God, the machine gun bullets!

Mr. Joslin describes the action at Cambrai that saw the Canadian Highlanders decimated by German machine gunners. He describes being wounded in the hand and complications arising from having a finger amputated.

Maurice Joslin

Maurice Joslin was born in England in 1893. As a youth, he was very musical and learned to play the bugle while in the Boy Scouts. He later bought an Army bugle from an Army Surplus store in London. His family emigrated to Canada, settling in Southern Manitoba. Lured by the local minister, the family moved to the area of North Battleford as homesteaders. Mr. Joslin enlisted at Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, joining the 38th Battalion as a Bugler. In this role he received no basic training whatsoever, even after his arrival in England. His voyage overseas was an eventful one. His vessel sank a German submarine off the coast of Ireland. Mr. Joslin reveals the details of the carnage and his wounding at the battle of Cambrai, with the resulting amputation of his finger. Following his return to Canada, he worked as a car salesman in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. Remarrying after the death of first wife, Mr. Joslin moved to Penticton, British Columbia where his wife had been hired as a teacher. Mr. Joslin has been actively involved in Canadian Veteran’s organisations and is a Life Member of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Medium:

Video

Owner:

Veterans Affairs Canada

Duration:

1:36

Person Interviewed:

Maurice Joslin

War, Conflict or Mission:

First World War

Location/Theatre:

Europe

Battle/Campaign:

Cambrai

Branch:

Army

Units/Ship:

38th Battalion

Rank:

Private

Occupation:

Bugler / Runner

Copyright / Permission to Reproduce