U-series. Talk by ship's bosun Wilson. Part 1 of 3

Mobile Unit commentator Doug Laurenson [Military Service no. 34957] introduces a recording made on board the troopship "Empress of Japan", formerly a liner of the Canadian Pacific line. The ship's Bosun, a Scots-Canadian named Wilson, relates some of his life experiences, including his involvement in World War I.

Bosun Wilson "I was born in a little place in Scotland. Since leaving there in 1904, I have been a sailor, mine prospector but always came back to the sea. Before the last war I was in the North West Mounted Police B Division Dawson City in the Yukon territory. I walked from Dawson to White Horse (160 miles). Picked up miners and proceeded to Scagway. Boat from Scagway to Victoria and joined the Western Scottish Regiment 67 Battalion. Went to England and home to Scotland then across to France.
On the 8 June 1916 I was a 'Buck Private', on the 9 June I was Company Sergeant Major and carried on through the war to Passchendaele".

This item is part of a collection of recordings made by the Mobile Broadcasting Units, which travelled overseas with New Zealand forces between 1940-1945. They recorded New Zealanders' experiences of war and messages to their families and friends, which were sent back home to be played on a weekly radio programme.