Mr. Copp describes a reconnaissance mission during which he suffers a head wound from shrapnel. While convalescing in England, he is invited to Buckingham Palace where he is awarded the Military Cross by King George V.
In the mud
Mr. Copp describes the effects of fatigue depleting his Company’s ranks during a forced march to Mametz after five days in action at the Somme.
Shell through the roof
Mr. Copp gives us insight into the irony of war. He describes how he and his men safely advance to their objective amidst a shelling, only to lose men to a direct shell hit as they are transporting a wounded soldier to safety.
Minenwerfers
Mr. Copp describes an unexploded German shell landing in their field kitchen. Feeling his men are too exhausted, he removes the danger himself.
He fell dead at my feet
Mr. Copp describes one deadly day in the trenches: a soldier killed by a sniper, another by shrapnel, a corporal going crazy from shell shock, and two of his men killed by a direct artillery hit.
Hellfire Corner
Mr. Copp describes his platoon’s first experience in action, being shelled, and describes his efforts to care for five resulting casualties.
Forced march to Ypres
Mr. Copp describes carrying the kit for two of his men (plus his own) who would have been too exhausted to otherwise proceed on the forced march to Ypres.
The shell had torn his hip away.
Mr. Copp describes taking Regina Trench, including the loss of a close friend. In poignant detail he describes sending his friend’s mother a letter containing her son’s ring.
Churchill Said we Should not Fight for Hong Kong
Mr. White reflects on the events that led to Canada’s involvement in Hong Kong, and the struggle by Veterans of that theatre of war to receive an adequate pension.
Is the War Over or Not?.
Mr. White describes events in Sham Shui Po that indicated that the war was ending.
Red Cross Parcels
Mr. White discusses how important the Red Cross supply packages were to the POW’s, and how everything in them was shared among the inmates.
The Cost of Information
Mr. White describes being in the Kai Tek airport work gangs, and the cost of the subversion which occurred there.