Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search veterans.gc.ca

The Home Front

Heroes Remember

The Home Front

Transcript
My name is Donald Marshall Sutherland. I was born in Toronto on the 22nd of June 1916. When I was 7, my father bought a very nice old house in Weston because he was a keen golfer and he wanted to be as close to Weston Golf Club as he possibly could be and so we moved to Weston. In those days it was a, a village I guess, or a town of 2,500 people in the northwest corner of Toronto, on the Humber. Jobs were scarce, money was scarce. I don't think that we ever actually suffered from The Depression, but it probably curtailed some of our activities. I can remember I, I joined the Bank of Commerce in about 1935 and one of the things I remember is that my salary then was $450 a year plus $100 allowance for living in Toronto. And if you had to work at nights, and of course everything was done by hand in those days, no computers, you were given money to go across the street to the local restaurant where for 35 cents you could get a three or four-course meal. My parents couldn't afford to send me to university and so that's why I joined the bank.
Description

Mr. Sutherland talks about working with the Bank of Commerce in a small town in a two-man branch in Newcastle.

Donald Marshall Sutherland

Donald Marshall Sutherland, was born in Toronto on the 22nd of June 1916. His parents couldn't afford to send him to university and so he worked at the Bank of Commerce. After the war broke out, he joined navy as an ordinary seaman. Canada didn't have any means of training naval sailors at that time; so he was sent to England to be trained. He was involved mostly in mine dismantling. When he returned to Canada he finished his studies.

Meta Data
Medium:
Video
Owner:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
02:13
Person Interviewed:
Donald Marshall Sutherland
War, Conflict or Mission:
Second World War
Location/Theatre:
Canada
Branch:
Navy

Copyright / Permission to Reproduce

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Youtube

Related Videos

Assignment on HMS <em>Prosperine</em>

Assignment on HMS Prosperine

Mr. Sutherland became an officer in the navy and volunteers for mine disposal duties.

“Mine Dismantling” Part 1 of 3

“Mine Dismantling” Part 1 of 3

Risking his life, Mr. Sutherland secures a mine which is adrift in the Scapa Flow close to some battleships. Because of this action he was mentioned in a dispatch.

“Mine Dismantling” Part 2 of 3

“Mine Dismantling” Part 2 of 3

Risking his life, Mr. Sutherland secures a mine which is adrift in the Scapa Flow close to some battleships. Because of this action he was nominated for the George Medal.

“Mine Dismantling” Part 3 of 3

“Mine Dismantling” Part 3 of 3

Risking his life, Mr. Sutherland secures a mine which is adrift in the Scapa Flow close to some battleships. Because of this action he was nominated for the George Medal.

“Mine Dismantling” - Close Call 2

“Mine Dismantling” - Close Call 2

Mr. Sutherland has another close call, and because of his reaction to this, his George Medal is taken away.

Torpedoed Part 1 of 2

Torpedoed Part 1 of 2

Mr. Sutherland talks about his return to Canada on foreign service leave aboard a freighter called the SS Winnipeg II when they were torpedoed while having dinner.

Torpedoed Part 2 of 2

Torpedoed Part 2 of 2

Mr. Sutherland continues hi story about being torpedoed aboard the SS Winnipeg II.

Date modified: