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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Watch, by J. A. Currie
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Red Watch
+       With the First Canadian Division in Flanders
+
+Author: J. A. Currie
+
+Release Date: February 18, 2009 [EBook #28116]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED WATCH ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Sigal Alon, Jeannie Howse and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    +-----------------------------------------------------------+
+    | Transcriber's Note:                                       |
+    |                                                           |
+    | Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has     |
+    | been preserved.                                           |
+    |                                                           |
+    | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For     |
+    | a complete list, please see the end of this document.     |
+    |                                                           |
+    +-----------------------------------------------------------+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+"THE RED WATCH"
+
+WITH THE FIRST CANADIAN
+DIVISION IN FLANDERS
+
+
+
+
+    [Illustration: J.A. Currie]
+
+
+
+
+"THE RED WATCH"
+WITH THE FIRST CANADIAN
+DIVISION IN FLANDERS
+
+
+BY
+COLONEL J.A. CURRIE, M.P.
+
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+
+LONDON:
+CONSTABLE AND COMPANY, LTD.
+1916
+
+
+
+
+COPYRIGHT, CANADA, 1916
+By McCLELLAND, GOODCHILD & STEWART, LIMITED
+TORONTO.
+
+
+
+
+PRINTED IN CANADA.
+
+
+
+
+DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY
+OF THE CANADIAN SOLDIERS
+WHO FELL IN FLANDERS
+
+
+
+
+    These for the Empire stood in war array,
+    Barring the Hun invader on his way;
+    Into the battle rushed at Duty's call,
+    Resolved to hold their trenches or to fall;
+    That Britons ne'er to tyrants bend the knee
+    But live as they were born, unyoked and free.
+    Now, in the bosom of a distant land
+    These warriors sleep, for such is God's command.
+    The Fates in all decree, and have their will,
+    And mortals must their destiny fulfill.
+
+                                             J.A. CURRIE, M.P.,
+                                                           _Colonel_.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+                                                                  PAGE
+
+Preface                                                              9
+
+CHAPTER I
+Kilties in Canada                                                   11
+
+CHAPTER II
+"The Red Watch" or 48th Highlanders                                 18
+
+CHAPTER III
+The Newer Colonial Policy                                           22
+
+CHAPTER IV
+The Call to Arms                                                    28
+
+CHAPTER V
+Organizing Imperial Battalions                                      37
+
+CHAPTER VI
+The New Armada                                                      46
+
+CHAPTER VII
+Salisbury and the Stones of Stonehenge                              63
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+Under Field Marshal Earl Roberts                                    72
+
+CHAPTER IX
+Moulding an Army                                                    81
+
+CHAPTER X
+His Majesty the King, and Field Marshal the Right
+  Hon. Viscount Kitchener                                           90
+
+CHAPTER XI
+Off for France                                                     100
+
+CHAPTER XII
+Somewhere in Flanders                                              112
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+With Field Marshal Sir John French                                 116
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+Under Hiex Shells                                                  122
+
+CHAPTER XV
+The Flare-lit Trenches of Fromelles                                132
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+With General Sir Douglas Haig                                      146
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+The Battle of Neuve Chapelle                                       155
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+Billets and Bivouacs                                               174
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+With General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien                              182
+
+CHAPTER XX
+The Historic Salient at Ypres                                      189
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+The Red Cock Crows                                                 197
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+German Gas and Turcos                                              204
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+The Battle of St. Julien                                           216
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+Hanging on                                                         228
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+All that was Left of Them                                          245
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+Digging in with General Snow                                       257
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+Twelve Glorious Days                                               267
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+Winning Another Championship                                       275
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+An Appreciation of Valor                                           281
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+Wanted, More and More of Them                                      286
+
+Index                                                              289
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+                                                                  PAGE
+
+Col. John A. Currie                                       Frontispiece
+
+Capt. R. Clifford Darling, Adjutant                                 24
+
+Officers of the 48th Highlanders                                    40
+
+Group of Non-Commissioned Officers, 48th Highlanders                56
+
+Aboard Ship in Winter Garb                                          72
+
+Our Pullman Coach                                                   88
+
+48th Highlanders at Church Service near Messines                   104
+
+Church Steeple where V.C. was Won                                  120
+
+Signallers in Flanders                                             136
+
+The Trenches in Winter                                             152
+
+First Aid in the Trenches                                          168
+
+Trenches at Neuve Chapelle                                         184
+
+Map of the Original Salient at Ypres                               194
+
+The Famous Road to Ypres                                           200
+
+Map of the Break in the Salient                                    206
+
+Sniping Through a Port Hole                                        216
+
+A narrow Escape                                                    232
+
+Map of the Salient Flattened                                       248
+
+The Muster of the 48th Highlanders after the Battle of
+  St. Julien                                                       264
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+The kind reception given to the rough notes from the Author's Diary,
+which appeared first in the daily papers in Canada, encouraged the
+production of this book. These notes, in order to make them more
+readable, have been put in narrative form. There is no pretence that
+this is a history of the war. It is only a string of pen pictures
+describing life and incidents of the campaign common to almost every
+corps in the field.
+
+Where anything is omitted it must be borne in mind that the author
+cannot give any information of a military character which might assist
+the enemy while the war is in progress.
+
+Opinions and observations on military matters are omitted. Discussions
+on the merits of the various arms, equipments, rifles, work of the
+staff, errors, omissions and criticisms of the manner in which the war
+is conducted, must wait for a future volume.
+
+It is hoped that this publication will encourage all young men to
+"take their places in the ranks" and bear arms for the King and
+Empire, regardless of whether our military system be volunteering,
+conscription or National service.
+
+It is more evident every day that there is need for the mobilization
+and consolidation of all the resources of the Empire. Consolidated and
+mobilized the Empire is self-sustaining and invincible. Its military
+and financial powers would be quadrupled. There is nothing to justify
+any delay in accomplishing this object except political expediency.
+In union there would be not only immediate strength, but confidence
+and harmony.
+
+The world is just as full of brave deeds and stirring events as ever.
+The British Empire is yet a lump of clay unfashioned and formless on
+the wheel of the potter. That is the colonial view. It is for us to
+help "Mould it nearer to our heart's desire."
+
+It is a great privilege to live in this age when such glorious deeds
+are being performed and history is being written. It is better still
+to be permitted to die, doing brave deeds, that our Empire may live,
+greater, freer and happier than ever.
+
+TORONTO, OCTOBER 2ND, 1916.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+KILTIES IN CANADA.
+
+
+With this book as with many others the first chapter should be read
+last. The reason it is placed first is that the chronological order
+must be maintained. Besides, when stirring deeds by brave men are
+recalled, it matters not how briefly, they demand better treatment
+than being embalmed in an appendix.
+
+This chapter deals with the first appearance of the Highland soldier
+in Canada. That appearance was both interesting and tragic. The
+stories and legends surrounding the campaigns of these brave men have
+furnished many themes for the poet and novelist. This chapter can only
+briefly refer to them.
+
+If you search the great plains and rugged mountains of Canada from end
+to end, you will find many beautiful plants and flowers, but not a
+single spray of heather. Only in one spot in the whole vast Dominion
+will you find the plant that is so characteristically Scottish,
+growing naturally, and that is in Point Pleasant Park, Halifax.
+Tradition has it that on this spot, in 1757, the soldiers of the
+"Black Watch," the 42nd Highlanders, first set foot on Canadian soil.
+Here in this park, one of the most beautiful in America, the visitor
+is shown a plot of Scottish heather, flourishing vigorously in spite
+of souvenir hunters and vandals.
+
+The Black Watch arrived at Halifax in the spring of 1757 to take part
+in the expedition against Louisburg, under General Abercrombie. Some
+say that the men of the Regiment, desirous of perpetuating the badge
+of so many of their clansmen, planted the heather seed where it now
+grows. Others, that the palliasses or mattresses of the soldiers were
+emptied here after the voyage, and the heather with which they had
+been filled in Scotland provided the seed from which this plot grew.
+It matters very little how it came. The heather still flourishes on
+the spot where the Black Watch first pitched its tent in Canada.
+
+The expedition against Louisburg was abandoned, but the following year
+the regiment took part in the operations against the French under
+Montcalm at Lake George. Visitors there are shown the ruins of the
+ramparts of Ticonderoga. Around these ruins cling many legends and
+stories, but the name of Ticonderoga will live forever in the weird
+tale immortalized by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, Parkman and the poem of
+Robert Louis Stevenson. It is told how on the eve of the battle there
+appeared to Duncan Campbell, of Inverawe, Major of the Black Watch,
+the wraith of a relative, murdered by a man to whom Campbell had
+granted sanctuary. This wraith had years previously appeared to him
+and warned him that he would meet him at "Ticonderoga." The following
+day Major Campbell died at the head of the assaulting columns of the
+Black Watch, and that brave regiment lost 655 officers and men, nearly
+equalling the losses of the "Red Watch," the 48th Highlanders of
+Canada, at the Battle of St. Julian in Flanders, when their roll
+showed 691 casualties.
+
+The charge of the Black Watch at Ticonderoga was one of the bravest
+exploits of British arms. The gallant Highlanders advanced against the
+log redoubts and abattis of the French under Montcalm, hacking at the
+branches with their broadswords, climbing the ramparts with the
+assistance of their comrades, only to be hurled back, torn and
+bleeding, with the grape shot from hidden guns and musket-fire from
+many loopholes. They assaulted again and again, and finally had to be
+withdrawn.
+
+For their gallant conduct at Ticonderoga the "Black Watch" were made a
+"Royal" regiment by the King.
+
+The Black Watch was quartered for many years afterwards in Canada and
+quite a few of the descendants of these old warriors helped to make
+history for the Canadians in this latest and "Greatest War."
+
+The second appearance of the armed Highlander in Canada was
+characteristically dramatic. They came in the persons of Fraser's
+Highlanders, hard on the heels of the gallant Black Watch. This
+regiment, known as the old 78th, was celebrated in many ways. This is
+the corps raised by Lord Lovat, that Pitt was said to have had in mind
+when in the British House of Commons he delivered the famous panegyric
+on the Highland troops.
+
+This regiment distinguished itself first at the taking of Louisburg.
+It was the first to climb the Heights of Abraham and its fame has come
+down through history with that of Wolfe's victory at Quebec. The
+fierce charge of this regiment at Quebec which broke through the
+French line as if it were paper, is accounted for by the story that
+the Highlanders were rendered frantic by the fall of Wolfe whom they
+idolized, as the young staff officer who, on the day after Culloden,
+dared the anger of his Commander by refusing to pistol a wounded
+Highlander. A Canadian poet, Mr. Duncan Anderson, in describing the
+Battle of the Plains of Abraham, refers to the Frasers thus:
+
+    "And the shrill pipe its coronach that wailed,
+      On dark Culloden moor, o'er trampled dead,
+    Now sounds the 'Onset' that each clansman knows,
+      Still leads the foremost rank where noblest blood is shed."
+
+While Fraser's regiment were in garrison in Quebec, an incident
+occurred that was later on duplicated in Flanders. Owing to the
+inclement weather in Quebec, some of the officers in authority decided
+that the men should discard their kilts and don trousers. The officers
+and men of the regiment would not hear of it, and the historian of the
+regiment says that the kilt was retained winter and summer and that
+"in the course of six years the doctors learned that in the coldest
+of winters the men clad in the Highland garb were more healthy than
+those regiments that wore breeches and warm clothing."
+
+In the trenches at Neuve Chapelle an agitation arose to give the
+kilted Canadian soldier in the trenches trousers. With the snow on the
+ground and half an inch of ice on the water pails in the morning, they
+would not hear of anything but the kilt. Their health was similarly
+good, colds being unknown.
+
+Along with Fraser's regiment there came also the Montgomery
+Highlanders, the 77th, raised by Hon. Arch. Montgomery, son of the
+Earl of Eglington. This regiment took its full share of the operations
+against the French at Fort DuQuesne and elsewhere.
+
+Romantic interest clings around the memories of the Montgomery
+Highlanders. This regiment was known as the "Lost Regiment." The
+legend says that one of its gallant leaders, Major Charteris, fell in
+love with a young woman of his native parish of Perth before he went
+to the War. She promised to wait till he returned when he would have
+carved a name for himself with his good broadsword, which was his only
+fortune. Whilst his regiment was in America his letters failed to
+reach her, and finally the troop ship on which Charteris sailed for
+home was driven ashore and his regiment took eight months to make the
+voyage. All hands were given up as lost, and Major Charteris'
+sweetheart consented to marry another officer, a "slacker" who had not
+gone to the war. While the wedding bells were ringing, the regiment
+marched into Perth, but half an hour too late. Charteris returned to
+America and died the death of a soldier. His name is still perpetuated
+in that of a town in Illinois, Ft. Charteris.
+
+The first Highland Regiment to be enlisted in Canada was the Royal
+Highland Emigrants, still known in the army list as the 84th. No
+regiment ever embodied in the British service deserves kindlier
+remembrance in Canada than this gallant corps. The name and number
+has been perpetuated in the British Army List. Its exploits will never
+be forgotten and should be cherished by all Canadians. This regiment
+was enlisted in 1775 when the Revolutionary War broke out, from the
+Highlanders of Fraser's, Montgomery's and the Black Watch regiments
+that had settled in America.
+
+When the Revolutionary War broke out Lieut.-Col. Allan McLean, of
+Torlousk, and Capt. John Small of Strathardle, in Athole, proceeded to
+embody the members of the Highland regiments that had settled in
+America. These old Highlanders rallied to the colors of the new
+battalions, two in number, and they served with great distinction
+throughout the revolutionary period. McLean raised one battalion in
+the States among the loyal Highlanders of Virginia and the Carolinas.
+He was assisted by Capt. McLeod, a former officer in Fraser's
+regiment. Through many perils and devious routes the men who enlisted
+found their way to the battalion rendezvous, and when they had all
+gathered they marched to Quebec, and virtually took charge of the
+stirring defence of that famous fortress against the American army
+under Montgomery and Arnold. Throughout the siege, the order and
+gallantry of the Highlanders animated the garrison and it was before
+the muskets of the Royal Highland Emigrants that Montgomery fell at
+the barrier beneath the citadel.
+
+No greater service was ever given to the British Crown than that given
+at Quebec by the Royal Highland Emigrants, during the second siege.
+Their undaunted conduct stirred to emulation the brave French-Canadians
+who mustered to assist the British, and by their joint efforts the
+American invasion and siege came to an end.
+
+The second battalion served in Nova Scotia during the war. Five of the
+companies accompanied Lord Cornwallis in his operations in New York
+and the Southern coast States. Later the two battalions were formed
+into the 84th Regiment, Sir Henry Clinton being appointed
+Colonel-in-Chief.
+
+History repeats itself and the descendants of the gallant Royal
+Highland Emigrants, more than a hundred years later, in the ranks of
+the "Red Watch," or 48th Highlanders of Canada, fought side by side in
+the same brigade in Flanders with the gallant Royal Montreal Regiment,
+composed largely of French-Canadians.
+
+When the Royal Emigrants were disbanded in Canada after the war, the
+men returned to their farms. Colonel McLean's battalion settled
+chiefly in Ontario. Many of their descendants still live on their
+original homesteads and have filled honourable positions in the public
+and private life of their country. The members of Small's battalion
+settled in Nova Scotia, and their descendants were in evidence when a
+Highland corps was organized by Lieut.-Col. Struan Robertson of
+Pictou, to take part in the "Greatest War."
+
+During the War of 1812, a regiment was raised amongst the Highlanders
+of the County of Glengarry, Ontario, known as the Glengarry Fencibles.
+Descendants of these soldiers were amongst the first to offer their
+services for Flanders in 1914. One gallant officer of the 48th,
+Captain Archibald McGregor, who gave his life at the Battle of St.
+Julien, was a descendant of these men of Glengarry.
+
+The Glengarry Fencibles fought amongst the foremost at the Battle of
+Lundy's Lane alongside the 100th Prince of Wales Regiment, which at
+that period was uniformed in kilts.
+
+Many distinguished highland regiments served in Canada during the
+nineteenth century. Amongst those that are still held in kindly
+remembrance are the following: The Highland Light Infantry, the 73rd,
+74th, 78th, 79th and 93rd. Many of the officers and men of these
+regiments bought out in Canada or else settled in the country at the
+end of their period of service.
+
+Thus it will be seen that the kilted soldiers have played a prominent
+part in the pioneer life and settlement of Canada, where men of
+Scottish blood have always found a congenial home. The highest offices
+in the gift of the people have gone to the men of Scottish origin
+like Sir John Macdonald, Alexander Mackenzie, George Brown and Sir
+Oliver Mowat, whose genius for organization and government made
+possible Confederation. In the financial and industrial life of the
+country the names of Lord Strathcona, Sir James Drummond and many
+other Scots will always be cherished.
+
+It matters not whether the Scottish lad comes from the "dim shieling"
+or the ancestral castle, when he reaches the shores of Canada he finds
+the Field Marshal's baton in his pocket, and he can be a leader in
+whatever sphere of life he chooses.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE "RED WATCH" OR 48TH HIGHLANDERS
+
+
+It was while doing duty in Scotland, shortly after the Jacobite
+rising, that the 42nd Highlanders came to be called the "Black Watch."
