238342 Gnr. William James Cann British Army Royal Field Artillery from:Cardiff Glamorganshire Wales William James Cann was a member of the Territorials for several years before WW1 started. He undertook training in camp for a few weeks in August each year on Salisbury Plain, money which his family much needed.
He was called up to service for WW1 three days after war began. He was a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery. He served in France and Belgium. In his home letters it was recorded he had trench rot in his feet, and was unable to take his boots off. When finally they came off, he had no skin left on his feet or lower legs, and the skin, although treated, never recovered properly and caused him much discomfort.
During WW1 he experienced the Christmas Day truce and had some German daggers which were exchanged for chocolate bars and tobacco. He said the German troops spoke English very well and were mostly very young rural village children, who did not want to fight. He was surprised how young they were. He was also amazed at the skills shown by these German troops in producing what we call today 'trench art'.
He was sent from Europe directly in 1918, to Northern Ireland, returning home to Cardiff and his family in 1920. There are some terrible stories passed down about his time in Ireland which troubled him greatly, more so than the horrors he experienced on the battlefields of Europe.In particular it was the orders to shoot families,being ordered to go down streets from house to house. He said the troops used to knock loudly on the doors of Irish homes, count to ten and give them enough time to escape from the back of their properties.Some of the officers were not so kind, and it was the scenes he came upon of men, women, children and babies massacred in their homes that upset him so much.He was a very sensitive, kind man, who had simply enough of bloodshed.
He had many medals including one for Gallantry, Victory and Long service, as well as a Silver Medal.
He died tragically as a result of a railway accident in March 1939, whilst trying to save the life of his work colleague who was crossing the line and did not hear the coming steam train. Both were killed. The local newspapers record in detail the manner of his death, with pictures of the scene. He was given a military funeral as he was still in the Territorial Army. Crowds lined the streets to Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff to show their respect and the last post was played over his grave. The priest at the funeral said of him, 'No greater love hath a man than he lay down his life for his friend'. After all he experienced in WW1, it was so tragic he died the terrible way he did, but his bravery in both wartime and civilian life deserves remembrance.
William James Cann was my grandfather. I never knew him, but his memory is very precious and his life story passed down in my family.
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