Canadian Military History
Volume 19 Issue 1 Article 7
2010
A “Soldier of the Line” Sergeant John Anderson Church, 38th Battalion, CEF
Ken Reynolds
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh
Part of the Military History Commons
Recommended Citation Ken Reynolds "A “Soldier of the Line” Sergeant John Anderson Church, 38th Battalion, CEF." Canadian Military History 19, 1 (2010)
This Feature is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. : A “Soldier of the Line” Sergeant John Anderson Church, 38th Battalion, CEF A “Soldier of the Line” Sergeant John Anderson Church, 38th Battalion, CEF
Ken Reynolds
ergeant John Anderson (Jack) medical officer, Lieutenant James everyone knew – kept beckoning SChurch was awarded no bravery Munro, M.D., found him “fit” for him. “As the only unmarried son I decorations, returning home from service with the Canadian Overseas felt it my duty to represent the family the First World War entitled to the Expeditionary Force. Lieutenant- in the defense of our country.”3 In Victory and War Medals like many Colonel Cameron Edwards, the early November he tried to join the other Canadians. He did not serve commanding officer of the 38th, then 2nd Battalion, CEF. Unfortunately until the end of the war, nor even close signed Church’s attestation form. for him, anyone under the age of 21 to the conclusion of that dreadful With that, Jack Church was a Private required parental consent to enlist. conflict. Indeed, of the hundreds – serial number 410472 – in the 38th Mrs. Church would not cooperate: of thousands of Canadians who Battalion.1 served in the war there would seem The material Jack Church left When I came home and told my to be nothing especially noteworthy behind allows much more to be said parents Mother immediately called about Sergeant Church, a member about his war than his personnel the recruiting officer, Sid Gilroy, of the 38th Battalion, Canadian file reveals. A long-time member of telling him he well knew I was under Expeditionary Force (CEF). Perhaps the postwar Toronto Branch of the age and she would not give her this is why Jack Church was, and is, so 38th Battalion Association, Church consent. The next morning he tore special. After all, in statistical terms, wrote his memoirs, Soldier of the Line, up my attestation papers.4 the number of Canadian recipients of recounting his wartime experiences the Victoria Cross was insignificant. for his grandchildren. His story is of Upon reflection, Church seemed In addition, the typical Canadian interest to us all. somewhat relieved at his mother’s soldier did not die during the First Jack Church missed the British decision given the incredibly large World War. Instead, the majority declaration of war in August 1914. number of casualties which the “Iron suffered – slightly or severely – with At that time he was working with 2nd” suffered in France.5 physical and mental wounds they a survey party in the Algonquin Nevertheless, getting into the would carry with them for the rest District of Ontario and so did not military remained his primary goal. of their lives. In Jack Church’s case hear about the start of the war for To him, this meant only the infantry these burdens would be borne until an entire week. On his way home as he was certain he did not want his passing in the late 1980s. he passed through Ottawa, heard to shovel coal aboard a warship or Jack Church was 18 years old the news, and attempted to join the be “hampered with a horse” as a when he joined the CEF. He was born Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light member of the cavalry. Just before in Smiths Falls, Ontario on 8 April Infantry, then being raised in the Christmas 1914 he was offered the 1896. He had no previous militia nation’s capital. His attempt to join prospect of an officer’s commission experience, was a Presbyterian, and was, as he put it, “rudely repulsed.”2 in 1915 if he finished his school year. listed his mother (Mrs. Elizabeth In September 1914 Church However, Church could not wait. On Church) as his next-of-kin. Church’s returned to Smiths Falls Collegiate 14 January 1915 he and three friends physical examination showed him to where, in addition to his studies, he met at the local recruiting office be five feet ten inches in height, with served with the school’s cadet corps, where the 43rd Regiment, Duke of a 36.5-inch chest, brown hair, brown taking his “duties very seriously.” Cornwall’s Own Rifles, from Ottawa eyes, and a “ruddy” complexion. On But the call to serve before the war was enlisting soldiers for service with 24 February 1915, the 38th Battalion’s was over – it would be by Christmas, the 38th Battalion.
