Description
Ronald John Routledge
Mr. Routledge was born September 1, 1920. His father, a decorator by trade, was a member of the Regina Rifles and served in the First World War. Mr. Routledge came from a family of four children. He had three sisters, one older and two younger. His father encouraged him to join the Regina Rifles Regiment cadet program when he was 14. After completing high school, shortly before Canada declared war on Germany, he enlisted with the Regina Rifles. He enlisted with the artillery but soon switched to the Canadian Corps of Signals and trained as a wireless operator. In October, 1941, he and 32 other members of the Signals Corp were told they were headed overseas. They boarded a vessel in Vancouver, not knowing until they were near the Philippines that they were heading for Hong Kong. They eventually arrived in Hong Kong and were assigned to barracks at Shamshuipo. Mr. Routledge was wounded when the Japanese made their first attack on Shamshuipo in December, 1942. After spending time in hospital, he returned to continue his service as a wireless operator. He was taken POW on Boxing Day after the commanding officer of the troops on the Stanley Peninsula surrendered to the Japanese. Following his release at the end of the war, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), the second highest award for bravery in the British Empire. Mr. Routledge remained in the army as a career soldier.
Transcript
Interviewer: An interview like this, would you have done an interview like this before, earlier in your life?
I, that's a very difficult question for me to answer to be quite honest, Neil. I am not sure that I like doing the interview even now because it takes me back, and, but anyway, I'm, I am very grateful to everyone, my, my offspring and my relatives, sisters and so on. They certainly wanted me to do this and talk to you, but.
Interviewer: Is it important to you that Canadians understand what you men went through?
Well, yes indeed it is. And of course, the more I talk to other people who thought that I should certainly do it reminded me, in fact, that it is important, there's no question about it.