Thomas, Gordon C.: my Army recollections (August 28, 1980)
PublicAn interview/narrative of Gordon C. Thomas's experiences during World War I. Lance Corporal Thomas served with the 67th Battalion (Western Scots), C.E.F. Interview took place on August 28, 1980.
ABSTRACT: Lance Corporal Gordon C. Thomas 67th Battalion (Western Scots), C.E.F. Thomas_G_0141_01.mp3 Born on June 14, 1898 in Victoria, B.C. He was a bugler in the British Columbia Horse, but was too young to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914 when his unit was called up. In Victoria, at age seveenteen, he became a member of the 50th Gordon Highlanders. Transferred to the 67th Battalion (Western Scots), then training at the Willows Fairgrounds. Overseas in March 1916 to Bramshott, Eng. where they underwent advanced training. Thomas believes that, since a high proportion of the unit were loggers or miners, it became the 67th Pioneer Battalion in which their construction skills could be most effectively utilized. As part of the 4th Canadian Division they landed at Le Havre, France. Moved into the Ypres salient and suffered their first casualties on the first night of trench-digging. The battalion lived in trenches just behind the front line. Experienced a gas attack. Marched to the Somme where they dug many support trenches. During attacks they followed close behind the forward troops. Helped pick up the wounded; often the dead were so thick on the ground that they could not avoid walking on them. Moved to Vimy Ridge to dig tunnels in the chalky ground. Built a railway and camouflaged it so that all the excavated material sent to the rear would not be seen by the enemy. Forward troops had baths every three weeks to a month: if missed, one turned his shirt inside-out and carried on! Food at the front was basic: hot tea, rum, bully beef, stew. Comments on the validity of the rum ration. The battalion provided reinforcements for the infantry battalions and he was wounded on the first day of the battle for Vimy Ridge. Lost an eye. Evacuated to England. Posted for a while to a Pioneer School to help teach the construction of field fortifications. Returned to Canada. Spent some time in the Jubilee Hospital and Naden Hospital at Victoria. Discharged in 1919. Between the wars he worked as a contractor and real estate salesman. In World War II he was a supervisor for the Canadian Legion Services. Now (1980) secretary of the 67th Battalion Association. (30:00)
Interviewee: Thomas, Gordon C., b. 1898
Interviewer: Thackray, William S.
Rank: Lance Corporal.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- One original sound tape reel (ca. 30 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 1 sound cassette copy : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- TGC_141
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- August 18, 2006
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 64 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by 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 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
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