ryan_box024-tld_f15_01

(Cornwall,) Ontario

For Cornelius Ryan
Book about
D-day

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR,
PARTICIPATED IN THE
INVASION OF NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE 6,
1944. IF YOU WERE ONE OF THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
What is your full name?
DONALD MAXWELL FOWLER
What was your unit and division?
STORMONT DUNDAS & GLENGARRY HIGHLANDERS
9TH CDN. INF. Bde
3Rd CDN DIVISION
(AT INVASION TIME
* CDN. DENTAL CORPS. LATER BACK
TO THE SD&G HIGHLANDERS)
*NON COMBATANT)
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
BENY-SUR-MER
18 JUNE/44
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? PriVATE
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 18
Were you married at that time? NO
What is your wife's name? EVA ELMA
Did you have any children at that time? N/A
What do you do now? SUPERVISOR
AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL (CANADA) LIMITED (BROCKVILLE, ONTARIO)
TELEPHONE & COMMUNICATIONS MANUFACTURER
When did you know that you were going to "be part of the invasion?
WHEN I ENLISTED BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY
WHEN I WENT ON VEHICHLE WATER PROOFING COURSE
IN SPRING OF1944. AS IT TURN OUT I DIDN'T MAKE THE
FIRST WAVES.
What was the trip like during the crossing of the Channel? Do you remember, for example, any conversations you had or how you passed the time?
CROSSING WAS VERY QUICK WHEN THE LST (LANDING SHIP - TANK)
I WAS ON WITH MY MOBILE DENTAL CLINIC GOT UNDER WAY.
THE TIME PASSED QUICKLY BECAUSE OF THE ACTIVITY, NERVOUS
TENSION AND THE NEVER ENDING WAVES OF BOMBERS GOING FROM
ENGLAND TO EUROPE.
I CAN SPECIFICALLY RECALL THE SICK FEELING I HAD ABOUT
MY FRIENDS WHO WERE IN THE FIRST WAVES AND OF
COURSE I HAD SOME REMORSE ABOUT BEING SO FAR BEHIND
BUT THAT HAS AFTER MANY YEARS FINALLY PASSED. I RECALL
A RUMOUR (LATER CONFIRMED) THAT MY FRIEND BERT BOX HAD
BEEN THE FIRST ONE KILLED ON THE BEACH. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
NOT AFTER ALL
THE YEARS TO-
GETHER.
What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in which you made
the crossing? (Some people remember scuttlebut to the effect that the
Germans had poured gasoline on the water and planned to set it afire
when the troops came in).
ALSO ON BOARD THE LST I HEARD THE "GLENS" HAD BEEN SERIOUSLY PINNED
DOWN AT A PLACE NICKNAMED "HELLS CORNERS" AND THE TOLL HAD
BEEN HEAVY. (I BELIEVE "HELLS CORNERS" WAS GRUCHY FRANCE.) LATER
ON NORMANDY, ONE OF MY FREIND WITH WHOM I PLAYED IN THE PIPE
BAND: - ART "GOODAY GODOY" PARNELL THEN A STRETCHER BEARER TOLD
BE (BEHIND THE LINES) ABOUT THE TROUBLES HE SUFFERED TRYING
TO GET ENOUGH BREN GUN CARRIERS TO TAKEOUT THE WOUNDED.
HE APPARENTLY COULDN'T GET ANY CONVEYANCES AND TRIED TO
DOTHE BEST HE COULD AS AN INDIVIDUAL. WHEN I MET HIM HEWAS VERY UPSET AND SOMEWHAT SHOCKED. HE WAS VERY UNLIKE HIS USUAL GREGARIOUS SELF.