British Resolve

Heroes Remember

British Resolve

Transcript

We were in, billeted in homes that were not occupied by people of course. They were empty houses that cause a lot of the houses right by the sea that nobody lived there because it was too dangerous. They were evacuated and we were billeted in those houses. We were experiencing bombing by the Germans right where we were stationed. One time we were stationed in Bognor Regis and they bombed the house where we had an office there. You know, it was bombed every night and they were walking on the street. We had our steel helmet. Every where you go you had to have the steel helmet. You see pieces of bombs coming down there, you know, flying all over the place. It was new to us, you know, it was something, it was quite an experience. You used to read about Winston Churchill's speeches, you know, and he was very stern with his message. The people, even though they were bombed every night in London and in the country, in Coventry, in Scotland everywhere, they had a good morale, you know. They were very, you know... It surprise you the way they put up with it and fight the war.

Description

Mr. Clavel describes the areas of England where he experienced bombing and offers his admiration for the British who carried on despite being constantly under attack.

Roger Clavel

Roger Clavel was born in Sainte-Scholastique, Quebec on February 15, 1919. He was the sixth of eight children. After finishing grade eight, he sold donuts door-to-door. Mr. Clavel enlisted three days after the war started, on September 13, 1939. He went overseas as a Fusilier de Montreal, and while in England he was married. Mr. Clavel then joined the Royal 22nd Regiment in North Africa. During the Italian campaign, Mr. Clavel eventually ended up driving a medical supply truck. The Royal 22nd Regiment then rejoined the Canadian army in Belgium, but Mr. Clavel saw limited action. After returning to Canada, Mr. Clavel had to wait exactly one year for the arrival of his war bride.

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