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Wounded By A “Potato Masher”

Heroes Remember

Wounded By A “Potato Masher”

Transcript
He had his jaw blown off by the same bunch of grenades that caught me. Six potato mashers tied to a piece of wood and see, the potato masher, you unscrewed the end and the little porcelain knob come out on a string all these untied these six after they were tied around to a piece of wood long enough to make a handle and then you tied all these little knobs together one bunch these cords and then when you were trying to blast the trench the German simply pulled these bunch of them and threw them right in amongst ya. Well it was one hell of an explosion. Six of those potato mashers which each of them was a heck of a, was a real bad, but that's what they used, we got caught on that. Topp lost his jaw, I had my leg shattered, I had a few odd pieces.
Description

Mr. Henley describes how the Germans tied several 'potato masher' grenades together to increase their potential for damage, and how he and his officer were badly wounded by one of these devices.

Roy Henley

Roy Henley was born in London, Ontario on September 29, 1898. After enlisting in Toronto in 1916 with the 166th Queens Own Rifles, he was discharged with suspected tuberculosis. Mr. Henley re-enlisted, sailed to England aboard the horse transport SS Welshman, and joined the Quebec Regiment. Mr. Henley's recollections are detailed, sometimes graphic and occasionally humorous. His experiences spanned many battles; the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Cambrai and Arras.

Meta Data
Medium:
Video
Owner:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
1:32
Person Interviewed:
Roy Henley
War, Conflict or Mission:
First World War
Battle/Campaign:
Cambrai
Branch:
Army
Rank:
Sergeant

Copyright / Permission to Reproduce

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