A prequel to "Always" RMS Titanic/WWI AU. A more in-depth look into the Battle of Vimy Ridge (9th April 1917 - 12th April 1917).
(Started): October 2019
(Completed): 13/11/19
Tuesday 21st November 1916 Ajax, Toronto, Canada NARRATOR'S POV
We're now two years into The Great War, so far a lot of casualties have occurred because it's been three days since the Battle of the Somme in France ended on the 18th, so that's the wounded and dead coming back home from the frontline. Deryck had signed up to the Canadian Corps on Sunday, so now we're just waiting for the letter to arrive to say that he's been recruited by the Corps and help them in any battles that may arise any time soon. Luckily, a few hours later his letter of recruitment arrived and informed him that he has been recruited by the Corps, it also mentions that he'll be deployed in a place called Nord-Pas-de-Calais in France at a location called Vimy Ridge and he'll be there for four months to train for the battle that's occurring on Easter Monday of next year, 9th April 1917. Furthermore, it mentions that if he should be injured or killed it would be ideal for me to go with him, so I can be contacted quicker and it would save one of the messengers from needing to travel from France to Canada to tell me the devastating news of the inevitable, we will be living with the rest of the troops at the Corps Headquarters but when they're either training or in battle, the soldiers will be sleeping rather rough in the trenches unfortunately. We have to leave for Nord-Pas-de-Calais on Friday and we will be arriving by ship on 30th November, now all we have to do is find out which ship is taking us there in the first place, I will have to look at the timetables to know. The ship that will be taking us to Nord-Pas-de-Calais is the Canadian Pacific Liner, RMS Empress of Russia who will be arriving in Lake Ontario on Friday to take us on the week long voyage to France.
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ATTESTATION PAPER CANADIAN OVER-SEAS EXPEDITIONARY FORCE QUESTIONS TO BE PUT BEFORE ATTESTATION (ANSWERS)
What is your surname? WHIBLEY
What are your Christian names? DERYCK JASON
What is your present address? AJAX, ONT.
In what Town, Township, or Parish and in what Country were you born? SCARBOROUGH, ONT. CANADA
What is the name of your next-of-kin? HANNAH WHIBLEY
What is the address of your next-of-kin? AJAX, ONT. CANADA
What is your relationship of your next-of-kin? WIFE
What is your date of birth? MARCH 21st 1891
What is your Trade of Calling? MUSICIAN
Are you married? YES
Do you now belong in the Active Militia? NO
Have you ever served in any Military Force? NO
Do you understand the nature and terms of your engagement? YES
Are you willing to be attested to serve in the CANADIAN OVER-SEAS EXPEDITIONARY FORCE? YES
DECLARATION TO BE MADE BY MAN ON ATTESTATION
I, DERYCK WHIBLEY do solemnly declare the above answers made by me to the above questions and that they are true and that I am willing to fulfil the engagements by me now made, and I hereby engage and agree to serve in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force, and to be attached to any arm of the service therein, for the term of one year, or during the war now existing between Great Britain and Germany should that war last longer than one year, and for six months after the termination of that war provided His Majesty should no longer require my services, or until legally discharged.
Date: Nov. 19, 1916
OATH TO BE TAKEN BY MAN ON ATTESTATION
I, DERYCK WHIBLEY do make Oath, that I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to His Majesty King George the Fifth, His Heirs and Successors, and that I will as in duty bound honestly and faithfully defend His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, in Person, Crown and Dignity, against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, and all the Generals and Officers set over me. So help me God.
CERTIFICATE OF MAGISTRATE
The Recruit above-named was cautioned by me that if he made any false answer to the above questions he would be liable to be punished as provided in the Army Act. The above questions were then read to the Recruit in my presence. I have taken care that he understands each question, and that his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to, and the said Recruit has made and signed the declaration and taken the oath before me, at the TORONTO RECRUITMENT OFFICE this 19th day of November 1916.
