CHAPTER ONE: THE SIGN-UP
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 six 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.
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 the Active Militia? NO
Have you ever served in any Military Force? NO
Do you understand the nature 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.
CHAPTER TWO: BOARDING THE RMS EMPRESS OF RUSSIA
Tuesday 21st November 1916
Ajax, Toronto, Canada
NARRATOR'S POV
We're now boarding the Empress of Russia to make our way to Nord-Pas-de-Calais where we'll be arriving on 30th November as I previously mentioned, I have managed to get tickets for the both of us for this week long voyage they cost C159.78 (48.78) altogether. Because we're in the middle of a war I am excited to be going to another country, but I'm concerned for the both of us since we're going to be entering a war zone in a week's time. Since Deryck's conscription three days ago, I've been mentally preparing myself for the inevitable which I wouldn't be surprised about because we are at war with Germany. Since boarding the Empress of Russia I have discovered that there is also other Corps troops heading to France, along with our friends Dave and Jay who have also been called up and have enlisted to take part in the war effort so they're onboard the ship too, heading to the same location as we are.
THURSDAY 30th NOVEMBER 1916, A WEEK LATER...
We've now arrived in Nord-Pas-de-Calais where the Battle of Vimy Ridge will be taking place in four months and eight days. Now that we've docked at Dunkirk Harbour, we have to find the headquarters for the Canadian Corps which I'm guessing would be situated somewhere near the frontline at the Ridge, where the infantry troops will be fighting pretty soon. Within the Canadian Corps there are four divisions and many different battalions, so for Deryck, Dave and Jay they're in the Toronto Regiment, 3rd Battalion which is one of the battalions within their division. After locating and arriving at the Corps headquarters, the senior officer of the 4th Division Major-General David Watson approaches the four of us and introduces himself to us, he then starts to give us all a tour of the headquarters. I don't think he's took any notice of why I'm here yet, I know that women are allowed to be here if they're a nurse but I'm not, so why Watson hasn't took any acknowledgement to that fact I don't know. With the upcoming battle arriving in four months time, Deryck, Dave and Jay will have to train for the battle ahead along with the other troops which will take some time. Whilst the guys are off training for the battle, I don't know what I'll be getting up to for four months and of course during the battle itself, perhaps I could maybe help out at one of the medical tents or something.
CHAPTER THREE: THE BATTLE COMMENCES
Monday 9th April 1917
Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Vimy Ridge, France
NARRATOR'S POV
The Battle of Vimy Ridge is now underway, at 5:30 AM the troops including Deryck, Dave, and Jay have all left and went up into the trenches and going over the top to "No Man's Land" to attack the unsuspecting Germans on the other side of the ridge. The objective of the 4th Division set by Major-General Watson is to defeat the enemy and then take over the northern part of the ridge which is called Hill 145, but what I've been told by other troops who are waiting to get called up to go over the top is that the 4th Division have lost the rest of the platoon and have now come under heavy fire from the opposing side, which is of course making me a bit antsy in fear of what's happening out there with Deryck, Dave, Jay and the rest of their troops who have suddenly been caught in a deadly crossfire with the Germans. One of the listening officers who is situated many feet underground near the sleeping quarters and near the mining tunnels, is listening through the rock to listen out for any movement from the enemy and also if there are bombs or minefields going off near us all, he signals to one of his colleagues to inform him that there is both movement and an explosion being erupted through the hills of the ridge. My anxiety is increasing as I'm worried that something terrible has happened to Dave or Jay or Deryck especially, because I don't think I'd cope with the loss of either one of them, I can't lose another friend (like when we lost Steve five years ago) and I don't want to lose my husband of seven (almost eight) years either. Meanwhile on the frontline, the German bomb that had exploded happened quite near Deryck and the rest of the platoon, many of the troops that were right at the bomb have been severely injured - Deryck on the other hand hasn't been severely injured by the explosion thankfully, but appears to be in a dazed state and is probably experiencing tinnitus (ringing in the ears) due to the sheer noise of the blast. I make my way up from the sleeping quarters underground to the trench, and I can just make out the figures of Deryck, Dave and Jay out in the battlefield - the reason why I can just see them is because the air is clouded with poisonous gas (Phosgene and Chlorine) thrown over our way by the opposing Germans. I then see Jay and Dave run off in search for either Major-General Watson or Field Marshal Byng to inform them that Deryck has narrowly missed the explosion of the German bomb and needs to be took to one of the medical tents within the Corps headquarters. I then make my way down back to where I'd came from, and I try to make it through the various winding tunnels to get to the Corps headquarters, I know it would seem that it would be a lot easier to climb over the trench but that would mean that I'm putting myself in the face of danger and also the Germans may think that it's one of our troops going over and ready to fire at them, but also going through the tunnels is a bit more safer than walking up to the frontline. I have managed to reach the headquarters, but neither Deryck, Dave, Jay, Major-General Watson or Field Marshal Byng is there so they must all be in one of the medical tents around here. I locate and enter the medical tent that's closest to me, upon entering I see a lot of soldiers who have already been wounded even though it's only three hours into battle, I still haven't found Deryck, Dave and Jay or either one of their superior officers. I stop one of the doctors who work here to ask:
"Do you happen to know where Field Marshal Julian Byng, Major-General David Watson, Captain Jason McCaslin, Lieutenant Deryck Whibley and 2nd Lieutenant David Baksh are?". The doctor then replies to my question in French:
"Ils sont là-bas, même si l'un d'euxa besion d'être vu. Je suppose que c'est le lieutenant".