+The sombre color of their kilts and the work in which they were
+engaged combined to give them this nickname, which has clung to this
+famous regiment ever since. The 48th Highlanders of Canada wore a
+sombre tartan like the "Black Watch," interwoven with a broad red
+check, and it was whilst doing duty as patrol over a steel plant at
+Sault Ste. Marie that some striking Scotchmen first called the
+Canadian Regiment the "Red Watch." The name has been accepted and
+alternates with the "48th" in describing this corps. The brave
+Seaforths have a light grey check in their tartans, the gay Gordons a
+brilliant golden check, but the 48th have this check in red, and when
+the kilts are properly made the stripe comes on the fold of the tartan
+and gives a peculiar shimmering effect to the swaying kilts while the
+men are on the march. The nickname of the "Red Watch" is not as well
+known as that of the "Black Watch," but the Imperial Battalion of the
+"Red Watch" loyally earned the name at the great salient at Ypres,
+where they watched at the post of honor and halted the German masses
+in their second great drive to Calais. This story has most to tell
+about these stirring days, but a word about the Canadian Militia and
+this regiment in particular may be in order.
+
+Reference in the foregoing chapter has been made to the Highland
+regiments that served in the Colonial Wars. These troops were regular
+troops, but always serving with or against them were the Canadian
+Militia.
+
+From the very beginning of the Colonies there was a Canadian Militia.
+From its inception during the Indian wars down to the time of writing,
+this Militia has been distinguished for bravery. It came into being in
+the days of the early French settlement, and the Canadian Militia
+helped Montcalm to fight at Ticonderoga, Detroit and Fort DuQuesne.
+During the Seven Years' War, the Canadian Militia served continuously.
+At the capitulation of Canada it was stipulated that the Provincial
+Militia were to be allowed to return unmolested to their farms. They
+marched out of the fallen fortresses with all the honors of war, with
+arms and badges, drums beating, colors flying and matches lit. When
+Canada became British, the militia was incorporated into the new State
+organization. It distinguished itself again during the War of 1812 at
+Chateauguay, Detroit, Queenston Heights, Chippewa and Lundy's Lane. On
+numerous occasions the Imperial authorities commended the gallant
+conduct of the Canadian Militia.
+
+When the Confederation of the Canadian Colonies was accomplished, in
+1866, it was decided that the defence of the country should be left
+largely to the Militia, and a condition of Confederation was that this
+force was to be retained and strengthened, and a certain sum of money
+should be spent upon it annually.
+
+When an invasion was threatened from the United States in 1866, the
+Canadian Militia sprang to arms and manned the frontiers. When General
+Louis Riel raised the banner of rebellion in the North-West
+Territories of Canada on two occasions, it was the civilian soldiers
+that suppressed the uprising. When the British power under Lord
+Wolseley went to the assistance of General Gordon in the Soudan, a
+contingent of Canadians, under Colonel Frederick Denison, C.B., M.P.,
+helped to pilot the Nile barges up that historic river. Again when war
+broke out in South Africa, the Canadian contingent covered itself with
+glory on the hard won field of Paardeburg, helping materially to win
+the first decisive victory in South Africa for the British Army.
+
+The 48th Highlanders Regiment in the Canadian Militia was formed in
+1891. A number of enthusiastic Scotchmen met in the City of Toronto and
+decided to organize a Militia Regiment wearing the tartan kilt and
+feather bonnet. Committees were formed and in a very short time
+sufficient funds were raised to enable the regiment to be uniformed.
+Sir George E. Foster, then Minister of Finance for the Dominion of
+Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald, the Prime Minister, and Sir Oliver
+Mowat, the Premier of the Province of Ontario, lent their patronage to
+the movement. The writer was associated in the work, and appeared in
+the first _Gazette_ as a Captain of the new corps. The first Commanding
+Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel J.I. Davidson, Lieutenant-Colonel A.M.
+Cosby, Lieutenant-Colonel W.C. Macdonald, Lieutenant-Colonel Robertson
+and Lieutenant-Colonel William Hendrie were on the original committees
+of the regiment. At the time of writing this book, the regiment had one
+Colonel and five Lieutenant-Colonels on active service, namely, Colonel
+Currie, M.P., Lieutenant-Colonels Marshall, Hendrie, Dansereau, Miller
+and Chisholm.
+
+One of the leading spirits in the formation of the corps was Hon.
+Lt.-Colonel Dr. Alexander Fraser, Ph.D., A.D.C., the noted Celtic
+scholar and antiquarian. The tartan chosen was the old Davidson tartan
+in honor of its first Colonel. The badge was the Celtic motto "Dileas
+Gu Brath." It was given the number "48" in the Canadian Militia list,
+which number on its bonnets and badges it has since proudly worn on
+two continents and in three countries, on tented ground and hard
+fought field. In the South African War the regiment sent its quota and
+the men served with much distinction.
+
+Many Highland gatherings in Canada were held under the auspices of
+this regiment. A bayonet team was sent to the Royal Military
+tournament, at Islington, in June, 1897, and this team carried off the
+three principal events, viz.: the Colonial Individual Competition, the
+All-Comers' Individual Championship and the Team Championship. Private
+George Stewart it was that won the Championship, and a great
+reception was tendered him when he came home to Canada.
+
+The regiment had always paid a great deal of attention to musketry and
+in 1913, the year the writer became Commanding Officer, the blue
+ribbon of Rifle shooting, the King's Prize, was won at Bisley by a
+member of the corps, Sergeant Hawkins. In that year the
+Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, General Sir Ian Hamilton, arrived in
+Canada on a tour of inspection of the Overseas Forces of the Crown. He
+reviewed the regiment and expressed himself as well pleased. This
+visit was considered a great honor.
+
+Early in the year 1914, the strength of the regiment was raised to a
+peace establishment of 867, rank and file, and the field training of
+the corps took place at Petawawa, where Lord Brooke had command of the
+Canadian forces in training. The regiment behaved well and showed
+evidence of the high standard of efficiency which it subsequently
+reached. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed, and the corps was in
+excellent form when the war was declared in August, 1914. It was the
+first to volunteer as a unit for Overseas service.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE NEWER COLONIAL POLICY
+
+
+"I suppose now that Great Britain has declared war on Germany, Canada
+will throw in her lot with the United States," so laughingly spoke an
+American friend that I met the day Great Britain declared war on
+Germany.
+
+"Not a bit of it," I said. "Before the week is over you will hear the
+drums beating and see recruits foregathering here. Canada is at war as
+well as Great Britain."
+
+"But won't you have difficulties with Quebec?"
+
+"Nothing of the kind. Depend upon it, the last gun in favor of British
+connection in Canada will, if necessary, be fired by a French-Canadian.
+They marry young and may be a trifle slow in volunteering on that
+account. It requires a great effort for a man to tear himself away from
+a young, helpless wife and a large small family, but they come of good
+fighting stock, and when it comes to war, blood will tell."
+
+"Well, you can depend on the Monroe-doctrine anyway."
+
+"Yes, we believe in the Monroe-doctrine just the same as you do. We
+are going to fight for it on the Plains of Flanders."
+
+"But you don't mean that Canada is going to take an active part in the
+war?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+"Well, nobody ever thought you would."
+
+In this he was expressing the traditional view of Colonial connection.
+At the time of the break with the American colonies, Turgot, the great
+French economist, coined a phrase which has been accepted by the
+chancelleries of Europe as a truism: "Colonies are like fruit, when
+they become ripe they drop from the parent stem."
+
+When Germany decided to cross the Meuse into Belgium the Emperor had
+been assured by his foreign office that Great Britain would not take
+part in the war. There were the disturbing questions of Home Rule for
+Ireland, Socialism and anti-Militarism, and the Colonies had grown in
+wealth and population to such an extent that they were ready to drop
+from the parent stem if ever they would do so. Would Great Britain
+risk civil war at home and the loss of her Colonies abroad in order to
+vindicate her pledge given years before, to keep inviolate the
+frontiers of Belgium? The answer was the prompt declaration of war on
+Germany, the cessation of political warfare at home, abroad the
+splendid enthusiasm of the Colonies with offers of men and money.
+
+Previous to the break with the American Colonies, Great Britain had
+adopted a colonial policy very much on what we would call Imperial
+lines. The Navigation Laws of Cromwell gave her virtually command of
+all trade by sea, protective tariffs and bounties built up
+inter-Imperial and home trade.
+
+At the end of the Seven Years' War, the Empire, judged from the
+world's standard, was far greater than it is now. The Colonies were
+vaster and comparatively more powerful. The general impression now is
+that Britain's Colonies in America were in those days managed the same
+as Germany managed her African Colonies, that they were oppressed and
+had nothing to say about how they were governed and that the mother
+country played the part of a despot. Such was not the case. The
+constitutions of the American Provinces were most democratic, more so
+than many colonial constitutions of to-day. All the provinces in
+America possessed a parliament elected by the people, and three of
+them, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, elected an upper
+House or Senate. Rhode Island and Connecticut elected their own
+Governors, and these two provinces, along with Maryland, could enact
+laws without the veto or interference of British legislators or the
+Crown. In 1762 Great Britain had 337,000 men under arms, and of these
+over 25,000 were Colonials from America. Fifteen thousand New England
+seamen volunteered for the Spanish War, and during the Seven Years'
+War the Colonials manned over 400 privateers or ships of war, and the
+State of Pennsylvania spent L440,000, a great sum of money in those
+days, for military purposes.
+
+With the Colonies so loyal and so willing to assist Great Britain in
+time of trouble and danger, how was it that in a decade the Empire was
+shattered and the major portion of the Colonies were busy building up
+a nation of their own? At this distance of time it is still hard to
+view the question dispassionately.
+
+Who was responsible for this great criminal folly?
+
+Was it some individual?
+
+Was it the old Colonial policy?
+
+Or, was it petty parish politics?
+
+The trend of political thought in the Colonies has generally been the
+antithesis of political thought in Great Britain. Colonial thought has
+always been an enigma to the British. Of recent years it has been both
+disturbing and confusing. The Colonial, who, with his own eyes, within
+the span of a few years in his own country, views the transition of a
+bit of landscape from barbarism to civilization, the hunter giving way
+to the shepherd, the herder to the farmer, cities and towns springing
+up over night with factories and banking established in a few months,
+seldom arrives at the same political conclusion as the theorist who
+tries to conjure up the genesis of political economy from books and
+musty documents. His is the school of hard experience, which teaches
+lessons that fine-spun theories cannot upset. It is so with his
+Colonial theories of economics and government. The dead weight of
+tradition does not hang around his neck where State affairs are
+concerned and precedent only counts when it is right and just.
+
+Governor Pownall, of New Jersey, immediately previous to the time of
+the Revolutionary war, wrote a book, entitled: "The Administration of
+the British Colonies." In this work he pointed out the necessity of
+closer political union between the Colonies and the mother country; in
+fact, he outlined an Imperial constitution. He pointed out that there
+had always existed two lines of thought among English-speaking people.
+One favored unity, centralization, Imperialism, the other disunion, or
+individualism, claiming that in the absolute independence of each
+small unit of the Empire rested liberty and freedom. This struggle is
+still on.
+
+    [Illustration: CAPT. R. CLIFFORD DARLING, ADJUTANT]
+
+Had Pitt followed up his idea of uniting the Colonies into a Dominion,
+or into an even greater union such as he was pressed then to do, the
+American Revolution would in all probability have been averted.
+
+But Pitt's energies were turned to the war then being carried on in
+Germany, and the Colonies were for the time-being neglected with
+disastrous results.
+
+The historical philosophers of modern Germany cherished the delusion
+that history would repeat itself.
+
+Ever since the American Revolution, Great Britain had adopted a
+different Colonial policy from the policy of Pitt. The navigation laws
+had been repealed, protection and bounties had been withdrawn, the
+doctrine of _laisser faire_ prevailed.
+
+When the American Colonies secured their independence, each colony of
+the thirteen was a helpless independent unit. They had united for the
+war of Independence, but the union was one of sentiment, there was no
+constitution, no common ground on which they could unite for political
+action. Fortunately, the war had produced such wise patriotic men as
+Washington, Franklin and Hamilton, and through their efforts a
+political union of the Colonies was accomplished. It took the better
+part of ten years to do this. It was part of the policy of
+reconstruction. Later on, the Colonies in Canada followed suit. They
+united under a constitution which, at the same time, guaranteed the
+autonomy of the provinces within and solidarity in external affairs.
+Australia and South Africa followed suit. The policy of Imperial unity
+had been gathering force and momentum, but when the great war came it
+had not yet reached that point where the pressing of a button would
+set machinery at work which would marshall all the financial,
+mechanical, political and military resources of the Empire. That day
+will come.
+
+The example of the Colonies in rallying immediately to the aid of the
+mother country proved the saying that after all it is the horse, not
+the harness, that pulls the load. The Imperial harness is an
+aggregation of shreds and patches, not yet even a conception, but when
+the time of trial came, the Imperial spirit rose superior to all
+obstacles, surprising the German Emperor and the whole world.
+
+In vain were the seeds of sedition sown in various parts of the Empire
+and in neutral countries.
+
+An old Irish woman voiced the Home Rule sentiment abroad thus: "The
+English have not used the Irish right, but we will forget that for the
+moment, for we will never be able to lift our heads again in New York
+if we let the Germans bate us."
+
+The most preposterous thing in connection with the German program was
+the propaganda of anti-militarism preached among the British people,
+and the most amazing thing was that the British were so lacking in
+self-respect that they would listen to such doctrines. A noble and
+unsullied past has given the British people the right to be in the
+highest sense a military nation. For a century the sun has never
+risen, but its rays have fallen on the face of a Briton who has died
+for liberty. Wherever Britain has been compelled to draw the sword
+there has followed freedom and peace. There is the record of India,
+Canada, of Egypt and of South Africa to point to. No person unless
+steeped to the eye-brows in pro-Germanism can, in the face of that
+record, assert that Great Britain ever used her military power to
+oppress the weak, or tyrannize over the people she, of necessity, had
+to conquer. Why then should Britain be asked to disarm and turn over
+the business of maintaining the world's peace to the Hun and the
+Turk? To preach anti-militarism to a British people is to insult their
+intelligence. Britain alone of all nations has brought peace with her
+sword. The interests of Christianity, of humanity and of civilization
+demand that she be always a great military power. Had she not listened
+to the pro-German pleas of the so-called anti-militarists,
+Austria-Germany would not have dared to dream of conquering the world.
+Much suffering would have been avoided, and life and treasure would
+have been saved. This war is fairly laid at the door of those who
+practised and preached anti-militarism in the British Empire. If Great
+Britain had possessed a national army of half a million men in 1913,
+there would have been no war.
+
+Somebody has to police the world and the best policeman is the man who
+wears khaki and speaks the English tongue.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE CALL TO ARMS
+
+
+In the War of 1870, the Germans advanced across the Rhine on the
+frontier of France. The independent State of Luxemburg and the Kingdom
+of Belgium were not disturbed. The Germans at that time respected the
+neutrality of these countries. They kept the treaties that had been
+made years before, guaranteeing these countries from invasion in case
+of war. Bismarck, although a man of "blood" and "iron," as a rule,
+respected treaties.
+
+With the French frontier bristling with guns, fortresses and
+entrenchments that had been deliberately prepared in advance, the
+Germans, in 1914, stood a good chance of being beaten in the first
+round if they had attacked the eastern frontier of France on the
+declaration of war. Behind a ring of entrenchments the French Generals
+could deliberately mass their armies, and the battle front could be
+narrowed to such an extent that the preponderance of numbers which the
+Germans could put in the field could not count.
+
+For some years, however, German military writers had been advocating
+that the German army of invasion should march through Belgium and
+Luxemburg. It was known that the latter country could not object, but
+with Belgium it was different. The Belgians had been warned, and were
+busy arming, under the leadership of their ruler, who was universally
+beloved. The Belgians are a proud people, and since the days of Caesar
+they had on numerous occasions hurled the invading Germans back and
+held their homes and frontiers inviolate. The Germans, however,
+imagined, that once their vast armies crossed the Meuse and began a
+march on Namur and Charleroi, the martial ardor of the Belgians would
+cool and that beyond a formal protest, no resistance would be
+offered.
+
+As France and Belgium had been on terms of friendship for many years,
+the Franco-Belgian frontier had not been protected by fortresses. The
+German frontier of Belgium, however, had been fortified some years
+before under the direction of a famous Belgian engineer, named
+Brailmont, who was the successor of other eminent military Belgian
+engineers, such as Vauban, who had taught the art of fortification to
+a previous age.
+
+On August 2nd, 1914, the Germans declared war on France, and the First
+field army of Austro-Germans crossed the Meuse near Liege. For two
+weeks the Germans delayed before Liege, expecting that the French
+would send several armies into Belgium and thus weaken the forces
+before Metz. The French generals refused the bait, and were ready when
+the German main army struck along the old road from Metz to Paris. The
+Germans were defeated and left 40,000 dead on the battlefield. This
+was the greatest battle in the history of the world.
+
+Great Britain declared war on Germany for violating the neutrality of
+Belgium and the war feeling in Canada became intense. It was realized
+that Canada must participate. The only question was what form aid
+would take.
+
+For a number of years the question of the "German Peril" had been
+discussed, but a great many people imagined that the anti-German talk
+was a mild form of Jingoism. It soon became known that Great Britain
+would accept the defence of the sea as her share of the war, and that
+only a small field army would be sent abroad. The great question for a
+few days was, would Canada be allowed to send a contingent to serve
+with the Allies? Again, as in the case of the South African war, the
+arm-chair critics were in favor of drafting a number of Canadians to
+serve with the British regiments. Sir Robert Borden, however, was not
+long in making it known that a contingent of Canadians would be
+enlisted and that they would serve abroad as a unit, under their own
+officers. Then there was much rejoicing.
