, he has been a radio producer, an award-winning documentary scriptwriter, an award-winning playwright, published author, and a lyricist and composer. Mr. Blackburn also earned his Military Cross helping to save the Twente Canaal bridgehead in Holland.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 02:32
Person Interviewed:: George Blackburn
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Northwest Europe
Battle/Campaign:: Normandy
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: 4th Battery
Occupation:: Gunnery Officer

Related Videos

Enlisting

Mr. Blackburn talks about what prompted him to enlist when he did (in 1940).

Joining the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA)

Mr. Blackburn talks about why he ended up in the RCA, versus the navy or the air force (or the infantry).

Lessons learned in Training

Mr. Blackburn talks about valuable lessons he learned in training.

Tough days

Mr. Blackburn talks about how tough it was being in their first gun position, with dead bodies scattered around them, some of which had been there for a month. They are then moved into a very vulnerable position in full view of the enemy.

Young Canadian’s Ignorance of their own history.

Mr. Blackburn talks of his concern about young Canadians’ ignorance of their own history.

Difficulty for wives and mothers when their sons went overseas

Mr. Blackburn talks about how difficult it was for wives and mothers back in Canada when their sons and husbands were overseas.

Fatigue and accepting your fate

Mr. Blackburn talks about fatigue and accepting your fate when in action.

Date modified:: 2019-04-03