Published© Canadian by Scholars Military Commons History @, Laurier,Volume 2010 19, Number 1, Winter 2010, pp.57-65. 57 1
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 57 4/15/2010 1:47:47 PM Canadian Military History, Vol. 19 [2010], Iss. 1, Art. 7
On the spur of the moment against orders so I refused I decided to join my friends with the result [that] we spent and when I told Capt. Grey the evening on the sofa while [the recruiting officer] I she clipped [them] off with a was recommended for a pair of scissors that were not commission he said the war too sharp.9 would be over before I could get to France. That did it. The 38th continued Mother refused to sign my its training in Barriefield release but Dad did and I was through June and July 1915. in the army.6 In late June the battalion sent 250 soldiers to France In late February the as reinforcements for the recruits enlisted in Smiths decimated 2nd Battalion. Falls for the 38th Battalion Church had mixed feelings w e r e s e n t t o O t t a w a about not being selected to to join “C” Company at go, as he felt that Lieutenant- its headquarters in the Colonel Edwards was
former Ottawa Ladies’ Highlanders of Ottawa Museum of The Cameron Regimental sending “his best trained College on Albert Street. troops.” At the same time Accommodated in a nearby he realized how dangerous warehouse, the new recruits the situation in France was were issued uniforms and at the moment.10 “long cotton underwear At the end of July the which we all swore was 38th Battalion boarded a woven of barbed wire.” train for Ottawa where Recruit Church was formally it received its colours attested as a member of the in a ceremony held on 38th and, one week later, Parliament Hill on 1 August was promoted to the rank 1915. Sergeant Church of Sergeant with No.11 Platoon, “C” participated in the ceremony as a Company, because of his experience Sergeant Jack Church with his friend, member of the colour party, along Gert Dunham, in 1915 in his high school’s cadet corps.7 with two subalterns and two warrant Basic military training was the officers. After the ceremony the highest priority after enlistment. out battalion-level drill, conducted battalion marched down the street to Under the watchful eye of the 38th’s manoeuvres, and practiced their the train station to head to Montreal first regimental sergeant-major, musketry skills at the rifle range. and then, it was believed, to England Warrant Officer Class I William Henry On his first weekend leave Sergeant for training with other Canadian Marsden, the battalion concentrated Church spent part of his pay (he units preparing for service in France on squad, company, and rifle drill received $1.50 a day) on a train trip and Flanders. Final goodbyes to in the small confines of the parade to Orillia, Ontario, to visit a friend, family and friends were said at the ground at the college. There was also Gert Dunham. An awkward moment station, and Church remembered the occasional route march through arose during this visit as a result of his own “mother crying quietly on the snowy streets of Ottawa and, for an army regulation (according to the station platform thinking she Sergeant Church, additional duties Church) that forbid a soldier from would not see her baby again. A lot such as conducting the drill of “C” shaving his upper lip so as not to of mothers and wives who were there Company’s non-combatants (its effect his eyesight didn’t.”11 cooks, batmen, clerks, etc.).8 In Montreal the 38th boarded the By late May the 38th Battalion and in turn effect rifle firing. As a SS Caledonian and began its voyage had recruited to its full strength and result my upper lip was covered down the St. Lawrence River. After moved to Barriefield Camp, near with a dark fuzz as I had matured the ship had passed Quebec City a Kingston, Ontario. The soldiers, late. Gert took one look at it and ceremony was held onboard involving housed in bell tents in the wet and said she would not go out with me Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards and unseasonably cold weather, carried unless I shaved it off. That would be the battalion’s Colour party. The
https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol19/iss1/758 2
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 58 4/15/2010 1:47:48 PM : A “Soldier of the Line” Sergeant John Anderson Church, 38th Battalion, CEF
commanding officer made and was sent to various a speech, gave each of the locations throughout the party’s subalterns a bottle British colony. No.11 of champagne, and each Platoon (Church’s sub- of the warrant officers a unit) was initially stationed large bottle of beer. Church on St. David’s Island at recorded: the east end of Bermuda. The battalion had a rough When it was my turn I had initiation to its tour on just started to say “Sorry, garrison duty, as many of Sir, but I don’t drink.” but the soldiers had gotten sick before I could finish I felt on the journey from Halifax a sharp kick on the side of and a hurricane greeted the my leg as CSM [Company unit’s arrival in Bermuda. Sergeant-Major] Tim Carroll However, the officers and said out of the side of his men soon settled into their mouth “Take it you dam duties and readily adjusted [sic] fool.” There was a roar to the beautiful scenery of of laughter from the crowd the area.14 who had seen my hesitation T h e m a j o r i t y o f and Tim’s kick. Immediately Bermuda’s population [after] the colonel turned his were of African descent back to walk away the bottle and a social separation was snatched out of my hand existed between them as Tim said “Here you are too and the British army and young for that.”12 navy personnel on the islands. This distinction S o o n , a f t e r t h e Highlanders of Ottawa Museum of The Cameron Regimental became apparent to the Caledonian reached the Canadian soldiers in G a s p é P e n i n s u l a , i t several situations. For Jack received reports of German Church the most personal submarines operating near of these occurred when he the Canadian east coast and attempted to go to church in the troopship was forced to the town of St. George one return to port. The battalion Sunday morning. Arriving landed in Lévis, Quebec, at the local Anglican church and encamped in the area at 1000 hours, he followed for the next few days. Then other parishioners inside: the 38th boarded trains for the trip to Halifax, only The service was in the to learn on the way that basement and I sat down at the unit was not going to the rear. It was then I noticed England but to the island that the congregation was all of Bermuda to replace The black and they were turning Royal Canadian Regiment around to give me some on garrison duty. Church hostile stares. Presently two noted: “There was a big row big blacks came up to me. amongst the officers but to “White man you are in the give them credit they kept it wrong place.” “But this is from the other ranks. It was a Christian church?” “Yas as well they did as many were very sir but we don’t want you. You angry at not being sent to France.”13 Sergeant Jack Church during his time go upstairs at 11 o’clock.” They on garrison duty in Bermuda. The 38th Battalion arrived stood there till I got up and went in Bermuda on 12 August 1915, out. Naturally I was too upset to
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2010 59 3
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 59 4/15/2010 1:47:48 PM Canadian Military History, Vol. 19 [2010], Iss. 1, Art. 7
Left: Sergeant Church poses on the primary symbol of the British Empire. Below left: Sergeant Church (left) with some his mates.
