Box 024, folder 16: George C. Fraser

FRASER, George C.

Canadian 3rd Div.

Box 24, #16

RCA

possibly Excerpt

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? George Cameron FRASER

What was your unit and division? Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG) 3rd Canadian Division

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Beny-sur-mer I do not remember the time, but it was the morning of 6 Jun 44, the 2nd wave.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Cpl

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 30 yrs of age

Were you married at that time? Yes

What is your wife's name? Sarah Fraser FRASER

Did you have any children at that time? No

What do you do now? I am a clerk adm with the Directorate of Royal Canadian Artillery, AHQ, Ottawa

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? A few months before

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? It was not a rough trip but in the light LCTs there was a certain amount of bobbing up and down, I spent most of my time playing poker.

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). None that I can remember.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2Your name G C FRASER

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? No.

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during landing or during the day? Yes

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties: No

Were you wounded? Yes on 9th Jun 44, not on D-Day

Do you remember what it was like--that is, do you remember whether you felt any pain or were/so surprised that you felt nothing? Both, pain & suprise. Pain from a wound a few inches above the [crossed out] e [ end crossed out] ight knee and surprised to have been wounded there as I was sitting behind a Vickers MMG.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? No.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes, both sad and heroic, seeing bodies of men of the Queens Own Rifles laying in the water a few yards off the beach. Memorable - seeing members of the Chaudiere Regt clearing out pill-boxes on the beach.

Chadiere Regiment

- for Cornelius Ryan 3Your name G C FRASER

In times of great crisis, people generally show either great ingenuity or self-reliance; others do incredibly stupid things. Do you remember any examples of either from D-Day?

I remember a member of the Chauds taking his PIAT and knocking down a church steeple to get a sniper that was located there. One shot did the trick.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? On board a LCT in the English Channel

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? A short distance in off the beach, with gun mounted ready for any action.

Do you know of anybody else who landed within the 24 hours of D-day, June 6, as infantry, glider or airborne troops, or who took part in the air and sea operations, whom we should write to? Sgt A LANE, Army Survey Establishment, AHQ

PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE BOOK. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE YOUR STORY ON SEPARATE SHEETS IF WE HAVE NOT LEFT SUFFICIENT ROOM. FULL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IN A CHAPTER CALLED "WHERE THEY ARE NOW;" YOUR NAME AND VOCATION OR OCCUPATION WILL BE LISTED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP .

W.A. Milroy Lt.-Col. Director of Public Relations(Army) Cartier Square, Ottawa, Ontario