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Sandstorms and Flying Ants

Heroes Remember

Sandstorms and Flying Ants

Transcript
You had like block buildings, or cement buildings and nine of us to a building, to a room and you always had dust and sand, because you’d open the windows, the sand and then you’d have the sandstorms come every once in a while and then you’d have... But yeah, everything is sand. And there’s a few other instance of times when the sandstorm come and the flying ants come, that was an interesting time. And we had to dig out our mosquito netting and everything, and hoard up for four hours. Can you imagine if there would have been a battle going? Because they take a chunk out of your back and your body about that deep and there was trillions of them ahead of the sandstorm and they’re about two inches long. So all we could do, we just got inside our beds and the netting and sit there, hear them pound against the building. They piled up. But that was the sort of accommodations.
Description

Mr. Gourlay describes the type of living conditions experienced within their headquarters.

Ronald Gourlay

Mr. Ronald Gourlay was born in Dundee, Scotland on March 21, 1939. Growing up during the Second World War enforced the desire of wanting to be a part of the military. After moving to New Brunswick, Canada, in 1956, Mr. Gourlay first joined the Royal Canadian Army Service Corp. He travelled to Camp Borden to obtain training and after six months took on a trade in transport. Mr. Gourlay’s military service took him to Germany from 1957 to 1959, Egypt from 1960 to 1963, Cyprus from 1963 to 1965 and again in 1971. In 1983, Mr. Gourlay retired from the military. During his military career he travelled to 34 countries in 27 years. Mr. Gourlay speaks to youth about his experiences and has great pride for the service provided by his regiment.

Meta Data
Medium:
Video
Owner:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
1:14
Person Interviewed:
Ronald Gourlay
War, Conflict or Mission:
Canadian Armed Forces
Branch:
Army
Units/Ship:
Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
Occupation:
Transport

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