Julius Klepper MM

Rank:

Corporal

Regimental number:

10795

Unit at enlistment:

4th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Unknown Cemetery

Awards or decorations:

Military Medal

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Lancashire

Birth city:

Morecambe

Address at enlistment:

191 Brant Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

Bradford, Yorkshire, England

Trade or calling:

Salesman

Employer:

Wiles and Quinlan Co.

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Gallantry medals:

Yes

Letters and documents

London Gazette: 29854
Date: December 9, 1916
Honour or Award: Military Medal
Authority: R.O. 703, Byng, October 6, 1916
Name: Julius Klepper (10795)
Unit: 4th Battalion

Details: For great bravery in the trenches in front of Courcelette from 17th-21st, Sept. 1916. Pte. Klepper carried in wounded men and dressed their wounds under heavy artillery and machine gun fire. He displayed great coolness and continued doing wonderful work until seriously wounded on the 21st September. This man has previously been recommended for his good work as a stretcher bearer on several occasions.

BX December 13, 1916

Corporal Julius Klepper Wins a Medal

To a host of Canadian non-commissioned officers and men, military medals are about to be awarded for meritorious conduct at the front. Amongst those gazetted appears the name of J. Klepper. This is thought to be Lance Corporal Julius Klepper, of Brantford, at present in No. 4 general hospital, France, minus his right arm. After going through the severe Ypres battles unscathed he was recently wounded. He enlisted in Orillia and went overseas with the 4th Battalion in the First Contingent. He formerly worked in Wiles and Quinlan’s store here.

BX March 30, 1915

Germans Were Aware When Canucks Arrived – Former Brantford Boy Says Their First Inquiry Was Regarding the Number – Describes the Rifle and Big Gun Fire of British Enemy

The Germans new quite well that the Canucks were in the trenches and at dusk some shouted out in English, “Canadians – how many?” writes Private Julius Klepper of Orillia, a former Brantford resident, from the front. Pte. J. Klepper, whose father was, it is reported an officer in the German army, was employed by Wiles & Quinlan of the “Big 22,” but before the war broke out went to Orillia, from which town he joined the First Contingent.

“The trenches of the opposing forces vary from 150 to 400 yards and we could plainly hear the Huns whistling and shouting across.

“Our experience started before reaching the trenches. For some distance before reaching the trenches the intervening road is commanded by the German trenches, which in some places are not more than 150 yards distant.

“It was bright moonlight, and I guess we were conspicuous. Anyway the rifles began to crack and the shells whined around very unpleasantly. However, none of our party was struck, although one of the platoons being relieved had one man shot coming out on the same road.

Know How to Shoot

“Sunday morning opened up rather misty, but at daybreak we were saluted by nice rifle fire. The Germans seem to cross fire. The right sniped continually all day, and the man who says they are bad rifle shots does not know what he is talking about. I can tell you they keep you with your head bobbing pretty quickly. There are not many wounded in this kind of trench, as all casualties, or almost all are shot through the head and a rifle bullet in the head generally means an all day job. One gets used to conditions very quickly and therefore one gets rather careless. I certainly got some close calls myself; if whisking past your ears and scraping the top of your cap can be called close. Anyway, I thought them plenty close enough.

Shelled a House

“In the afternoon some of our artillery and the German artillery exchanged compliments. The Germans fired shrapnel, evidently seeking the English guns and the English fired lyddite, which could be distinguished by the yellowish-green clouds of smoke which arouse before each explosion. A large house close to the rear of the German trenches was very soon put in a heap, and I guess if anything was in it, it would not amount to much after. You can hear the shells roaring through the air above your heads, and in a few seconds the roar of the explosion comes back to you. The whole thing was a novel experience and as a preparation I am inclined to think it quite an experience. In a few more days, after the other two brigades have completed their turn the whole division of Canadians is to take up its own section of trenches to defend.

“Of course, we do not know where these are situated, and if we did, would not be allowed to tell it. This whole country is infested with spies.”

BX October 19, 1916

Another Brantford boy who went through Ypres unscathed but was wounded in the Somme is Lance Corporal Julius Klepper, and is now in No. 4 General Hospital, France. Pte Klepper has been unfortunate enough to lose his right arm. He was formerly employed at Wiles & Quinlan’s here, but enlisted in Orillia where he was working when war broke out. He enlisted with the Simcoe Foresters and went overseas with the First Canadian Contingent, in the 4th Battalion.

BX October 24, 1950

Wrong Drug Caused Death of Former Brantford Man

A coroner’s jury at Midland said Monday the similarity of trade names for toxic drugs was responsible for the death of a First World War veteran in hospital there.

No blame was attached to anyone in the death of Julius Klepper, 65, formerly of Brantford, who died from the administration of nupercaine, a highly toxic drug, in mistake for Novocain as a local anesthetic.

The inquest was conducted by Ontario Chief Coroner Smirle Lawson, with Eric H. Silk acting for the attorney general’s department.

The jury recommended that Mr. Silk and Prof. G.H. Lucas University of Toronto professor of pharmacology and toxicology, form a committee to place recommendations for the labelling of toxic drugs and practices in their use before the attorney-general.

Prof. Lucas testified that a substantial number of deaths already had occurred in hospitals as a result of nupercaine being confused with Novocain. There also were cases in the armed forces during the Second World War, he said.

“I am sure there will be additional deaths unless still further precautions aren’t taken,” he said.

He said 19 different trade names were listed for Novocain. Its official name is procaine. He recommended that all solutions of nupercaine be colored to distinguish them from novacain.

Dr. William Johnson, Toronto, who administered the solution in the case here, testified he thought it was novacain. Similar testimony was given by Dr. I.T. Weldon, Midland, and Dr. W.E. Binkley, Penetanguishene, the attending physicians.