Description
Mr. Close describes his reaction to his first two experiences with enemy shell fire.
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.
Transcript
You hear the stories from the fellows that had been in. I was not apprehensive. Some fellows was, but I was just, had a feeling, could I stand up to it like you’re supposed to stand up to it? Because some of them confided to me that they didn’t know whether they could take it or not, you see. Before we went in the line we carried stuff up to the line and one night a shell lit right near us and it started to hiss. Me, being a greenhorn, I thought the thing was going to blow us to pieces, but somebody near me hissed, “Get your gas mask on,” so I was much relieved that it was just a gas shell. That was my first experience.