+
+The next question that arose was whether the unit was to be composed
+of regiments of militia, drafts from militia regiments, or recruits
+from outside the militia. The Minister of Militia and Defence promptly
+announced that he would accept battalions or units from Militia
+regiments and that the men would serve under their own officers. This
+was highly satisfactory.
+
+The guiding hand of his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught,
+Governor-General, the first soldier of Europe, was seen everywhere, at
+the beginning and throughout the war. It was a fortunate matter for
+Canada that he was Governor-General at the time.
+
+To the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Borden, was due the splendid
+response to the call to arms of the Canadian people. He put duty
+before public applause of petty politics like a true Canadian. Future
+generations will do full credit to his unselfishness.
+
+Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the leader of the Opposition, brushing aside all
+partizanship, earnestly seconded the efforts of the Government. His
+splendid patriotism never rose to greater heights than in this trying
+time.
+
+A meeting of the 48th Highlanders was immediately called at the
+Officers' quarters, and they were asked to say whether they desired
+the regiment to go as a complete battalion. The first man to say "yes"
+was the regimental surgeon, Major MacKenzie, whose subsequent services
+at Flanders were of great value. Other officers tendered their
+services and it was seen at once that there would be plenty of
+officers; as for the men, numbers were available, and it was decided
+then and there that the regiment would go as a unit. Some officers
+could not see their way to go. Business and family ties prevented
+them. Happy is that militia regiment whose senior officers are at all
+times ready to sacrifice their business as well as their lives in the
+service of the country.
+
+It was my duty as the Commanding Officer to see the Minister of
+Militia at once and tender the services of the 48th Highlanders as a
+unit. Those were strenuous days for the Minister. At Ottawa I found
+him surrounded by his staff, with sleeves rolled up, dealing with
+heaps of correspondence and a long row of people outside in the
+ante-room waiting to see him. I asked him if he would take the
+Regiment, kilts and all, and he promptly said he would, that in a few
+hours orders would be issued for the Militia to enlist for foreign
+service and that a great camp of instruction would be formed at
+Valcartier, where they would all be prepared for overseas service. In
+the meantime, the units enlisting or volunteering would be drilled at
+local Headquarters, and the 48th and the Toronto units would go into
+camp at Long Branch for a few weeks. The announcement was made in the
+press that the 48th had volunteered, under my command, and on my
+return I ordered a parade of the regiment on Friday, August 8th, to
+start work for overseas and open recruit classes.
+
+On Friday evening, the battalion paraded nine hundred and fifty-three
+strong. The great Armories were thronged with people and hundreds had
+to be refused permission to enter. The people were filled with the war
+spirit and the excitement was intense. The two bands were on hand, the
+brass with forty-five musicians and the pipes with twenty pipers. The
+battalion marched through the streets, and all along the line of march
+for over a mile the streets were so thronged with a cheering crowd
+that it was almost impossible for the men in fours to march through.
+Thousands of flags waved and the people were much excited. Some one
+for a joked waved the German flag at the head of the regiment and in a
+moment it was torn from his hand and trampled to pieces by the crowd.
+The joker had a narrow escape with his life. That night, three hundred
+and fifty-five recruits joined for overseas service. Many men in the
+regiment had served for years and in some instances father and son
+stood side by side in the ranks.
+
+It was felt it would not be fair to take many men of middle age along.
+This was going to be a long war and required young men, and the age
+limit was put at thirty years, the height at five feet eight inches
+and the chest measurement at thirty-eight inches. These were the
+limits given to the recruiting sergeants, and with lots of men
+offering, we knew that we would have no difficulty in getting all we
+required.
+
+Orders for the mobilization, on the 15th of August, of the Canadian
+Militia, were issued. Instructions for the Toronto Corps to go into
+training at Long Branch were also given and I was instructed that
+whilst at Long Branch I would have to officiate as Brigadier. On the
+17th of August the 48th Highlanders paraded at the Armories and,
+headed by the pipers playing "We will take the High Road," they
+marched to the Union Station and entrained for Long Branch Camp.
+
+Long Branch is located about twelve miles west of the City of Toronto.
+Here there is an excellent Rifle Range and ample accommodation for
+four or five thousand men. Major Sweny, a Canadian officer in the
+British Army, who was attached to the Canadian instructional staff,
+and Major Dixon, acted as Brigade staff officers, and very soon the
+camp was in running order.
+
+The first night the Battalion spent in camp there was a terrible
+thunder-storm, one of the worst in years. It was our first night on
+active service and no doubt many wondered if this presaged the future
+of the "Red Watch" in Flanders.
+
+There was not much sleep for the Commanding Officer that night. What
+with the terrific storm which lit up the landscape as light as day,
+and the newly-acquired responsibility of drilling and disciplining a
+battalion of raw troops for the war, the outlook spelt much hard work.
+Drilling a Battalion of Militia once a week was fun compared with such
+work, for besides the foot and arm drill there was the field training,
+and worst of all, the training of the men and non-commissioned
+officers in the duties of a soldier in quarters and in the field. The
+material was of the very best quality, comprising college men,
+business men, and men associated with the industrial life of the
+country. The responsibility of its form and future rested on its
+commanding officer. The officers and non-commissioned officers had to
+be trained from the beginning. In the British army the tradition of
+the duties of officers and non-commissioned officers,--the interior
+economy of the regiment--descends from generation to generation as
+unwritten laws or rules. Certain things are done in a certain way,
+often differently from other corps, in memory of some event in the
+history of the regiment. We had no standing orders and no regimental
+traditions. In a regular regiment a non-com. learns how to "carry on"
+his work from practical experience and seeing other non-coms. doing
+their work. Long before he becomes a "duty" non-com., he knows what to
+do. In our case these duties would have to be taught by means of
+lectures. This would be difficult. The first morning we were in camp,
+classes for the officers and non-commissioned officers were started.
+The Adjutant, Captain Darling, and Lieutenant Warren, who was made
+Assistant Adjutant, rendered very valuable services at this juncture,
+as did also Sergeant-Major Grant, Sergeant Alex. Sinclair, who was
+given a Commission, and Sergeant Radcliffe, who subsequently became a
+Company Commander in one of the Battalions of the Staffordshire
+regiment, and was wounded at the Dardanelles. The men were turned over
+for musketry instruction to Captain McGregor. Fortunately, we had
+several good musketry instructors, among them Sergeant Hawkins, winner
+of the King's prize at Bisley, Sergeant Graham and Sergeant Williams,
+bayonet instructor.
+
+All young men who desired to qualify as non-coms. and instructors were
+asked to join these classes, and they responded in large numbers. They
+became highly efficient, and when we went to England, quite a few
+transferred to the New Army as instructional officers and rose very
+rapidly in the British service.
+
+The organization and discipline of the Light Division in the
+Peninsular War, trained by Sir John Moore and General Crauford, has
+always been noted as a model for future armies. It was decided to
+follow as closely as possible this system, and the Standing Orders of
+the Light Division, that served with such distinction under the Duke
+of Wellington in Spain, Portugal and France, became the basis of the
+standing orders of our new Highland battalion. The instructional
+classes, once established, ran on very smoothly. Great stress was laid
+upon acquiring a good clear, decisive and loud word of command. There
+is nothing that will galvanize a Highland Battalion into action like a
+sharp word of command with the "rs" well sounded.
+
+The duties of Brigadier at Long Branch did not prove as onerous as
+expected, as the units that went out for training there were officered
+by experienced instructors who were accustomed to training camps at
+Niagara, so the work of hammering the various troops into shape
+proceeded very rapidly. The anti-militarists, however, were very busy
+and persisted in anonymously calling me up by telephone and pointing
+out to me what a terrible thing it was to take up arms against the
+Kaiser and to take so many fine men off with me to the war. Others
+wrote annoying anonymous letters calling down the wrath of Heaven on
+my head for trying to mix Canada in the war, whilst a third faction
+suffering from the Celtic gift of second sight described how
+mysterious falling stars and meteors flashing across the sky at night,
+and other portents, presaged dire disaster to the British arms in the
+war, and more particularly to the 48th Highlanders.
+
+Staff officers, Majors Dixon and Sweny, were both soon called to
+Valcartier to help organize the first contingent. Later, Major Sweny
+left for England to join his regiment, which had been ordered to the
+Front. Had Major Sweny remained in Canada he no doubt would have been
+given a command high up on the staff, and very rapid promotion, but he
+chose to play the manlier part, and joined his own regiment in England
+when called. The war gave him well deserved promotion.
+
+On August the 18th, the House of Commons met in Ottawa and the Speech
+from the Throne was read by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught,
+khaki being the uniform of the military men present. A short visit to
+Ottawa to say good-bye to colleagues in the House of Commons, a brief
+trip to Collingwood in my constituency to lay the corner stone of a
+new postoffice building, and I was back again at the work of preparing
+for Flanders. The soldiers were hardly settled in camp at Long Branch,
+when orders were given that every man would have to be inoculated
+against typhoid, and the process began on a Saturday. The men lined up
+cheerfully and let the regimental surgeon, Major MacKenzie, jab a
+needle and the serum into their arms.
+
+The following Sunday there was a Church parade. The sermon was
+preached by Rev. Major Crawford Brown, the regimental Chaplain. The
+various units in camp paraded at a small natural amphitheatre near the
+lines. Many people motored out from Toronto to attend the service. The
+band of the regiment, under Lieut. John Slatter, came out and supplied
+the music for the service. The day was beautifully bright and a trifle
+warm. After the sermon had commenced, many of the men began to feel
+the effects of the serum and a few toppled over, and for the first
+time the new battalion heard the call of "stretcher bearer." The men
+were all ordered to sit down. The effect of the inoculation is to make
+one have real typhoid for a few hours, after that there is a quick
+recovery, and the absence of typhoid among the men subsequently spoke
+volumes for the efficacy of the preventative.
+
+Every evening the battalion had a camp fire and "sing-song," and
+hundreds of people came out from Toronto to join in the fun, which
+consisted of band music, choruses and Highland dancing. The days
+passed very pleasantly and quickly. On August 27th, orders arrived for
+the battalion to go to Valcartier to join the contingent being formed
+there for overseas service, and an advance party left for that camp
+at once. The date for the departure of the battalion was fixed for
+Saturday, August 29th. That was to be the first march on the road to
+Flanders.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+ORGANIZING IMPERIAL BATTALIONS
+
+
+The work of organizing and equipping the Canadian Imperial battalions
+for overseas service was taken up with great vigor by the Minister of
+Militia, Major-General Sir Sam Hughes, and the officers of his
+Department.
+
+Owing to the influence of the churches the best class of youth in the
+country came forward in large numbers. The Clergy appealed to the
+athletes that had been trained in the Gymnasiums of the Y.M.C.A., and
+the ranks soon contained a large sprinkling of Canadian lacrosse and
+hockey players. It was afterwards to be shown that the manly and
+strenuous native Canadian sports, lacrosse and hockey, practised by
+almost every boy in the country from the time he is able to walk, are
+of a character admirably suited to produce bold and courageous
+soldiers. Boys who have been accustomed to handle lacrosse and hockey
+sticks, develop arm and shoulder muscles that make the carrying and
+use of the rifle easy. Firing for hours during a hot and sustained
+engagement does not fatigue nor exhaust them as it otherwise would. In
+the rough work of the bayonet charge, they keep their heads, and have
+confidence in their ability at close quarters to overcome their
+antagonist. They do not dread a blow or a bayonet, for they have been
+accustomed to roughing it all their lives. When it comes to "cold
+steel," it is the man who has the courage and confidence in himself
+that wins, for nineteen times out of twenty the other man is dominated
+before blades are crossed, and at once either throws up his hands or
+runs.
+
+The moral character and influence of these men permeated the first
+contingent, with the result that never since the days of Cromwell's
+New Army did the Empire possess a more athletic, courageous or
+God-fearing army than the First Canadian Contingent. The work of
+carving the name of "Canada" in the annals of the war was entrusted to
+the hands of these clean, sober, religious, athletic young men. How
+they kept this trust history in future ages will tell in letters of
+gold. Many clergymen of various denominations who had been foremost in
+preaching Pacifism, upon hearing of the ruthless invasion of Belgium,
+realized the hollow sham of German culture, and saw the Hun in his
+true light. With the Empire plunged into a great war, it was not a
+time to consider the ancient and pampered ideas of consistency. Until
+the German was destroyed there could be no peace of any kind. To their
+eternal credit, be it said, they flung themselves whole-heartedly into
+the cause, and none equalled them in preaching resistance, recruiting
+and working night and day for the Red Cross Society and various other
+patriotic and national organizations.
+
+With such vast numbers of men coming forward there was a good deal of
+discussion as to who should be first taken, the arguments being very
+much in favor of the veterans or "ribbon" men who had seen service in
+previous campaigns. About two thousand of the men who had gone from
+Canada to the South African war were still living, and a great many
+veterans from the Old Country had immigrated to Canada, and with few
+exceptions they unhesitatingly offered their services. If they passed
+the surgeon they were taken on, and afterwards they did good service.
+They were especially numerous in the Princess Pats, the British
+Columbian and Western Regiments. These men, although foreign born,
+prided themselves on being "Canadians." They increased, however, the
+percentage of those in the first contingent born outside of Canada,
+but the officers of the first contingent almost to a man were
+Canadians.
+
+On Saturday, August 29th, 1914, our Battalion paraded early in the
+morning and bade farewell to Long Branch Camp. The night before we
+left we had a "sing-song" or concert. Arrangements had been made for
+us to take cars for Toronto in the morning and rendezvous at the
+Armories during the noon-hour, when the men would be allowed to see
+their friends or sweethearts. We entrained safely and made a brave
+show as we marched up Queen Street to the Armories, the pipes playing
+"Highland Laddie." Shortly after one o'clock the people began to
+gather and they soon filled the drill hall. There was very little
+gloom and everybody was cheerful.
+
+As we fell in, the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Gibson, and Lady
+Gibson, arrived and they spoke to me of their son, Lieutenant Frank
+Gibson, who was one of my officers, expressing their pleasure at his
+being an officer of the corps. A gallant young soldier he was, indeed;
+a graduate of the Royal Military College, and always wearing a
+pleasant smile. Other parents spoke of their sons to me. Some of the
+older officers of the garrison were afraid that my officers were too
+young and that we did not have enough officers of mature years, but
+experience was to show that age does not give a monopoly of courage or
+bravery, nor of fortitude and good judgment.
+
+Memorable addresses were delivered by the Lieutenant-Governor, the
+Mayor of the City, Mr. Hocken, and by the Chaplain Major, the Rev.
+Crawford Brown. His excellent address was full of comfort and cheer
+for the men. He told them it was a great honor to be permitted to go
+to the front and that their country would always esteem them and owe
+them a debt of gratitude. The Armories rang with cheers as the pipes
+struck up the war tune, "Well take the High Road," and the battalion
+swung out of the doors and into the drizzling rain that was falling,
+but in spite of which, thousands of people lined the streets. Every
+step we took the excitement became more intense, and by the time we
+reached the Don Station where we were to entrain for Valcartier,
+almost all semblance of order was gone from the ranks. Young ladies
+carried the men's rifles, others decorated them with flowers, others
+clung to their arms and the sidewalks were a mass of excited cheering
+humanity. Friends and relations came from all over the Province of
+Ontario to see the regiment off for the front. I have seen many crowds
+in my life, and excited ones at that, but the crowd that covered the
+Don Bridge above the station and every available vantage point and
+avenue that led to our train that afternoon was by long odds the
+largest. It was estimated that 100,000 gathered to see us off. The
+farewell the people gave us was very touching. There were no tears, no
+wailing, but cheers, earnestness and good will, and a hearty send-off.
+In spite of the crowd the men found their way to their respective
+cars, and we pulled out of the station on the second lap of our
+journey to the Front, on time.
+
+Lieutenant Barwick acted as transport officer and the parade state
+showed 970 men and officers.
+
+We had an excellent run on the Canadian Northern Railway to Quebec,
+but lost a little time there and were late in reaching Valcartier. The
+men had their blankets, rifles, and equipment complete with them. They
+were fitted out ready for the field with everything but ammunition.
+
+When we arrived at Valcartier it was still raining, but the troops
+already there turned out and lined the roadway to cheer and see us
+march in. The Minister of Militia met us at the station, together with
+Lt.-Colonel Murphy of Ottawa, and guides led us to the lines where we
+were to be quartered for the night.
+
+Nature has done much to adorn Valcartier and every mile along the road
+from Quebec to this beautiful valley is rich in historic associations.
+First, there is the St. Charles river, whose shallows and mud flats
+foiled General Wolfe in his first assault upon Quebec. A few miles
+along we came near to the ruins of the famous Chateau Noir or
+Hermitage of Intendant Bigot, made famous in story by Kirby in "Le
+Chien D'Or;" by Sir Gilbert Parker in "The Seats of the Mighty"; by
+W.D. Howells and by Joseph Marinette. Only a heap of ruins are left.
+The famous maze is gone, chopped into firewood, no doubt. Still
+nightly the spirit of Caroline, according to local traditions,
+haunts the spot where she was murdered by her jealous rival, Madame
+Pean. Further on, there is the village of Loretto where hundreds of
+years ago the first mission to the Indians was established in Canada.
