Box 025, folder 12: George E. M. Ruffee

RUFFEE, George E. M.

Canadian 3rd Can. Div.

BOX 25, #12

RCA Spryfield, N. S.

EXCERPT

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? GEORGE EDWARD MOODIE RUFFEE

What was your unit and division? 14 FIELD REGIMENT, ROYAL CANADIAN ARTILLERY, 3rd CANADIAN INFANTRY DIVISION

Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? BERNIERES - SUR - MER. ARRIVED AT APPROXIMATELY 9 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING - 6 JUNE, 1944.

What was your rank on June 6, 1944? LIEUTENANT

What was your age on June 6, 1944? 22 YEARS

Were you married at that time? NO

What is your wife's name? ADRIANA VAN DODEWEERD RUFEE - MARRIED 28 MAY, 1952

Did you have any children at that time? NO

What do you do now? ARMY OFFICER

When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? APPROXIMATELY AUGUST, 1943.

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? THE TRIP WAS VERY ROUGH - I WAS SEASICK FOR A FEW HOURS AFTER 11 PM, 5 JUNE, 1944. CONDITIONS ON THE LANDING CRAFT TANK MK IV WERE VERY CRAMPED. I REMEMBER WE DRANK A TOAST WITH THE BRITISH NAVY OFFICERS TO THE COMBINED SUCCESS OF THE INVASION. MOSTLY THE PERSONNEL ON THE TINY CRAFT WERE VERY QUIET. MOST WAKING HOURS WERE SPENT GOING OVER THE TASK AHEAD OF US AND MEMORIZING LAND FEATURES.

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). IT WAS A QUIET CROSSING WITH NO RUMOURS AND NO SIGN OF ENEMY ACTION WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FLASHES, PRESUMED TO BE FROM BOMBING FAR OFF. NO GASOLINE WAS SIGHTED.

- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name G. E. M. RUFFEE

Did you by any chance keep a diary of what happened to you that day? YES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS LOST

Were any of your friends killed or wounded either during the landing or during the day? YES, BOTH TIMES

Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? I REMEMBER SPEAKING TO A SERGEANT WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF A 105mm SELF-PROPELLED GUN JUST PRIOR TO HIS DEATH. I WAS TELLING THE MEN TO REMEMBER THEIR JOB AND BEAR UP UNDER THE ENEMY FIRE. THE SERGEANT APPEARED "KEYED-UP", BUT HAPPY. A FEW MINUTES LATER HE WAS KILLED WITH HIS CREW WHEN AN 88mm HIT THE SELF-PROPELLED GUN.

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? LOOKING UP FROM OUR GUN POSITION TOWARD THE SEA AT BERNIERES - SUR - MER, I SAW SEVERAL GERMANS COMING TOWARD THE BEACH IN AN ATTACK, I ORDERED OUR 105mm GUNS TO FIRE POINT BLANK AT THEM AND THIS KEPT THEY BUSY UNTIL SOME OF OUR INFANTRY CREPT NEAR AND CAPTURED THEM AFTER WE LIFTED OUR FIRE. OUR MEN NOT ONLY FIRED 105mm GUNS BUT ALSO .30 AND .50 CALIBRE BROWNINGS AT THEM. THE FRENCH CIVILIANS OF BERNIERES - SUR - MER CAME OUT OF THEIR CELLARS AND AMIDST MORTAT AND SHELL FIRE, BURNING HOUSES AND DEBRIS, THEY KISSED US WITH TEAR REDDENED FACES AND GAVE US FLOWERS, WINE AND EGGS. IN THE TURMOIL OF THE NEXT FEW DAYS I FORGOT MY EGGS, AND WHEN FOUND WERE ROTTEN.

- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name G. E. M. RUFFEE

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? WHEN MY VEHICLE (A BREN GUN CARRIER) reached THE BEACHES FROM THE L.C.T., A LARGE HEAVY LOG PREVENTED THE CARRIER FROM MOVING FORWARD. UNDER MACHINE GUN FIRE AND SHELLING, THREE OF US PICKED UP THE LOG AND MOVED IT OUT OF THE WAY. ONE WEEK LATER WE THREE AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THIS SAME LOG. WE COULD NOT BUDGE IT. THIS SHOWS HOW MUCH ENERGY CAN BE EXERTED IN TIME OF STRESS AND NECESSITY. ONE CHAP RAN BLINDLY WHEN BOMBS WERE FALLING AND WITH HIS HEAD DOWN RAN INTO A STONE WALL - KNOCKED OUT.

Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? CROSSING ENGLISH CHANNEL TO BERNIERES - SUR - MER IN AN LCT MK IV.

Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? CROSSROADS, JUST NORTH OF BENY - SUR - MER IN TRENCHES.

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? CAPTAIN J. R. MADDEN DIRECTORATE OF MILITARY TRANING DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE ARMY HEADQUARTERS OTTAWA, ONTATIO WAS PARATROOPER WITH FIRST CANADIAN PARACHUTE BATTALION.

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.

Cornelius Ryan

Frances Ward Research, The Reader's Digest

Headquarters Eastern Command Bell Road Halifax, NS 5 Aug., 1958.

Miss Frances Ward Research Dept The Reader's Digest 230 Park Avenue New York 17 New York, USA.

Dear Miss Ward: My attention was drawn to your notice in the Legionary a few days ago, regarding the 15th anniversary of D-day.

I should like very much to help you in your research if possible. I landed in Normandy at Berniere-sur-mer approximately one half hour after H-hour. I was a lieutenant in the 14th Field Regiment, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, and was on the beach at approximately 9 A M, 6 June, 1944. We used 105mm self-propelled guns and fired them from the landing craft as we approached the beaches, prior to the landing. Our beach was still partially held by the Germans upon our landing and the Artillery had to assist the Infantry in clearing them. We even used 105mm guns to fire point blank at a large group of Germans.

If there is any way in which I may be of assistance please let me know. I am still in the Canadian Army.

Yours sincerely,

Lt G E M Ruffee, MC HQ Eastern Command Bell Road Halifax, NS