It was just a gas shell
First World War Audio Archive
It was just a gas shell
Transcript
Soldiers smoking and reading letters from home.
apprehensive. Some fellows was, but I was just, had a feeling,Soldier getting some coffee to drink.
could I stand up to it like you’re supposed to stand up to it?Men going through a cloud of gas, walking by a fallen soldier.
Because some of them confided to me that they didn’t know whetherSoldiers going over barbed wire.
they could take it or not, you see. Before we went in the line weRows of soldiers running towards camera.
carried stuff up to the line and one night a shell lit right nearClip of surrendered German soldiers.
us and it started to hiss. Me, being a greenhorn, I thought theShell exploding
Soldiers inside crater.
thing was going to blow us to pieces, but somebody near me hissedThe siloutte of two soldiers as they approach smoke/gas.
“Get your gas mask on,” so I was much relieved that it was just a gas shell. That was my first experience.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.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 0:55
- Person Interviewed:
- John Hamilton Close
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- First World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Europe
- Battle/Campaign:
- Vimy
- 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.
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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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