+Here are living to-day the last of that mighty Indian tribe, the
+Hurons, who in the beginning cast in their lot with the French
+settlers, and paid for it later by being annihilated by the fierce
+Iroquois, the Allies of the British. For over two hundred years, since
+1697, this remnant have lived in security within the sound of Loretto
+Falls, and worshipped for over one hundred and fifty years in the
+Mission Church of Loretto, which is a replica of the Santa Casa of
+Loretto and contains a copy of the Loretto figure of the Virgin.
+
+    [Illustration: OFFICERS OF THE 48TH HIGHLANDERS
+
+    From Left to Right--Top Row: Lt. J.A.M. Livingstone, (W); Lt.
+    W.P. Malone; Lt. L.V. Jones, (G.P.); Lt. H.M. Scott, (G); Lt.
+    G.P. Taylor, (K); Lt. R.H. Davidson; Lt. Q.T. Langmuir,(K);
+    Hon. Capt. Moffat, Chaplain; Lt. H.A. Barwick,(G.P.); Lt. F.M.
+    Gibson,(K).
+
+    Second Row Standing: Lt. A.J. Sinclair, (W); Lt. E.W. Bickle,
+    (W.G.); Lt. A.E. Muir, (K); Lt. C.V. Fessenden, (G.P.); Lt.
+    E.O. Bath, (G.P.); Lt. W.B. Lawson; Lt. F.H.C. MacDonald,
+    (G.P.); Lt. F.J. Smith, (G.P.); Lt. J.A. Dansereau (W.G.); Lt.
+    W.W. Jago, (W); Lt. W. Mavor, (G.W. 3); Lt. P.G. Campbell; Lt.
+    P.P. Acland, M.C., (W).
+
+    Sitting Down; Capt. Frank Perry; Capt. A.M. Daniels, (K);
+    Capt. C.H. Musgrove, (W); Capt. F.G.M. Alexander, M.C.,
+    (G.P.); Surgeon Major A.J. MacKenzie; Lt. Col. Wm. Hendrie,
+    (Divisional Remount Officer); Col. J.A. Currie, M.P., (G),
+    (Commanding Officer); Major W.R. Marshall, D.S.O., (K); Major
+    J.E.K. Osborne, (W.G.P.): Capt. G.H. McLaren, (G.); Capt. A.R.
+    McGregor, (K.); Capt. R.R. McKessock, (G.W.P.).]
+
+Further on, the road leads to where, through a deep gash in the mighty
+Laurentian Mountains, the Jacques Cartier river makes its troubled way
+to the broad St. Lawrence. There, in a beautiful wide valley, amid
+high mountains rising in graceful terraces from the river and
+overlooking the St. Lawrence, about one hundred years ago, a number of
+veterans that had followed Wellington to Waterloo formed a settlement,
+and beat their swords into ploughshares. They sleep now in the village
+churchyard, unmindful of drum or trumpet. Their descendents lived
+there only yesterday, but now their lands had been bought out to
+provide the grounds for Valcartier Camp.
+
+The outlook for us was not very inviting after the clean camps pitched
+in the green fields at Long Branch, but the Department had done
+wonders during the time at its disposal. In less than three weeks a
+swamp had been cleared up, streets laid out with water mains, and even
+in some places sidewalks were laid. Mount Roby resounded to the shrill
+blast of the bugle, the rattle of rifles and the roar of field guns.
+The work of making a camp on a large scale was being carried out by
+hundreds of workmen, under foremen skilled in laying out cities and
+towns in Western Canada. The day after we arrived we were given our
+own lines and we settled down to hard work.
+
+We transferred to our battalion enough men to fill our ranks up to the
+Imperial Establishment of 1,170 rank and file, including the base
+company and the transport. In order to accomplish this small
+detachments were taken from the 95th regiment, Cobalt and Sudbury,
+composed of miners and prospectors, also from the 31st Regiment, of
+Grey County, and the 13th Scottish Dragoons.
+
+The 48th Highlanders, the "Red Watch," became the 15th Battalion of
+the First Canadian Division, C.E.F. It was subsequently, with all its
+officers, N.C.O.'s and men, granted the status of a Regular Imperial
+Regiment and given its name, "48th Highlanders," in the British Army
+List.
+
+The regiment was turned over by the commanding officer, fully
+uniformed and equipped for the field as a regular Highland battalion
+without expense to the Crown except for rifles, bayonets and
+knapsacks, thus saving the country $25,000.
+
+The camp was under the command of Colonel Victor Williams. It was no
+small task to clothe, equip and drill, ready for active warfare, some
+thirty-three thousand men. No liquor was allowed in the camp and there
+was very little difficulty with the men.
+
+On Sunday, September 7th, the Division was reviewed by the Duke of
+Connaught. The battalions marched past in lines of half-battalions and
+made a very good showing.
+
+Night and day the officers and men were hard at it. One of the
+greatest of many difficulties that were met was the selection of the
+officers and men for the contingent.
+
+At first it was suggested that all the officers should be examined as
+to their fitness, and a Board was appointed to look them over, but in
+a few days this Board threw up its hands and the matter of selection
+was left to the Commanding Officers.
+
+Many who had never served in the Militia were clamoring for commands
+and the Minister of Militia had some work on his hands. The contingent
+was formed into brigades and our battalion was put into the Highland
+Brigade, which consisted of our Regiment, the Royal Highlanders of
+Canada, Montreal, the Royal Regiment of Montreal, made up principally
+of French-Canadians, and the 16th battalion, subsequently called the
+Canadian Scottish, a composite corps consisting of Highland Companies
+from Victoria and Vancouver, B.C., from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and from
+Hamilton, Ontario. Each company wore a different tartan, but that did
+not interfere with their efficiency. Colonel Turner, V.C., was given
+the command.
+
+On the 14th of September we were again reviewed by His Royal Highness,
+in the presence of General Crozier, an American officer. Rain to some
+extent interfered, as it had with the previous review. On Sunday,
+September 20th, Canon Scott, of Quebec, preached a field sermon to the
+Division. A platform had been erected and His Excellency and his staff
+took part in the service and subsequently reviewed the troops. The
+Prime Minister, Sir Robert Borden, arrived in the morning and called
+on our battalion. Our officers were all introduced. He was accompanied
+by Lady Borden. The transports were already beginning to gather in the
+St. Lawrence that were to carry the contingent to England. Our
+equipment was very nearly complete and enough drill had been given to
+make us fairly respectable. We all thought we were fit for the field.
+We learnt differently afterwards.
+
+It is very strange how the idea seems to get hold of a man, the minute
+he gets into khaki uniform, that he is a fully-trained soldier. In
+Canada, for years, we had no regular soldiers, and the training
+generally was of a kind patterned after the South African War. Straw
+hats and overalls were worn by the infantry, and the irregular cavalry
+swagger was the fashion. It was fondly imagined that any Canadian who
+could shoot straight and who had a week's training could take his
+place in the ranks and would be just as good a soldier as a regular of
+the King's first Army. No sooner was a man in uniform than everybody
+began asking him the question "When are you going to the Front?"
+assuming that was a question he could settle himself, and that he
+would be anything but in the way and a nuisance at the Front, owing to
+his lack of discipline and training. The public in this way made the
+men's and officers' lives very miserable. It was almost impossible to
+settle down to a hard course of training. Lord Kitchener had placed
+the period necessary for getting a man into shape as a soldier at six
+months. By great effort that period might be shortened, but from the
+experience we gained nine months would be nearer the mark. The
+training could be hurried by giving two months of foot and arm drill,
+two months' special training of the men in special units, such as
+signallers, stretcher bearers, machine gunners, bomb throwers, etc.,
+and two months in hard field-training with lots of night work. But the
+press of the country was clamoring for us to go to the Front, and
+public opinion said "hurry." The battalions were all organized and
+orders came for us to move on the 29th of September.
+
+There was a slight drizzle of rain in the morning when we paraded for
+the march out. Our transport waggons had to move out early and march
+to Quebec, and it was a difficult job to get them started.
+
+I had done everything in my power to suppress gambling and swearing
+among the men, and on several occasions when individuals were paraded
+before me for using bad language, I had reprimanded them and informed
+them that the use of strong language was always left to the Officer
+Commanding. This particular morning some choice words had to be used
+to get the transport moving. They moved, however, to the tick of the
+clock and Sergeant-Major Grant, with a grin on his face, suggested
+that from now on there would be no more swearing in the ranks, as
+everybody was quite satisfied with the Commanding officer's
+qualifications in that regard.
+
+Again the pipes struck up "We'll take the High Road," and after a
+march of about a mile and a half to a siding, we entrained in two
+sections for Quebec.
+
+At Quebec we had not long to wait. The transport "Megantic," one of
+the finest ships on the North Atlantic, was hauled up at the pier with
+long planks out to take our regiment on board. The horses and waggons
+were to go on a separate ship, although there was plenty of room for
+them on board. We were all glad to get away, for it was becoming
+monotonous having everybody we met asking "When are you going away?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE NEW ARMADA
+
+
+The St. Lawrence River at Quebec presented a busy scene. Never since
+the days of the Tercentennial of the discovery of the River by Jacques
+Cartier, when King George and the British fleet, headed by H.M.S. "The
+Indomitable," were present, was there so much activity, or so many
+ships in the harbor. As soon as each transport was loaded it pulled
+away from the pier and dropped anchor in the stream. When all our
+troops were on board the "Megantic" we cast loose, pulled up the
+stream off Cape Diamond, and "dropped our hook," as a landsman in the
+ranks was heard to remark. The hotels and boarding houses of the City
+were filled with friends of the men who had come on excursions to bid
+the soldiers good-bye. The City was full of life and activity and
+brilliantly lighted up and the scene at night was very beautiful. Old
+Cape Diamond wearing its crown and sparkling with thousands of
+electric lights looked its name. In its shadow on the evening before
+he climbed the heights at Ainse d'Fulon Cove, now dim and silent in
+the distance, to win the immortal battle of the Plains of Abraham,
+General Wolfe had recited Gray's "Elegy" and unconsciously the
+prophetic words "The Paths of Glory lead but to the Grave" arose in
+the mind. In these shadows Wolfe had brooded over those plans which on
+a succeeding morrow were to mature and lead to three of the greatest
+epochs in the history of the world--the fall of Quebec, which placed
+in the hands of Britannia the trident of the world's naval supremacy,
+destroying the foundations of the ancient regime of France, and laying
+the corner stone of the great American Republic.
+
+Some one among the crew was humming the refrain of the old
+anchor-hoisting song, "Le Chien d'Or--I love your Daughter;" a melody
+that has haunted the River St. Lawrence since the day when his
+comrades forcibly carried off Admiral Nelson, then a "middy," from the
+wiles and fascinations of the daughter of the landlord of "Le Chien
+d'Or."
+
+The distant tramp of battalions, the rumble of battery after battery
+as they marched through the crooked streets, came faintly from the
+shore. The slumbers of a hundred years of peace had been rudely
+broken. Europe was ablaze. The hands of the clock of civilization had
+been turned back a century. The Empire was again threatened and Canada
+was at war.
+
+We lay in the river off Quebec from Saturday night until Tuesday
+evening, when we pulled up to the pier again and took on fresh water.
+The Captain had asked me if the bar was to be opened. I said, "No,
+close it up," which he did most cheerfully, remarking that it was the
+first time in twenty-seven years that the White Star line had sailed a
+"dry ship." He had thought he had plenty of water to take us to
+England, but after three days' experience with a lot of dry
+Highlanders he came to the conclusion he was mistaken, so he pulled up
+alongside of the dock again, and a miserable stream of water trickled
+slowly into the tanks, all afternoon and evening.
+
+Colonel Penhale of the Divisional Ammunition Column was on board and
+entitled to seniority. I was very glad to be rid of the responsibility
+of ship management, with its round of inspections at all hours and in
+all weathers.
+
+We had no sooner got settled on board than I asked the Captain to give
+us a plan of his lifeboat stations so that the men could assemble if
+necessary, without any confusion, at their posts at the lifeboats in
+the shortest possible time. I got this plan and then the trouble
+began. The orderly room began to attach the men to their stations by
+lists and I waited patiently for a day and there was still nothing but
+confusion, showing how difficult it is for an office to run a gang of
+men, something I had learned long ago. The Adjutant said "Rush," and
+every time a list was made out it was found that some names were
+missing and then fresh lists had to be made over again. Finally I took
+the sketch of the ship, showing the position of the boats, called the
+Captains of the companies and divided up the boat space among them,
+and told them to first place the men of their companies at the
+different stations with their life belts on, call the rolls of each
+boat squad, then dismiss them, and that in an hour or so I was going
+to "beat" the troops "to quarters." In an hour I caused the alarm
+bugle to sound and there was some scrambling, but I inspected the
+decks and found every man at his post with his life-belt on. The first
+time it took twenty-five minutes. We did this turn three times, so
+that the men soon knew the direct road from their berths to the
+lifeboats and were able to get into position in ten minutes, which is
+considered very good.
+
+A time table of physical drill was prepared and carried out every
+morning and evening. From 9 to 10.30 the right half battalion
+practised first twenty minutes' run round the deck, then the balance
+of the time they spent at physical drill. This was repeated again in
+the afternoon, and the men were all fit when we landed. Officers and
+all had to go the round.
+
+We pulled out of Quebec on Wednesday night at 10.15 and very soon
+everybody settled down to sleep. The night was dark and still as we
+floated down past Cape Diamond. We had a splendid ship, and every day
+our admiration of her increased. Even if there was a gale outside, the
+ship was as steady as a church. Every three men had a room and there
+was a berth for each one. They lived like millionaires. As for the
+officers and sergeants they had every comfort.
+
+Our Captain was a very fine man by the name of James. He was an
+Englishman from Liverpool, with an aristocratic air, but quite modest,
+a gentleman and a seaman every inch of him.
+
+Finally, we pulled into the stream and departed for parts unknown. We
+had a beautiful trip down the St. Lawrence. The sun was shining next
+day, and on the shore we could see the outlines of the French-Canadian
+villages, the long narrow farms and big churches. As we neared Gaspe
+Peninsula the mountains in the distant background were covered with
+snow. One by one we overhauled the steamers that left before us. In the
+evening we were off Flame Point, having dropped our pilot. At Flame
+Point they burned blue rockets or flares on the shore at dusk to give
+us a send-off. Gradually we swung around Gaspe Peninsula as dusk closed
+in. It was then we learned that sealed orders had been given the
+Captain to rendezvous at Gaspe Basin. Soon we came in sight of the
+lights that mark the entrance to this harbor. The Captain had his
+sounding-line going, and I was on the upper deck with the signallers.
+Pretty soon we made out the outlines of a small ship shrouded in
+darkness. We turned our signalling lamp on her and asked her name. In a
+moment came the answer "British Warship, don't go into the harbor until
+daylight." The Captain could not find bottom with his anchor with one
+hundred fathoms of chain out, so he had to stay outside, backing and
+going ahead, all night. We all went to bed feeling secure, with that
+cruiser lying a short distance away. When I woke up in the morning the
+bugles were sounding the "Officers' Call" to breakfast. I looked out of
+my cabin window and after dressing, hastily scrambled on deck. The
+sight in Gaspe Basin was one never to be forgotten. Twenty-eight
+transports were swinging at anchor, many of them the flower of the
+North Atlantic merchant fleet. The ship we were on was the finest of
+the White Star Line, the "Megantic." Some distance away was her sister
+ship the "Laurentic," also the "Franconia," the "Allonia," the "Royal
+George," and the "Royal Edward," all first-class ships. The weather was
+bright, clear and warm, and the water of the Basin as smooth as oil.
+
+Some of our officers got letters before they left Quebec, stating that
+on the previous Sunday prayers had been offered up in the churches for
+the safety of the contingent, which was supposed to be at sea, while
+it was riding quietly at anchor in Quebec harbor. We were waiting for
+the last of the transports to come before we left. About ten o'clock I
+was on the bridge, when I heard cheering, and some one calling my
+name. I ran down the deck, and saw the Minister of Militia, who had
+come on alongside on a tug. He was going the rounds of the fleet. He
+spent a day among the ships, and there was a good deal of talk about
+his going on board one of the transports, but he did not. We all
+expected to see him waiting for us when we landed in England. The day
+passed quietly. No one was allowed ashore. The ship's gig went down to
+see some of the other ships of the White Star fleet and we got some of
+our belated mail. On Saturday we were to sail with the ebb tide. All
+the transports had come in and there was assembled in Gaspe Basin the
+greatest Armada that ever set sail for British shores. We were going
+in this great Armada to assist the Mother Country to maintain the Pax
+Britannicum. There were over twenty-five thousand men in thirty-one
+transports. They were anchored in the harbor in lines, and as the tide
+rose and fell they shifted about, now heading one way, and after the
+lapse of a few hours, in another direction. The Government had kindly
+issued to the officers Colt Automatic Pistols and high power field
+glasses. My glasses were of a very high power, and I could pick out
+the figures of the women and men working about the farm houses five
+miles away. The British warships in the basin were obsolete small
+cruisers of slow speed, the "Diana," the "Eclipse," the "Talbot" and
+the "Charybdis." The latter was the flagship of the Admiral. We looked
+upon these ships with a good deal of apprehension. The "Dresden" or
+"Karlsruhe," the German ships in the Atlantic, would only have a
+mouthful in any one of them, in fact in the whole four. They all
+anchored apart in a separate part of the harbor, and the signaller on
+the Admiral's ship amused himself by signalling, "Is your bar open?"
