James, Cecil: my Army recollections (June 1, 1977)

Rank: Second Lieutenant. Medals and Honours: Military Cross (MC)

An interview/narrative of Cecil James's experiences during World War I. Second Lieutenant James, M.C. served with the 6th Battalion (The Middlesex Regiment) and the King's Royal Lancashire Regiment. Interview took place on June 1, 1977.

Interviewer: Murphy, James

Interviewee: James, Cecil, 1889-1982

ABSTRACT: Second Lieut. Cecil James, M.C. 6th Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment King's Royal Lancashire Regiment James_C_0070_01.mp3 Born in 1889 in London. Came to Canada in 1905, a small legacy of twelve pounds sterling buying his passage. An incomplete chemist apprenticeship in England served to find him employment in drug stores in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Enlisted in a C.E.F. Field Ambulance at Yorkton, Sask. About six weeks later he received a telegram, delayed in transmission, to join his unit, but by then the unit had left for overseas. Bought his own passage to England, through New York. In London a boy scout led him to a recruiting station where he soon found himself a member of the 6th Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment of the British army. After a few weeks of basic training he was sent to France as a reinforcement. Attained rank of sergeant and was later commissioned at Saint-Hubert (ca. 1916) into the King's Royal Lancashire Regiment. (12:00) Comments on trench war, "over the top", occupied enemy trench. Describes trench life and conditions. British Army strictly observed the relationship between officers and men. Compares discipline, as personally observed, with that of Canadian and other Dominion troops. Was awarded the Military Cross; an account of the action, leading off from a sunken road, across no man's land, cane in hand. Many casualties. After a few minutes only two of his machine-gun section on their feet. Fired effectively into a German trench, then withdrew under enemy mortar fire. Only one other returned with him to the British trenches. (33:00) James_C_0070_02.mp3 Describes a Vickers machine-gun crew. Portions of machine-gun battalions were attached to regular infantry battalions during attacks. (40:00) Speaks of reasons for joining in the war: offered a certain esprit de corps and to defend England. Finally point out the difficulty of many in attempting to join the Canadian army in Winnipeg: units were swamped with volunteers. (45:00)

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• James, Cecil, 1889-1982
• Murphy, James

Subject

• World War (1914-1918)
• Military history
• Canada. Canadian Army
• Great Britain. Army

Language

• eng

Keyword

• Trench warfare
• Vickers machine gun
• Canada--Canadian Army--Canadian Expeditionary Force--Field Ambulance
• Military discipline
• World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, Canadian
• Great Britain--Army--Military life
• Great Britain--Army--King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
• Great Britain--Army--Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)--Battalion, 6th
• James, Cecil, 1889-1982--Interviews
• Machine guns

Date created

• June 1, 1977

Relation

• Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 2 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• Canada
• Great Britain

Coordinates

• 54.75844, -2.69531
• 60.10867, -113.64258

Additional physical characteristics

• One original sound tape reel (ca. 45 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.

Physical repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• sound recordings
• reminiscences
• interviews
• oral histories (literary genre)

Archival item identifier

• JC_070

Fonds title

• Reginald Herbert Roy fonds

Fonds identifier

• SC104

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds

Date digitized

• July 24, 2006

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by SC, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. ; WWI 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

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/7y19-zx80

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