An interview/narrative of Merlin Huth's experiences during World War I. Lieutenant Huth served with the British Columbia Horse (Militia), Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) and the Imperial Camel Corps. Interview took place on August 18, 1978.

Rank: Lieutenant.

Interviewer: Main, Chris D.

Interviewee: Huth, Merlin, b. 1888

ABSTRACT: Lieut. Merlin Huth British Columbia Horse (Militia) Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Imperial Camel Corps Huth_M_0072_01.mp3 Born in London, England. in 1888. Booked passage to Canada via the Titanic, but changed to a Canadian Pacific liner because of the simple rail connection to western Canada. Arrived at Saint John, N.B. to learn that the Titanic had sunk. Purchased sixty acres in Salmon Arm, B.C. upon which to grow fruit. In the summer of 1914 he joined British Columbia Horse (militia) as a trooper. Soon found himself mobilized and in Oct. 1914 sent to Valcartier Camp where he transferred to Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians). Overseas to Salisbury Plain for training. After the first Battle of Ypres the cavalry were sent to France as infantry. At the battle of Festubert in May 1915 he was wounded. (12:00) When infection set in he spent two months in hospital in England. Applied for a commission and was transferred to Royal Bucks Hussars, a yeomanry regiment, as a second lieutenant. Was immediately sent on draft to Gallipoli where he arrived just in time to be evacuated to Egypt. Participated in modest operations against the Turks in Libya. Originally mounted on horses, but when the Imperial Camel Corps was recruiting, one officer and thirty men from each cavalry regiment were transferred and, after six weeks of training, were sent on patrol in the western desert. Describes Sudanese camels, (35:00) training, habits and control. Carried a man, his equipment, five gallons of water for the rider, and seventy-five pounds of grain as fodder. Camel capacity: three hundred pounds. Patrols lasted five days as that was the limit of endurance for the camel. Navigated by compass in the desert. (45:00) Huth_M_0072_02.mp3 Comments on the purpose of the long patrols and some experiences. When General Allenby took command of the war against the Turks, he was sent to Palestine. Acted as mounted infantry in a war of constant movement. Comments on the Turkish defences, Gaza, etc. At one time under the command of Lawrence of Arabia. Participated in the attack on Amman. In Aug. 1918 was sent on leave to Canada. A long journey, ten days by train across Europe. Returned to Salmon Arm for a few days. At sea, returning to England, on Nov. 11, 1918. Was discharged Apr. 1, 1919 in London. General comments on the Camel Corps. (40:00)

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Huth, Merlin, b. 1888
• Main, Chris D.

Subject

• Canada. Canadian Army
• Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
• Military history
• World War (1914-1918)

Language

• eng

Keyword

• World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--Palestine
• Trench warfare
• Turkey--Defenses
• World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--Libya
• Camels--Sudan
• Huth, Merlin, 1888-1987--Interviews
• Great Britain--Army--Military life
• Ypres, 1st Battle of, Ieper, Belgium, 1914
• Lawrence, T.E. (Thomas Edward), 1888-1935
• Canada--Canadian Army--Military life
• Turkey--Armed forces
• Great Britain--Army--Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry
• Amman, Battle of, Amman, Jordan, 1918
• Festubert, Battle of, Festubert, France, 1915
• Imperial Camel Corps
• World War, 1914-1918--Hospitals
• World War, 1914-1918--Medical care
• Desert warfare
• Allenby, Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, Viscount, 1861-1936
• Canada--Canadian Army--Regiment, 30th (British Columbia Horse)
• World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--Turkey and the Near East--Gallipoli
• Canada--Canadian Forces Base (Valcartier, Que?bec)
• World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, Canadian
• Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
• World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--Turkey--Gallipoli Peninsula
• Egypt
• War wounds

Date created

• August 18, 1978

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. 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

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

Archival item identifier

• HM_072

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 19, 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 and JF, 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/10.58066/84g7-v898

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