("They are over there, although one of them is needing seen to. I would guess that it's the lieutenant"). I then make my way over to where the doctor had indicated where Deryck, Dave, Jay, Byng and Watson are. I see Dave, Jay, Field Marshal Byng and Major-General Watson surrounding the hospital bed where Deryck has been placed, I obviously want to understand what happened exactly out on the frontline. I turn my attention to Jay and Dave and ask:
"What exactly happened out there that got him in this state?"
"Well, our division got broken up from the main line of defensive infantry and then all of a sudden we're faced with the Germans firing at us, we tried to fight them back the three of us I mean, as well as the other guys. But, it wasn't any use they then decided as a last resort to throw in bombs and then came the chemical warfare - the chlorine and phosgene. After the blast had went away, Deryck seemed to be in a dazed state even when we were shouting for him, but we got no answer. Which I'm worried about, because I think that the blast has caused him to go deaf to some degree but I don't know, you'll have to speak to one of the doctors here" Jay justifies in great detail. I stand still for a few minutes trying to take in the information that Jay has just given me, concerning Deryck's injuries that he's sustained out on the frontline. Just then, the doctor that I'd spoken to earlier to find out where everyone was arrived beside us all, and introduces himself to us all, and then starts to explain in further detail about Deryck's afflicted casualties:
"Bonjour, je m'appelle le Dr. Antoine François. Je suis l'un des médecins de la région. Les blessures du Lt. Whibley sont bien plus inquiétantes que je ne le pensais, car il est devenu sensorineural sourd des deux oreilles à cause de l'explosion d'une bombe ennemie sur le front. A également été diagnostiqué avec un choc d'obus en raison de l'explosion et d'être sur le champ de bataille lui-même. Je regrette terriblement que vous ayez tous besoin de l'entendre, particulièrement vous, Mme Whibley. Heureusement, il puet encore parler même s'il est devenu sensorineural sourd - on parle de surdité post-linguale"
("Hello, my name is Dr. Antoine Francois. I am one of the doctors here, Lt. Whibley's injuries are a lot more worrying than I'd expected, because he has become sensorineural deaf in both ears due to the blast of an enemy bomb out on the frontline, and because of this he has also been diagnosed with shell shock due to the explosion and also being out on the battlefield itself. I am terribly sorry that you're all needing to hear this, especially you Mrs. Whibley. Luckily, he can still speak even though he has gone sensorineural deaf - this is called post-lingual deafness"). I then ask Dr. François:
"Is the shell shock and deafness permanent?"
"Oui, ça l'est"
("Yes, it is").
"How do I communicate with him? Do I speak as normal, write, or learn sign language?"
"Je pense que le mieux serait d'érire ou d'apprende la langue des signes, Mme Whibley. Parce que, étant sourd sensorineural, vous ne pouvez pas entendre les hautes fréquences, je pense que si vous l'appelez à voix haute, il pourra peut-être vous entendre, mais vous ne suarez jamais à moins d'essayer".