go to church that Bullock; overseeing the disciplining morning.15 of soldiers (especially if you were a platoon sergeant like Church); being The 38th’s daily relocated to another camp as the routine consisted battalion’s companies exchanged largely of practicing duties; and training in rifle firing and drill movement s, grenade throwing.17 mounting sentries to Despite their constant activity, watch for German it was all too clear to the men of submarines, patrolling the 38th that they were missing the t h e b e a c h e s , a n d war. Finally, in the spring of 1916 keeping a police- the unit was informed that, having type watch on the completed its training, it would be local population (the going overseas. At the end of May the main occupation of battalion was replaced in Bermuda
Regimental Museum of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Museum of The Cameron Regimental the prewar British by the 163rd Battalion, a French- g a r r i s o n ) . I n t h e language unit formed in Montreal. summer months the The 38th boarded the SS Grampian Canadian soldiers on 29 May for the journey across t y p i c a l l y a w o k e the Atlantic. Compared to the ship at 0600 hours, ate that brought them to Bermuda from breakfast at 0630 Canada, the Grampian was a pleasant hours, practiced drill ride, with bunks and “excellent on the parade ground meals” for the troops. However, in until 0730 hours, hindsight, Jack Church noted: “We practiced more drill all were excited at leaving Bermuda or carried out route but were not in France two weeks marches until 1130 before we were all wishing we were hours, frequented the back there.”18 canteens until lunch Upon arrival in Plymouth on 9 was served at 1230 June the troops disembarked and hours, relaxed in the immediately boarded a train. Despite heat of the afternoon the fact that several of the Canadians until 1600 hours, – themselves railroaders – could not paraded, drilled, and believe the tiny locomotive attached marched some more to the English coaches could pull the until supper at 1700 entire battalion to its destination, the hours, and had free 38th arrived at Camp Borden later time again until “lights that afternoon. Church remembered: out” at 2300 hours. The The driver was standing at the cab cooler days of winter and called out “What have you got to allowed for an 0800 say now Canada?” The next thing we to 1700 hours “work” known Sgts Killarney and Barnhart day.16 Extraordinary were passing their hats around then activities for the stepped up to the driver and gave battalion included him two hats full of pennies. [The being inspected by driver said:] “Thanks, chaps, that the island’s governor will go to the Red Cross. We get a 19 Regimental Museum of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Museum of The Cameron Regimental general, Sir William lot that way.”
https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol19/iss1/760 4
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 60 4/15/2010 1:47:48 PM : A “Soldier of the Line” Sergeant John Anderson Church, 38th Battalion, CEF
The barracks at Camp Borden Camp Number 1, where they spent In late August 1916 the 38th were “very old and dismal, built of the next two days trying to complete Battalion moved around in the area concrete and brick with iron bunks, a “bathing parade” before heading behind the front lines in the Ypres iron straps and straw palliases.” The inland. After being transported close Salient. There the men received rain that met the Canadians’ arrival to the front lines near Poperinghe, further training and spent short did not do much for the camp’s Belgium on the morning of 18 periods of time in the trenches. appearance and a logistical problem August, the battalion marched off Finally, on 30 August, the entire that left the battalion without a hot in the direction of a camp in the St. battalion (less a small group left supper made the situation even Lawrence area. For at least part of the behind) marched forward for a three- worse. However, the men simply battalion, introduction to the war was week period of front-line and support made a meal out of the plentiful rapid. That night, 18 August 1916, trench duties. The soldiers carried out supplies of bread, jam, and tea on “A” and “C” Companies “went into “listening patrols,” formed working hand.20 Church recorded that, after the trenches for instruction.”25 parties, and faced machine gun, about a week in Camp Borden, half Sergeant Church’s combat sniper, and artillery fire. On 23 of the battalion was given five days’ experience began that evening. Sent September the battalion withdrew leave, followed by the other half soon forward to the support trenches from the trenches for the rear.29 The after the first group returned. He in the early afternoon to relieve battalion war diary says very little and five other sergeants pooled their a British regiment, “A” and “C” about casualties during the unit’s first money, went to London and stayed Companies got lost and did not reach real time in the trenches, but a total at the Shaftesbury Hotel where they their destination until 2200 hours. of seven men were killed in action or “had a bed, two