Royal United Services Institute of
Vancouver Island (RUSI-VI)

2010 AGM Report on UVIC's Military Oral History Program

Under the guidance of the new teacher, Dr. Jim Wood:  7 students completed the semester, with the assistance of 20 veteran interviewees.  Thus, over the past 5 years, 53 students have now participated in this course and have recorded the personal histories of well over 100 veterans.

The students have always been most appreciative and enthusiastic to have had the opportunity to meet veterans from all three Services.  They also thoroughly enjoyed their lunch with RUSI members last October.

Plans for 2010

1.  For the coming year, the University plans to hold a second MOH Conference on 5-7 May 2010.  Similar to the last one, the conference is intended to bring together senior undergraduate and graduate students, academics and veterans working in a variety of fields in military history.  Information about the conference has already been circulated via the Newsletter and the website, and RUSI veterans are encouraged to attend.

2.  Once again, RUSI member BGen John Neroutsos, has kindly offered to make some historically special papers available to the university's Library Collection.  These include a book on Sir Sam Hughes, authored by John's uncle, as well as a CD produced by his father outlining his involvement with the X-force and the Bridge over the Moro River during the Italian campaign.  Thank you to John.

3.  As members know, the success of this program is largely due to the efforts of many people volunteering their time.  I would like to thank all those veterans who were involved in the interviews last year as well as the 4 RUSI coordinators:  Lorne Holland, Wilf Lund, Barry Phillips and Chic Goodman.  Chic has stepped down this year and I would like to invite an Army colleague, who would be interested in helping in this program, to contact me.  The job is not onerous, and requires some activity during September and October only.