Poison ivy for toilet paper
First World War Audio Archive
Poison ivy for toilet paper
Transcript
Hill 62 Memorial Belgium.
Haldimand Regiment, the 114th Battalion, under Colonel Thompson.Courtrai Memorial Belgium.
And “C” Company was in Haggersville so we started trainingLe Quesnel Memorial Belgium.
there almost immediately. About July we went to Camp Borden, and the whole battalion then was together. We formed fours,Gueudecourt Memorial France.
learned how to fix bayonets and everything, connected under anDury Memorial France.
old English soldier by the name of Batridge who taught us allMonchy Memorial France.
he knew about army life, but after we got to Camp Borden, why we did it all over again. We marched in the dust and wentPasschendaele Memorial Belgium.
out on manoeuvres and poison ivy patches. The sergeant warnedMasnières memorial France.
us not to make our bed anywheres near where the poison ivy was, but unknown to him or us they’d put a laxative in the tea.Bourion Wood Memorial France.
And in the night, the troops got restless, everybody escapedCourcelette Memorial France.
the poison ivy but him. He used it for toilet paper. Being as he was an ex-minister, I happened to be passing hisBeaumont-Hamel Memorial France.
tent three days later and he was holding a looking glass and a brush and painting. He said, “Close, can you swear?” and I was aSt. Julien Memorial Belgium.
little startled. I said, “On occasion.” “Well,” he said, “do some for me.” So, it was a very unhappy event.Canadian National Vimy Memorial France.
Description
Mr. Close describes some aspects of his recruitment and basic training, and in humorous fashion, outlines one of the risks of camp life.
John Hamilton Close
John Hamilton Close was born in Mitchell, Ontario on July 4, 1896. After the death of both his parents, he went to work on his uncle’s farm in Garrett, Ontario. On March 15, 1916, Mr. Close enlisted with the 114th Battalion in Hagersville, Ontario. He started training immediately and was sent to Camp Borden. After going overseas to England he was quickly deployed to Le Havre. He was wounded at Vimy Ridge, rehabilitated in England, and returned to France to fight at Amiens and Arras where he won a Military Medal for bravery. Mr. Close ended his service with the rank of Corporal. He died in Hagersville, Ontario in February, 1993.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 1:47
- Person Interviewed:
- John Hamilton Close
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- First World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Europe
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- 114th Battalion
- Rank:
- 2-stripe Corporal
- Occupation:
- Section Leader
Attestation
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Mr. Close describes events at Amiens; seeing dead French soldiers, capturing a German artillery piece, and what he feels was a successful action.
There was a scream
Mr. Close describes action during the battle of Arras. Two flanking platoons are wiped out by artillery, a soldier speaking in his ear is shot through the mouth, and finally he describes leading 10 of 15 men to safety through a grain field at Parvillers, for which he receives the Military Medal.
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