Prisoners of War
Private Jim Dunn, 10th Canadian Infantry Battalion (The Fighting Tenth) wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Kitcheners’ Wood, 22 April 1915.
Jim a single stenographer by trade, his brother William Fred Dunn resided at 509-16th Avenue, Calgary, Alberta.
Private Jim Dunn 20471, previous service with 103rd Calgary Rifles, enlisted 24 September 1914 in Valcartier, Quebec. Jim stood 5′ 4″ tall, 135 pounds, with medium complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.
10th Battalion
Organized in Valcartier Camp in September 1914 and composed of recruits from Calgary and Winnipeg. Initially commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Russel Lambert Boyle. Left Quebec 29 September 1914 aboard SS SCANDINAVIAN. Disembarked in England 14 October 1914 with a strength of 43 officers, 1051 other ranks.
Jim forfeits 7 days pay at King Plantation on 10 January 1915.
France
Private Jim Dunn and the 10th Battalion disembarked in France 7 February 1915 with the 1st Canadian Division, 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade and later reinforced by 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
On Thursday, 22 April 1915, the 10th Battalion in divisional reserve for three days, billeted in Ypres. A large storied warehouse alongside the canal. The 10th just spent 5 days in the grueling trenches at Gravenstafel.
At 3 pm C Company moved to a large farm about a mile and a half north of Ypres. The men established in the barns and six officers occupying two rooms in one farmhouse. A heavy cannonading commenced to the north and east. There appeared a great greenish, yellowish cloud of smoke blowing towards the battalion from three miles away.
First Gas Attack
When the gas reached the 10th Battalion, the men could smell hydrochloric acid, and their eyes began to smart and run water. Refugees had already been streaming by for half an hour. The French troops came pouring across the fields at the same time.
The 10th stood to arms and marched southward a few hundred yards and took up position along a low ridge commanding a good field of fire over the enemy. It was now 6 pm.
The battalion order to proceed to the cross roads north side of Ypres at 7 pm, where the battalion would then proceed east on the Ypres-Poelcapelle road as far as Wieltje. All the time, under heavy shellfire.
The 10th took up position in reserve trenches east of Wieltje, and additional ammunition, 200 rounds, provided to the men. Shrapnel and rifle fire coming from the left.
After darkness, the battalion marched 500 yards to a farm on the left, where they found the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish). An officer’s conference held, and finally orders received to clear a large wood, only 500 yards to the right which the enemy held.
The Battle of Kitchener’s Wood
The 10th Battalion accorded the honour of leading the attack upon the enemy just before midnight. C and A companies in the front rank, single file, with B and D companies in the rear at 30 paces. The second wave accorded to the 16th Battalion.
Lieutenant Colonel Russel Lambert Boyle
The final instructions by Colonel Boyle who walked up and down the front lines. Clear the enemy and rally again on the other side of the wood. A battery sprinkled the wood about a half hour prior to the advance.
The advance commenced, and everything went well, not a German was spotted. Then, all hell broke loose 75 yards from the wood. Everyone dropped to the ground to ascertain where the torrent of rifle and machine gun was coming from.
Up and At Them
With a yell and a roar, the men got up and moved forward. Twenty five yards short of the wood, a German trench encountered where those not bayoneted ran back into the wood. By this time the men of the 16th had joined the fray and the men dashed through the woods, but soon came back to occupy the trench as the Germans now throwing up flares.
German prisoners interrogated, and the location of a German redoubt established. As the men advance on the redoubt, the clear, loud voice of Major McLaren heard rallying the 10th Battalion.
At ’em Canadians
Bombers initially fail to reach the redoubt protected by machine guns. By now, both McLaren and Boyle wounded. The men assemble for another attack, and in a relatively short time, the wood cleared. Prisoners, including a Colonel reveal 4,000 to 5,000 Germans had been routed.
Punching above their weight, two battalions of the Canadian Corps have managed to convince an entire German division an equal force opposes them. German High Command halts the advance, and ultimately, Ypres remains under Allied control.
Few battles of the Great War would change the outcome. The Battle of Vimy Ridge accomplished nothing, as did the Second Battle of Passchendaele. The Battle of Kitchener’s Wood averted the fall of Ypres. The Germans would have then reached the sea, cutting off the B.E.F., and the Allies would have agreed to peace terms.
The Greatest Act of the War
When the war was over, Marshal Ferdinand Foch, the Allied Supreme Commander, would state that the assault on Kitcheners’ Wood by the Canadians was the greatest act of the war.
On 16 October 1915, Private Jim Dunn officially reported as a POW. Now known Jim wounded on 22 April 1915, with bullet wounds to his right cheek and neck. Jim soon recovers, but serves a total of 44 months as POW.
Outdoor portrait of three Australian and nine Canadian Prisoners of War (POW) at Stuttgart POW camp, Germany. Australians are, standing on far left 969 Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) Robert Johnston, 32nd Battalion, from Victoria Park, Western Australia; standing second from left, 2786 Corporal (Cpl) Arthur Donald Bowen, 54th Battalion, from Sydney, NSW; and standing on far right, 1611 Private (Pte) James Butler, 32nd Battalion, from Subiaco, Western Australia.
Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) Robert Johnston
L/Cpl Johnston enlisted at the age of 22 on 12 July 1915. Embarked for overseas on 18 November 1915 aboard HMAT Geelong. His parents told killed in action. But, they later received a post card from him from a POW camp in Germany. Wounded and captured at Fleurbaix, France, on 19 July 1916 and held until repatriated to England on 19 December 1918. L/Cpl Johnston arrived back in Australia on 15 June 1919.
