Several star shells went up

First World War Audio Archive

Several star shells went up

Transcript

Soldier standing at attention in front of steps.

We had been up putting barbed wire entanglements between the front line support trenches because there was threatening to be a breakthrough on the Lens front at that time. And we just finished our working party around 4 o’clock in the morning and it was still pitch dark and we were going to Nissen huts on the Pimple at Souchez on Vimy Ridge. And we were marching back there, and as we went the boys were picking up bits and pieces of fire wood to keep their fires burning in these kind of Quebec heaters that we had in the huts. And one of our officers was carrying four rifles on each shoulder so that the boys could be free to

Three soldiers riding bicycles.

pick up these chunks of wood that were parts of buildings that had been levelled by shell fire. All of a sudden, several star shells went up and it was just as bright as day. And when that happens, you stand still, you don’t even move an eyelash, otherwise you’re a sitting duck for a target. But if you stopped still, you seemed to blend in with the surrounding terrain, and they wouldn’t know if you weren’t a brick wall or something like that when a bunch of you are standing together. And right at the head of the column, there was a chap carrying a great big piece of wood in the shape of a cross. Everything was as still as a mouse. There wasn’t a sound. There were no guns firing and this bright light and all of a sudden this fellow standing up there with a cross over his shoulder. It was rather an eerie sensation. It’s remained with me all my life.

Description

Mr. Ellis describes how his night patrol is exposed by German veri-lites, standing stock still to avoid detection, and the eerie sight presented by one of his patrol members.

Wilfred Dancy Ellis

Wilfred Dancy “Dick” Ellis was born in Surrey, England, on September 10,1895. Mr. Ellis emigrated to Canada in 1912, joining his parents who had left him in England to finish school. He became active in the local boys club and Home Guard, and finally enlisted in the 4th Division, Canadian Bicycle Battalion, because, in his words, he wanted to preserve his British heritage. This group, nicknamed the “Gas Pipe Cavalry”, was a highly mobile support battalion which could quickly move into reinforcing positions. The events described by Mr. Ellis took place at Vimy. In addition, he was wounded at Lieven on the Lens Front. After the war, Mr. Ellis wrote a Battalion history entitled, Saga of the Cyclists in the Great War, 1914-1918. He was employed with the Bank of Commerce for 48 years and involved with the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires. Mr. Ellis died, aged 100, on August 14, 1996, leaving behind his wife of 75 years, Gladys (nee Loram), and two children.

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