ryan_box023-tld_f50_02r

Toronto
ONTARIO
For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-day
Medics AB
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?
COLIN NICHOL BREBNER
What was your unit and division? Medical officer RCAMC.
Ist Cdn. Parachute Bn. 6th British Airbourne Div.
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
June 6 ' 1944 about 00 15 hrs. 15 minutes after
midnight
What was your rank on June 6, 1944?
Capt.
What was your age on June 6, 1944?
31 - 2nd oldest in Battalion.
- CO. 1 yr older
Were you married at that time? Yes.
What is your wife is name? MARGARET BECK BREBNER
Did you have any children at that time ? Yes - 2 boys
What do you do now?
Medical Practice in Kirkland Lake, Ont.
When did you know that you were going to the part of the invasion?
Officially about 2 mon. prior to invasion - rumour
about 6 mon. prior.
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?
There was little conversation mostly bad jokes
(bad from degree of humour - not content), a rather
smooth air crossing of Channel with almost full
misty moon, most of us had never seen A A
fire and on crossing the cross we saw only a bit
- the tracers that came up were so lazy coming
but zipped past so quickly - Saw one plane go
down in flames "I think" - [? fetch ?] off. Mostly tension in
the plane, little talk.
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).
No rumours, - only worry was flack in
Dakotas two self-sealing tanks.