Box 024, folder 18: George J. Gardiner

Box 24, #18 George J. Gardiner

Canadian 3rd Div.

[insert] SH 6817 Cpl. GJ Gardiner 28 COD (ACOC Camp Shilo Man. [insert] Camp Shilo, Manitoba. RCA [end insert]

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 John Gardiner

What was your unit and division? Regina Rifle Regiment 3rd Div

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? [crossed out] Courselles [end crossed out] [insert] Bur ner Sur Mier [end insert] [underline] 0635 [end underline] hrs if I remember right

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Sgt.

What was your age on June 6, 1944? [crossed out] 24 [end crossed out] 26

Were you married at that time? yes

What is your wife's name? Evelyn Gardiner

Did you have any children at that time? yes

What do you do now? Cdn Army (Reg). RCOC [insert] Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps [end insert]

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? We had been training for over a year as part of the invasion force. We knew definately about 3 weeks before D/Day.

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? Conversation was much the same as usual only a little more quiet. We crossed the channel during the night most of [crossed out] w [end crossed out] us were sleeping most of the night. I know I was.

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) . I don't recall any rumors, we were well briefed on what to expect, we knew the beach as well as our own backyards before we boarded ship.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2Your name [underline] GJ Gardiner [end underline]

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: nothing in particular.

Were you wounded? on D/Day no-

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?

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? I remember one of the fellows I can't recall his name, But he got a rifle bullet through his wrist. he came running to me holding his arm, he said dammit George I got it [crossed out] now [end crossed out] what do I do now. it struck me funny at the time it happened.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? I recall our Coy. Commander - Major JV Love. Calling on all the LCI six in all, just before we left the troop ship wishing us all good luck & saying he would see us all on the beach, [crossed out] with [end crossed out] but he was one of the people who never made the Beach.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name

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?

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? crossing the channel in the troop ship.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? about 2 to 2 1/2 miles inland in Normandy.

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?

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