("I think it would be best if you would either write or learn sign language, Mrs. Whibley. Because, being sensorineural deaf means you cannot hear high-frequencies, I think if you were to call out to him loudly he may be able to hear you, but you never know unless you try"). After hearing Dr. François' detailed explanation of Deryck's injuries, I ponder for a minute thinking of how I'm going to talk to him after the trauma he has faced in the last three hours of battle, I make the decision to speak as normal and hope that he can hear to some extent - if not then I may have to start learning sign language or write to him. I start to call out to him as Dr. François suggested and hope that he hears me:
"Deryck"
Silence.
"Deryck!"
He finally takes notice of me as I've just shouted for him. How do I explain to him the afflictions he has sustained in battle? And, what about his shell shock? How severe is it? I think I would have to ask Dr. François again, but at least now I can talk to Deryck as normal just have to speak a little louder than usual, so he can hear what I'm saying to him. I pluck up the courage to speak to him for the first time in three hours, because the last time I seen him was at twenty past five in the morning before he and the others went over the top and on the way to the German side and Hill 145.
"Do you remember anything that happened out on the ridge before the explosion occurred?"
Why did I have to open with a question? His shell shock may trigger memories that occurred three hours ago, so maybe asking him what had happened wasn't a great idea!.
"All I remember from the ridge was that we broke away from the main line of defence and then we came under heavy fire from the Germans. Once the bomb and explosion died away, all I could hear was a ringing noise, the muffled voices of the rest of the troops and the deafening sound of the guns and artillery from both sides of the ridge"
"So, one of the doctors who work here Dr. François has diagnosed you with shell shock and permanent sensorineural hearing loss, which means you can't hear high-frequencies although I don't know about your shell shock yet - if it's severe or not". I go to find Dr François so I can find out if Deryck's shell shock is severe or not, I find him tending to two other patients - Major Frank Zummo and Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Thacker it would seem, I make my way over to François and ask him:
"Is Deryck's shell shock severe?" He answers but of course it's in French:
"Non, le choc n'est pas grave, c'est modéré. Bien qu'il passe par les quatre différentes étapes de la maladie, il comprend l'impact, le sauvetage, la récupération intermédiaire et la reconstruction à long terme. Jusqu'a présent, il traverse une phase d'impact comprenant choc, peur, impuissance, culpabilité, anxiété et hypervigilance"
("No, the shell shock isn't severe it is moderate. Although, he will go through the four different stages of the condition, this includes impact, rescue, intermediate recovery and long-term reconstruction. So far, he is experiencing the impact stage which includes shock, fear, helplessness, guilt, anxiety and hypervigilance"). I stand and contemplate over Dr François' answer, I thank François and then make my way back to Deryck to tell him about his diagnosis of moderate shell shock. As I'm making my way back, I have noticed that Dave, Jay, Byng and Watson have left because obviously the battle is still going on, they can't just stop fighting because one of their own has been injured; I mean, just look in here and you'll see injured troops in the hundreds all laid up with nothing to do because of their own individual injury, whether it be psychological, physical, or a range of deformities. I then start to tell Deryck about his shell shock:
"Dr François said that your shell shock is moderate, but you're experiencing one of the four stages of it which is impact which includes shock, fear, helplessness, guilt, anxiety and hypervigilance. The other three stages are rescue, intermediate recovery and long-term reconstruction"
"When do you think I'd be able to leave the Corps?"
"I'm not sure, soon I hope. I'm guessing we would have to speak to Field Marshal Byng to see when you're allowed to be discharged". I get up to go and see if I can find the senior officer, so Deryck can be discharged from the Canadian Corps on medical grounds and the both of us can get out of France and go back home to Canada; I exit the medical tent and try and find the nearest Canadian Corps barracks and see if I can find Field Marshal Byng, so he can arrange Deryck's discharge papers. I enter the barracks where I thankfully find Byng, I walk towards him and begin to ask him my question:
"When will Lt. Whibley be able to get discharged from the Canadian Corps? Since he's been wounded in battle"
"He can be discharged today since he has achieved 142 days in service, so he would be awarded with a Honourable Discharge for that reason. All that is needed, is for me to fill out his discharge papers and for him and myself to sign them and then that's him free to go home"
"Alright, thank you. I'll go and let him know"
"No worries, Mrs Whibley, good luck". I head back to the medical tent to inform Deryck that he's been given the approval by Byng to be discharged, I probably should let Dr François, Jay and Dave aware of the two of us leaving here quite early.
