Bousfield, William: my Army recollections (June 2, 1977)

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An interview/narrative of William Bousfield's experiences during World War I. Private Bousfield served with the 66th and 49th Battalions, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Interview took place on June 2, 1977.

Interviewer: Murphy, James

Rank: Private.

Interviewee: Bousfield, William, 1895-1990

ABSTRACT: Pte. William Bousfield 66th and 49th Battalions, Canadian Expeditionary Force Bousfield_W_0016_01.mp3 Born in 1895 in England (d. 19--). The Bousfield family moved to Canada in 1906 to take up farming in Manitoba. Just before World War I they bought a farm in Grande Prairie, Alta. In the summer of 1915, after hearing a recruiting officer of the 49th Battalion, Bousfield travelled to Edmonton and enlisted in the 66th Battalion. The training was very basic, consisting largely of drill in the "awkward squad". There he was first introduced to "French leave" (absent without leave). In due course he went overseas to England and, as a result of a call for volunteers for France, he found himself a member of the 49th Battalion, and in the trenches shortly thereafter. Impressions of life in the trenches. Wounded on two occasions, first by shrapnel, then by machine-gun fire. Describes a harrowing three-mile journey to a field dressing station. Living in the trenches was unpleasant, made more so by large numbers of rats and lice. (15:00) The battalion cooks had to work under great difficulties which affected the quality of the food (very bad). Morale was quite high and both officers and men worked to keep it so. There were always a few men who deliberately attempted to get a "blighty" (wound) in order to get away from the trenches. The men had little time to relax, except to sleep. Rest camps provided time to read and play cards. The Salvation Army did a tremendous job in these camps in order to make the stay of the troops as pleasant as possible for the two to three days that they were there. Describes German shelling which usually seemed heavy. (25:00) Often it was difficult to take shelter: they dug small holes in the sides and sometimes bottom of the trench. On one unpleasant occasion he shared a hole with a corpse. Some discussion of the effectiveness of shells against trenches. Occasionally officers were killed by their own men who believed that they had a grievance. They were usually shot in the back during an advance. Among those so killed was the lieutenant who had first interested Bousfield in enlisting in 1915. Trench discipline usually very good, but tended to slacken out of the line. Serious offenses might result in a term in the British "glasshouse" (military prison). His second wound occurred on the Somme: a bullet in the hand. Discusses first wound and hospital in England. A soldier's pay was $1.10 per day; ten cents more for each stripe (promotion). (35:00) Bousfield_W_0016_02.mp3 Bousfield was promoted to lance corporal, took "French leave" when he got married in England: back to private! That sort of leave was not a practical thing to do in France, since security was so tight. The troops were never out of their uniform: same heavy material in winter and summer. They used to cut the bottoms off their pants when in the trenches until the practice was stopped. It helped with the lice problem. Comments on better officers' uniforms, batmen, life in general. (45:00) The troops slept for short periods during the day when duties allowed. Sentry duty changed every hour in order to ensure that the men remained alert. (49:00)

In Collection:
Contributor Subject Language Keyword Date created Relation
  • Part of the Reginald H. Roy collection of interviews.
Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 2 sound recordings (MP3)
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 52.16045, -0.70312
  • 60.10867, -113.64258
Additional physical characteristics
  • One original sound tape reel (ca. 49 min.) : 3 3/4 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
Physical repository Collection
  • Canadian Military Oral History Collection
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • BW_016
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • May 12, 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, 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

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