+"How is the Scotch?" Our men answered back in kind. This mosquito
+fleet appeared to have a big job on its hands to convoy this Armada
+across. Presently a naval "gent," or "hossifer" as some of the crew
+called him, came aboard, and gave the Captain his secret instructions,
+that is, the formation of the convoy, and a rendezvous for each day in
+case the convoy was scattered by fog, storm or other cause. The
+Captain said we were to sail at three o'clock, in three columns,
+right, centre and left line, with some ten ships in each line. The
+speed was to be ten knots. We were to lead the left line, with H.M.S.
+"Eclipse" four cable lengths ahead. The "Charybdis" was to lead the
+centre, and the "Diana" the left of the line, while the "Talbot" acted
+as a rear guard. Our ship started out first. The Captain of the
+"Eclipse" sent the height of his mast back to our Captain and we kept
+the distance constantly by the officer of the deck reading off the
+proper angle with the sextant. In and out our line threaded, and then
+began to zig-zag, until by-and-bye we were out of sight of Gaspe Cape
+and all three lines were abreast.
+
+On the afternoon of the last day before we left a black gas boat
+filled with people came away from the shore. I scanned them carefully
+with my glasses. They came within a couple of hundred yards of our
+ship and after halting, went past, looking over the rest of the fleet.
+The crew were men and women, evidently fisherfolk, all except one
+woman, who sat huddled in the stern. She looked very much like a
+German and under her rough coat she had a fine blouse and good
+clothes. I had my suspicions and could not help thinking she was
+either a newspaper woman or a German spy. I was surprised to find that
+when I mentioned this boat to the Captain at the dinner table, he said
+she had a suspicious passenger on board, like a "German woman." He was
+some observer, was Captain James, R.N.R. He said "My word, we had one
+like her on board the last passage over. I set sail north for
+Greenland, keeping out of the way and coming in by Belle Isle. This
+woman had a basket on her arm when she came on board. I noticed her
+basket, and the pigeons in it soon found their way to the pot. I took
+them from her. She raised a storm, but I did not want any carrier
+pigeons on board. They made good pie."
+
+Now I should say a word about this country before we leave it. The
+Basin where we rendezvoued was beautiful and well protected. A number
+of fishing boats flew white sails and proclaimed the principal
+industry of the villagers. French-Canadians reside on the shore. The
+most prominent objects on the horizon were the great churches that
+have the customary gilded spire and the clusters of white cottages
+about them. The shore rises steeply and the farms taper back into the
+forests that crown the hills of the background, which rise fully one
+thousand feet above the sea. On our left hand as we left the Basin
+were huge clay or sandstone cliffs cut away by the fierce swells of
+the Gulf. A lighthouse crowned the Point, with a flag staff from which
+a Union Jack stood out in the wind as stiff as a board. On the left
+there were masses of rock to mark the shore line, and several small
+islands. In one place we could plainly see an arched rock called
+"Pierced Rock," where the sea passed below a natural bridge.
+
+The moon came up brightly as we sailed out into the Gulf. By-and-bye
+clouds fleeced about it and formed a peculiar halo resembling a cross.
+We took that for a good omen. We were speculating whether we were to
+go by Belle Isle or Cape Ray, but about nine o'clock the three lines
+set their course southeast and then we knew we were to take the
+southern route. The weather was all that could be desired, and the
+water as smooth as a mill pond. It was slightly cool, as the breezes
+always are from Newfoundland. In the morning we could see that ancient
+Colony, Cape Rae, with its lighthouse and wireless station. We had
+wireless on board, but were not allowed to use it except to intercept
+messages. When the Captain took his observation at noon, October 4th,
+we were in Lat. N. 47 deg. 36', Long. W. 59 deg. 51'. On a chart at the main
+companion way each day's run was recorded with the latitude and
+longitude. We had what they called north-easterly gales and fine
+weather. Along about noon we caught a glimpse of Cape Breton in the
+distance. Nothing occurred all day. It was cloudy to the north and
+west and clear to the south, with the sun shining. We had started a
+dry canteen when we left Quebec, and it was doing a land office
+business. No drinks of an intoxicating nature were sold on board.
+
+When the Captain took his observation we had only sailed 190 miles
+from Gaspe. The next day was fine. In the morning we saw a ship loom
+up on our left and the cruiser flew out to "speak" her. Evidently she
+was all right, "The Bruce," bound from Newfoundland to Sydney. When
+she saw us first she started to run away, for the sight of our Armada
+was a very impressive one. The chase lasted only a short time when she
+discovered we were friends. Then in a very strange way a large grey
+battleship slid in from the horizon on our left and was etched against
+the bright sky. Volumes of smoke rose from her large funnels and two
+big masts with fighting tops made her look quite formidable. She had
+been out of sight just beyond the horizon all the time. We found that
+she was H.M.S. "Glory," a dreadnought. It felt very comfortable to
+have her there, speed twenty-three knots and four twelve-inch guns.
+
+Along in the afternoon two whales spouting water came along and had a
+look at the fleet. They kept with us for some time but presently got
+tired.
+
+At noon on the 5th, we were in Lat. 46 deg. 17', Long. 35 deg. 03', having
+sailed 213 miles in the 24 hours. The transport "Monmouth" had been
+giving us trouble, by constantly dropping back. The next day we would
+be out of sight of Newfoundland, and we wondered what weather we would
+get. The men were kept busy drilling and exercising, so were the
+officers. I was made Hon. President of the ship's Y.M.C.A., and a
+concert held on board netted a neat sum for the Patriotic fund. We had
+four preachers on board. We were to have had a priest, but in some way
+he did not turn up. To-day another steamer was chased by the
+"Charybdis" but she gave us the slip. She had the "legs" on us all, as
+the Captain said, and disappeared into a bank of fog to the north.
+Then we got clear of Cape Race, which we did not see. The wind changed
+to southwest, and began breaking up the nasty swell that came down
+the Atlantic. We had made in the twenty-four hours only 210 knots, our
+position being Lat. N. 45 deg. 36', Long. W. 50 deg. 11'. During the night the
+rudder gear jammed and our ship began to run amuck among the fleet. We
+all slept through it, but the Captain had to stay on deck till it was
+fixed. No harm done.
+
+The next day was also fine. There had always been a storm behind us,
+but it had not yet caught up. On the 7th of October at noon we were
+Lat. 46 deg. 46' N., Long. 45 deg. 25' W., another 210 miles to our credit,
+and we were due about the 20th in Southampton at this rate. In the
+evening we were amused by a school of dolphins that chased each other
+about the ship, jumping out of the water, and acting up generally. We
+expected very soon to be in the Gulf stream, where the weather would
+be milder. The electric heater in my room was hardly large enough to
+cope with the chill in the air. On the 8th we made 214 miles and the
+"Monmouth," which was still giving trouble, was ordered up to the
+front and signalled by the Admiral to "stoke up." The Admiral had all
+the Captains scared stiff. Along in the afternoon we got into the Gulf
+stream. A man threw a green canvas pail overboard, dipped it full and
+took the temperature of the water. It was 56 deg.. Next day at noon it was
+62 deg..
+
+On the 9th we made 250 miles, which was a record run. The "Monmouth"
+had found her second wind and was going strong. Some of the ships were
+tossing but not very much. I forgot to say that on the 7th, a soldier
+on the ship astern of us died. He was a reservist going home to rejoin
+his regiment. The ship dropped out of the line and lowered her flag to
+half mast, and tolled her bell, whilst they buried him at sea.
+
+All this time the weather was all that could be desired, with bright
+sunny days, a mackerel sky and moonlight nights, the moon being at its
+full.
+
+The first night out, the Captain called my attention to a comet which
+was showing to the north, and according to traditions said to be a
+harbinger of war, but when we went to look for it with our glasses it
+had gone down. We saw it on the evening of the 7th just south of the
+second star in the tail of the "Dipper" or Great Bear. Looking through
+my glasses, which were the most powerful on board, being more so than
+the ship's telescopes, I could see it quite clearly with a great tail
+stretching to the northeast. In a week or so it would be quite large.
+The weather continued bright and all the time a storm hung on behind
+us, but never caught up.
+
+On the 8th we got well into the Gulf stream, and the temperature of
+the water registered 62 deg. to 65 deg.. The nights had been so cold before
+this that I had to get out my eiderdown, but when we got into the warm
+water, that had to be discarded. We had a bit of a swell from the
+north, and we all felt a shade miserable but not enough to be really
+sick. During the day a large six-masted schooner, with a barge ahead
+of her, hove in sight and started down the line. The "Eclipse" went
+after her and led her out of the convoy line. "My," said the Captain
+to me, "that fellow will have his ticket taken from him for not
+keeping out of the way of a convoy." I found that a complaint from a
+naval officer can take away the papers of an officer of the merchant
+service.
+
+On Saturday the 10th, when I got up, and looked out of my window, there
+on the port bow was another big warship. When I had a good look at her,
+I recognized that she was of what they call the Superdreadnought class.
+It turned out that she was the "Princess Royal," nicknamed H.M.S.
+"Hellfire." She has a speed of 34 knots an hour, and carried eight
+13-1/2" guns, besides being very heavily armoured. God help the German
+that she marked down, for she was one of the most powerful fighting
+machines afloat.
+
+On Saturday afternoon I gave the men a half-holiday, which they
+appreciated very much. The officers spent their spare time playing
+shuffle board, and other games such as are practised on board ship.
+
+I gave lectures in the afternoons to officers on map reading and
+topography. They were apparently very interested and a number of the
+outside officers asked leave to attend. There was only one set of
+instruments for fifty officers so the class was carried on with
+difficulty. Much had to be left till we got ashore. On Sunday
+religious services were held by the various denominations.
+
+I forgot to say that on the morning of the 5th, off Cape Race, there
+was an alarm in the convoy, a "man overboard." The ships began
+sounding their horns, and the "Royal Edward," with the "Princess Pats"
+on board, turned out of the line and began lowering her boats, at the
+same time flying her flags. The next ship astern dropped a boat also,
+and the man was picked up after being in the chilly water for about
+fifteen minutes. Then the Admiral sent a message back that the men
+were not to climb the rigging.
+
+On Sunday the "Allonia" left the convoy and went on ahead with the
+Admiral. It was rumoured they had gone to try and get the British
+Government to send the contingent over to recover Antwerp, which we
+learned by wireless had fallen on Sunday. The gale continued all day
+Monday with a misty fog from the north. We would be off Land's End in
+the morning.
+
+On Sunday afternoon another warship of the Dreadnought class quietly
+took her place ahead of us. It was H.M.S. "Majestic." The sailors said
+that this was the finest voyage they had ever had at this time of the
+year.
+
+On Monday, the 12th, we had a signalling competition amongst the
+companies. Each company had been teaching all the men the semaphore
+code. It is a good thing to start with, but at the Front they use only
+the Morse system. About seventy-five per cent. of the men of the
+regiment could read the semaphore alphabet very readily. When a
+warship sent a signal everybody on board read it. "H" Company won the
+signalling competition.
+
+    [Illustration: GROUP NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 48TH
+    HIGHLANDERS]
+
+The same evening we had a concert given by "F" Company, commanded by
+Captain Osborne. I was asked to attend and did so. It was a great
+success.
+
+I was wakened Monday morning by some one pounding on the door telling
+me that land was in sight. I got up and dressed, had some tea and buns
+and went on deck. There was Lizard Point ahead in the mist. It was
+blowing a gale, but the sea was not very heavy.
+
+We detached from the convoy about ten o'clock on the 12th, and the
+swifter ships started to sail on, but still no one knew what our
+destination would be. Last evening the signallers brought us a message
+from our General, whoever that might be, saying "dye white haversacks"
+"and carry a day's rations, on disembarkation." He did not know that
+dye and coffee had run out so that the men could not dye their white
+haversacks. Somebody suggested to flag back, "send along some dye by
+wireless." Our men's haversacks, however, were dyed drab when we got
+them, so we were all right.
+
+A case of measles developed on board, suspected to be German,--another
+case of German "frightfulness." In the evening the water was calm and
+warm and the night very dark. I went on deck to see the wonderful
+phosphorescent display. The ship seemed to be floating in a sea of
+gold, or rather sunshine. It was wonderful.
+
+We took a good look at Lizard's Point when we were passing about ten
+miles off. There was a big white castle on a cliff and nice green
+farms.
+
+Before closing this chapter reference should be made to the good
+conduct of all the officers and men. Our men on the signalling staff
+had a hard time but they did their duty well. The men and officers
+went ashore in the pink of condition.
+
+We got our first real glimpse of England on the 14th. Off Eddystone
+Light the pilot came on board. He was a very large portly man and very
+nervous about being dropped into the sea. I should judge he weighed at
+least two hundred and fifty pounds. The ladder he had to climb was
+made of rope with the rungs woven in, and he made them heave him a
+line which he fastened about his body.
+
+When he came on board we were informed for the first time that our
+original destination was to have been Southampton, and that it had been
+changed, by a wireless message from Eddystone Lighthouse that morning,
+to Plymouth. The evening before, the warship "Princess Royal" came
+steaming down the line. She was on our left. She crossed our column
+about half way down--dressed her decks and spars--her crew all in
+white--and passed upon the right of our column so close that you could
+toss a biscuit on her deck. She is a magnificent fighting machine. Our
+men all lined the decks and every available space and cheered
+themselves hoarse. That ship is the fastest warship afloat. The
+ordinary Dreadnoughts sail twenty-one knots. The "Emden" and the
+"Karlsruhe," the German Corsairs, sailed twenty-six knots, but the
+"Princess Royal" can reel off thirty-four knots. Our ship was at the
+head of our column and she swung past our bow to again take her station
+as if we were standing still, so quickly and easily did she answer her
+helm. Her decks were cleared for action, her 13-1/2" guns run out. All
+her metal work in the setting sun shone like gold. She looked like a
+great grey yacht. This convoy had been wonderfully cared for. It seemed
+that all the time we were being convoyed by four great battleships and
+five light cruisers. The battleships were always below the horizon till
+we saw the "Glory" on the right. That was off Cape Breton. Truly the
+British Navy is wonderful, and ever up to its traditions. We were
+sailing up the Channel and going to land at Plymouth, the port from
+which sailed the great Admirals who gave Great Britain command of the
+sea. The day was lovely, the autumn sun shining brightly, and the
+shores of England shimmered a ruddy bronze brown. The trees were in
+full foliage, but the color scheme as seen from the sea was a much more
+vivid green than the Canadian landscape. In the early part of the day
+we could see a wireless tower and life saving stations at the Lizard.
+The shore was steep, a huge line of chalk cliffs.
+
+Fourteen miles from Plymouth we passed Eddystone Lighthouse. This is
+one of the most noted lighthouses in the world. The first light was
+erected here on a submerged reef in 1697. Six years after it was
+washed away during a great storm. It was rebuilt in wood and the
+structure stood the buffeting of the Atlantic until it was burned down
+in 1755. The third, or as it was called the Smeaton Tower, was erected
+in 1757. It was built of masonry and stood until 1882, over a hundred
+years. Part of this wonderful old light, I was told by our Captain, is
+still in use in Plymouth. The present light is 135 feet high, and was
+built by Sir James W. Douglas at a cost of $400,000. In the summer,
+excursion steamers run out from Plymouth, but very few of the
+passengers land.
+
+As we gradually drew nearer the harbour we began to meet the
+sharp-nosed destroyers and torpedo boats that guard the harbour, and
+as we neared the entrance we were delighted with the view of a vast
+park and grounds with a castle peeping out from the trees. This park
+is known as Mount Edgecombe, the seat of Earl Edgecombe. The park is
+one of the most beautiful in England and occupies the whole of one
+side of the Sound. Through our glasses we could see beautiful lawns,
+walks and tropical palm trees growing here in the open air. Soon we
+could distinguish the great breakwater that almost closes the entrance
+to the Sound. On all sides we could see from grimy walls and caverns
+the black gaping mouths of cannon. The shore outlines rose about five
+hundred feet on each side and great batteries and the white tents of
+some of Kitchener's army were to be seen almost everywhere. There was
+certainly no doubt about England being at war. As we drew near the
+breakwater a shoal of paddle wheel tugs rushed out to welcome us with
+their sirens blowing to pilot us safely into the most noted harbour in
+the world. From this port sailed such great captains as Drake, Hawkins
+and Cooke, who first circumnavigated the globe. From this port emerged
+William Longsword when he defeated the French when they desired to
+land an expedition to defeat King John. Here it was where Sir Howard
+Effingham and Drake lingered on the Hoe, a hill which we could clearly
+see, to finish their famous game of bowls (every bowler knows the
+story) before emerging to fall upon the Spanish Armada. Here Blake,
+equally famous, the father and organizer of the British Navy, made his
+depot, and in the church of St. Andrew's, in the city behind the Hoe,
+is deposited his stout heart. From this Sound emerged the Mayflower to
+land the Pilgrim Fathers in America, there to lay the foundations of
+yet greater nations, and re-establish that Pax Britannicum for which
+we were here to fight, and which has given a century of peace in the
+new world.
+
+Nearer and near we came, and soon passed the breakwater, guarded by a
+huge steel tower girded with long lean gun barrels. The town seemed to
+wake up and the open spaces began to fill with people. The sailors and
+cadets on Drake Island poured out from the casements like rabbits from
+a warren. With our glasses we could see the dense crowd on the Hoe,
+which is now a public park. We could see the colossal statue of Sir
+Francis Drake towering aloft over the Hoe, speaking trumpet in hand,
+as if welcoming us, for certainly this was a great Armada that was
+entering the Sound, a peaceful Armada, greater than that of King
+Philip; this second Armada composed largely of the second and third
+generations of pioneers coming back to give to the Mother Country what
+she had so freely given to the Colonies and the civilized world. What
+would old Sir Francis have said at this sight if he had lived to-day?
