Box 024, folder 13: Robert Borden Forbes

Forbes, Robert B. Canadian 3rd Div. Box 24, #13

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? ROBERT BORDEN FORBES

What was your unit and division? North Shore (N.B.) Regiment.Third Canadian Division.

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? St. Aubin-sur-Mer, H hour minus 15 minutes

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? Major

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 32 yrs. old

Were you married at that time? Yes

What is your wife's name? NORMA S. FORBES

Did you have any children at that time? YES - two one boy and one girl.

What do you do now? Purchasing Manager of Fraser Companies, Limited, Edmundston, N. B.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? Approximately one year previous to 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? We had an uneventful crossing. Part of the time was spent in checking our equipment to make sure it was in perfect condition, and refreshing the troops with our phase of the landings. The Channel was rough during the run in from the LSI. The Navy did experience some difficulty in handling the LCA. However, we did land approximately on time on our beach.

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). There were no rumors on board the boat, and we did not see any German activity either in the air or on the sea. Our troops had only one thing in mind and that was the determination to destroy or render ineffective the German Army.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2Your name Robert Borden Forbes

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 - SEVERAL

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? NO

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

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name Robert Borden Forbes

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? My Company showed courage and self-reliance during the landing and throughout the balance of the campaign.

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

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? Tailleville.

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

Fraser Companies Limited [inserted] NOTHING [end inserted] Edmundston, N.B.

August 13, 1958.

Major G. D, de Grandpre, Public Relations Officer, Headquarters Quebec Command, 3530 Atwater Avenue, Montreal, Que.

Dear Major de Grandpre: As requested in your letter of July 24th, I am enclosing questionnaire, completed to the best of my ability and memory. I hope my small contribution will assist in the publication of the article in Reader's Digest.

Yours very truly, signed RBForbes/lb encls.