I took over
First World War Audio Archive
I took over
Transcript
Hill 62 Memorial Belgium.
or Vimy Ridge and it was to be the 9th of April when we went upCourtrai Memorial Belgium.
to the line and the attack was to start at five o’clock Monday morning, April the 9th, Easter Monday morning. The attack cameLe Quesnel Memorial Belgium.
off as planned. Our company was not in the original attack on the Ridge. We were in the support lines. And after the attack wasGueudecourt Memorial France.
made we went up the line where the original troops had jumped off and we were there until Thursday morning. We were told that thereDury Memorial France.
was a part of the Ridge which had not been taken and we had to take that Ridge. And it was to be at five o’clock in the morning,Monchy Memorial France.
Thursday. That would be, what, the 12th, wouldn’t it be?Passchendaele Memorial Belgium.
This attack came off as planned and I was second in command of the company at that time. Oh, by the way, I was transferred to “D” company. Captain Lee was the officer in command.Masnières memorial France.
He got wounded in the attack so I had to take over the company again. We got along very well and during the morning I had a noteBourion Wood Memorial France.
from the Colonel Dawson saying that we were too much to the right. As soon as it came dark that evening, I was to move theCourcelette Memorial France.
company over to the left a few hundred yards. During the day,Beaumont-Hamel Memorial France.
I wanted to go back and reconnoitre while it was daylight just where I was to take the company and as I walked back over land toSt. Julien Memorial Belgium.
where I knew the new position would be, I know I counted 25 dead Germans lying on the ground between where we were at the momentCanadian National Vimy Memorial France.
and where we were to go that evening just after dark.Description
Mr. Copp describes attacking and securing a position at Vimy Ridge and notes the heavy German death toll.
John Percy Copp
John Percy Copp was born on February 2, 1889 at Baie Verte, New Brunswick. He enlisted in the 65th Battalion at Saskatoon. Shortly thereafter, in June, 1916 he went overseas to England, training for a very short time at Camp Bramshott. On August 10, 1916 he shipped to France as a member of B Company, 46th Battalion. Mr. Copp held the rank of Lieutenant and led his men in several major actions: Ypres, the Somme, Lens and Vimy. He was awarded the Military Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace. His story is most compelling, for in it his concern for his men is the predominant theme. At the time of his interview, Mr. Copp lived in Lajolla, California.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 2:23
- Person Interviewed:
- John Percy Copp
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- First World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Europe
- Battle/Campaign:
- Lens
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- 46th Battalion
- Rank:
- Lieutenant
- Occupation:
- Platoon Commander
Attestation
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