ryan_box024-tld_f13_02

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 equip-
ment 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.