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362 results returned within war First World War
Citizen Soldiers

Citizen Soldiers

Mr. Boyce describes the fact that Canada's 'citizen soldiers' had more innovative training than those Allied soldiers who had had three years of compulsory training.

The Somme – Roles Reversed

The Somme – Roles Reversed

Mr. Boyce discusses the Battle of the Somme as being the point where the Allies switched from defensive to offensive strategies.

Muddy Conditions for Guns

Muddy Conditions for Guns

Mr. Boyce describes the difficulty of moving guns because of the mud and the necessity of blowing holes through German barbed wire while constantly repositioning to avoid counter fire.

Prelude to Amiens

Prelude to Amiens

Mr. MacDougall describes having to secretly travel overnight from Arras to Amiens in preparation for the Allied surprise attack at Amiens.

Repairing Damaged Wires

Repairing Damaged Wires

Mr. MacDougall describes the process of running telephone wires, the various ways wires could be severed, and having to repair after dark.

A Signaller

A Signaller

Mr. MacDougall describes how his brigade was broken up to provide reinforcements to the four brigades already in France, and his role as a signaller in a machine gun battalion.

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th

Mr. MacDougall discusses the formation of a uniquely Nova Scotian brigade, and sailing for England on Friday the 13th aboard the SS Olympia.

Spanish Influenza

Spanish Influenza

Mr. Brinson describes getting Spanish influenza and fearing for the lives of his family after sending them a letter he wrote while he was contagious with the Spanish flu. The consequences of this illness were evidenced by the deaths of eight infected soldiers in eight days.

First Time On Watch

First Time On Watch

Mr. Brinson describes being placed on watch, and looking like an experienced soldier in his new uniform. He fails to salute an officer, who soon realizes he's a novice. The officer then offers Mr. Brinson some advice about maintaining his uniform.

Travelling to St. John's to Enlist

Travelling to St. John's to Enlist

Mr. Brinson describes his train voyage to St. John's, being assisted by a soldier once there, and getting a complete uniform when he enlisted the following day.

I Was Lucky All The Time

I Was Lucky All The Time

Mr. Ferguson discusses how lucky he felt he'd been and gives two good examples. The first is when a German shell lands at his feet and fails to explode. The second is having his great coat riddled by a strafing German airplane yet leaving him unharmed.

My Hands Turned Black

My Hands Turned Black

Mr. Ferguson describes stealing a pair of boots, and after returning them being tightly lashed to a wagon wheel as punishment.

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