Atkinson, Glen: my Army recollections (June 1983)

Interviewee: Atkinson, Glen, b. 1891

Rank: Corporal.

Interviewer: Hazlitte, Elizabeth

An interview/narrative of Glen Atkinson's experiences during World War I. Corporal Atkinson served with the 16th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (The Canadian Scottish Regiment). Interview took place in June 1983.

ABSTRACT: Corporal Glen Atkinson 16th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (The Canadian Scottish Regiment) Atkinson_G_0148_01.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 1) Born in 1891 in Brantford, Ont. (d. 198-). When he was quite young his family moved to Russell, Man. where he received his education. The area teemed with wildlife and as a teenager he learned to shoot well, trading game for shotgun shells. Moved to Victoria, B.C. at fifteen years of age. In 1910 returned to the prairies to homestead, turning the sod with a team of oxen. This was a successful endeavour with the assistance of his wife (at seventeen he was married in Vancouver). Immediately after marriage they moved to Calgary where he obtained a job as a teamster, but soon returned to homesteading. Besides growing grain he eventually fenced some of his land and ran cattle. Joined up in Victoria, B.C. and spent the next four years in France and Belgium. Proceeded overseas where his first battle was that of Vimy Ridge. (50:00) Atkinson_G_0148_02.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 2) Points out that his wife lived in Saanich during this time while his parents ran his farm on the prairies. Describes Vimy Ridge and the deep German dugouts. A soldier's attitude toward casualties. Comments on other areas of the Western Front. Describes Passchendaele: vast numbers of dead, including some killed by our own artillery. Aided a badly wounded comrade. Received a slight wound from a nearly spent piece of shrapnel. Describes a chlorine gas attack in which he suffered some damage to his nose. Fought on the Marne and at Arras (where the big attraction was the municipal bathhouse). On balance, enjoyed the civilian aspects of Europe; felt that he could live there happily. (45:00) Atkinson_G_0148_03.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 1) Describes a Belgian family with whom he stayed. He was in Mons at the end of the war and was billetted close by for a while. Considered the war a great learning experience. After the battle at Passchendaele he became a driver and enjoyed working again with horses. Offers an account of the Hindenburg Line, crossing no-man's-land: barbed wire on concrete posts was so thick that one could almost walk on it. Describes the horsedrawn cookcart. Difficulties obtaining safe water supplies. Billetting stories. Returned to his farm after the war to find it in excellent condition. (45:00) Atkinson_G_0148_04.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 2) Additional accounts of farming, drought, sale of farm, working for neighbours, move to Victoria where he became engaged in the painting business. Cleared land near Swan Lake, Victoria, where he successfully grew potatoes. Lived close by for many years. (45:00)

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Hazlitte, Elizabeth
• Atkinson, Glen, b. 1891

Subject

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

Language

• eng

Date created

• June 1983

Relation

• Part of the Elizabeth Hazlitte collection of interviews.
• Much of the original reels has poor audio quality.

Resource type

• Sound

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 4 sound recordings (MP3)

Geographic coverage

• British Columbia--Victoria

Coordinates

• 48.4359, -123.35155

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

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

Archival item identifier

• AG_148

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

• June 27, 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, HC 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/w3b3-4c94

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