ryan_box024-tld_f31_02r

ERNEST. A. JEANS
9 LEAMINGTON AVE.
TORONTO 18, ONT.

CanadianAB

EXCERPT

For Cornelius Ryan
Book about D-day
[inserted] 1st Can/3rd Bge [end inserted]

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 iTHE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.

What is your full name? ERNEST ARTHUR JEANS

What was your unit and division? 1ST CANADIAN PARACHUTE BtN.
BRITISH 6th AIRBORNE DIV.
3RD PARA. BRIGADE

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
I PARACHUTED NEAR VARAVILLE, PROBABLY AROUND ONE OR
TWO A.M. ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 6.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? CORPORAL

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 20

Were you married at that time? NO

What is your wife's name? ----

Did you tyave any children at that time? NO

What do you do now? TEACHER
AT BLOOR COLLEGIATE IN TORONTO, ONT.

When did you know that you were going to be part of the
invasion? NOT really until a deay before we left when General Gale
spoke to us in an assembly in a large aerodrome & told the soliders what he
expected of us and that we were to be part of the invasion. However we had been in the

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 went to the airfield on the evening of June 5, got in planes and took off for
Normandy. I don't recall any feeling of danger or fear, I think because it in a way
was unreal. I was later on the operations across the Rhine & I remember
looking around the plane at the occasion & the men who had been with me on
D-Day who knew what might happen were uneasy. However I don't remember really
any feeling of uneasiness on D. Day. We talked, and tried to rest, but with all our equipment it
was rather uncomfortable. (over on reverse side)

What were the rumors on board the boat, ship or plane in whieh
you made the crossing? (Some people remember seutfcle-but to the
effect that the Germans had poured gasoline on the water and
planned to set it afire when the troops came in).

[inserted] staging area for about 2 weeks and had gone through a detailed study of
maps and san tables of a proposed shore. Most of us realized that because of
the stricy security near us that it was the real thing. However we didn't know until
the last where we were going. [end inserted]