Box 024, folder 06: William Sinclair Dunnett

Canadian DUNNETT, Wm. S. 1st Can. Para. 6th Brit. Airb.

Box 24, #6

[inserted] FW: We need Canadian AB canadian in RCAF 1st Can /3 Bgde book. Will write Possible E or call. [underline] CR [end underline] [end inserted] For Cornelius Ryan Book about D-day

THOUSANDS OF MEN, ON LAND AND SEA AND IN THE AIR, PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OP NORMANDY BETWEEN MIDNIGHT JUNE 5, 1944 AND MIDNIGHT JUNE 6, 1944. IF YOU WERE ONE FP THEM, PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What is your full name? William Sinclair Dunnett

What was your unit and division? 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion 6th British Airborne Division Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? North Orne River 0045hrs 6 June 44 [inserted] __ Pathfinder? [end inserted] [inserted] Yes [end inserted] What was your rank on June 6, 1944? private What was your age on June 6, 1944? 22 years Were you married at that time? yes What is your wife's name? at that time Edna Mae Dunnett Did you have any children at that time? yes What do you do now? Investigating N.C.O. with Tactical [crossed out] Invest [end crossed out] Test Investtigation Section. [circled] CJATC. [end circled] [inserted] Rivers Manitoba [end inserted] When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? 10 Days prior to Landings

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? [underlined] fell asleep during trip in aircraft [end underline], probably caused by nervous tension.

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) . Nil.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name William Dunnett

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? [inserted] Can we get his address? [end inserted] Pte Oakely wounded in aircraft from flack never left it and returned to England with it. Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties: Nil.

Were you wounded? Yes - 16 June 44

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?felt searing pain when shrapnel hit, Then just numbing sensation.

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? One of our Majors was wounded, Hot cross buns style, across the Buttocks when trying to get to cover when we were being strafed by [crossed out] ownend [crossed out] our own Typhoon Aircraft a 20 M.M. cannon shell creased him. funny for us, sad for him. he was a good officer Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? Yes, the Death of Major McCloud at Varraville early morning 6 June when he was taken prisoner and held in chateau there, He was killed by some of our small arms fire when we put in attack on the chateau, not [crossed out] knoing [end crossed out] knowing he was in the chateau at the time, I believe he was killed by a [inserted] PIAT. [end inserted]

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 Your name William Dunnett

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

Where were you at midnight on June 5 1944? Flying over channel

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Le Mesinel Cross Roads

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,B,C, [underline] Robinson [end underline] 1 RCR Ipperwash Ont. Cpl. [underline] J. church 1 [end underline] RCR. " " [inserted] addresses? [end inserted]

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

Dunnett:

Not much. Remembers very little more than on questionnaire, as he says he fell asleep moment he got on board. Next he remembers being wakened & jumping - was a pathfinder attached to special group - coming down he thought it was an awful way to go - without even a cup of tea before jumping! Cant recall any addresseswill check- no more details about McCloud. Maybe in [?Stapley?] Canadian History - [?cK?]. - insists McCloud was killed by own troops - could not confirm Throat cutting story in Canadian [?beaches?]. [underline] KMR [end underline]