"Field Marshal Byng said that you can leave today, since you've achieved 142 days of service and all he has to do is fill out your discharge papers and then we can head back home. We should probably let Jay, Dave and Dr François aware that you're allowed to leave the Corps on the first day of battle". After letting everyone know about Deryck's early discharge, Field Marshal Byng comes into the medical tent to give Deryck his discharge papers, that looks something similar to this layout:
CANADIAN ARMY (ACTIVE)
DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT No 452103
(Rank): LIEUTENANT
Name (in full): DERYCK JASON WHIBLEY enlisted in the CANADIAN CORPS on the 19th day of November 1916. He served in Canada and FRANCE and is now discharged from the service under Routine Order 1029 Para 5 by reason of TO RETURN TO CIVIL LIFE (DUE TO INJURY).
Medals, Decorations, Mentions awarded in respect of service during this war: VICTORIA CROSS, MEDAL OF BRAVERY, MEDAL OF SACRIFICE.
THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS SOLDIER on the DATE below is as follows:
Age: 26 years
Height: 5"5'
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Blonde
INJURIES:
Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Shell Shock
Issuing Officer:
Field Marshal JULIAN BYNG
Date of Discharge:
APRIL 9, 1917.
After the discharge certificate is signed, we're both free to get homeward onboard a ship that will take us back to Canada with a lot more injured Corps soldiers, I will of course have to check the shipping timetables to see which one is available and can take us back home to Toronto.
CHAPTER FOUR: TAKEN BY SLEEP
Monday 9th April 1917
Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Vimy Ridge, France
Dunkirk Harbour
9:10AM
NARRATOR'S POV
With Deryck and I being able to leave Nord-Pas-de-Calais and return back to Ajax, the ship that will be taking us home is the Canadian Pacific Liner S.S Minnedosa, two tickets for the week-long voyage costs C157.50. In order to get from Calais to Dunkirk we would have to take the train which will take 4hrs and 55mins so we would have to get the twenty five to twelve train which will arrive in Dunkirk at twenty past two, two train tickets cost 30.78 which is C45.11 (26.49) and plus C157.50 for the two tickets for the Minnedosa, so the total amount of money that's being spent is C202.61 (118.99). Once we've made it to the harbour, the S.S Minnedosa is docked at the port waiting for her damaged passengers who all just want to get home and free from the terrors of war and the negativities of what Calais is leaving behind for them, the time for the ship leaving is quarter to three, so we have twenty five minutes to wait until we can board and get back home. It is now quarter to three, and the Minnedosa is ready to be boarded with passengers on their homeward bound voyage. The class that we are in is Second, just like when we were onboard the Titanic five years ago, we've now boarded after we handed the two tickets over to one of the ship's officers. After a while of spending time with the other injured Corps troops, we're off to go and do our own thing (Me off to the library to read as usual and Deryck could probably write new tracks for the band, which is obviously on hold due to the war going on and having no drummer). By the time we exit the library, where we've been for the past two hours or so it's already quarter past eleven at night and due to it being a long day, with a lot that's happened, the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Deryck's diagnosis of a bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and shell shock due to the battle that he has endured and the effect that the battle and the diagnosis has on the both of us, we're now heading back to our cabin to try and get some sleep although I doubt that will happen, because due to the shell shock - insomnia and nightmares are probable as Dr. François had mentioned when I was on my way to meet with Field Marshal Byng. I know that due to the shell shock, the insomnia and nightmares will take a toll on myself as well because it will be affecting the both of us so it'll be a miracle if either one of us gets any sleep at all, I do hope there is something out there that will help him deal with it because even though it is permanent it's not severe at least, but it's still an issue for us to deal with.
