Canada. A First War Trio to Lance Corporal Jepps, Wounded at Fresnoy and Arras

Footnote: William A. Jepps was born on November 18, 1886 in London, England. He had served with the Royal Navy in England before immigrating to Canada. Jepps was with the 72nd Regiment, Seaforth Highlanders when he was transferred to the 29th Infantry Battalion on October 31, 1914. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (75244) with the 29th Infantry Battalion "Tobin's Tigers / Vancouver Regiment", on November 16, 1914 in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the age of 29, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Amy Jepps of Tottenham, England, stating that he belonged to an Active Militia, that he had two years' service with the Royal Navy aboard the training ship HMS Exmouth, that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Painter. The Battalion was raised and mobilized in Vancouver, British Columbia under the authority of G.O. 36, March 15, 1915. The Battalion sailed May 20, 1915 aboard the R.M.S. Missanabie with a strength of 37 officers and 1,090 other ranks under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel H.S. Tobin. After four months' orientation and training in England, the 28th Infantry Battalion left for service in the French theatre, arriving at the Base Depot in France on September 18, 1915. Private Jepps was with his company training on August 2, 1916, when he hurt his ankle. He was initially admitted to No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance, then to No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance on the 2nd, before being admitted to No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance on August 4th, where he was diagnosed with a sprained right ankle, then transferred to No. 2 Divisional Rest Station the same day. Four days later, he was transferred and admitted to the Divisional Rest Station at Mont des Cats on August 8th, where he would remain for the next week, before being discharged and rejoining his unit on the 16th. The ankle had not healed properly, which forced his admission to hospital again, this time to the Divisional Rest Station with No. 12 Canadian Field Ambulance on August 25th. After five days rest and treatment, he was discharged on the 30th and rejoined his unit. Jepps was admitted to No. 3 Canadian General at Boulogne on December 1, 1916, where he was initially diagnosed with "P.U.O." (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin = fever), which was later defined as "Influenza". After twelve days treatment, he was transferred to No. 7 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on December 13th, then discharged to No. 3 Large Rest Company on December 20th. Jepps left for the 29th Infantry Battalion on January 16, 1917, arriving with them in the field on the 19th and was awarded one Good Conduct Badge on January 28, 1917. He later saw a promotion to Lance Corporal. Jepps was wounded at Fresnoy on May 4, 1917, suffering a severe gun shot wound to his chest. He was initially treated at No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance, then at No. 12 Canadian Field Ambulance, followed by his admission to No. 22 Casualty Clearing Station at Bruye. He was then transferred and admitted to No. 13 General Hospital at Boulogne on May 5th. O

 

ne week later, Jepps was invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Peter. Upon arrival in England, he was admitted to Springburn-Woodside Central Military Hospital in Glasgow on May 11th, where he would remain for nine days, before being transferred and admitted to the Princess Patricia's Canadian Red Cross Special Hospital at Ramsgate, Kent on May 20th. He would be treated at Ramsgate for five weeks, then discharged on June 25th, when he was admitted to the Canadian Military Hospital at Eastbourne and treated for "Dental Caries" (tooth decay) from June 25 to 29, 1917. Jepps was wounded for the second time, on April 3, 1918 at Arras. He was admitted to No. 6 Field Ambulance on April 5, 1918 with a gun shot wound to his left hand, then transferred to No. 53 General Hospital at Boulogne on April 6th. He was then invalided to England, where he was admitted to the Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital, St. Anselm's at Walmer on April 9th, where he would recuperate for the next six weeks. This was followed by a brief three day stay at No. 9 Canadian General Hospital at Shorncliffe as of May 21st, before being transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Monks Horton on May 24th. He would continue to recuperate at Monks Horton for the next fifty-two days before being discharged on July 15th. He was placed on command to the 3rd Canadian Command Depot at Seaford on July 22nd, where he would remain for almost three months, before being posted to the Canadian Discharge Depot at Buxton for return to Canada on October 12th. Jepps embarked Liverpool, England aboard the H.M.T. Minnedosa on December 5, 1918, arriving in Saint John, New Brunswick on December 14th and was then posted to the Casualty Company at Halifax, Nova Scotia. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated January 6, 1919 at Halifax, the doctor noted that Jepps "Left thumb shows amputation of terminal phalanx. Stump of thumb is not used when gripping. Stump is cold and quite tender. Soldier is right handed. G.S.W. (gun shot wound) scar right chest at level of (the) 3rd rib sternal end. No disability from this now. Lungs heart etc are normal. In gripping with (the) left hand, fingers are used entirely. Movements of thumb normal, but slightest touch is painful he states, yet he allows thumb stump to be manipulated freely." He was subsequently designated "Category C" (for home service in Canada only). Lance Corporal William A. Hepps, 28th Infantry Battalion was discharged as being "Medically Unfit" at Halifax, Nova Scotia on January 31, 1919, credited with having served in Canada, England and France. For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He died on January 26, 1967, at the age of 80.