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TODD, Percy A. S.
Canadian 3rd Can. Div.
Box 25, #26
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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.
What is your full name? PERCY ARTHUR STANLEY TODD
What was your unit and division? HQ R.C.A. 3rd CANADIAN DIVISION
Where did you arrive in Normandy, and at what time? ST BERNIERE - APPROX 1130 Hrs D DAY
What was your rank on June 6, 1944? BRIGADIER - ARTILLERY COMMANDER
What was your age on June 6, 1944? 46 YEARS
Were you married at that time? Yes
What is your wife's name? FLORENCE TODD
Did you have any children at that time? No
What do you do now? GENERAL MANAGER HAMILTON STREET Railway 18 WENTWORTH St N. HAMILTON Ontario
When did you know that you were going to be part of the invasion? MAY 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? CROSSING WAS ROUGH RECALL MOST EVENTS OF THE NIGHT
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). NO RUMOURS ON HEADQUARTERS SHIP Most Reports - WHICH WERE SCANTY WERE FACTUAL
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- for Cornelius Ryan 2 - Your name
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 the landing or during the day? YES
Do you remember any conversations you had with them before they became casualties? YES
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?
Do you remember seeing or hearing anything that seems funny now, even though it may not have seemed funny at the time? YES - PERHAPS MANY THINGS
Do you recall any incident, sad or heroic or simply memorable, which struck you more than anything else? SEVERAL IN EACH category
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- for Cornelius Ryan 3 - Your name
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?
Where were you at midnight on June 5, 1944? Middle of the Channel
Where were you at midnight on June 6, 1944? On the control set of the artillery wireless net repelling counter attacks at BENNY SUR MER
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? Lt. J.D. MINGAY WAS CHIEF OF STAFF AND KNOWS THE STORY AS WELL AS ANYONE 55 York Street Toronto Ontario C/O PRUDENTIAL LIFE INS.
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
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August 27, 1958
Brigadier P. A. S. Todd, President Hamilton Transportation Company Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Dear Brigadier Todd: A book about D-day, June 6, 1944, is being written by Cornelius Ryan for publication in The Reader's Digest and in book form next spring on the fifteenth anniversary of the Normandy invasion. With the help of the Legionary and the war office at Ottawa we have been able to reach some Canadians who participated in the invasion -- but not enough of them to do justice to their part in the assault on the beaches and bridges. We have been told that you might agree to help us. I hope very much that you will.
Mr. Ryan wants to tell the story of the Canadians who landed on D-day, for we have been directed to their weighty role in the invasion often and respectfully. However, we are at a disadvantage in approaching the Canadian story simply because of short time and long distance. In order to give our Canadian interviewers a sound basis for their work, I need the answers to the enclosed questions.
I hope that you will agree to contribute to the book and that you will return the enclosed record to me as soon as possible. Since our absolute deadline for research is the end of September, I should be grateful too if you would let me know if and where you could be interviewed during the coming month.
This will not be a strategic history, but a story of the mental, physical and emotional impact of D-day as men truly knew it. To tell this story we sorely need your help. We particularly look forward to your reply.
Sincerely yours,
Frances Ward Research Department