by Ryan, Brittany, Myles, Kevin, James and Yeji
James Murray Hazen was born April 15, 1896. His parents were John Douglas Hazen, born June 6, 1860, and Caroline Tibbets, born September 22, 1864. He was born into a family that already had three children. The first was Douglas Hazen, who was born September 30, 1885. The second was Kate Hazen, who was born March 1, 1888. The third was Francis Hazen, who was born April l13, 1890. The Hazen family was extremely well off, having a father in the Judges Chamber. James’ life resembled that of Irvings. In the way that certain things are expected, so James was required to war. There he served in the 7th battalion as part of the Canadian Field Artillery.
Action at Ypres
This took place the first week of April 1915. The Canadian troops were moved into the front around the town of Ypres. On the right there were Canadian and two British divisions and on the left there was a French division. On April 22 the Germans introduced a new weapon, poison gas. After the intensive artillery bombardment they released 160 tons of chlorine gas into a northeast wind. When the chlorine gas drifted over the trenches the French crumbled, and the soldiers with unprotected lungs died or fled, leaving a gaping four mile hole in the allied line. The German troops put 50 000 Canadian and British soldiers in deadly jeopardy. The Canadian troops fought to close the gap. Also Canadian troops put a counterattack into action to drive the enemy out of Kitchener’s Wood, an oak plantation near St. Julien. On April 24 the Germans attacked in an attempt to destroy the Salient once and for all. The was another violent gas attack, this time the target was the Canadian line. The air was terrible, there were machine guns being fired and chlorine gas in the air. The only way the soldiers could breathe was through mud-soaked, and sometimes even urine-soaked handkerchiefs. In the battlefield, the Canadians established a reputation as a fighting group! In 48 hours, 6,035 Canadian soldiers died. 1 soldier in every 3 died from the little trained civilians.
St Julien Canadian monument in memory of the Second Battle of Ypres. Photo by Ms. Lewell
James was killed April 19, 1916. It is unclear when, where and why he died in this war, but it is clear that his death was not in vain. He was buried at the Lissenthoek Military Cemetery that’s located about 12 kilometers West of Ieper, Belgium; on the road connecting Ieper to Poperinge.
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Photo : Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
SJHS Remembers 