Archie Wills - My Life in the Army, Volume 03

The third of eight diaries written by Archie Wills during World War I. The diary covers the period of his departure from Petawawa, Ontario, his training period at Witley camp and Lark Hill camp in England. On September 8th 1916 Wills leaves with his comrades by train and travels East through Montreal. Here, he notices poverty conditions and language barriers between English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians. The journey continues through New Brunswick, and finally to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Wills’ birthday on September 11th takes place during the travel. On September 13th the Cameronia leaves for England, along with the troopships Northland, Scandinavian and Megantic. Wills shares his cabin with Kelly, Orwell and Mason. Within the first two days, the men get sea-sick and many chose to sleep on deck as a result many are sick with colds and coughs, but the cold on deck is preferable to the smell below board. On September 21st the ships are met by 6 destroyers to take them separately to their destination. Wills describes the first sighting of land as they see the North Coast of Ireland and the Isle of Man, arriving in Liverpool on the evening of September 22nd, where the soldiers board the L. N.W. train. The train stops at Milford, from where the soldiers walk to Witley camp. During their first day at the camp, Wills and his comrades explore the nearby town of Godalming. During the following two nights the men are disturbed by Zeppelin raids. From September 29th to October 12th Wills travels to London and visits relatives in Devonport. Back at Witley camp, Wills partakes in a rugby game and sprains his ankle. He spends the days until October 25th in Witley’s hospital, but is then transferred to Bramshott hospital, where he stays until November 10th. The next weeks are spent with gun drills, exercises, training, cleaning the stables and caring for the horses. On November 20th Wills started a map reading course. As the weather is increasingly cold and wet, many of the soldiers are sick with influenza. The alternations between freezing temperatures and rain take a toll on the men’s health and by December 2nd the brigade encountered two deaths. On January 10th 1917, Wills arrives at the Lark Hill camp in the Salisbury Plain, and approximately 60,000 troops are stationed, amongst them Australians, Imperial [?] and [?]. By January 21st Wills and his comrades learn that their battalion will be divided to join the 58th and the 51st. From January 23rd to February 3rd Wills is appointed mess marker [?] for the 58th. By February, the men have not taken a bath for weeks as it is too cold. People mentioned include: Mason, Bowden, Innes, Hamcock, Kelly, Webb, Lomas, Lord Perry; Relatives: Uncles Harry, Mark, Fred, Charlie, Cousins Edith, Roland, Louise, Marjorie, Winnie, Dollie, Aunts Mary, Pollie.

In Collection:

• Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection
• World War One Photographs and Journals

Creator

• Wills, Archie H. (Archibald Henry), 1892-1988

Subject

• Military training camps
• Military education
• Soldiers' writings
• Military hygiene
• Soldiers--Conduct of life
• Transports
• Recruiting and enlistment
• Soldiers--Health and hygiene
• Canada. Canadian Army
• Military camps
• Soldiers
• Soldiers--Attitudes
• World War (1914-1918)
• War diaries
• Soldiers--Social conditions

Language

• eng

Date created

• September 22, 1916 to February 9, 1917

Resource type

• Text

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 1 volume (150 pages) ; 15.3 x 9.7 cm

Alternative title

• My Life in the Army, Volume 03
• Volume 3.. My Life in the Army. England... Sept, 22 to Feb.9..1917. Witley, Aldershot, Salisbury Plains.

Geographic coverage

• England
• England--Witley
• England--Salisbury Plain

Coordinates

• 52.16045, -0.70312
• 51.14993, -0.64768
• 51.21667, -1.83333

Physical repository

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

Collection

• World War One Photographs and Journals
• Victoria to Vimy First World War Collection

Provider

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

Genre

• manuscripts (documents)
• diaries

Archival item identifier

• Accession Number: 2005-036; Series: Autobiography; Sub-series: My Life in the Army; Archival Item Identifier: 3.11

Fonds title

• Archie H. Wills fonds

Fonds identifier

• AR394

Is referenced by

• Archival Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/archie-h-wills-fonds

Date digitized

• 2007

Technical note

• 400 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by KD.

Rights

• This material may be protected by copyright. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.

DOI

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/ntfc-cd50

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