Archie Wills - My Life in the Army, Volume 03
Creators: name: Wills, Archie H. (Archibald Henry), 1892-1988
Publisher: name: University of Victoria Libraries
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Military training camps
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021543
subject: Military education
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021108
subject: Soldiers' writings
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125350
subject: Military hygiene
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021265
subject: Soldiers--Conduct of life
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125249
subject: Transports
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1155410
subject: Recruiting and enlistment
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1091944
subject: Soldiers--Health and hygiene
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125269
subject: Canada. Canadian Army
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/531187
subject: Military camps
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1021054
subject: Soldiers
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125233
subject: Soldiers--Attitudes
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125239
subject: World War (1914-1918)
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1180746
subject: War diaries
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1745536
subject: Soldiers--Social conditions
valueUri: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1125310

description: The third of eight diaries written by Archie Wills during World War I. The diary covers the period of his departure from Petawawa, Ontario, his training period at Witley camp and Lark Hill camp in England. On September 8th 1916 Wills leaves with his comrades by train and travels East through Montreal. Here, he notices poverty conditions and language barriers between English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians. The journey continues through New Brunswick, and finally to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Wills’ birthday on September 11th takes place during the travel. On September 13th the Cameronia leaves for England, along with the troopships Northland, Scandinavian and Megantic. Wills shares his cabin with Kelly, Orwell and Mason. Within the first two days, the men get sea-sick and many chose to sleep on deck as a result many are sick with colds and coughs, but the cold on deck is preferable to the smell below board. On September 21st the ships are met by 6 destroyers to take them separately to their destination. Wills describes the first sighting of land as they see the North Coast of Ireland and the Isle of Man, arriving in Liverpool on the evening of September 22nd, where the soldiers board the L. N.W. train. The train stops at Milford, from where the soldiers walk to Witley camp. During their first day at the camp, Wills and his comrades explore the nearby town of Godalming. During the following two nights the men are disturbed by Zeppelin raids. From September 29th to October 12th Wills travels to London and visits relatives in Devonport. Back at Witley camp, Wills partakes in a rugby game and sprains his ankle. He spends the days until October 25th in Witley’s hospital, but is then transferred to Bramshott hospital, where he stays until November 10th. The next weeks are spent with gun drills, exercises, training, cleaning the stables and caring for the horses. On November 20th Wills started a map reading course. As the weather is increasingly cold and wet, many of the soldiers are sick with influenza. The alternations between freezing temperatures and rain take a toll on the men’s health and by December 2nd the brigade encountered two deaths. On January 10th 1917, Wills arrives at the Lark Hill camp in the Salisbury Plain, and approximately 60,000 troops are stationed, amongst them Australians, Imperial [?] and [?]. By January 21st Wills and his comrades learn that their battalion will be divided to join the 58th and the 51st. From January 23rd to February 3rd Wills is appointed mess marker [?] for the 58th. By February, the men have not taken a bath for weeks as it is too cold. People mentioned include: Mason, Bowden, Innes, Hamcock, Kelly, Webb, Lomas, Lord Perry; Relatives: Uncles Harry, Mark, Fred, Charlie, Cousins Edith, Roland, Louise, Marjorie, Winnie, Dollie, Aunts Mary, Pollie.