Back to training camp

First World War Audio Archive

Back to training camp

I went back to France in about the 11th of November of ‘17.

Hill 62 Memorial Belgium.

Oh, it was probably 5,000 of us went back. We were in Bramshott,

Courtrai Memorial Belgium.

all that had been wounded, you see, and we were fit then to go back. There was one incident I remembered. Bramshott, it was kind

Le Quesnel Memorial Belgium.

of funny. When we first were there, there was not much discipline Everybody had been wounded, but as it built up towards the summer they said, when the roll was called, instead of saying, “Here,”

Gueudecourt Memorial France.

you had to say, “Here, sergeant!” or “Here, sir!” if it was an officer. So all went well the next morning till they came to the name of Murphy. All he got was, “Here!” So he roared,

Dury Memorial France.

“Here what?” “Here we are again,” Murphy come back with. And poor Murphy’s name was missing for a few days from the list, but he had his laugh. The boys did some, had been docked for

Monchy Memorial France.

barrack damage and when they left some of them went a little

Passchendaele Memorial Belgium.

crazy and really did make some barrack damage so when we got to France, instead of keeping us at the base camp they shipped us right up to the battalion and, of course, the train loaded and

Masnières memorial France.

unloaded, I suppose there was, well, probably 1,500 fellows lined up there and a red tab officer come out

Bourion Wood Memorial France.

and said our reputation had preceded them and they was going to show us some discipline. When they said that everybody automatically sat down and looked at him, so he

Courcelette Memorial France.

turned on his heel and walked away. We went back, each outfit went to your own unit. The colonel gave us a real good welcome.

Beaumont-Hamel Memorial France.

He said he was glad to have some good men come back to him. So we went to our various companies. But I had been in “A”

St. Julien Memorial Belgium.

Company and I had got chummy with some “B” Company men so I went to “B” Company, ended up in 8th Platoon and I stayed in 8th Platoon till the war ended. I ended up a two stripe corporal

Canadian National Vimy Memorial France.

and I was more or less acting as sergeant after our sergeant got killed at the Battle of Cambrai.

Mr. Close describes parade drill protocol, a funny incident, and a show of solidarity from those convalesced soldiers returning to action in France.

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.

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 2:37
Person Interviewed:: John Hamilton Close
War, Conflict or Mission:: First World War
Location/Theatre:: Europe
Branch:: Army
Units/Ship:: 114th Battalion
Rank:: 2-stripe Corporal
Occupation:: Section Leader

Attestation Paper (front)

Attestation Paper (back)

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Date modified:: 2024-12-30