June 1917: Diary of George Edmund Thorpe

June 4: Enemy plane flew over our lines dropping bombs, one of which landed 50 yards from my dugout.
June 8: Big raid by 3rd and 4th Canadian Division on enemy trenches which was very successful our objectives reached on time.
June 12: Major General Sir A.W. Currie KCMG, CB, takes over command of Canadian Corps.
June 14: I visited the town of Arras today. Everything has been smashed by the bombardment. The beautiful Cathedral and all the important buildings are a mass of ruins. On my way back to our billets I lost my way and landed in Petite Vimy.
June 17: Got letters from Home today. I learned foe first time that Jack Huron had died of wounds, May 9th.
June 26: 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions gained all their objectives in a raid on the enemy trenches. Our battalion working in conjunction had a man killed.

George Edmund Thorpe fond, 1915-1919, 1993. "Diary of Military Service" George Edmund Thorpe, Orderly Room Sergeant with the 123rd Pioneer Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and subsequently Lieutenant, Canadian Engineers. 

Found! Pte. Archibald Jefferies (1895-1918)

I'm taking a detour from Jack to talk about another relative of mine. I discovered him a few days ago, by chance, while researching my great-grandmother, Edith Jefferies Coxwell. This was her older brother, Archibald James Jefferies, who fought and died with the Australian Imperial Force on the Western Front.

Archibald Jefferies was born in London England in 1895 to Thomas Edwin and Liz Jefferies. A trained Butcher, Archibald immigrated to Sydney Australia in 1913 and eventually settled in Walaroy, Kelso, New South Wales. On January 22 1916, feeling loyal to the country of his birth and his adopted one, Archibald enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force.

On April 14 1916, Archibald embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic. Arriving in England in June, Archibald was admitted to the hospital due to illness. In September 1916, Archibald was assigned to the Headquarters of the AIF depot, where a month latter he was again sent to hospital for illness.

On February 25, 1917, Archibald was charged with absenting himself without leave from 12-2-1917 to 20-2-1917. He was sentenced to 18 days Field Punishment #2 and forefiture of 21 days pay. F.P. #2 was similar to F.P. #1, except the soldier was not attached to a fixed object, just shackled.

After months of more training another stint in the hospital (with scabies) Archibald was eventually assigned to the 45th Battalion and posted to France in March 1918. During this time period the AIF was engaged fighting off the German offensive of that Spring. Archibald and the 45th Battalion stayed in the Somme region through the late Spring and early Summer.

On June 16 1918, the 45th Battalion was in the lines near Daours. That afternoon a German barrage shelled the trenches were C Company was located. 10 soldiers were wounded, 1, Archibald, was killed. He was buried in Daours Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot III, Row C, Grave No. 40.)

Pte. Archibald Jefferies, 45th Battalion AIF, found after 92 years.

Service Record courtesy of the National Archives of Australia.

Some Found Pictures

Jack and Alma, another wedding photo

 Jack with my Grandad, 1920. Compare this picture with the one taken in 1915, Jack looks like over 10 years older then he should.

Jack, later in life, with 48th Highlanders of Canada RSM

Jack and Alma, 1940's

May 1917: The Diary of George Edmund Thorpe

May 1st: Some excitement today caused by the explosion of an old French ammunition dump in our lines.

May 2nd: Seen aeroplane flew over our lines today and dropped several bombs. There were several causalities.

May 3rd: Enemy plan flew over lines very low, but was driven off by our a.a and M.G. fore.

May 15th: Was in the 20th lines tonight. Met Bill Long and had quite a chat with him. The weather continues fine.

May 20th: Heard today that Troopship "Camerinia" which we came over from Canada had been sunk by a submarine in the Mediterranean.

May 31st: Moved from Maision Blanche to a point near Nerville St Vaas.

George Edmund Thorpe fond, 1915-1919, 1993. "Diary of Military Service" George Edmund Thorpe, Orderly Room Sergeant with the 123rd Pioneer Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and subsequently Lieutenant, Canadian Engineers. 

The Diary of George Edmund Thorpe: 123rd Battalion CEF (April 1917)

I know I said I was done updating this blog but I feel after all most a year of looking back there is still more to write about Jack. Digging through Archives Canada, I found the Diary of George Edmund Thorpe, 123rd Battalion CEF. I was quite excited to get copies of this as I have yet to find, besides the 123rd War Diaries, primary documentation surrounding the battalion. The diary dates back to 1916 but I've decided to start in April 1917. Many thanks to Archives Canada for making such documentation available to the general public.

April 1917

April 3rd: Strong [eligible] on wind and rain raged all the night of the 2nd and morning of the 3rd. Making the condition very miserable.

April 8th: Official word received that-United States-has declared war on GERMANY.Big operation on our part of the front night of April 8 and morning of 9th. Numbers of prisoners are being brought in by our men and a big advance is officially reported on this section. Managed to get a couple of souvenirs from some of the prisoners in exchange for a little grub. A shoulder strap from the 262nd Reserves and 3rd Bavarians. Buttons from 263rd Reserves and a German 5 [eligible] piece, all of which I mailed home. Vimy Ridge captured by the Canadians, Apl 9th at 530am.

April 15: Most of the Toronto Battalion came out of the line for a rest today and I was very pleased to see that the majority of old 123rd fellows came thru the scrap ok. Met Bill Long, who was fine.

April 20: Battalion moved from Bois de Alleaux to Maision Blance a point about 5 miles further on. Battalion HQ are in a dugout 40 feet underground which was originally a chalk mine, having been made habitable by the French when they occupied the trenches at this point. Confirmed in rank to Sergeant.

Prisoners taken by Canadians Corps Apl 9 1917
72 officers, 3063 men
7"           "  496 "      "
Total 79       3559




George Edmund Thorpe fond, 1915-1919, 1993. "Diary of Military Service" George Edmund Thorpe, Orderly Room Sergeant with the 123rd Pioneer Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and subsequently Lieutenant, Canadian Engineers.

After thinking about this a lot I've decided to end this blog. I feel like I have said what I wanted to say about my great-grandfather, his life and the war he fought in. I'll leave you know with the poem, "A Common Soldier" by Larry Vaincourt as I feel this captures Jack and his generation's experiences.

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,

In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,

All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,

And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,

For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.

Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,

And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,

While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,

But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land

A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,

Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives

Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.

While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,

Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,

That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know

It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,

Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?

Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend

His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part

Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,

Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,

Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

Alma Dowe 1985

I found a photo of my great-grandmother Alma while I was at home. From 1985 it is of Alma, my cousin and I.