McKenzie, James: my Army recollections (June 2, 1977)
Interviewer: Murphy, James
Rank: Private.
An interview/narrative of James McKenzie's experiences during World War I. Private McKenzie served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps. Interview took place on June 2, 1977.
Interviewee: McKenzie, James, b. 1897
ABSTRACT: Pte. James McKenzie Canadian Army Medical Corps McKenzie_J_0098_01.mp3 Born in 1897, the eldest of eight children, in what is now Northern Ireland (died in 1983). The family emigrated to Victoria, B.C. in 1911. On Dec. 26, 1915 he enlisted in the C.A.M.C. as he felt strongly that it was his duty to become involved in the war as soon as he could. Remembers that, as in inducement to recruiting, trenches and dugouts were constructed in downtown Victoria. Enlisted at Work Point Barracks, volunteered for overseas duty, and left in March 1916, the medical group in company with the 67th Battalion (Western Scots), C.E.F. Very little medical training in Canada; learned "on the job" in France where they were quickly sent. Landed at Le Havre and, after a short time in the hospital there, was sent to No. 1 General Hospital in Etaples. It was a second choice, rather humdrum job as personnel preferred to work with an infantry battalion or at a casualty clearing station near the front. The camp, including the hospital, was bombed by raiding German aircraft. (20:00) The orderlies lived in a canvas-topped frame hut which required much ingenuity to make comfortable. Hospital wards were in large marquees (three) placed end-to-end and holding about fifty patients in all. The operating and x ray rooms were in a frame building. Normally worked twelve-hour shifts, but in a very busy time he might only get two hours sleep per day. Typically a ward staff consisted of two nurses, one orderly and a light-duty patient during the day-shift and one nurse and one orderly at night. He also assisted in the operating room. (35:00) McKenzie_J_0098_02.mp3 There a team of two orderlies prepared the patient for the operating table. The operating room staff consisted, besides the orderlies, of two nurses, an anesthesiologist, and the surgeon. Remembers that his fingers were always coated with iodine which was the common antiseptic used on patients. Had difficulty ridding himself of the colour and taste of it. After the bombing raid on Etaples a large red cross on the ground was outlined in white stone. Due to the constant threat of bombing the living quarters of the hospital were eventually moved outside the camp. Spent some time working in a casualty clearing station. Anecdote regarding leave. (47:00)
- In Collection:
- 2 sound recordings (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- 54.5, -6.5
- One original sound tape reel (ca. 45 min.) : 3 3/4 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- MJ_098
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- July 27, 2006
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by SC and JF, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2006. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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