+Back from Plymouth in a country manor near Tavistock, some descendant
+guards the ancient drum with which Drake beat his crews to their
+quarters. It was said that on his deathbed, when he bequeathed this
+drum, he left directions that it was not to be beaten unless the
+shores of England were endangered, and if it were beaten, England
+would produce a great man or something great would occur that would
+meet the emergency. Twice only had the drum been beaten, and
+assistance came, first in the persons of the great Admiral Blake and
+then Admiral Nelson. Some one must have given it a sly tap to bring
+the Canadian contingent.
+
+Gradually we drew into the inner harbour. The white streaks on the
+shore and on the warships in the harbour resolved themselves into
+naval cadets and "tars" "dressing" ship. We had seen this before on
+the decks of the "Princess Royal." Here were hundreds and thousands of
+them. Certainly England did not show any slackness in the number of
+sailors. We could hear the cheering from the shore, and our pipes
+struck up "The Cock o' the North." The men cheered themselves hoarse
+in reply. Then we could hear the civilians on the shore giving out
+something like a college yell. We listened and it came across "Are we
+down-hearted? No." It never seemed to strike our men that way. We had
+not heard the latest London Music Hall slang borrowed from "Joe"
+Chamberlain, so our men called back, "Cheer up, the worst is yet to
+come" and everybody roared with laughter. Slowly the "Megantic"
+threaded her way in and out between buoys, through mines loaded with
+enough dynamite to blow her to smithereens. The inner harbour is
+called the Hamoaze. As we passed Drake Island, we were under the guns
+of the citadel which was built in 1670 and is still occupied; we
+passed the great naval victualling yard, a large establishment built
+in 1835 for victualling the navy. Then we entered that part of the
+Sound known as Devonport, the headquarters of the Royal Navy.
+Devonport is one of the great naval yards, and there is situated one
+of the huge naval shipbuilding plants. Huge steam derricks rear their
+arms along the masonry walls of the harbour on the left, and in
+several places the huge ribs of warships in course of erection
+disclose their nakedness. On the wharves could be seen enormous guns
+like giant pine logs heaped up ready to be put on board the warships
+when ready. Several large men-of-war were in the dock, among them one
+that had knocked a few plates off its bottom in running over a German
+submarine in the North Sea. Further and further we went until finally
+our cable was tied to a huge buoy and we were at our moorings. Orders
+were issued that no one was to go ashore, so I slipped a cable for
+home, to the Pilot, also a gold sovereign. He said he had no change,
+but I told him the change was his. He was the assistant of our big
+Pilot. He stared for a minute, then he vanished over the rail like a
+blue streak, down the ladder, over the tender, alongside he hailed
+another tender that was passing, and before our cable chain was out I
+could see him climbing up the landing stairs and I guess he is running
+yet. Gold has its fascination here as elsewhere and spells service.
+The cable went through all right.
+
+The appearance of the fleet seemed to stir up everybody and the
+wharves and quays were thronged all evening. The bugles blow Retreat
+on a beautiful spring-like evening, and after the "First Post" the
+pipers discoursed those ancient melodies that sounded years ago amid
+the brown heath and shaggy wood, and that are now calling the
+descendants of those ancient warriors from farm, city and many
+peaceful and cheerful firesides to fight for King and Country like
+their ancestors, and if need be to die that the Empire may live. The
+men sang themselves to sleep that night. I could hear their songs long
+after "Lights Out" had sounded.
+
+The voyage was over, and we can thank an All Wise and merciful
+Providence that we had all come safely so far. Never did a Commanding
+Officer have a finer lot of men than mine. Never did a Commanding
+Officer have less trouble--the conduct of everybody was so good. We
+would land eleven hundred and fifty-seven strong and only one man
+sick. The rest, thanks to continual physical drill, were in the pink
+of condition, ready and fit to go anywhere. I had only one regret and
+that was that that some of them might never return. Still, the price
+of Empire and power, as Bismarck said, must be paid, not in talk nor
+treaties, nor promises nor golden tribute, but in "blood and iron."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+SALISBURY AND THE STONES OF STONEHENGE
+
+
+On Thursday, the 14th of October, orders came to disembark. All the
+ships of the Canadian fleet were there. We learned that we had been
+sent to Plymouth at the last minute and that train transport had to be
+provided for us. All kinds of rumours were afloat; one that we were to
+go at once to France, disembarking at Rouen, and then by train to the
+south of France; others said that we were to go to Egypt; and many
+said that was all right, if the Turks got into the war.
+
+I went ashore with Company Sergeant-Major Radcliffe of my regiment,
+who is a Plymouth man. It was only when I got ashore that I learned
+that his bride-to-be lived in Plymouth. We drove all over the town and
+part of the country. This is Devonshire, the country of cider and
+cream. I tried them both; they are excellent. It felt good to get
+ashore, but the voyage was so pleasant that we were sorry to part with
+our good ship and our captain. We found that in England the people had
+been very much depressed by the war, but were recovering their
+spirits. The shipyards were busy, but there was hardly a home in
+Plymouth, Stonehouse or Devonport (three towns in one), but had some
+one afloat in the navy, keeping convoy, or keeping guard in the North
+Sea. I met the Editor of one of the Plymouth papers, a very fine man.
+From him I learned that the Mayor and Corporation of the town had
+arranged a public reception for the Canadians, but that Lord Kitchener
+had vetoed the proposal. He also told me of the loss of some ships on
+the East coast, and some German losses at sea, but said the censor
+would not permit publication even of our arrival. We were beginning to
+learn that there was a big man somewhere about who was doing things,
+and that his address was not far from the War Office. On the streets
+we met hundreds of young men route marching, some of them with arms,
+some in uniform, the majority without either. They were all singing
+"Tipperary" with its Celtic croon and minor tones. So far apparently,
+the war had not produced a great war poet or musician, nothing had
+been written anything like "Tommy Atkins" or "Soldiers of the Queen."
+Surely war songs were not all "Made in Germany."
+
+Every square, and park and private lawn had its quota of soldiers
+drilling, all young men and all in deadly earnest. We learned also
+that the day we arrived some young men from Quebec, speaking French,
+and a Servian from Winnipeg had strayed ashore, and the announcement
+was made in the press that the contingent consisted principally of
+French Canadians and Servians who were coming to fight for the Allies.
+After the war is over I suppose someone will be giving the Chinese all
+the credit for what the Canadians did.
+
+So far so good. We remained on board all day. The rivetters on board a
+huge Dreadnought, that was being built close by, chalked in huge
+letters on the plating a message for us, "Bravo Canadians." Our men,
+who were very good with semaphore signals, soon established a wireless
+connection with the shore and a very animated conversation was carried
+on between them all day. In the afternoon we presented Captain James
+with a memento of our voyage, expressing our pleasure in having such a
+good commander. We bought him the silver when we got ashore.
+
+The next morning an officer came aboard from the staff, and we learned
+for the first time that General Alderson had been appointed to command
+the Canadian Expeditionary Force. We could see an officer on shore
+with a staff cap, who looked very much like General Hughes, but it
+turned out to be Colonel Davidson of Toronto. About noon our ship
+pulled into the dock, and the gangways were put out, and
+disembarkation began. We were ordered to move in two detachments, so
+I gave the right half battalion to Major Marshall with my blessing,
+and remained with the left half myself to see that all our stores were
+landed safely. We learned a good deal about transporting troops. One
+thing that should be looked after in future contingents is to see that
+each unit has its own waggons, horses and carts on its own ship. When
+we were embarked at Quebec our horses and waggons were taken away from
+us. The horses were put on board one ship, the harness on another, the
+waggons on another, the wheels on another, etc. It took weeks to sort
+everything out, and all the work done at Valcartier had been wasted.
+
+Another thing, the men should not be sent abroad without a good
+equipment like the Webb. The Oliver equipment was a joke. With our
+facilities for producing good leather, canvas and woollen stuff in
+Canada there is no reason why we cannot produce an equipment just as
+good, if not better, than the Webb. All ammunition is now packed in
+clips in canvas bandoliers holding fifty rounds, and there is very
+little necessity for the big ammunition pouches with which equipments
+were burdened. An equipment made out of green chrome leather with as
+few straps as possible, or out of good stout drab canvas made in
+Canada and treated with a solution of soap and alum, so as to make it
+waterproof, would do just as well as the Webb. Fortunately our
+regiment had been given an excellent Webb equipment and it was
+expected the equipment for the rest of the force would be issued in
+England. The Division outside of our Brigade had been busy for several
+days staining their Oliver haversacks and kit bags with tea and making
+a very poor job of it.
+
+The right half battalion shouldered their blankets, kit bags and
+knapsacks and started off for the station a mile away. Our rifles were
+boxed and would follow us. We left later on at six in the evening. It
+was dusk as we marched through Plymouth to the station where we had to
+wait an hour for our train to be made up. Soon quite a crowd gathered
+at the station, and everybody wanted to give my men bottles of
+whiskey and gin. I stopped it as well as I could, but a few who had
+not had a drink for two months fell by the wayside, not just then but
+later on. We should have tried out our men in Canada, and given them a
+free hand, so that the drinkers would be weeded out before coming
+over.
+
+Our train came in about eight o'clock and we were told our destination
+was Patney Station, and that our camp was near the station. Off we
+started and arrived at Patney about one o'clock at night. The men
+enjoyed the run very much. At every station as we passed the people
+gathered and cheered themselves hoarse till we all thought we were
+real heroes. We made only about two stops till we came to Patney, one
+at Exeter which is one of the oldest towns in England dating from the
+Roman occupation. This city was the Iscea of Vaspasian's time. It was
+always a fortified city, previous even to the Romans, and boasts of a
+beautiful cathedral.
+
+The other stop we made was at Newton Abbot. Here William of Orange was
+first proclaimed King of England, if I remember right, on a stone in
+the market square.
+
+At Patney station we found on the station platform Major Marshall and
+several officers, among them Captain McGregor. They informed us that
+on the way up a number of the men of "A" Company (Captain McGregor's)
+had been taken ill, with ptomaine or some other form of poisoning, and
+were in a bad way. We suspected at once that some one had handed them
+something. We found thirty-five of them down with colic and very
+severe pains. Blankets had been laid in the station for them, and Dr.
+MacKenzie, our surgeon, did not take long getting busy attending to
+them. He informed me that he did not consider any cases serious,
+although the poor fellows were suffering much pain. We marched the
+left half of the battalion over the track on an overhead bridge, and
+found our right half waiting for us, and for transport waggons which
+were supposed to be on hand, to take our kit bags and blankets. The
+night was as dark as a wolf's mouth and the dim lights of a few
+lanterns showed the men standing in solid lines between the green
+walls of the hedges of an English lane.
+
+A traction transport arrived and the men began hoisting their kit bags
+into the two large vans that constituted this traction outfit. Several
+county policemen were on hand to guide us to our camp which we were
+told was eleven miles away. That was cheerful. There was no transport
+for the kit bags and blankets of my half battalion, so that after a
+while Marshall got all his kits aboard and said good-bye and started
+off into blank space with his half battalion less the thirty-five sick
+left at the station. The pipes struck up bravely, "We'll take the High
+Road," the marching-out tune of all Highland Regiments, and soon the
+black darkness swallowed up the end of his detachment.
+
+The prospect of a night march of eleven miles was not very cheerful
+for the rest of us. We stood about on the road waiting for another
+traction engine and waggons to get our kits carried for us. One hour
+passed, no transport, two hours, no transport. We heard that our
+transport had gone to Lavington station by mistake, and was on the way
+back for us. At a quarter to three the officers and non-commissioned
+officers decided that we had better start and get to camp carrying our
+own kit bags and blankets. The men said they would rather go than sit
+around waiting for morning, so a constable with a lantern and a
+bicycle volunteered to guide us. I gave the command to shoulder
+kit-bags and blankets and we were off. Each man carried his knapsack
+and complete equipment, three blankets, a rubber sheet and a kit bag,
+full of boots, clothing and all like effects. Some of the men were
+carrying fully one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five pounds.
+Sergeant-Major W. Grant slipped up alongside of me at the head of the
+column, and we marched out into total darkness. At first it was so
+dark that a person could almost feel it. The road was firm and flinty
+under foot, and pretty soon some one started up "The Army of to-day is
+all Right," and everybody joined in the chorus. We set a slow pace,
+stepping short and easy so that the end of the column in charge of
+Captain Warren could keep up. A wonderful man was young Warren, never
+tired, always cheerful, always knowing what to do. We were blessed
+with two good field officers in Captains Darling and Warren. At the
+end of fifteen minutes we halted between two hedges and rows of tall
+trees. The policeman told me the men could sit against the banks of
+the hedges, so that first rest was good. In ten minutes we were off
+again. The road seemed to wind in and out in serpentine curves. The
+land on either side was taken up with truck and vegetable farming.
+
+In spite of the darkness it was an ideal night for marching, neither
+too hot nor too cold. The men were standing up to the marching well.
+After about another quarter of an hour Sergeant Hermitage, my Orderly
+Room Sergeant, ran up from the rear to tell me to halt the column, as
+a man had slipped into a culvert and was stuck in the mud. In fishing
+him out the Sergeant had got stung with nettles. This made him hot. It
+did not mend matters when I suggested that his country was getting
+even with him for wearing kilts. However, we slowed up. This going was
+splendid practice as we would no doubt have plenty of night marching
+of this kind in Flanders. The men stood up to the march with their
+heavy loads splendidly, thanks to the excellent physical training they
+had undergone on board ship. At the first halt a number lit up
+cigarettes, and as soon as they started a chorus of coughs showed
+where the seductive weed was getting in its deadly work on the lungs
+and bronchial tubes. The Commanding Officers passed the word along to
+try and not smoke, and not to use the water bottles, and the men did
+their best for the rest of the march. About an hour before we came to
+our camp we ran full tilt into a traction train and I commandeered it
+at once. I turned it around and got the men to load their kit bags
+into the big vans, which they did most cheerfully, as this lightened
+their loads. When we reached the great Salisbury Plains, after a steep
+climb, it was cold and foggy, the kind of weather to take the courage
+out of a man, about five o'clock in the morning. It was daylight when
+we reached our tents. There was hot tea ready for the men, and it did
+not take us very long to roll up in a blanket on the ground and go to
+sleep.
+
+I made the eleven miles carrying my great coat, sword and equipment,
+and how I blessed my boots. Not a chafe nor an ache, they were just
+splendid. From three o'clock till seven ten is not bad for eleven
+miles on a pitch dark night. We all knew very little of what happened
+for the rest of the day. Captain Donaldson saw that the officers'
+luggage was sent in, and by the evening we were quite comfortable, and
+had a good sleep on Saturday night.
+
+The first work we did on our arrival at Salisbury Plains was to attend
+an open air church service on Sunday. All the photographers of the
+London papers were on hand to get snapshots of us. We were warned to
+be careful of suspicious characters, and some of the gentlemen with
+cameras were questioned closely. We at last had leisure to look about
+us. Salisbury Plains, where we had been sent for our training, is in
+Wiltshire and is a chalk plateau, high up in the middle of England. It
+is noted for its historical associations and its bad climate. Two
+great trunk line railways run, one on the north, the other to the
+south of these Plains which are fully twenty-five miles from north to
+south and twenty-five miles from east to west. Most of the land is
+taken over by the Crown for military purposes, but at the cross-roads
+there are still small English villages nestling in the hollows, whilst
+on the Plains themselves the game and shooting privileges still remain
+in the hands of the Lords of the Manor.
+
+The country is very much like the foot-hills of the Rockies near
+Calgary in appearance. The slopes are generally to the north. We were
+not by any means the first armed men to tread the heath here. There is
+no part of England so rich in legend and history. We could see ruins
+and monuments on every side.
+
+In the middle of the Downs, within plain view of our camp, there arose
+the most ancient ruins in the British Isles, and the most interesting
+prehistoric edifice in the whole of Europe--Stonehenge. To speak of
+Stonehenge or to try to conjure up its past is to deal with people who
+lived on these plains and enjoyed their cruder methods of civilization
+and religion in a period more remote than that in which the great
+Pyramids of Egypt were fashioned. Here in a circle, about one hundred
+feet in diameter, are reared a series of great pillars of granite, a
+stone which cannot be found within hundreds of miles from the spot, in
+fact the north of France is the nearest. Each slab is about twenty
+feet in height and they are fashioned rudely in the form of a temple.
+It is said that in the design geometrical figures were used, and that
+some sun cult was practised by those who reared them, for the sun's
+shadow passes through various points only on Midsummer and on May Day.
+The Druids are supposed to have used this as the great shrine of their
+faith, and worshippers came from all over Europe every year to take
+part in the religious ceremonies. Be that as it may this country must
+have been the centre of a very powerful Celtic or British race, for
+here and there over the Plains are piled up huge barrows, said to be
+the burial places of ancient kings. A barrow or tumulus is about
+fifteen to twenty feet high and seventy to a hundred feet in diameter.
+A great many tumuluii are dotted here and there over the Plains. The
+next people to these Druidical Celts to occupy these plains were
+Britons and the ruins of some of their villages are still to be found.
+Then came the Romans, and as usual they left their mark. North of the
+stones of Stonehenge, about a quarter of a mile, is still to be found
+the ruins of a chariot race course recalling scenes from "Ben Hur."