At five thirty in the morning, the bugle cries out alerting the troops of all four divisions that the battle has now begun and they should be ready to go over the top of the trench, climb over the barbed wire and head out to No Man's Land using a technique they have mastered in the past five or six months that they've been in the Arras region of France, the technique is called a "Creeping Barrage" although many of the troops are still injured due to a chemical warfare which occcurred in the training process leading up to the battle on March 1st, one month and nine days ago. After trudging through mud and small hills to get to the German side of the Ridge, the 4th Canadian Division (with their distinctive green patches on the upper sleeves of their army green uniforms, and their Lee-Enfield rifles with the attached bayonets at the end of the weapon) have became detached from the main line of defence, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the Canadian Corps - they have now came under heavy fire from the opposing German Sixth Army. Whilst firing at the Germans and into their own trenches along with the gunfire from both sides, one of the Germans hurl a grenade in the direction of the attacking 4th Division, four seconds later the grenade explodes and some of the troops including Deryck have been affected by the blast. Just minutes after the blast erupted, the Germans then threw across canisters of poisonous gas - phosgene and chlorine which has devastating effects for the soldiers who are out on the battlefield at the minute. Since Deryck has been affected by the explosion, as well as a few others who are a lot worse he is experiencing tinnitus as well as being covered in mud due to the bomb landing and erupting on the muddy battlefield of the Ridge, furthermore he is also in a dazed state due to the blast occurring and the continuous subjective tinnitus that he's experiencing due to the sheer noise of the bomb going off. Whilst all of this is going on, it seems as if none of the senior officers (Field Marshal Byng and Major-General Watson) have noticed that some of their troops have been injured by the enemy's infantry warfare. The only ones who have took notice of the injured troops are Dave and Jay, who are more concerned about Deryck rather than the others. They then run off in search of either Field Marshal Byng or Major-General Watson to inform either one of them that a few troops have fallen injured due to being targeted by the German grenade that exploded mere minutes ago, the other troops who have been affected by the blast are Lieutenant-Colonel Thacker and Major Zummo as well as Deryck.
That's one of the many flashbacks that will probably recur whilst we deal with the effects of the shell shock, although I don't know how this will affect myself - probably because I'm the one who will be at the receiving end of all the symptoms for the most part, and after this first stage there will be three more to come: Rescue, intermediate recovery and long-term reconstruction. I know from the other injured troops who we were talking to earlier, that shell shock is seen as an act of cowardice because if soldiers are physically injured then they would be able to stop fighting, but since this condition is psychological it gets no recognition and it is of course difficult to see that the soldier is suffering. Also, many soldiers are being forced back out onto the battlefield because of the lack of knowledge of the condition and how to treat it. I guess the both of us are quite lucky for not being stuck in Nord-Pas-de-Calais for however long the battle is going to last, although I guess I should feel sorry for Dave, Jay and the rest of their troops who are still out on the Western Front worrying if they're going to see the next day or not. I am rather worried about the both of us coping and coming to terms with the shell shock and sudden sensorineural hearing loss which will not only have an affect on the both of us, but also others around us. But, I'm sure that we will get by whilst dealing with the war-time afflictions. Since we'll be home in a week's time, we'll be arriving in Lake Ontario on the 15th and from there Deryck will have to become accustomed to living life outside of the battlefield that he's been in for four months and twenty two days.
SUNDAY 15th APRIL 1917, A WEEK LATER...
The S.S Minnedosa has now arrived in Lake Ontario after a week of travelling from France to Canada. I'm glad that we're back home and away from the deadly and devastating battlefield that we've both endured, I'm sure Deryck is glad to be away from the traumatic battlefield too because as I've mentioned before, there isn't any inner turmoil of thinking that you're not going to see the next day which is quite a relief if I'm honest.
CHAPTER FIVE: "SOME PEOPLE CALL IT WAR CRIME"
Saturday 20th October 1917
Ajax, Toronto, Canada
NARRATOR'S POV
It's been six months and twelve days since Deryck was discharged from the Canadian Corps. We've been looking into treatment for his shell shock which will hopefully help him cope with the psychological disorder he has been diagnosed with. Today, we're going across to Cobourg to visit the Ontario Military Hospital to see if there is anything that can somehow alleviate the symptoms of his shell shock, the nightmares and insomnia in particular, maybe there will be some sort of treatment for his sudden sensorineural hearing loss including the subjective tinnitus that is still occurring. It is useful that Cobourg is literally next door to Ajax, so we don't have to travel very far we will be taking the train to get there, the journey takes 1hr and 45mins and two tickets cost C100 (58.95). After the fairly short train journey, we've arrived in Cobourg and on the lookout for the military hospital that is located at University Street East, we've now arrived at the hospital and an admittance certificate has to be filled out, which looks quite similar to the discharge certificate that was filled out in France:
COBOURG MILITARY HOSPITAL
ADMITTANCE CERTIFICATE
(Rank): LIEUTENANT
Name (in full): DERYCK JASON WHIBLEY has been admitted to the COBOURG MILITARY HOSPITAL on the 20th day of OCTOBER 1917. He has served in the CANADIAN CORPS during the BATTLE OF VIMY RIDGE.
THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS VETERAN on the DATE below is as follows:
Age: 26yrs 7 months
Height: 5"5'
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Blonde
INJURIES:
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss and shell shock
DATE OF ADMITTANCE:
OCT 20 1917 (10/20/1917).
Once the admittance form has been filled out, we're led into the main ward for those with shell shock on various levels of severity by one of the doctors who work with shell shocked veterans specifically. He goes through the range of different treatments for shell shock which include dream analysis and electric shock treatment, but I think due to the nightmares and insomnia the dream analysis will help - within the dream analysis treatment, there is a treatment called Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (or IRT) which I hope will be effective and help make the nightmares less of an issue for the both of us to deal with. The doctor starts to explain how IRT works and how it should help with the frequent nightmares:
"Imagery Rehearsal Therapy works when you set the scene to one of the many recurring nightmares that occurred most recently, and then there will be time to create a less frightening ending to the nightmare that has been presented. The last stage of IRT is to keep track of the nightmares, so you can see if the treatment is working or not". So, if Imagery Rehearsal Therapy alleviates the recurring nightmares, how do we deal with the insomnia? What treatment is available to treat that?. I then ask him my impending question:
"In terms of the insomnia, what treatment is available for that?"
"I'm sure the IRT will help alleviate the insomnia as well as the nightmares. As well as the other symptoms of shell shock that he's displayed, there is the symptom of hyperarousal which is what the nightmares and insomnia come under. Is it still the Impact stage that he's going through, Mrs Whibley?"
"He still seems to be in that stage, yes but it's looking like the next stage - the rescue stage is beginning. Although, I don't know if that's a good thing or not?"
"The rescue stage is a good thing, Mrs Whibley. Because, it means that he's beginning to come to terms with what has happened to him whilst in battle, even though it was six months and twelve days ago since the Battle of Vimy Ridge ended. What I would say though, is that I'm quite surprised at how quickly he has come to terms with the war-time afflictions he has endured". With this newfound information on IRT and the other symptoms of Deryck's shell shock, I have to know if there is any treatment for his sensorineural hearing loss, but I highly doubt it.
"Is there by any chance, treatment for his sensorineural hearing loss here?"
"I'm afraid not, we only work with those who have been given the diagnosis of shell shock, but I can perhaps refer the two of you to an audiologist if that would help?"
"I think that would help a lot actually"
"Great! I'll make the referral once we're done for today"
"Thank you, Doctor...?"
"Dr. Lewis Yealland". Once we've said goodbye to Dr. Yealland and thanking him for his help with the shell shock treatment, we're on our way home after he'd said he would put in a referral for us to see an audiologist about Deryck's sensorineural hearing loss and how it can perhaps be treated. Over the next couple of weeks, Deryck will be working with Dr. Yealland at Cobourg Military Hospital, working on the Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and seeing if it helps alleviate the nightmares and insomnia due to the shell shock, as well as seeing if there is anything to help with the sudden sensorineural hearing loss with the audiologist that Dr. Yealland will be referring us to fairly soon. Whilst the both of us are dealing with the shell shock and sensorineural hearing loss, I can't help but think of the future ahead and how these afflictions will have an impact on it and also the future of the band whenever Deryck, Dave, Jay and the two newcomers Frank and Tom get it up and running again, perhaps whenever this tiresome war is over. If by any chance, the Imagery Rehearsal Therapy helps to downsize the number of nightmares and helps with the troublesome insomnia too, then I think we can make it through the other stages of the shell shock - the intermediate recovery and long-term reconstruction stages which will be a huge relief for the both of us, because then we'd be able to get a decent amount of sleep to some extent at least. And, if we can get through all of that then I can see a more hopeful future for everyone, especially the both of us a lot more than I did before when the Battle of Vimy Ridge was still going on and when we got the life changing and permanent diagnosis by Dr. François, six months ago in Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
CHAPTER SIX: SCREAM AIM FIRE
Monday 24th June 1918
Ajax, Toronto, Canada
NARRATOR'S POV
