Memory Project Archive
Bill Watterson (Primary Source)
In 2009, The Memory Project interviewed Bill Watterson, a veteran of the Second World War. The following recording (and transcript) is an excerpt from this interview. Born in Ireland in 1924, Watterson emigrated to Canada with his parents. He enlisted in the 48th Highlanders, a militia regiment formed in 1891 in Toronto, Ontario, and then went to Camp Borden near Barrie, Ontario, which was then the largest military training facility in Canada. In Watterson’s testimony, he mentions his journey from Borden to England, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. Although Watterson returned to Canada unharmed, he describes the death of one of his friends during battle. The “Moaning Minnie” Watterson mentions was a nickname for a nebelwerfer, or smoke launcher – this was a type of German rocket artillery which made an extremely loud sound when launched. Upon his return home, Watterson trained to become a barber. He died in Scarborough, Ontario, on 26 April 2010. Please be advised that Memory Project primary sources may deal with personal testimony that reflect the speaker’s recollections and interpretations of events. Individual testimony does not necessarily reflect the views of the Memory Project and Historica Canada.