Corporal (Cpl) Arthur Donald Bowen
Cpl Bowen enlisted at the age of 26 on 26 June 1915. Embarked for overseas on 30 September 1915 aboard HMAT Argyllshire. Captured at Fleurbaix, France on 18 July 1916. In Germany until repatriated to England via Holland, arriving on 18 November 1918. He wrote from Stuttgart POW camp on 1 January 1918.
All the new arrivals of the Australians in this camp have received most of their parcels as we have had a big delivery of parcels that have been delayed on the way, on account of their being moved about so much. We all enjoyed our Christmas with our concerts etc, which the new arrivals enjoyed very much. Their first treat to a ‘Sing-Song’ since captured.
Cpl Bowen arrived back in Australia on 17 April 1919.
Private (Pte) James Butler
Pte Butler enlisted on 13 September 1915 and embarked for overseas on 18 November 1915 aboard HMAT Geelong. Captured on 18 July 1916 and held in German POW camps until the end of 1917 when exchanged through Switzerland. Wrote on 29 November 1917 from Hotel Berthod, Chateau d’Oex Switzerland.
“I was eight weeks waiting at Konstanz to be exchanged. We had some starvation while waiting. We got a grand reception here. In fact we had four as we got one at Zurich, at Berne, at Montreux and here and it was grand after Germany.”
He arrived in London in December 1918 and embarked to return to Australia in March 1919.
Private Jim Dunn spends time in a variety of camps. Including 111 Coy, 1 Gefangenen Battalion, Meschede, Giessen (20-10-15), Cellelager (03-04-16), Langemoor (31-08-16), and finally Soltau (03-03-17).
Soltau
Prisoners of War (POW) at German POW Camp Soltau in Hannover Germany participating in a rehearsal for a stage play. The X marked on photograph identifies 6736 Private (Pte) Matthew Watson Finlay, 13th Battalion, from Sydney NSW. Pte Finlay enlisted on 10 June 1916 and embarked for overseas on 8 November 1916 aboard SS Port Nicholson. Captured at Riencourt, France on 11 April 1917 and held as a POW until repatriated to England on 26 December 1918. Pte Finlay arrived back in Australia on 17 April 1919.
Prisoners of War (POW) at German POW camp Bad Colberg. One POW identified as 3963 Private (Pte) John McWilliams, 48th Battalion from Perth Western Australia possibly sitting in centre back row. The POW sitting in front on left has an Australian cap badge and the rank of Corporal.
Private (Pte) John McWilliams
Pte McWilliams enlisted on 24 August 1915 and embarked for overseas on 22 December 1915 aboard HMAT Ajana. Captured at Bullecourt, France on 11 April 1917. Upon release and return to England in December 1918 he reported as follows.
My Battalion, in the attack at Bullecourt, on the morning of 11/4/17 had to pass through the 46th Battalion. Who were to take and hold the Enemy first line. We were to advance further and secure the enemy second line. Just after passing through the 46th Battalion, I was hit in the back by an explosive bullet. I also received a bullet in the right thigh.
My wound put me completely out of action. I crawled into a hole and lay there till about midday when the Germans captured me. After passing through minor dressing stations near the line, I was put into hospital at Verdan a/Aller. Where I remained from 15/4/17 to 31/7/17. Then I was shifted to Soltau where I remained till 24/8/17 when I was sent as servant to an Officers’ Lager at Strohen.
I was for five months at Strochen. But, when the Officers were shifted to Bad Colberg, I went with them and was at Bad Colberg when I was finally released. I crossed to Enschede in Holland with the Officers. And then from Rotterdam to Hull by the SS “Acorington”, arriving 30/12/18.
Pte McWilliams embarked to return to Australia in March 1919.
Freedom
Postcard of a Dutch woman and girl “at the seashore” in Holland (The Netherlands) sent to the Australian Red Cross in London by 5385 Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) Arnold Blaston Mason, 14th Field Company Engineers, from Cremorne, NSW, while interned as a Prisoner of War (POW) in Holland.
Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) Arnold Blaston Mason
L/Cpl Mason enlisted at the age of 30 on 29 October 1915 and embarked for overseas with the 7th Field Company Engineers on 17 December 1915 aboard HMAT Berrima. We wounded and captured at Laventie, France on 20 July 1916 and held as a POW in Germany until repatriated to Holland on 13 June 1918. While at a POW camp in Soltau, Germany, he wrote on 20 December 1917.
At the time of my capture one of my wounds was shrapnel between the eyes and it has been troubling me for some time. The doctor says that I am suffering from neuralgia of the eyes caused by the wound and has recommended me to wear dark glasses but they are not giving me any relief.
L/Cpl Mason arrived in England on 18 November 1918 and arrived back in Australia on 4 March 1919.
Private Jim Dunn returns to England
Private Jim Dunn granted leave from 25 December 1918 to 28 January 1919. Perhaps during this time he marries Isabella Dunn of 81 Whalley Road, Lancashire, England.
Dunn embarked Liverpool on 11 July 1919, and disembarked in Quebec on 18 July 1919.
ToS Quebec Depot Clearing Services Command, 23 July 1919, and immediately SoS.
Centenary
On 22 April 2015, the medal set of Private Jim Dunn, accompanied by his grandson, at the dinner held by Mr Ignace Bentien on the site of the Battle of Kitchener’s Wood.
