Three Times and Out Told by Private Simmons, Written by Nellie L. McClung

In the quiet of a British‑Columbia construction camp, ordinary men hear the telegram that throws their lives into turmoil: England has declared war on Germany. The narrator, a steady carpenter with a taste for adventure, watches his fellow worker Hill abandon the job and march off to join the fight. Their conversation reveals a mix of skepticism and a yearning to see the wider world, setting the stage for a personal journey from the river’s pumps to distant battlefields.

Months later, the story shifts to the grim reality of a young soldier captured behind enemy lines. Through the clear, unadorned voice of Private Simmons, the narrative recounts the harsh conditions of a German prison camp and the daring escape that follows. The account offers a vivid, honest glimpse of the camaraderie, fear, and resolve that define the early days of war, inviting listeners to share in the lived experience of those who traded hammers for rifles.