 Frise took a job at an engraving firm in Montreal in 1916 and in the midst of World War I enlisted in the military that 17 May . He had had two years previous experience with the 48th Highlanders of Canada and served at first served in the 69th Battery of the Canadian Field Artillery . He was deployed overseas that September and by November was serving in the 12th Battery at the front , where he employed his farm experience driving horses to move artillery and ammunition . At the Battle of Vimy Ridge his left hand was severely injured when an enemy shell exploded at an ammunition dump where he was delivering loads of shells . The Star reported its anxiety over the possible loss of " one of Canada ’ s most promising cartoonists " , but his drawing hand — his right — was uninjured . He was discharged after recuperating in Chelmsford , England , and arrived back in Toronto on 1 December 1917 and returned to work , first at the Star and shortly after at the Star Weekly again . 