to a room, and When they did arrive, the Canadians died from their wounds during the breakfast for five shillings a night – discovered that their trenches were period 30 August to 23 September what a bargain.”21 The six sergeants partly filled with water from two 1916.30 spent their leave visiting the usual straight days of rain. Church had a Remembering this early period sights – the Tower of London, the difficult time sorting out his men and of the 38th Battalion’s battle history Thames River, Piccadilly Circus – and had just gotten them organized when later brought to Jack Church’s going to shows until they ran out of orders were received for his No.11 mind memories of sentry duty, money and returned to camp.22 Platoon to send a three-man patrol repairing trenches, and the dreaded After the leave cycle was into no-man’s-land on a scouting responsibility of occupying an completed the 38th returned to a mission. Church later recounted: observation post at Suicide Corner full training curriculum. Musketry in the town of Kemmel. Memories practice on targets and exercises We crawled along between our of German snipers and artillery, the with live grenades “made it more barbed wire and Fritz’s, scampering unit’s frustration with the Ross rifle, interesting.” Bayonet training was from shell hole to shell hole till we rum rations, cheap cigarettes, and also carried out, accompanied by the knew where his trenches and barbed good and bad variations of food fill advice: “Dont [sic] stick it in more wire was in front of our company. his short memoir. For example, he than four inches or you wont [sic] get Apart from the whine of a few bullets wrote: the bloody thing out in time for the over our heads and a few hand next one.”23 grenades, all misses, nothing much Everyone carried his own mess tin, On 13 August 1916, the soldiers happened.26 knife, fork, spoon, mug and water of the 38th Battalion (now assigned to bottle. Mess tins were cleaned by the 12th Brigade of the 4th Canadian After his return to the 38th’s trenches, wiping out with a handful of dirt then Division) boarded a train for Church and a friend tried to sleep rinsing in a tub or bucket of water Southampton. There they exchanged out in the open on ground sheets, that had a few drops of disinfectent train for troopship, boarding SS the wire bunks in their dugout [sic]. In addition each man had his Archangel. After a wait of two and being submerged in water at the own iron rations that consisted of a a half hours the unit finally set sail time. Despite the shelling, both small tin of bully beef and a hardtack on what was bluntly described in men were “so dog tired we just lay biscuit carried in the corner of the the battalion’s war diary as a “rough there taking our chances and were jacket. In the other corner was sewn a passage, many men sick.”24 Finally soon sound asleep.”27 “A” and “C” first aid kit comprising a small bottle arriving in the coastal city of le Havre Companies returned to the rear area of iodine and a bandage. Hardtack on the morning of 14 August, the the next evening with no report was biscuits about a half inch thick battalion marched to a local holding of casualties or anything else of and three inches square. They were facility, lovingly titled Large Rest particular importance.28 made of coarse flour with bits of
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2010 61 5
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 61 4/15/2010 1:47:48 PM Canadian Military History, Vol. 19 [2010], Iss. 1, Art. 7
war diarist reported: “Enemy shelling at night so intense and close that at Sergeant Church early in his recovery in England after one time it appeared that it would being wounded during the battle for Desire Trench. be necessary to occupy the trenches supplied for shell shelter.” The fall season also brought poor weather in dried meat mixed in. They couldnt the form of heavy rains.32 [sic] be bitten but could be broken On 26 October the battalion with the haft of the bayonet then moved into the front line trenches for placed in your mouth to soften or a nine-day period.33 Church would soften in the tea.31 later write:
In late September 1916 No.11 Platoon was placed in the the battalion, along with front line in a zig-zag trench with the rest of the division, duck boards, a firing step and sand began to move south to bag parapet. In the back of the trench participate in Canadian in each bay was a dugout about 2 operations along the feet above the bottom of the trench Somme front. After topped with sheet irone [sic] and a few days march, covered with about 2 feet of earth. interspersed by It was not much protection but training along the two men could lie down at way, it arrived at a time when off duty. The Tara Hill Camp, network of trenches was on n e a r t h e t o w n a rise and we could look of Albert. The through the peepholes, 38th had arrived through the two sections in the Somme. of our barbed wire to T h e G e r m a n s the German trenches w e l c o m e d t h e below in the valley.34 battalion by shelling it the first night and This tour at the into the next day. For front was very almost two weeks active and, not the 