In the past nine months and four days, with the help of Dr. Yealland and the Imagery Rehearsal Therapy at Cobourg, Deryck is managing to reduce the number of nightmares about the war which is a relief, and I'm also glad to see how far he's come after being diagnosed with the shell shock a year, two months and sixteen days ago. Even though the IRT is helping to reduce the number of nightmares, it doesn't mean that they will go away for good so he will still experience them, just less frequent than before. A perfect example of this would be during the early hours of this morning, it was the exact same nightmare that he experienced onboard the Minnedosa, the only difference was that instead of firing dead on at the Germans, it was either myself or Steve posing as soldiers from the German Sixth Army, in the two different versions of the same dream he experienced last night and earlier this morning, the end result of the dream was that he shot dead the subconscious caricatures of myself and our deceased friend. Which if you really think about it, is really worrying but today he's going to see Dr. Yealland so this recent dream is sure to come up in conversation which on one hand is a relief, but on the other it's frightening to re-experience, but never mind me - how do you think it feels to be experiencing this sort of thing first hand? Finding it difficult to differentiate reality to your subconscious. Since the Battle of Vimy Ridge ended and now that Frank and Tom have joined the band to make it a five piece, I think once the war is over (whenever that may be) the five of them (Deryck, Dave, Jay, Frank and Tom) can get Sum 41 up and running again which will be good, because it'll give them all something positive to do rather than worrying about the war and their own afflictions. Since I've been focused solely on Deryck and his afflictions, I guess I forgot to mention that Dave, Jay, Frank and Tom were able to return home on the last day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, so that would've been the 12th April 1917, when they were able to finally leave the battlefield for the first time since the battle had started and since they had been preparing for it, days ahead of the actual event. And, now that all five of them are back from the frontline it's a relief for me, because I don't have to worry if I'm ever going to see them again - especially Deryck. Not that I'm saying that Dave, Jay, Frank and Tom are less of an importance, it's just because Deryck and I have been married for almost nine years now, so I would of course grieve for my husband rather than a few of my friends. So, that's my fair reasoning behind why I would be a lot more grief stricken if I had lost Deryck in battle, but of course that didn't happen which I'm relieved for. After spending the rest of our day in Cobourg with Dr. Yealland, he mentioned that the dreams about myself and Steve are fairly normal among veterans with shell shock, because he mentioned that those who experience these types of dreams the individual seems to think that they weren't able to save the person in the dream if they had already died and for the living, Yealland said that the person thinks that they wouldn't be able to save their living loved one because of the turmoil and terror they are re-experiencing, so they think that they wouldn't be able to save that person in that type of situation because of what they themselves are experiencing at first hand. But, even with Dr. Yealland's reassurance that this sort of thing is normal, it is still frightening for me to think about because up until now that sort of dream hasn't happened since we got the diagnosis a year ago. In terms of his sudden sensorineural hearing loss, there's not a lot that can be done because of the lack of knowledge that your hearing is just as important as trying to stay alive in a battlefield, so there is the worldwide belief that your hearing becomes secondary so soldiers aren't given anything to protect their hearing, their commanding officers are more concerned of losing their men rather than their troops losing their hearing. So, that's the only other affliction that we're not getting help for but I'm glad the shell shock is being treated properly, because that was my main concern when I heard the diagnosis of it back in France, I wasn't concerned of the fact that Deryck wouldn't be able to hear as great as before, it was the fact that the shell shock would have such a massive effect on the both of us and also the nightmares were and still are an issue so it was important that we got the right help for it, and of course we're getting the help that we need thanks to Dr. Yealland at Cobourg Military Hospital. I really hope this war will end soon, because we've all endured it for four years too long and now it just seems as though it's prolonged. And, I'm sure like everyone else, we just want it to be over and gone so we can have a sense of normality back instead of fretting over if you're ever going to see your loved ones alive again.
Dave, Jay, Frank and Tom's discharges certificates look the same as Deryck's.
CANADIAN ARMY (ACTIVE)
DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT No. 419626
(Rank): 2nd LIEUTENANT
Name (in full): David Nizam Baksh enlisted in the CANADIAN CORPS on the 19th day of November 1916. He served in Canada and FRANCE and is now discharged from the service under Routine Order 1029 Para 5 by reason of TO RETURN TO CIVIL LIFE.
