Box 024, folder 10: Cyril Evans

Box 24, #10 EVANS, Cyril Canadian 3rd Div.

[insert] Nothing [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? [underline] Cyril Evans. [end underline]

What was your unit and division? Fort Garry Horse, 3rd Cdn Div

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? Between St Aubin and Vernieres. Went in with the 2nd wave at [underline] approximately [end underline] [underline] 0900 hrs. [end underline]. I'm a little hazy about the time.

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

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 28

Were you married at that time? No

What is your wife's name? N/A

Did you have any children at that time? N/A

What do you do now? Civilian electrician employed by 15 Works Coy RCE. [insert] - Winnipeg [end insert]

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Approx 6 weeks 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? Very rough. Just kibitzing and shaking quite a bit. No too sure what was going to happen.

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). Heard no rumours.

For Cornelius Ryan 2Your name [underline] EVANS C [end underline]

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

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during landing or during the day? No trouble at all - nice quiet time.

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

Were you wounded? 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? N/A

Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? When the unloading hatch opened to let our tanks out, we were a little too far out from the beach. As tanks rolled up the runways on the boats they dropped into the water and the tank crews including myself started to climb through the turrets looking like a bunch of drowned rats. It seemed funny at the time, but there could have been casualties.

Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? No.

For Cornelius Ryan 3Your name [underline] EVANS C [end underline]

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? No

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Awaiting orders to proceed across the Channel.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? In a wheat field at midnight - where I don't know.

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? No

PLEASE LET US HAVE THIS QUESTIONAIRE AS SOON 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 ARE THEY 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