Interviewee: Falconer, William Lynn, b. 1897

Rank: Sergeant.

Interviewer: Bell, Chris

An interview/narrative of William Lynn Falconer's experiences during World War I. Sergeant Falconer served with the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Interview took place on May 22, 1984.

ABSTRACT: Sgt. William Lynn Falconer Royal Canadian Dragoons Falconer_W_0053_01.mp3 Born on July 14, 1897 in Manitoba. Joined the army on Aug. 6, 1914 at the age of seventeen. Previously he had been a member of C Squadron, 18th Canadian Mounted Rifles of Morden, Man. Left for Valcartier Camp on Aug. 20, 1914 to join the 6th Battalion, C.E.F., of which the majority were members of Fort Garry Horse. Comments on Valcartier and the degree of animosity that existed between various factions making up the battalion. They went overseas as cavalry reserves, split mostly between the Strathconas and the Royal Canadian Dragoons. (10:00) Discusses his wounding in France at the end of March 1918. At the time he was a sergeant, and with his troop, acting as infantry. One bullet passed laterally through his back and several through his equipment. During thirty-five months in France he had two seven-day leaves in London and, before that, one at New Year's 1914/15 at a Scottish village to which he returned in 1964. (35:00) When he first went to France in 1915, the unit acted as infantry, first at Festubert, and then at Messines. They all had the standard cavalry rifle, (46:00) the Short Lee Enfield. Comments on the Ross rifle with which most Canadians were equipped. Falconer_W_0053_02.mp3 Discusses the incidence of trench foot: cold and damp caused feet to swell; unable to put on boot if once removed. Other illnesses, many deaths from influenza after the war. (10:00) After being wounded he was in Basingstoke Hospital in England, then in a convalescent camp for two months. Anecdotes. Covered for patients A.W.O.L. in London. (20:00) Early repatriation (Dec. 1918) as he was a member of the first overseas contingent and claimed that he had to return to Manitoba to help with spring planting! Comments on some of his officers. (30:00) Mentions Pte. A.D. Crocker of the 7th Battalion. Anecdote. Interview becomes a very general discussion on the state of the world, religion, etc. (50:00) Studied medicine on his return to Canada.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Falconer, William Lynn, b. 1897
• Bell, Chris

Subject

• Military history
• World War (1914-1918)
• Personal narratives--Canadian
• Canada. Canadian Army

Language

• eng

Keyword

• Canada--Canadian Army--Battalion, 6th
• World War, 1914-1918--Cavalry operations
• Camp Barriefield (Ont.)
• Falconer, William Lynn, 1897-1989--Interviews
• Cavalry
• Trench warfare
• Lee-Enfield rifle
• Canada--Canadian Army--Canadian Expeditionary Force
• Influenza
• Canada--Canadian Army--Fort Garry Horse, 34th
• World War, 1914-1918--Hospitals
• Canada--Canadian Army--Military life
• Canada--Canadian Army--Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
• Canada--Canadian Forces Base (Valcartier, Que?bec)
• Ross rifle
• Valcartier Camp (Que?bec)
• Canada--Canadian Army--Medical care
• Canada--Canadian Army--Royal Canadian Dragoons
• World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, Canadian
• Messines, Battle of, Belgium, 1917
• Canada--Canadian Army--Canadian Mounted Rifles, 18th--Squadron, C
• Festubert, Battle of, Festubert, France, 1915
• War wounds

Date created

• May 22, 1984

Relation

• Sergeant Falconer's unpublished memoirs are held in the public archives of British Columbia and of Manitoba. The book mentioned in the interview is believed to be Brereton Greenhous, Dragoon: the Centennial History of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, 1883-1983. Belleville, Ont.: Guild of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, 1983.
• 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
• England

Coordinates

• 52.16045, -0.70312
• 60.10867, -113.64258

Additional physical characteristics

• One original sound tape reel (ca. 90 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

• FWL_053

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 7, 2006

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 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/pxxa-ff12

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