+Over one end of the course, oaks, centuries old, have grown. Not far
+away, about a mile and half east of Stonehenge, there is the huge
+earthwork walls of Vespasians' Camp. From here it is said the Great
+Roman General marched to the conquest of Palestine. About four miles
+south, crowning a high hill, there are the ruins of Old Sarum, at one
+time a Roman City. From the ramparts of Sarum, each of them a day's
+march away, can be seen the ruins of seven great Roman Camps. The
+Romans occupied Britain about four hundred years, a period more
+remote than if we count from now back beyond the Discovery of America.
+Everywhere are marks of their civilization, showing that the country
+during their occupation must have been rich and populous. No less than
+four of their generals left these Plains to assume the Imperial
+purple. What stirring times those must have been. Past old Sarum wound
+the road to Bath where the rich Romans and Britons were carried by
+slaves on their litters to take the medicinal waters of that ancient
+well, now found to contain that marvellous nerve-stimulating
+mineral--radium. Every stone, every hill on these Plains could tell a
+wonderful story.
+
+After the Romans came the Saxons, and good King Alfred was not unknown
+to these Plains while he was moulding his Kingdom and driving out the
+Danes. The Norman Conqueror then came and took Sarum as one of his
+strongholds. And it is admirably suited for defence even to-day. He
+established a See or Bishopric at Sarum which later was removed to the
+City of Salisbury. Sarum then declined and ran to seed, and was
+gradually abandoned. It registered a last kick, however, when its half
+a dozen voters, as it was the most noted of the "Rotten" Boroughs, won
+immortality by sending to Parliament a young Coronet of Horse, Pitt
+the Elder, afterwards Lord Chatham. It then ceased to be anything but
+a geographical expression. If you seek the remainder of the history of
+this remarkable spot, look for it in Salisbury Cathedral, one of the
+most charming specimens of late Gothic architecture to be found in the
+world. There you will find the tomb of William Longsword and other
+brave crusaders. You will find that Oliver Goldsmith lived in
+Salisbury, and there wrote the novel "The Vicar of Wakefield," and
+that Gay wrote the "Beggar's Opera," at Amesbury, the village that
+lies a few miles east of Stonehenge. But of all that we saw that which
+impressed us most were the Roman ruins, recalling the iron discipline
+of those unconquerable legionaries, and the great monuments of our
+Celtic ancestors, the sublime stones of Stonehenge.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+UNDER FIELD MARSHAL EARL ROBERTS
+
+
+We had to settle down for a few days to await our arms and equipment,
+and in the meantime a meeting of the officers was called by General
+Alderson, our Divisional Commander.
+
+The chief topic of discussion was the question of having "wet"
+canteens in the lines. The result of the meeting was that they were
+shortly installed by contractors for the war office, and gave us a
+great deal of trouble, and gave a few men who misbehaved themselves a
+chance to get a quick return ticket to Canada.
+
+In spite of temptation on every side, to the credit of the Canadians
+be it said they behaved themselves exceedingly well. Fully eighty per
+cent. of them were total abstainers. About ten per cent., chiefly the
+older men, took an occasional drink, and not more than about three per
+cent. drank to any extent. For these latter, life soon became a
+burden.
+
+This good behavior followed the troops to Flanders. Shortly after we
+crossed and went into the trenches the French Government prohibited
+the sale of all spirits to soldiers. Any saloon keeper in France who
+sells hard liquor to a soldier is very severely punished. The only
+liquor they are allowed to sell to the soldiers is a light beer, about
+three per cent. alcohol, which is manufactured in small home-made
+breweries at every cross-road and is consumed by the Flemish people in
+lieu of the water, which is very bad in the low country, and only fit
+for cooking, also a light native wine with about the strength of
+ginger-ale, and the taste of vinegar. We found that light beers, wines
+and fermented liquors are licensed separately in France from spirits.
+This method has given good satisfaction. Strong liquors or spirits are
+given to the soldiers only on a doctor's order. There is no regular
+issue of rum, and the stories circulated by Jane Adams, a Chicago
+Pacifist, and others that the soldiers are filled up with rum and
+"dope" to keep up their courage, were deliberate lies as far as the
+British, French and Canadian troops are concerned. Strong drink of any
+kind was treated as a drug, not as a beverage. The beer and wine sold
+had about the same alcoholic content as ginger beer or newly-made
+bakers' bread. The army in Flanders was not producing "drunken
+heroes." Those who cannot cut out liquor are better left at home. They
+are of no value whatever in any war.
+
+    [Illustration: ABOARD SHIP IN WINTER GARB]
+
+We also learned, at this meeting, with great pleasure that Lord
+Roberts had become the Honorary Commander in Chief of the Canadian
+Army, and that in a few days he was coming to review us, as was also
+His Majesty the King and Lord Kitchener. We worked very hard to get
+into shape for these important events. In the meantime the Minister of
+Militia from Canada arrived and visited our camp, also several other
+eminent men, among them Mr. R. Reid, who represents the Province of
+Ontario in London.
+
+Our lay-out for camp was not as fine as at Valcartier. The tents had
+been pitched during the summer and occupied by successive territorial
+battalions, and they were not of the thick water-proof cotton canvas
+variety that we had in Canada. They were the linen kind such as we
+used to have in Canada in the Eighties, and they were so thin you
+could count the stars through them, but were all right for summer use.
+
+We were solemnly cautioned not to make any excavations in the turf,
+especially ditches around the tents to carry off the rain, or even
+holes in the ground in which to build our cooking fires, as the land
+is hunted over, and any stray holes in the ground might break a
+horseman's collar bone or a horse's leg.
+
+The Division was divided up and put in various camps, about a brigade
+in each camp, which were a mile or so apart. The First Brigade under
+General Mercer were at Bustard Camp. The Second under General Currie
+and the Third under General Turner, V.C., were at West Down South. The
+artillery under Colonel Burstall were with the First Brigade whilst
+the Cavalry were at Sling plantation, and Divisional Headquarters at
+Bustard Camp.
+
+Earl Roberts came out to review us on Saturday, the 27th of October. I
+had not seen the hero of Kandahar since the day he marched past the
+King, resplendant in the scarlet and gold of a Field-Marshal on the
+Plains of Abraham, at Quebec. Since then he had retired from active
+duty with the army to devote himself to the cause of National Service.
+
+The important day arrived and the brigades were drawn up in lines of
+battalions in mass along the brow of a slope south of our camp.
+Battalion after battalion, battery after battery, squadron after
+squadron for nearly two miles the line stretched. It was a magnificent
+array of men that greeted the brave old veteran in the first review of
+the Canadians which proved to be his last command.
+
+On his arrival he was received with the general salute. He then rode
+in a big grey car in front of the line, the officers having been all
+called out to the front. As he reached each separate battalion the car
+stopped, General Hughes introduced the commanding officers, and Lord
+Roberts spoke graciously to them. Some of the officers' horses behaved
+badly as the big grey car came up to them and some seats were lost
+that day, but my big charger behaved splendidly. She looked into the
+big car and wanted to poke her nose into it to see if the driver had
+any candy or apples. General Hughes, the Minister of Militia, sat in
+the seat beside Earl Roberts. Age had dealt very kindly with the
+veteran of Kandahar and South Africa. Although a consistent water
+drinker, Lord Roberts had a very florid complexion, which was just as
+bright and ruddy as that of a subaltern of twenty, despite his extreme
+age. This kind of complexion makes it difficult for a man to gain
+admission to a temperance club in Canada.
+
+His voice was clear and resonant. "Colonel Currie," he said, "How many
+men of this kind have you with you? They are indeed a splendid lot,
+and the Empire owes a debt of gratitude to these gallant soldiers for
+coming in the hour of need."
+
+I answered, "Eleven hundred and seventy, Sir."
+
+"They are a fine lot and when fully trained should give a good account
+of themselves," he said.
+
+I thanked him, and he was gone.
+
+It began to drizzle and rain, and as we moved off we had the first
+taste of that disagreeable weather which clung to us until we left the
+Plains. Many a time afterwards the lines of R.H. Barham, the author of
+"Ingoldsby Legends," came to my mind.
+
+    "Oh Salisbury Plain is bleak and bare,
+    At least so I've heard many people declare,
+    Tho' I must confess that I've never been there.
+    Not a shrub, not a bush nor tree can you see,
+    No hedges, no ditches, no gates, no stiles,
+    Much less a house or a cottage for miles,
+    Its a very bad thing to be caught in the rain,
+    When night's coming on, on Salisbury Plain."
+
+On Sunday, the 25th, the men of the Division heard a sermon from
+Bishop Taylor Smith, who visited Salisbury Plain with Dr. McNamara,
+M.P.
+
+The London press had been very enthusiastic over the Canadian
+Division. The illustrated papers had photographs of the various corps
+and officers. Their kindness was very much appreciated.
+
+Lord Roberts issued an Order of the Day, in which he praised us very
+highly. He said:
+
+"The prompt resolve of Canada to give us such valuable assistance has
+touched us deeply. That resolve has been galvanized into action in
+what I consider a marvellously short period of time, under the
+excellent organization and driving power of your Minister of Militia,
+my old friend Major General Hughes. In less than three months from
+the declaration of war I am able to greet this fine body of soldiers
+on English soil."
+
+Stirring events were happening in Flanders. About this time we learned
+with much regret that Colonel Lowther, who had served on the staff of
+His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught in Canada, had been badly
+wounded. Also that Major Rivers-Bulkley of the Scots Guards, who had
+also been on His Royal Highness' staff, had been killed. The latter
+had, scarcely a year before, been married to Miss Pelly, one of the
+Ladies-in-Waiting to Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Connaught in
+Ottawa.
+
+The German invaders on the western front had swept on past Liege. A
+great battle had been fought at Waterloo or Charleroi, another at Mons
+and at Le Cateau. The French Government had left Paris. The greatest
+battle in the history of the world had taken place near Metz. The
+Crown Prince's Army had been shattered and General Von Kluck's march
+on Paris had been stayed at the Marne. Then the Allies had assumed the
+offensive, and driven the Germans back to the Aisne. Ypres,
+Hazebrouck, Estairs and Armentieres had been retaken on the Western
+frontier of Belgium and France. The huge Austrian siege guns, 42
+centimetres, had proven too much for the antique concrete of the
+Belgian and French forts, but the tide of invasion had been stayed.
+
+A few days later, October 29th, a dinner was given in London by Hon.
+Lieutenant-Colonel Grant Morden in the Royal Automobile Club in honor
+of the Minister of Militia, Major-General the Honorable Sam Hughes,
+and the officers commanding the Canadian contingent. Amongst other
+officers I was invited to be present, and the dinner was one of the
+most notable I have ever attended. Not so much on account of the
+number of prominent men who attended, but because it was the last
+occasion in which Lord Roberts spoke in public. Among others present
+were Lord Islington, Lord Iverclyde, Sir A. Trevor Dawson, Sir Gilbert
+Parker, Sir Joseph Lawrence, Sir George Armstrong, Lord Charles
+Beresford, Sir John Curtis, Sir Edward Carson, Rt. Hon. Walter H.
+Long, Sir Reginald McLeod, Colonel Sir Edward W. Ward, Sir Vincent
+Callard and Monsieur R. Thien de la Chaume of the French Embassy.
+
+The toast to Canada was proposed by Sir Charles Beresford in a fine
+speech, in which he referred to the valuable services of the Canadians
+in previous wars. The toast was responded to by Sir George Parley,
+M.P., acting Canadian High Commissioner. Lord Roberts then proposed
+the toast to Major General Hughes. He was very warmly received when he
+rose to propose this toast, and was visibly affected by the splendid
+demonstration. He spoke with great earnestness for over half an hour.
+He first paid a glowing tribute to the Canadian troops that had served
+under him in South Africa. When he took command there the first
+telegram he sent was to Canada. He then referred to the troops he had
+reviewed on Salisbury Plains in warmest terms. He had not thought it
+possible that such a fine steady body of men could be got together in
+such a short time. He commended the Minister of Militia for having
+achieved such splendid results so quickly. He praised the deportment
+of the troops the day he had reviewed them in the rain.
+
+He then turned to the subject of the war and reminded his hearers that
+they were fighting an enemy that meant business, and the destruction
+of the British Empire. He predicted that through their preparedness
+they would give us enormous trouble and he warned us that in his
+estimation the war would require every man that could be put in the
+field. Lord Kitchener had not called for a man too many, and every
+effort should be put forward to enlist and train every available man
+as soon as possible.
+
+Referring to his travels throughout the Empire, he said that it seemed
+to him the people of the Colonies were more appreciative of the
+greatness of the struggle and more patriotic than those at home. He
+attributed this to education in the schools and regretted that
+patriotism was not taught more in the schools of the Mother land, and
+the British Flag flown over the schools as in Canada and the other
+Colonies.
+
+The audience listened with rapt attention and punctured his remarks
+again and again with applause.
+
+The Downs were very suitable for drill and work in open order. The
+turf was good and firm, and so far there was no mud or sand. We took
+up the new drill of 1914. The battalions for drill purposes were
+formed into four companies with four platoons per company.
+
+We had been told that as soon as we settled down His Majesty the King
+and Lord Kitchener were coming out to look us over, so we brisked up
+as quickly as possible for the big event. We had a rehearsal the day
+before. The troops took their positions along the main roads leading
+past their respective brigade camps. Our Camp, West Down South,
+contained two infantry brigades, ours, the Highland Brigade and the
+Second Brigade. His Majesty, Lord Kitchener, Earl Roberts and staff
+were to drive up from Salisbury in motor cars, and we were formed up
+on the east side of the main road from Salisbury to receive him. The
+mounted troops were to form up on the west side. We made a brave show
+but some of the battalions were not fully equipped as they had not yet
+received their bayonets. The practise was a great success. Major
+Beatty, brother of Admiral Beatty, who was officer on General
+Alderson's staff, took us all in. A general officer from the War
+Office was to have looked us over, but as he did not show up the
+genial Major went through the motions, and it was only after each of
+the battalions in succession had received him with the general salute
+and presented arms as he walked past in front of us, and we had a look
+at his badges, that we realized that we had been fooled. Of course as
+a Major he was junior to the officers in command of the regiments and
+not entitled to the honors, but he took them with a grin and the
+rehearsal passed off well.
+
+We had King's weather next day when the King came to West Down South.
+The Royal Party came promptly to the minute. There was His Majesty the
+King, Her Majesty the Queen and some Ladies-in-Waiting; Lord
+Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War, Earl Roberts, Lord
+Stamford, Sir Richard McBride and a number of staff officers. We were
+lined up and made a splendid showing. The King rode up to the line and
+began the inspection of the artillery and the Divisional Cavalry
+opposite us. The Royal party was then on foot, and His Majesty greeted
+each officer, and then passed through the ranks in and out, speaking a
+word here and there to the men. After he had gone over the mounted
+troops he crossed the road and started down the line of infantry. The
+battalions were in order from right to left. Her Majesty the Queen and
+her Ladies-in-Waiting with Sir George Perley followed the King and
+Lord Kitchener. In a few minutes they were at the right flank of our
+battalion. I received His Majesty with broadsword at the salute, and
+was introduced by General Turner, V.C. He asked me about our tartan,
+and how many men I had in it. I told him the whole regiment wore the
+tartan. He was introduced to the officers and then, with
+Sergeant-Major Grant and Lord Kitchener, he started through the ranks.
+Some one called me back and I was introduced to Her Majesty, who in a
+plain suit of black with a black hat, as she was in mourning, stood
+smiling to greet me.
+
+I had not seen Her Majesty since the night of the reception given by
+the King and Queen, then the Prince and Princess of Wales, in the
+Parliament Buildings in the City of Toronto in 1902. She had not
+changed at all and there is no woman in the world who looks the part
+of a Queen better than Her Majesty Queen Mary. She looked the front
+line of our battalion over carefully. There was not a man there less
+than six feet two inches. Youth and intelligence was written all over
+them but they stood as if carved out of stone.
+
+"What a fine lot of men" was her gracious comment as she passed along
+the line. "And they all look like professional men and students."
+
+A mention of their patriotism in coming to the war, a prayer that they
+might be spared to return safely to Canada, and then with a farewell,
+and "Good luck to you and your Regiment Colonel," the Royal Party
+passed on down the line to the Canadian Scottish Regiment. That
+concluded the inspection, and entering the motors they rode off to
+Sling Plantation Camp to review more soldiers. Our Brigade had
+advanced to the side of the road, and as they passed on they received
+cheers that could be heard three miles away. We waited for the return
+of the Royal Party and lined both sides of the road and gave more
+cheers. That was our last look at Lord Roberts. A few days later he
+went to France and died very suddenly at St. Omar while he was
+visiting the troops under his old Lieutenant, Sir John French. He died
+as he would have wished, within the sound of the guns. Coincident with
+his visit there the British had driven the Germans back behind the
+Yperlee Canal, where the first Canadian Division was to win immortal
+fame.
+
+Those who heard him speak on National Service and the duty of every
+man in connection with the war will never forget his earnestness and
+fervor. His voice will come ringing down the ages calling men of
+British birth to their duty like the voice of Demosthenes, the Greek
+patriot, whose constant cry was, "Yet O Athenians, yet there is time.
+And there is one manner in which you can recover your greatness, or
+dying fall worthy of your Marathon and Salamis. Yet O Athenians you
+have it in your power, and the manner of it is this. Cease to hire
+your armies. Go, yourselves, every man of you, and stand in the ranks,
+and either a victory, beyond all victories in its glory, awaits you,
+or falling you shall fall greatly and worthy of your past."