Medals, Decorations, Mentions awarded in respect of service during this war: VICTORIA CROSS, MEDAL OF BRAVERY
THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS SOLDIER on the DATE below is as follows:
Age: 25 years 8 months
Height: 5"10'
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Dark Brown
INJURIES: NONE
ISSUING OFFICER: Field Marshal JULIAN BYNG
DATE OF DISCHARGE: APRIL 12, 1917
CANADIAN ARMY (ACTIVE)
DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT No. 310796
(Rank): CAPTAIN
Name (in full): JASON PAUL McCASLIN enlisted in the CANADIAN CORPS on the 19th day of November 1916. He served in Canada and FRANCE and is now discharged from the service under Routine Order 1029 Para 5 by reason of TO RETURN TO CIVIL LIFE.
Medals, Decorations, Mentions awarded in respect of service during this war: VICTORIA CROSS, MEDAL OF BRAVERY
THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS SOLDIER on the DATE below is as follows:
Age: 25 years 7 months
Height: 6"0'
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
INJURIES: NONE
ISSUING OFFICER: Field Marshal JULIAN BYNG
DATE OF DISCHARGE: APRIL 12, 1917
CANADIAN ARMY (ACTIVE)
DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT No. 780207
(Rank): MAJOR
Name (in full): FRANK ZUMMO enlisted in the CANADIAN CORPS on the 17th day of November 1916. He served in Canada and FRANCE and is now discharged from the service under Routine Order 1029 Para 5 by reason of TO RETURN TO CIVIL LIFE (DUE TO INJURY)
Medals, Decorations, Mentions awarded in respect of this war: VICTORIA CROSS, MEDAL OF BRAVERY, MEDAL OF SACRIFICE
THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS SOLDIER on the DATE below is as follows:
Age: 27 years 9 months
Height: 5"6 1/2'
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
INJURIES: Minor gunshot wound and Minor shell shock
ISSUING OFFICER: Field Marshal JULIAN BYNG
DATE OF DISCHARGE: APRIL 12, 1917
CANADIAN ARMY (ACTIVE)
DISCHARGE CERTIFICATE
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT No. 741104
(Rank): LIEUTENANT-COLONEL
Name (in full): THOMAS ARNOLD THACKER enlisted in the CANADIAN CORPS on the 17th day of November 1916. He served in Canada and FRANCE and is now discharged from the service under Routine Order 1029 Para 5 by reason of TO RETURN TO CIVIL LIFE (DUE TO INJURY).
Medals, Decorations, Mentions awarded in respect of this war: VICTORIA CROSS, MEDAL OF BRAVERY
THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS SOLDIER on the DATE below is as follows:
Age: 32 years
Height: 5"9'
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Light Brown
INJURIES: Minor shell shock
ISSUING OFFICER: Field Marshal JULIAN BYNG
DATE OF DISCHARGE : APRIL 12, 1917
CHAPTER SEVEN: AFTER THE WAR
Monday 11th November 1918
Armistice Day
Ajax, Toronto, Canada
NARRATOR'S POV
6:00AM
The Great War is finally over! No more worrying about loved ones on the battlefield, gone are the days of dreading you are going to see the senior officers of the army turning up on your doorstep unannounced to give you the devastating news that your loved one has been killed in action. With the fall of the German Empire and her associates, World War One is at last over which is a relief for all of us I'm sure, but as I aforementioned about those we've lost - many people are going through the stages of grief and mourning which is what we have to keep in mind, despite the giddy feeling that the war is finally done for, thanks to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Throughout the four years and the declarations of war, we've overcome it all which I'm glad and with the casualties that myself and Deryck have endured have been at times tough to go through, because of the lack of knowledge of either the shell shock or the sudden sensorineural hearing loss because neither of us had any experience of it up until now obviously. And thankfully, we've overcome the hurdle of the psychological affliction that of course took and is still taking its toll on us, only less frequent than before. Even though the Battle of Vimy Ridge took the lives of many innocent men, it gave birth to Canada as an independent nation and made a lot of us feel more Canadian and that we should embrace this with pride that we have a sense of identity, and we as a country can take down part of the German Empire in just three days thanks to the four divisions of the Canadian Corps, their senior officers and a lot of the soldiers who served for King and country in this important battle in Canadian history. Now that the hellish war is finally over, we can enter peacetime and try and live a some-what 'normal' life after all of the disastrous chaos that's unfolded over the last four years of turmoil. I hope that a better and brighter future is on the horizon for everyone after what we've endured worldwide, but all the while keeping in mind the ones we've lost - the ones who never got the chance to come home.