A Hunger Strike

Heroes Remember

A Hunger Strike

Transcript

We had a hunger strike at one point against Nickland, amongst other things and we just stopped eating. Yes, because of the, of the petty things that he was giving guys thirty days detention for missing a comb on kit parade, you know, this sort of thing. It was just ridiculous. He had no experience being a commanding officer, none of them did. So we just suddenly, there were no, there were no ring leaders, we just suddenly didn't, didn't eat. And, of course, we had a field ambulance living in the same quarters as where we were. We never ate better in our lives. They refused to eat and let us use their kitchens. And a, a couple of days we were paraded in and just sat there and the officers came around and we just going, "Sorry sir, I'm not hungry, you know." "Eat it." " Well no I don't feel like it." So this went on for about four days and then Brigadier Hill got the whole battalion together in the gymnasium with no sergeants, no officers and he said, "Alright you guys, now you made your point, I get your point. Now you are going to give your country a bad name if you keep this up." So everybody went "okay" and out we went and that was it. Now that's a, that's a good commanding officer, that trick, or that, the way he handled it. I've met him once or twice since. He come, he used to come over, I guess he's pretty, I think he's still alive. When he, you know, he just knew how to handle us and everybody, nobody lost face and we just picked up from where we were, but it was a, it was quite an affair. I don't think it ever, I don't know whether anybody ever heard of it or not. It was just of course, we were separated from the Canadian Army, anyhow.

Description

Mr. Kelly talks about the hunger strike that took place in his company due to overly harsh officers.

Jeff Kelly

Mr. Kelly was born in Lindsay, Ontario, December 16, 1923. His father was a medical officer with a field ambulance in the First World War and received a Distinguished Service Order. Mr Kelly wanted to be an infantry man as his father had a great admiration for them. He joined the army on the 22nd of May in 1942. He served overseas with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion which was part of the British 6th Airborne Division.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 02:01
Person Interviewed:: Jeff Kelly
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: British 6th Airborne Division
Occupation:: Intelligence officer

Language selection

A Hunger Strike

Heroes Remember

A Hunger Strike

Jeff Kelly

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