This game's for keeps
First World War Audio Archive
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This game's for keeps
Transcript
Hill 62 Memorial Belgium.
candle couldn’t be lit, so many people in there. In the morning, before daylight we took up our positions for to wait for the barrage to open up. A chap near me, he broke down, started to cryCourtrai Memorial Belgium.
The sergeant was trying to hush him up. But just about then, the barrage started to creep, so away we went following it. I only went about 20 feet and I saw a fellow about my age, the bullet had gone in his forehead and the grey came out, and ILe Quesnel Memorial Belgium.
had two thoughts; your brain is grey and they play this game for keeps. So, I followed along, I fired a few shots about where IGueudecourt Memorial France.
thought would be about the height of a man, just for kicks. The trenches that we had figured was there was all plowed up, you couldn’t tell where a trench was. You could see planks and everything laying around and dead Germans. In fact,Dury Memorial France.
no opposition, just following the barrage. So there was a high mound of dirt. One of our officers appeared from somewheres carrying a cane and he motioned four of us to follow him and heMonchy Memorial France.
climbed up over this high ground. We could have gone around it but privates don’t tell officers what to do. So, we just got on top and it was being swept with machine gun fire. He was instantly killed with two. The end of my rifle and bayonet dropped off, a bullet went right through the barrel and the steelPasschendaele Memorial Belgium.
splinters hit me in the neck and I was trying to... threw me back and as my leg came up a bullet went in and plowed along the bottom and came out about a foot through my flesh and made quite a hole. So I crawled on my hands and knees down the otherMasnières memorial France.
side and the one fellow didn’t get hit, I said, “What’s the matter with my backside.” He said, “You got a hole in it.” So, I started hobbling back then and another wounded fellow waved to me. There was a man buried to his waist in the mud.Bourion Wood Memorial France.
So three of us got a plank and we pulled him out. I think we stretched him but we pulled him out. And I looked at a sergeant of ours laying there, he had 16 bullet holes in his arms and legsCourcelette Memorial France.
but he still was breathing, but there was nothing you could do. Another fellow had his foot blew off and his coat threw around it He was ok. So six Germans appeared from some place. I motioned them ahead and I tagged along til I got in theBeaumont-Hamel Memorial France.
dressing station. They fixed my wound up and we sat on a bench and a fellow inoculated us for lockjaw. They put an indelible cross on our heads. One fellow, not badly wounded, next to meSt. Julien Memorial Belgium.
whispered, “What’s that cross for?” He said, “Those the ones we think are gonna die.” That really made him look solemn. But he was only kidding. It was so that they knew you was inoculated.Canadian National Vimy Memorial France.
He really looked solemn when he said it was the ones we thinks are gonna die. I knew what it was for.Description
Mr. Close describes the destruction and death at Vimy Ridge, and details his wounding and eventful return to the first aid post.
John Hamilton Close
John Hamilton Close was born in Mitchell, Ontario on July 4, 1896. After the death of both his parents, he went to work on his uncle’s farm in Garrett, Ontario. On March 15, 1916, Mr. Close enlisted with the 114th Battalion in Hagersville, Ontario. He started training immediately and was sent to Camp Borden. After going overseas to England he was quickly deployed to Le Havre. He was wounded at Vimy Ridge, rehabilitated in England, and returned to France to fight at Amiens and Arras where he won a Military Medal for bravery. Mr. Close ended his service with the rank of Corporal. He died in Hagersville, Ontario in February, 1993.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 4:00
- Person Interviewed:
- John Hamilton Close
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- First World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Europe
- Battle/Campaign:
- Vimy
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- 114th Battalion
- Rank:
- 2-stripe Corporal
- Occupation:
- Section Leader
Attestation
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Mr. Close describes his reaction to his first two experiences with enemy shell fire.
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Mr. Close describes some aspects of his recruitment and basic training, and in humorous fashion, outlines one of the risks of camp life.
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Mr. Close describes being evacuated to England from France, and being hospitalized until his wound healed.
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Mr. Close describes parade drill protocol, a funny incident, and a show of solidarity from those convalesced soldiers returning to action in France.
To hell with dignity!
Mr. Close describes trench duty in general, then more specifically describes how he and an officer become targets of German artillery as they are attempting to get their rum and chocolate rations from stores.
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Mr. Close describes events at Amiens; seeing dead French soldiers, capturing a German artillery piece, and what he feels was a successful action.
There was a scream
Mr. Close describes action during the battle of Arras. Two flanking platoons are wiped out by artillery, a soldier speaking in his ear is shot through the mouth, and finally he describes leading 10 of 15 men to safety through a grain field at Parvillers, for which he receives the Military Medal.
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