38th was used as surprisingly, quite a reserve battalion. dangerous for the S e r g e a n t C h u r c h men. Twenty-eight mostly remembered soldiers from the sleeping in chicken wire 38th were killed during bunks in a farm’s chicken the nine-day rotation. house and discovering, to his German artillery (including great embarrassment, that his new trench mortars), uniform was infested with lice: a disagreement with the “to my amazement the seams regimental sergeant- were crawling and I didn’t major over a soldier with know I had them. Did I have shell shock, a deadly to take a kidding but worse ration-gathering detail, still, now [that] I was aware repairs to trenches and of it, I started scratching.” The the construction of new battalion provided working trenches, and patrols in no- and funeral parties while man’s-land were among under shellfire for almost the the topics Church would entire period. On 18 October its later describe.35
Regimental Museum of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol19/iss1/762 6
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 62 4/15/2010 1:47:49 PM : A “Soldier of the Line” Sergeant John Anderson Church, 38th Battalion, CEF
After their withdrawal to the back on his feet. He heard someone he later remembered that his “chest rear on 3 November, the Canadians calling for a stretcher bearer. Other was badly swollen and gangarine marched to Bouzincourt, where they soldiers began to strip him of his [sic] had set in. It smelt terrible.” remained for the next two weeks. equipment and tunic and placed On 7 December he was classified as The conditions so far forward were a dressing on his chin that was “seriously ill.”43 Soon after, the young not hospitable. German shelling bleeding profusely. Church wrote: Canadian soldier was operated and aerial bombardment exploded on. Only during his recovery did a French ammunition dump and I saw then a hole plugged with shirt in Church find out exactly what had hit the battalion’s transport lines. the middle of my chest. I remember, happened to him on the morning of Heavy rains only made the situation momentarily, [wondering] why I was 18 November: worse. While the enemy continued still alive after being shot through its activity and Allied artillery my heart but just then I blanked When the shell burst a piece of responded, the battalion participated out. The next thing I knew I was shrapnel about the size of a silver in brigade-level manoeuvres for lying on a stretcher on the side of dollar hit my chin and the bone upcoming operations. At 1230 hours the highway feeling very cold. No deflected it slightly. It then entered on 16 November the 38th was ordered wonder as I was stripped to the my chest but a rib deflected it more to move up to the front line near waist, covered with my greatcoat so that it followed the rib and came Pozières.36 and a wet snow was falling. The out my side. Rather than attempt to The battalion arrived at the front roar of the guns was loud but I was drain it, as gangarine [sic] had set later that afternoon. The weather more concerned with the lorries in the surgeon decided to remove immediately turned colder, freezing and ambulances that whizzed by in the whole chest muscle and hope the ground on the 17th. German the dark with their lights out, some for a skin graft. The size of the raw artillery fire also increased and two missing me by inches. Presently I wound was the same as my right direct hits on the battalion’s transport heard someone say “Here is another” hand including the fingers. About lines caused a great deal of damage and an ambulance stopped and I was a week later a specialist examined and a handful of casualties but, lifted into it.41 it and pronounced it too large for a fortunately, no fatalities.37 Sergeant skin graft and suggested it be left for Church was given command of No.11 Church was taken to a forward crystalization but it would take some Platoon for the upcoming attack. dressing station run by the 11th time. The surgeon drew the jagged The regular platoon commander, Canadian Field Ambulance where edges of my chin wound together as Lieutenant Harold Frederick Hill, was he was examined by a doctor who best he could and sewed it up.44 among the 240 personnel held back at sent him out on another ambulance battalion headquarters “to act as a to the town of Albert. There he On 13 December 1916, almost a nucleus in case the battalion was cut received further treatment and a month after receiving his wound and to pieces and it could be brought back much-appreciated poached egg on after several rounds of treatment, to strength with reinforcements.”38 toast from a Red Cross nurse. Sergeant Church was placed on a Temporarily attached to the 11th hospital ship bound for “Blighty” Canadian Infantry Brigade, the By this time it was about 9.30 am and (England).45 38th Battalion was ordered (like the I began to feel better so was loaded, One day later he arrived in other battalions in the brigade) to with several other stretchers, onto Hastings and was sent to the capture the enemy position known a truck and driven about 20 kilos 1st General Hospital (British) in to the Allies as Desire Trench (and its back to a clearing station. It was a Shoreham-by-Sea, west of Brighton.46 support system) north of the town of rough ride but as far as the Battle of Once his wounds had finally begun Courcelette.39 the Somme was concerned, Sergeant to heal he was transferred to the Sergeant Jack Church never Church was out of it.42 Bearwood Convalescent Hospital saw the launch of the battalion’s near Reading on 27 January 1917. This attack.40 Not long before the attack After approximately one week Canadian military hospital provided was to begin, a German 5.9-inch shell at No.49 Casualty Clearing Station, Church with the opportunity to landed about 15 feet away from his Church boarded a train for No.5 continue his recovery, stroll the well- position. Although he dove for cover General Hospital in Rouen where tended grounds of the estate and as he heard the shell coming in, the he was placed in the “lung ward.” the local village, and play cards. He concussion of the blast knocked him His condition had worsened and and some of the other patients even
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2010 63 7
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 63 4/15/2010 1:47:49 PM Canadian Military History, Vol. 19 [2010], Iss. 1, Art. 7
played a game of field hockey against large bunions. The doctors told me I was home in Canada again. So a local girls’ team for charity: that if I would agree to have them ends my story. Looking back a [taken] out I might be stepped up to few things stand out. My stay They had heard that we played A classification which would let me in the line was comparatively hockey in Canada and thought it rejoin the battalion.”49 short and was not marked by was the field type. Unfortunately I Church agreed to undergo the any conspicuous bravery. Peg’s was one of those detailed to play. operation and was sent to Moore brother Norman fought in several Before the game we were warned Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe. The battles but received only one bullet not to be too hard on the girls as they operation took place on 26 June 1917. scratch. I earned no special medals might get hurt. What a rediculous It did not go particularly well and his nor any promotions, just like my [sic] instruction as we soon found recovery was further impeded when brother Ed but it didnt [sic] bother out. We were very out of condition two of his toes were broken during me as I was thankful to the Good but the girls were not so[.] what they a difficult attempt to calm down a Lord that I was spared. That was did to us was sad. One girl threw me “shell-shocked” patient in the bed enough.52 clean over her hip. The sticks were next to him. After a few days Church curved and flat on one side only was brought before another medical so we couldnt [sic] control the ball review board which further reduced Notes but our shins were black and blue. his medical classification from B2 to B3 It was a poor exhibition on our part because of the problems arising due 1. Attestation Paper, in D.S.C. Mackay but they did raise some money for to complications from his operation. Collection, 38-052, John Anderson Church, Service Records in The Cameron their charity.47 He later noted: “Because of that I Highlanders of Ottawa Regimental would never walk properly again Museum [hereafter D.S.C. Mackay On 16 March 1917, Church and would suffer foot pains for the Collection, 38-052]; Department of Militia and Defence, War Service Gratuity, in was discharged from Bearwood rest of my life. […] My classification Ibid. and taken on the strength of the meant that I would never go back to 2. John Anderson Church, Soldier of the Regimental Depot of the Eastern France and my days as a war soldier Line, March 1973, p.2, in The Cameron 50 Highlanders of Ottawa Regimental Ontario Regiment (a reinforcement were over.” Museum, file A400-0017 unit for the Canadian Corps in the In early July 1917 Church 3. Soldier of the Line, p.2 field) in Seaford the same day. He was posted to the 3rd Canadian 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. remembered being “given ten days Command Depot in Seaford where 6. Ibid. leave and ten pounds and told he remained until April 1918 when 7. Soldier of the Line, pp.2-3; Promotions, to report to the clearing depot at he was given one year’s unpaid Transfers, Discharges, etc. form, in D.S.C. Mackay Collection, 38-052. 48 Seaford.” Sergeant Church spent leave from the Canadian military to 8. Soldier of the Line, pp.3-4. his leave in London and parts of attend the Imperial College of Science 9. Soldier of the Line, p.4. Scotland but came down with enteric and Technology in London on a 10. Soldier of the Line, pp.4-5. 11. Soldier of the Line, pp.5-6. fever while in Glasgow in early April. scholarship. It was during this time 12. Soldier of the Line, pp.6-7. For the next two weeks he recovered that he also met Peg – the woman 13. Soldier of the Line, p.7. 14. Soldier of the Line, p.8. at the 4th Scottish General Hospital who would become his wife. Jack 15. Soldier of the Line, p.9. and was sent back to Bearwood Church finished his course at the 16. Ibid. hospital (on 18 April) instead of college in June 1919 and he and Peg 17. Soldier of the Line, pp.11-12. 