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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.

Q.- 1 What is your full name?
A.- 1 Joseph Edouard Hector LEBLANC

Q.- 2 What was your unit and division?
A.-2 "C" Company, 1st Battalion North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment of
8th Canadian Infantry Brigade of 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.

Q.-3 Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time?
A.-3 St. Aubin sur Mer at [underline] approximately 0820 hrs. [end underline] 6 June 1944.

Q.-4- What was your rank on June 6,1944?
A.-4 Captain and 2nd in Command of "C" Company, North Shore (NB) Regt.

Q.-5 What was your age on June 6, 1944?
A.-5 29 years - (Born 7 May 1915)

Q.-6 Were you married at that time?
A.-6 No.

Q.-7 What is your wife's name?
A.-7 N/A

Q.-8 Did you have any children at that time?
A.-8 N/A

Q.-9 What do you do now?
A.-9 Officer in the rank of Major, with the appointment of Area Supplies and
Transport Officer and Commanding Officer, No 4 Company Royal Canadian Army
Service Corps, Canadian Army (Regular), Montreal, Que.

Q.-10 When did you know that you were going to be part of the
A.-10invasion? In the latter part of May 1944, during the briefing of (Operation -
Overlord) at the Concentration North of Southampton. However the actual order
for the invasion was only given whilst aboard the InfantryShip,HMS Brigadier
on June 5, 1944. Maps for the Assault were issued at this time.
Q.-11 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?
A.-11 Re-briefing the troops for the assault, boat drills, letter writing, special
messages home, dice games, card games, chatting, sing songs (ie "Hitler thinks
hell win the war, Parlez-vous-----. He hasn't heard of the Old North Shore".
Prendre un Petit Coup c'est agreable'. Recitations (ie "The North Shore
Cannon Ball", Step dancing by our Campbellton and Dalhousie experts. The
Padre was kept busy "Water Proofing" and cheering the boys who went to see
him or met him on the deck.

Q.12 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).
A.12 Everybody was well briefed and knew exactly where they were going. Rumors,
if any did not affect them nor spread around the ship. Their morale was
excellent.