They used gas on us

First World War Audio Archive

They used gas on us

Transcript

The second last time we were in the line on the Lens front.

Mr.Huckerby in uniform, posing for a photograph, inside a crest.

When we had to go out, we had to walk through trenches that had water four feet deep in it because we darest not walk on top. And it had rained all the time we were in there. The trenches were all full of water and there was quite a bit of cold over that. And the last time we were in, we went in on a 400 man surprise attack at night. And it was, they used gas on us. And in getting back, getting out of there, about 250 of us got gassed out of that 400. Went to hospital but not too serious, a lot of us. I was only in the hospital for a few weeks and then

Mr. Huckerby wearing a suit and tie.

I was out to rejoin the battalion. It affected our breathing. Of course, it made us sick to our stomachs, throwing up.

Mr. Huckerby and his wife, standing outside their home.

They surprised us by getting the gas behind us and when we retreated, we jumped in the trench and the trench was full of gas

Sitting at the dinner table, waiting for some Birthday cake.

You know, before you get your mask on, you had it.

Description

Mr. Huckerby describes having to wade through four feet (over a metre) of water in the trenches, and being gassed during a night raid.

John Arthur Huckerby

John Arthur Huckerby was born on February 8, 1898, in Golden Plain, North West Territory, (now a part of Saskatchewan). Prior to enlistment, Mr. Huckerby worked as a farm laborer. His sense of patriotic duty led him to enlist in the 217th Battalion at Broadview, Saskatchewan, on March 8, 1916, shortly after his 18th birthday. Mr. Huckerby’s basic training was interrupted when he fell ill with diphtheria. Although not fully recovered when the 217th was deployed to Britain, his officer interceded and took him as a convalescent. He was quarantined at Bramshott Camp for a time and then served as an instructor in bayonet drill and physical training. Mr. Huckerby joined the 46th Battalion, C Company and saw action at Lens, Amiens, Drocourt-Queant, and Canal du Nord. Although there is no record of his having been wounded, he was gassed during a night raid at Lens. He was discharged at the rank of corporal. After returning to Canada, he received a farm from the Soldier Settlement Board and later joined the Saskatchewan Civil Service. Mr. Huckerby enlisted for the Second World War, attaining the rank of sergeant. There is, at present, no record of his service in that conflict. On January 12, 1921, he married Katherine Anne MacDougall and had one son. Mr. Huckerby died on September 16, 1993.

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