Memories of Service 2 - Maurice Gasson

So we were told that under no circumstances, whatever happened, we did not retreat any further regardless of casualties.

– Maurice Gasson

The battle of Kapyong lasted some three days and we fired literally thousands of shells. The Chinese used their massed forces and ignored their casualties until finally they just ran out of steam, fortunately for us. And our gunners lay down and slept beside their guns.

– Maurice Gasson

The only time you feel fear is when you’ve got nothing to do, if that makes sense.

– Maurice Gasson

We grabbed a little sleep, which wasn’t very often, but we filled ourselves with a drug called benzedrine I think. And that kept people awake. It did have after-effects.

– Maurice Gasson

We volunteered for the service of the war plus six months. And as a peace treaty has never been signed, only a ceasefire, at this moment I’m still on the reserve.

– Maurice Gasson, at 85 years old