Body Armour
Heroes Remember
Body Armour
Transcript
Description
Mr. MacLeod describes using body armour and feeling more secure because of it.
Malcolm MacLeod
Malcolm MacLeod was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on March 21, 1923, and was one of three children. Despite his father being a rural school teacher, he had to complete grade twelve via correspondence. Mr. MacLeod enlisted in the army rather than the air force in the spring of 1943, and the army performed hernia surgery which he couldn't personally afford. He was quickly sent overseas to reinforce post D-Day efforts in France, joining the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. Mr. MacLeod's war service ended near Antwerp, Belgium when his leg was badly fractured during a shelling.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 0:50
- Person Interviewed:
- Malcolm MacLeod
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Battle/Campaign:
- Northwest Europe
- Branch:
- Army
- Rank:
- Private
- Occupation:
- Infantryman
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Joining the Queen's Own Camerons
Mr. MacLeod describes joining the army instead of the air force because they would correct a hernia from which he was suffering. He discusses his training pathway, and joining the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders upon his arrival in England.
Buzz Bombs and Panic
Mr. MacLeod describes buzz bombs and the RAF's attempts to shoot them down. He also describes his terror at being immobilized in a hospital after being wounded, and hearing a buzz bomb stop over his hospital.
D-Eay +30
Mr. MacLeod describes the ease of landing in Normandy thirty days after the invasion, and not seeing any substantial consequences of war until he reached Carpiquet Airport.
An Accident at Caen
Mr. MacLeod describes being wounded while disposing of a German grenade, and after two weeks medical leave returning to his platoon and only finding one original member left.
“Losing it” and Self-inflicted Wounds
Mr. MacLeod describes reactions to battle stress such as what the troops called “losing it” and causing self-inflicted wounds which would necessitate hospitalization and avoid combat.
Marksmanship and Rifle Training
Mr. MacLeod discusses the difference between a good and expert marksman, and describes a particularly difficult training drill using a bolt-action rifle.
Civilian Corpse
Mr. MacLeod describes finding an obviously assassinated civilian in a ditch, and speculates on the reasons for his death.
Ambush Luck
Mr. MacLeod describes how his entire battalion is strafed by a German machine gunner as they walk down a road, with only one man being hit in the heel.
German POWs
Mr. MacLeod describes how German POWs were resigned to their captivity, and discusses one situation where a German officer might have been booby-trapped.
Tragedy at Antwerp
Mr. MacLeod describes a German attack near Antwerp, Belgium in which his officer is decapitated by a bazooka, and his leg is so badly shattered that he is hospitalized in England until the war ends.
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