Gilbert, William: my Army recollections (May 1983)

Interviewer: Hazlitte, Elizabeth

ABSTRACT: Mr. William Gilbert 28th Canadian Infantry Battalion, C.E.F. Gilbert_W_0150_01.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 1) Born ca. 1889 in England (died in 198-). Placed in a residential school, the West London District School, since his mother was unable to support her children. Classes held in the morning, work on the school farm in the afternoon; firm discipline. Later came to Canada to work on farms in Ontario. For a time worked in a mine in Cobalt, Ont. Went west to Calgary, broke land on the prairies. Worked as flunky in a logging camp, skidded logs with a team of horses, rode the freights in B.C. and northwestern U.S. (30:00) Had other odd jobs until, on Oct. 23, 1914, he joined the army, the 60th Rifles of Canada, in Moose Jaw. Became part of the 28th Battalion, C.E.F. Trained in Winnipeg. (48:00) Gilbert_W_0150_02.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 2) Further comments on basic training, defaulters, civilian entertainment of troops, discipline, route marches. Overseas to England as part of the 6th Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division. Issued with British equipment and, carrying it all, they marched to Folkestone to embark for France. He describes guard duty at the front and the trench system. Breakfast in the trenches consisted of tea and bacon. Comments on trench life, rum ration, trench raids. Moved to Ypres in early 1916, then to the Somme. Belgian civilians not always trustworthy. (48:00) Gilbert_W_0150_03.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 1) On Sept. 15 went "over the top" for the first of three times on the Somme. Court martialed for guard duty transgression; severe reprimand only. Vimy Ridge. Small wound in elbow. Lice a major problem to the troops. Moved to Passchendaele where conditions were terrible. In charge of a stretcher party. Married in England in Dec. 1917. After the war he returned to Victoria, then homesteaded on the prairies under the system of returned soldiers' grants. Wife became ill and returned to England. Gilbert_W_0150_04.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 2) Homesteading a very hard life: short of money, livestock, all necessities. Wife returned, but after a stormy existence she returned to England. He moved to the B.C. coast. Obtained a divorce. Bought property at Roberts Creek in 1927. Employed in Vancouver. Could not enlist in World War II because of his age, although he was a W.O. II in the Seaforth Highlanders. In 1967 he moved to Victoria. The account returns to reminiscences of early life in England. Dr. Bernardo's Homes, details of emigration to Canada. Worked on an Ontario farm for three years, under the auspices of Dr. Bernardo's Homes, until 1906, in order to obtain basic farming knowledge. It was a hard life for a teenager. (45:00)

An interview/narrative of William Gilbert's experiences during World War I. Gilbert served with the 28th Canadian Infantry Battalion, C.E.F. Interview took place in May 1983.

Interviewee: Gilbert, William, b. 1889

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Gilbert, William, b. 1889
• Hazlitte, Elizabeth

Subject

• World War (1939-1945)
• Personal narratives--Canadian
• Military history
• World War (1914-1918)

Language

• eng

Date created

• May 1983

Relation

• Part of the Elizabeth Hazlitte collection of interviews.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 4 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• British Columbia--Victoria
• England

Coordinates

• 48.4359, -123.35155
• 52.16045, -0.70312

Additional physical characteristics

• Two original sound tape reels (ca. 180 min.) : 3 3/4 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 2 sound cassette copies : 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

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

Archival item identifier

• GW_150

Fonds title

• Elizabeth Hazlitte fonds

Fonds identifier

• SC405

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/elizabeth-hazlitte-fonds

Date digitized

• May 21, 2010

Technical note

• Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 44 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 24 kHz. Digitized by JF and 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 2010. 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/t8g6-wg79

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