18. Soldier of the Line, pp.12-13. the depot at Seaford. At Bearwood were married on 8 July in Seaford. 19. Soldier of the Line, p.13. he was examined by a medical Not wishing to return to school that 20. Ibid. board composed of three doctors fall, Church put his uniform back on, 21. Ibid. 22. Soldier of the Line, p.14 who classified his health as “B2,” went to work at the War Office and 23. Ibid. a rating which would only allow waited to be repatriated to Canada. 24. War Diary (WD), 38th Battalion, 13 him to return to France in a rear He and his British war bride landed August 1916, in National Archives of Canada (NAC), Record Group (RG) 9, area occupation. He later wrote: “If in Quebec City aboard SS Montcalm Series III D 3, vol. 4938 I was returning to France I wanted on 11 November 1919. One day later 25. WD, 38th Battalion, 14-18 August 1916, to rejoin the [38th] battalion and he was discharged from the Canadian in Ibid. 26. Soldier of the Line, pp.14-15 get my commission. Unfortunately, Expeditionary Force “by reason of 27. Soldier of the Line, p.15 whether it was dur [sic] to army demobilization.”51 He ended his 28. WD, 38th Battalion, 19 August 1916. 29. WD, 38th Battalion, 21-23 August 1916. boots or the high crowned roads of memoirs: 30. 38th Battalion CEF Association, France, I had developed a pair of “Master Personnel List for the 38th
https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol19/iss1/764 8
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 64 4/15/2010 1:47:49 PM : A “Soldier of the Line” Sergeant John Anderson Church, 38th Battalion, CEF
Canadian Infantry Battalion, Canadian cost and brutality of 18 November 1916, 46. Casualty Form – Active Service, in D.S.C. Expeditionary Force”, in The Cameron for the battalion likely left the writer Mackay Collection, 38-052; Service Highlanders of Ottawa Regimental little opportunity and, possibly, little Record, in Ibid. Museum, file A400-0007 desire to provide many details about 47. Soldier of the Line, pp.26-29; Service 31. Soldier of the Line, pp.15-18 what happened that day. The 38th and Record, in D.S.C. Mackay Collection, 38- 32. WD, 38th Battalion, 23 September to 25 87th Battalions were entirely successful, 052. October 1916; Soldier of the Line, p.19 capturing their portions of Desire Trench 48. Soldier of the Line, p.31; Service Record, 33. WD, 38th Battalion, 26 October to 3 and its support trench and moving on to in D.S.C. Mackay Collection, 38-052; November 1916. the next line, Grandcourt Trench, where Casualty Form – Active Service, in Ibid. 34. Soldier of the Line, p.20 they set up machine gun positions and 49. Soldier of the Line, pp.31-33; Service 35. Soldier of the Line, pp.20-22 took numerous German prisoners. Record, in D.S.C. Mackay Collection, 38- 36. WD, 38th Battalion, 3-16 November 1916. Unfortunately, their success was not 052. 37. WD, 38th Battalion, 16-17 November 1916. matched elsewhere and both Canadian 50. Soldier of the Line, pp.33-35; Medical 38. Soldier of the Line, p.23 units were forced to retreat to Desire History of an Invalid, in D.S.C. Mackay 39. G.W.L. Nicholson, Canadian Expeditionary Trench. In total, the 38th suffered 101 Collection, 38-052; Service Record, in Ibid. Force 1914-1919 (Ottawa, 1964), pp.192- officers and men killed and 104 wounded 51. Soldier of the Line, pp.35-36; Casualty 196 (several of whom later died from their Form – Active Service, in D.S.C. Mackay 40. The attack on Desire Trench began at 0610 wounds) on the morning of 18 November. Collection, 38-052; Service Record, hours on the morning of 18 November. (38th Battalion CEF Association, in Ibid.; Department of Militia and On the right flank of the 38th was the “Master Personnel List for the 38th Defence, War Service Gratuity, in Ibid.; 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Canadian Infantry Battalion, Canadian Canadian Expeditionary Force, Discharge Guards), on the left flank the East Surrey Expeditionary Force”; Nicholson, p.196). Certificate, in Ibid. Regiment. The war diarist recorded: 41. Soldier of the Line, p.23. 52. Soldier of the Line, pp.35-36. “All battalions obtained their objective. 42. Soldier of the Line, pp.23-24; Casualty Large list of casualties. Snow early in the Form – Active Service, in D.S.C. Mackay morning, later turning to rain. Albert & Collection, 38-052. Ken Reynolds is an historian with the vicinity of Transport Lines untroubled 43. Soldier of the Line, p.24; Casualty Form Directorate of History and Heritage, by enemy shelling or aeroplanes. Desire – Active Service, in D.S.C. Mackay Department of National Defence. His Trench occupied.” (WD, 38th Battalion, Collection, 38-052; Service Record, in Ibid. duties as the Assistant Canadian Forces 18 November 1916.) The war diary’s 44. Soldier of the Line, pp.24-25. Heritage Officer involve research and description of the 38th Battalion’s first 45. Soldier of the Line, p.25; Casualty Form writing in a wide variety of areas in offensive action does little to convey – Active Service, in D.S.C. Mackay Canada’s military heritage. what actually happened. To be fair, the Collection, 38-052.
The Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men of the 38th “Ottawa” Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
Ken Reynolds
or more than a decade now I have been slowly between its landing in France on 13 August 1916 F– very, very slowly – researching and writing and the Armistice of 11 November 1918. During a book-length history of the 38th “Ottawa” this time the 38th Battalion suffered nearly 800 Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed in action, died of wounds, (CEF). The 38th Battalion, CEF, was formed or died of disease. Almost 2,000 members starting at the end of 1914 in the nation’s were otherwise wounded, raising the total capital and throughout Eastern casualty count for the battalion Ontario. During the course of to an average of nearly three out its existence the battalion carried of every four men who served out garrison duty in Bermuda in the unit, a ratio probably quite before serving in France and common to front-line infantry Flanders as part of the 12th units. Approximately 300 members Canadian Infantry Brigade, 4th of the battalion were presented Canadian Division. Nearly 4,000 with British, French, Belgian, and officers, non-commissioned officers, Russian honours and awards. Such and men served with the battalion sacrifices and accomplishments were
Published© Canadian by Scholars Military Commons History @, Laurier,Volume 2010 19, Number 1, Winter 2010, pp.65-68. 65 9
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 65 4/15/2010 1:47:50 PM Canadian Military History, Vol. 19 [2010], Iss. 1, Art. 7 Regimental Museum of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Museum of The Cameron Regimental
recognized, years later, through the individual members of the 38th the battalion’s perpetuation by The Above: The 38th Battalion at the Battalion, too much for use in a unit- Rockcliffe training area in May 1915. Ottawa Regiment (The Duke of level historical narrative. Someday, Cornwall’s Own) (now The Cameron Below: “A” Company, 38th Battalion, I’m hoping to research and write a on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, in 1915 Highlanders of Ottawa) and through collective biography of the officers, the awarding of sixteen battle non-commissioned officers, and
honours. All in all, I think everyone As my research has progressed men of the 38th – a volume two to courtesy of Michel Litalien. Photo can agree that it’s a history worthy of over the years I have come across the battalion history, if you will. being remembered. a large amount of information on Unfortunately, the completion of Directorate of History and Heritage Directorate
https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol19/iss1/766 10
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 66 4/15/2010 1:47:52 PM : A “Soldier of the Line” Sergeant John Anderson Church, 38th Battalion, CEF
such a project is undoubtedly a long conscription, service details, burial I expect that it will take me years, if way off in my future. details (if necessary), information not a couple of decades, to complete That said, in November 2006 I on honours and awards, and any that research. (I never said this was had a brainwave. Well, at least I think available postwar information a short term project). In addition to it was. I had already been working constitute the bulk of each entry. the personnel records, there are other on a Canadian military history The entries are not particularly documents and collections I want to blog, The Cannon’s Mouth
Unidentified members of the 38th Battalion, CEF.
of the 38th Battalion? Think blog ledger of the postwar 38th Battalion updated. Errors can be corrected. No as mini-encyclopaedia. The result, Association, a similar document entry is ever meant to be considered Soldiers of the 38th <38thbattalion. from the archives of the Canadian “closed” or “final”. blogspot.com>, is, as I’ve written War Museum, burial details from the As I write this piece the number on its masthead, an “attempt at website of the Commonwealth War of entries on my blog recently an ongoing mass biography of the Graves Commission, and various passed 1,800 names. Only 2,200 or officers and men of the 38th Battalion, other archival, online, and published so to go! The process so far has been Canadian Expeditionary Force, materials. Information found on very rewarding. It’s forcing me to during the First World War.” an individual’s military personnel think about aspects of the various T h e f o r m a t i s p r e t t y record held at Library and Archives subject matters involved – collective straightforward – one entry (blog Canada has been used to flush out biography, honours and awards, post) per individual member of the a handful of entries, something that the history of the battalion, etc. – in battalion. Background information, requires a pre-planned trip to the different ways. For example, how
Directorate of History and Heritage Directorate personal and medical data collected archives. Such visits have been few many personnel were available at the time of enlistment or and far between for me of late and for use by the 38th on a given day
Published by Scholars Commons @ Laurier, 2010 67 11
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 67 4/15/2010 1:47:53 PM Canadian Military History, Vol. 19 [2010], Iss. 1, Art. 7
Top left: Major William Stewart Wood, DSO, in battle gear. Left: Unidentified member of the 38th Battalion, CEF. Above: The presentation of the and how experienced were they? King’s Colours to the 38th Battalion, How did the battalion receive Parliament Hill, in 1915. reinforcements and from what units and at what times? What were the “national” origins, backgrounds, and previous military experiences of the 38th’s personnel? Is it just me, or where there a lot of conscripts in the battalion’s ranks (approximately ten percent of the total so far)? The work on the blog has also – and I had hoped for this from the very beginning – led to e-mails of the individual through his family. from numerous family members of The latter helps me to flush out the individuals I’ve written about the information in the entry and so far (and even some I haven’t got to eventually write the collective to yet). Sometimes I’ve been able to biography. provide these family members with In the end, this project permits extra information or answer their me an opportunity to pay homage questions, at other times the family to these men – those who died, those has been able to provide me with who otherwise suffered wounds of additional information, imagery, body or mind or both, and those who and documentation. The former served their King and country for a provides me with an opportunity to few days or five years. That, honestly, give something back to the memory makes it all worthwhile.
https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol19/iss1/768 12
Reynolds - A Soldier of the Line.indd 68 4/15/2010 1:47:54 PM