Memory Project Archive
William "Bill" Rawluk (Primary Source)
In 2009, The Memory Project interviewed William Rawluk, a veteran of the Second World War. The following recording (and transcript) is an excerpt from this interview. From 1942 to 1946, Rawluk served in the Canadian armed forces with the Calgary Highlanders and The Westminster Regiment. Rawluk was born on 28 August 1923 in St. Paul, Alberta, and enlisted when he was 19 years old. He completed training in Edmonton and Calgary before travelling to Aldershot, England. His regiment arrived in France 30 days after D-Day and fought in the Normandy campaign, during which Rawluk and many of his comrades were wounded. In this testimony, Rawluk discusses his experiences during the campaign, including capturing nearly 20 German prisoners of war. He also describes his occupation duties in the Netherlands after the war’s end. Rawluk returned to Canada and worked as an electrician in Edmonton for 35 years; he died on 6 February 2011 at the age of 87. 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.