Description
Mr. Anderson describes the many locations in which he saw action, with emphasis on the Hindenburg Line and the handling of prisoners.
George Anderson was born in Gateshead, England on May 16, 1887. He and his wife emigrated to Canada to join his wife’s family in Saskatchewan. Interested in the military, he joined the South Saskatchewan Regiment as a militiaman in 1911. On March 14, 1916, he enlisted for overseas service with the 210th Battalion at Moose Jaw, despite having poor vision in one eye. Mr. Anderson then joined the 46th Battalion as a sergeant. He fought in several major battles; Amiens, Arras, Canal du Nord, Hindenburg Line (Drocourt- Queant), and Valenciennes, but was able to remember little of his action. He returned home to an empty house, divorcing his wife soon after. He rejoined the militia as a Regimental Sergeant Major, and served Canada during the Second World War training combat troops. After the war, he resided in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Transcript
Black and white images of building ruins We went to Arras first and through the Canal du Nord, and then Soldiers walk through a dry canal through the Hindenburg Line. The 46th reinforced and the Blimps in the air over soldiers and military vehicles Hindenburg Line was taken ahead of us and we went up behind and A soldier flying in hot air balloon went through the Hindenburg Line. The night before, we were shown Soldiers tiptoe in the trenches maps of the front line and everything, the German front line. Soldiers stand around table in field looking at maps. And we were ordered to go over the top and take no prisoners. Firearms and bayonets ready, soldiers run up and down trenches There were hundreds of prisoners taken that weren’t shot. Back in the trenches, soldiers moving swiftly I saw one corporal shoot a German, or rather shoot a German Soldier shoots and hits German in the trench. Bullet hole visible in helmet prisoner, and then shoot him. That’s the only one I saw shot. Elderly man and woman speaking to soldier Now I went into a farmhouse, it was out in the open, and an old man and woman were at the door and they pointed down the stairs, Two German soldiers surrender as soldier looks on with firearm pointed at prisoners and I found two Germans down there lying on a mattress and I ordered them upstairs. What happened to them I don’t know. Still image of men and women walking I guess they were taken prisoner. I don’t know how many prisoners we took. We were weak at that time, that’s why the order was given to take no prisoners. And then we took the city of of Valenciennes. There was nobody there. Closing shot is of soldiers walking in single file amid ruins