Forced march to Ypres
First World War Audio Archive
Forced march to Ypres
Transcript
Hill 62 Memorial Belgium.
All our men had packs on their backs and their rifles, and we’d already marched about nine miles before lunch. And after marchingCourtrai Memorial Belgium.
until five o’clock that same afternoon when we, after we’d had our 10 minute rest, we were called back in again to proceed andLe Quesnel Memorial Belgium.
one of my men, who was a young lad about 18 or 19 years old who was a bank clerk from Dundurn, Saskatchewan, and rather a weaklyGueudecourt Memorial France.
physique, well a weak physique. He said, “Sir, I just cannot go any further. I’ve just got to stay here.” I told him I didn’t like to leave him there, he wouldn’t know where, he wouldn’t knowDury Memorial France.
where to go. And I asked him if I took his pack, which I think weighed about 40 pounds, and his rifle if he would, couldMonchy Memorial France.
continue with us. He said, “Yes, I will try.” We marched on for another hour and fell out again for a ten minute rest. This time,Passchendaele Memorial Belgium.
I had a young fellow by the name of Hobbs. His father was also in my platoon. But this was another young lad of about 20, I presumeMasnières memorial France.
and he told me he could not go any further, he was just done in carrying his heavy pack and rifle, etc. So I said the same thing to him, “If I could take your pack and your rifle, do you thinkBourion Wood Memorial France.
you could make it?” He said, “Oh I think, perhaps, I’ll try anyway.” So I put his pack on top of the other pack on my back and put one, I had one rifle on one shoulder and the other on theCourcelette Memorial France.
other shoulder. So I think I must have had about 100 pounds on my back besides my own equipment, etc. We kept on marching thenBeaumont-Hamel Memorial France.
and got to Poperinge about eight o’clock and then went up through the little town of Reningelst and went up the hill where we wereSt. Julien Memorial Belgium.
to camp for the night and it was then getting dark. It was about... after nine o’clock at night. So I figured we marched about 33 miles that day. By the way, both my young lads stayedCanadian National Vimy Memorial France.
with the platoon and finished the march with us that night.Description
Mr. Copp describes carrying the kit for two of his men (plus his own) who would have been too exhausted to otherwise proceed on the forced march to Ypres.
John Percy Copp
John Percy Copp was born on February 2, 1889 at Baie Verte, New Brunswick. He enlisted in the 65th Battalion at Saskatoon. Shortly thereafter, in June, 1916 he went overseas to England, training for a very short time at Camp Bramshott. On August 10, 1916 he shipped to France as a member of B Company, 46th Battalion. Mr. Copp held the rank of Lieutenant and led his men in several major actions: Ypres, the Somme, Lens and Vimy. He was awarded the Military Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace. His story is most compelling, for in it his concern for his men is the predominant theme. At the time of his interview, Mr. Copp lived in Lajolla, California.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 3:12
- Person Interviewed:
- John Percy Copp
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- First World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Europe
- Battle/Campaign:
- Ypres
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- 46th Battalion
- Rank:
- Lieutenant
- Occupation:
- Platoon Commander
Attestation
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