Item is an interview/narrative of Albert W. Reid' s experiences during World War I and II. Lieutenant Reid served with the Canadian Intelligence Corps and the Psychological Warfare Branch (American Military Government). Interview took place on May 23, 1980.
Date:
1980-05-23
Collection:
Reid, Albert W.: my Army recollections
People Depicted:
Lieutenant Reid, Albert W., b. 1893
Page Title:
Reid_A_0120_01.mp3
Abstract:
Reid was a newspaper reporter in 1916 when he enlisted in the 228th Battalion, C.E.F. Trained at Camp Borden where he was appointed orderly room sergeant for his unit. Shortly after arriving overseas the battalion was converted to the 6th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops as most were experienced in mining and the operation of light railways. To France. Posted to the 4th British Army intelligence section. Sent to Italy as the British required Italian-speaking personnel. In Padua and Rome he was involved in security work. Recalled and commissioned as a lieutenant in the Canadian Intelligence Corps. He was officer in charge of "Intelligence B", counter-espionage, and as such was free to travel anywhere throughout the war zone. Part of his work involved an awareness of those who, if taken prisoner by the enemy, would be in a position to give information. Injured in a motorcycle accident. Hospital and convalescence in England, Oct. 1918. After discharge in Canada he returned to newspaper work. In 1941 joined National Defence Headquarters in communications, but was not successful in rejoining the military intelligence organization. Joined External Affairs where he was employed in psychological warfare against the Italians. Took two Italian civilians to Italy where he was attached to the American military government organization. (45:00)
Operated an Italian newspaper in Rome and had considerable contact with Italian politicians in 1944. The Allies were able to regulate all newpaper publishing by the simple expedient of controlling the newsprint supply. Went to Rimini for stories on the Canadian army and later published accounts of the Italian units fighting with the Allies. At the end of the war he was made press director for the U.S. army in Austria. Offers an account of newspaper publishing in Vienna which was under joint occupation. Relations with the Russians were very good on a personal level, but officially they were very difficult. Several examples of this. (30:)0) The profits of the newspaper were difficult to dispose of when he discovered that the only place they could be kept in an Austrian bank was in his own personal account! Anecdotes of Austria. Returned to Canada via the United States. (47:00) (Note: In the Second World War Reid was a civilian with the American Military Government with the honourary rank or equivalency of a colonel in the U.S. army.)