+
+A few days later the officers and men of the First Canadian Contingent
+were given the status and rank of Imperial troops, that is to say
+British Regulars. This made all the officers, non-coms. and men senior
+to officers and non-coms. of the same rank in the Canadian militia or
+the Home Territorial forces.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+MOULDING AN ARMY
+
+
+"Escort and Prisoner, Right Turn. Quick March," rang out the voice of
+Sergeant-Major Grant at the door of the orderly tent.
+
+Three men, as in file, came marching through the doorway, and as they
+reached the camp table at which I sat, the Sergeant-Major continued,
+"Halt, Left Turn, Right-Dress."
+
+The men turned smartly, facing me. In the centre stood bareheaded the
+prisoner, a young man about twenty-two years of age, on each side of
+him a grim old soldier with a drawn bayonet.
+
+An "Orderly Room" is the court which the Commanding Officer holds,
+usually in the morning when men are brought before him, charged with
+any offences they may have committed, with which the company
+commanders cannot deal.
+
+It is a very solemn affair, and is a parade which all the officers of
+the battalion, especially those who have men charged with offences,
+are supposed to attend. They stand on either side of the Officer
+Commanding at "Attention." The Adjutant stands rigid on the right
+hand. The Officer Commanding alone is seated.
+
+The Sergeant-Major handed the "Crime Sheet," that is the document in
+which the nature of the crime and the names of the witnesses are
+stated, to Adjutant Darling, who read:--
+
+"That on December 10th, at 2 p.m., Private John B---- of the 48th
+Highlanders was found loitering in the Park at Bournemouth without a
+pass. That he became violently abusive on being taken into custody.
+Witnesses, Police constables 'J----' and 'D----' of Bournemouth." Then
+followed the evidence of the constables taken down in the presence of
+an officer at Bournemouth, to the effect "That on Dec. 10th, at 2
+p.m., I, Police Constable 'J----,' together with Constable 'D----,'
+was patrolling the Park at Bournemouth when I saw Private B---- of the
+15th Battalion sitting on a park seat with two young ladies. As was
+customary in such cases I asked him if he had a pass. He produced a
+pass signed by the Commanding Officer of the 15th Battalion, which had
+expired the day before. When we pointed out that Private B---- was
+'absent without leave,' he said he expected an extension by wire that
+day, from his Commanding Officer. When we told him that it was our
+duty to take him into custody, he became very abusive, calling us
+'Thick-headed John Bulls,' 'Fat-headed Englishmen,' 'Mutton heads,'
+'Blasted Britishers,' etc. He had also abused the English people in
+very violent terms." The constables had taken charge of him and handed
+him over to the customary escort sent after him from camp.
+
+When the Adjutant had finished reading the "crime sheet," I asked
+Private B---- if he had anything to say, and if the charge was true.
+
+He had nothing to say. "It is true."
+
+"How long were you out from England before you joined this Battalion,"
+I asked.
+
+"Three years, Sir."
+
+"Do you think that three years' residence in Canada entitles you to
+abuse your countrymen, and call them 'fat-headed Englishmen'?" I
+asked.
+
+The humor of the situation seemed to strike him.
+
+"I don't know, Sir."
+
+"Well, your pay during your absence will be forfeited by Royal
+Warrant, and you are admonished not to use abusive language to your
+countrymen again."
+
+"Escort and Prisoner, Left Turn, Quick March, Admonished!" roared the
+Sergeant-Major as the prisoner left the room, and the officers all
+broke into a hearty laugh.
+
+Of course the Private's name did not begin with B, but this incident
+is an example of the spirit that filled the men of the First Canadian
+Division. As soon as a man donned the bronze shoulder badge with
+"Canada" on it he became a Canadian, and forgot his hyphen. There was
+no mention of the British-born, the French-Canadian, or Canadian-born.
+These great issues had to be left for discussion and settlement to
+those who stayed at home.
+
+As a matter of fact, there was only one pure bred Canadian in the "Red
+Watch." He joined as a transport driver at Valcartier. He was a
+full-blooded Indian and very proud of it. He had left a family and a
+good farm to go and see some fighting for the King. When he came to
+see me, he said he knew our regiment would see some fighting and he
+wanted to go with us. I asked him if he could handle horses. He said
+he could so I put him into the transport to his great joy. A very
+humorous incident occurred in regard to him, shortly after he had
+reached the Salisbury Plains. He had overstayed his leave one night,
+by a few hours, and was promptly taken in charge by the quarter-guard,
+who put him in the guard tent.
+
+There was much dismay in the guard-tent at daybreak when it was found
+that the prisoner had flown. "Breaking out" or "forcing" a guard is a
+serious offence, so when he was found up in the horse lines a short
+time later and brought before me at the Orderly Room, matters looked
+interesting. His explanation, however, was most ingenious, and given
+with such earnestness that we could not help but accept it. He said
+that when he woke up before daylight he found himself in a strange
+tent. He knew it was time for him to go and attend to his horses, so
+he got out as quietly as possible so as not to disturb his comrades,
+and had gone about his duties as usual. His story, which was verified,
+gained him forgiveness. He proved a very good soldier afterwards, and
+at the Battle of St. Julien, when the transport was shelled out of its
+quarters at Ypres, and his horses killed, instead of retiring he took
+a rifle and ammunition, and found his way four miles down into the
+trenches at the salient, where his comrades were battling with the
+Huns at close range. He was there wounded, gassed, and taken prisoner.
+His name was Lickers, and he certainly displayed all the war-like
+qualities of his race.
+
+When we left Canada we expected to spend some time in England
+completing our training. Everybody thought that we would be handed
+over to a lot of crack English drill instructors, and would be placed
+alongside of British regular regiments so as to acquire the proper
+polish. This would, no doubt, have been very desirable, but when we
+reached Salisbury Plains we found the British War Office in the throes
+of evolving what was known as "Kitchener's Army." The whole country
+was alive with recruiting committees, bands and patriotic
+organizations, and in the music halls the songs were all of the
+"Soldier's Farewell" variety.
+
+Every soldier that could instruct was utilized. Officers who had
+retired and pensioners were recalled and came gladly. Instead of
+providing us with officers to instruct and guide us in our training,
+we were asked to come to the aid of the New Army, and we gave as many
+officers and instructors as we could spare. Commissions in the new
+army were offered freely to non-commissioned officers of the Canadian
+Army, and each battalion gave from ten to twenty of their best. These
+young men subsequently acquitted themselves with much credit. One of
+mine won his Military Cross at the Dardanelles.
+
+One of the most difficult things we had to cope with was discipline.
+At first it was hard for the young Canadian who is brought up in a
+village or on a farm to realize that he has to obey the orders of his
+superior officer, if that officer happens to be a comrade who has only
+the day before been given a corporal's stripes. It is doubly difficult
+if the command is couched in the language of an order.
+
+On the other hand officers and non-commissioned officers had to be
+taught that they must not bully or browbeat their subordinates. We did
+not take long to acquire the new discipline. Everybody was willing.
+
+Now that men have to act largely for themselves, the system of
+discipline in the British army has been changed. The idea now is that
+the men must be taught to obey from a sense of duty, not from fear of
+their superiors. Armies have obeyed their leaders from time
+immemorial, from various motives. The Roman legions obeyed because of
+their regard for their citizenship; the soldiers of Cromwell and the
+Japanese from religious motives, the Germans from fear of their
+superior officers, and the British and French armies of to-day from
+patriotism and a high sense of duty. When a soldier obeys from a sense
+of duty he will "carry on" even if his officers are killed or
+disabled. His courage is much higher. In previous wars when a
+battalion was decimated or had lost ten per cent. of its numbers, it
+was not considered a disgrace to retire, but in this war such losses
+are not considered. Battalions in the Canadian army have suffered
+losses as high as seventy per cent., and have still held their ground
+undaunted, and responded most cheerfully to the orders of their
+remaining officers to counter-attack and charge with their bayonets.
+
+It took some patience to bring about this discipline. It often took
+several visits to the orderly room to teach a man that it was one of
+his first duties to try and keep his "conduct sheet,"--that is the
+page on the regimental records, which tells of his deeds--clear of any
+entries for misconduct.
+
+Another troublesome matter was to teach the men that they could not go
+away from camp without "leave" and a "pass," and that it was wrong to
+overstay a "pass." When a soldier wants to leave camp he has to get
+permission from the officer commanding his company. He then gets a
+"pass" signed by the Officer Commanding the Battalion and armed with
+this pass he is at liberty for the period named on the pass.
+
+The next big event in which we figured, after the King's visit, was
+the Lord Mayor's show. The Canadians were to be represented, and there
+was quite a flutter of excitement and much interest as to who should
+go to represent each battalion. I gave the honor to Lieutenant Frank
+Smith, who had worked very hard and had shown much ability.
+
+The Lord Mayor's show is one of the annual events of London, and we
+were all anxious to see it. I had the good fortune to be invited by
+Sir Joseph Lawrence to view the procession from a balcony close to
+Temple Bar. The procession has been described so often that everybody
+knows all about it. The Canadians made a very fine showing. They were
+under the command of Colonel Williams. Our Highland detachment, under
+Lieutenant Frank Smith, looked exceedingly smart and got a full page
+in a number of the London illustrated dailies next morning.
+
+One thing that struck me very favorably in the parade was the way in
+which the British regulars covered each other as they marched in fours
+along the street. Their rifles formed four ribbons of steel. There was
+no straggling.
+
+The battalion soon settled down to a hard syllabus of training and
+instruction, beginning with squad drill. It was drill, drill, drill,
+all day long, rain or shine, and it was almost always rain.
+
+We were much struck at first by the fact that in England farmers paid
+no attention to the rain. They kept on ploughing in rain, that in
+Canada would have sent the hired man to the shelter of the barn. After
+a while it dawned on us that if they did not plough in the rain they
+would not get any ploughing done at all.
+
+Not only did the battalions give their days to drill but after they
+got through their squad drill they took two nights a week in training.
+All this soon began to get the men in shape.
+
+On Thursday, November 19th, the 3rd Brigade had a visit from Mr.
+Rudyard Kipling. I sat at lunch with him and formed a friendship which
+I regard very highly. Mr. Kipling is one of the great men of the age,
+the first Imperialist of the Empire. He said very nice things about
+the Canadians.
+
+On the 27th of November the Canadian Division was reviewed by General
+Pitcairn Campbell, Officer Commanding the southern command. The
+Division was drawn up in a long line on the Downs and presented a
+formidable aspect. It was one of the most inspiring sights I have ever
+seen. There was plenty of room on the plains and after we had
+performed a number of evolutions we were formed in line miles long and
+marched some distance, then formed for an attack upon a ridge crowned
+by a number of tumuli. The earth trembled with the tread of the
+battalions and the hoofs of the battery horses. Thirty thousand
+Canadians in battle array is a sight never to be forgotten. Everything
+passed off well, considering the difficulties with which we had to
+contend. General Campbell was accompanied by Mr. Walter Long, M.P.
+After luncheon he was kind enough to ride over to the 48th and
+complimented us very highly on our excellent appearance. The field
+training and hard work was working wonders on the men. Every day they
+were becoming better soldiers. It was the same with the other
+battalions. The officers were in earnest and unconsciously they were
+giving to the men under their command just what they needed. In the
+ranks there were a number of men born in the British Isles. Most of
+the officers were of Canadian birth, and the British-born soldier gets
+on magnificently with Colonial officers. Mutual respect was gradually
+bringing about efficiency and discipline of a very high order.
+
+There was still much discontent because we were not sent abroad. It
+was not as bad with us as with Kitchener's Army. The question
+everybody was asking of the men in khaki was "When are you going to
+the Front?" It is wonderful how the sight of a uniform acts on the
+people's mind. They think that just as soon as a man dons a uniform he
+is ready to go to the Front. This re-acts on the men, and with
+everyone asking "When are you going to the Front?" they become almost
+frantic with impatience. After a soldier has been drilling a while,
+however, he realizes there is still something for him to learn. Then
+when he gets to the Front he discovers that it is not just knowing
+his drill that made him a soldier but the experience of obeying orders
+and doing the same things over and over again until he forgets drill
+and does the right thing without even thinking.
+
+People who ask soldiers when they are going to the "Front" forget that
+it is not the men's fault they do not leave for the Front at once. A
+man that had lost a leg and whose left arm had been shattered at the
+elbow was invalided home, and he complained to me that because he was
+in uniform everybody kept asking him when he was going to the Front.
+
+In November we learned that the arch corsair, the "Emden," had been
+caught and put out of business by the Australian cruiser "Sydney,"
+after a spirited action in which the latter ship upheld the traditions
+of the British Navy. We also learned that while in England the
+Canadians were supposed to take a share in the defense of the East
+coast in case of a German invasion. On two separate occasions I was
+called at midnight and warned to be ready.
+
+I forgot to mention that the Royal Flying Corps had a school at Lark
+Hill near Amesbury and that every day the aviators sailed above us. On
+several places on the Plains monuments have been erected by the Flying
+Corps in memory of officers who had given their lives in the interests
+of the new science. Some of the Canadians joined this Corps. Lieut.
+Lawson of the 48th, an engineer of ability and experience,
+subsequently joined and served in Mesopotamia. One man in our
+battalion wanted to join, but when it was pointed out to him that
+according to the statistics of the war his chances of being killed in
+a Highland Battalion were much better than in a flying squadron, he
+decided to stay with the 48th.
+
+Towards Christmas we received an invitation to go to Glasgow and play
+football against one of the Glasgow battalions. On Christmas Day a
+number of the Canadian oarsmen in the different regiments had a race
+for eights in the Thames. We had eight first class men who had
+belonged to Canadian fast crews, namely, Lieutenants Alex. Sinclair,
+Acland, Bickell, Muir, Taylor, Bath, Wilson and Campbell. The crews
+were arranged according to clubs at home. If the crews had been by
+battalions I am inclined to think we would have won.
+
+    [Illustration: OUR PULLMAN COACH]
+
+Our football team went to Glasgow on New Year's Day and played at
+Annie's Land. They played a very strong game but were up against new
+rules that penalized them, so they did not win.
+
+The people of Glasgow were very kind and appreciative.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+HIS MAJESTY THE KING, AND FIELD MARSHAL THE RIGHT HONORABLE VISCOUNT
+KITCHENER
+
+
+"Did they bury him standing on his head, or the other way on?"
+
+We, that is to say, Mr. J.R. Robinson, editor of the Toronto Telegram,
+and I stood in Westminster Abbey at the spot in the hallowed floor
+where "Rare" Ben Jonson had claimed his foot of ground, and we were
+playing "Innocents Abroad" and having some fun with our guide. He told
+us that he was a Swiss and that he had shown "Buffalo Bill," "Sir"
+Thomas Edison, and other famous Americans about the place.
+
+"I guess they stood him up on his feet," answered the guide.
+
+"Was he the man who wrote the dictionary?"
+
+"I guess that is him," answered the guide. "I understand he was a
+literary man."
+
+"Who was this chap Goldsmith? Was he the first pawnbroker, or the man
+who invented watches?"
+
+"I think he had something to do with the watches," said our guide,
+awestricken by our profound knowledge.
+
+"Who was this Salisbury?" we asked. "He must have been somebody
+important to have such a fine monument?"
+
+"He was some rich lawyer chap," was the answer we received. We were
+certainly having our money's worth.
+
+We wandered up and down the aisles; beneath whose flagstones rest
+Britain's honored dead.
+
+"What strikes me most," said Robinson, "is not the number of tombs and
+monuments to the great, but the numberless monuments to nonentities
+that by some means have managed to creep into the shadow of greatness,
+by crowding upon the tombs of the Immortals in this Holy of Holies,
+the Temple of Fame of the British race."
+
+After we had grilled our guide to our heart's content, and fed him
+till he almost fainted, we went around to have a look at Cromwell's
+monument and the spot in the great hall where Charles I. stood when he
+received his death sentence. Poor Charles, whose pictures look so much
+like his descendant William of Germany, the Kaiser, who has caused so
+much trouble for us all.
+
+Of all the public buildings I have ever seen the great Hall of William
+Rufus at Westminster impressed me most. It is of the Norman order of
+architecture. The conception and simplicity of the structure is
+magnificent. King William announced to the banquetting courtiers,
+according to tradition, that this majestic structure was intended as
+an ante-room to the great Parliament Buildings which he intended to
+rear on the banks of the Thames. The person who reads the poetry of
+the stones inwardly curses the careless archer whose arrow cut short
+the career of this truly great king, for this is not the only great
+structure that "William the Red" conceived and commenced during his
+turbulent reign.
+
+The three distinctive monuments of London are, this Hall of William
+the Red, the grim dominating lineaments shown in Cromwell's statue,
+and the noble well balanced head of the great Clive, the foremost of
+Empire builders.
+
+"London Bridge is falling Down" is the marching-out tune of the "Red
+Watch," and many other Highland Regiments, although in the Celtic the
+words of the song say "Well tak' the High Road." London Bridge had not
+fallen down in spite of threatened Zeppelin raids, and from it we had
+a good look at the Thames with the magnificent vista of buildings
+along the embankment.
+
+The Thames means a great deal to the Imperialist. I have seen the
+Missouri River where it joins the Mississippi, the two gigantic
+streams forming a symphony of liquid mud, the Detroit River rushing
+between two busy cities laden with hundreds of ships representing
+liquid commerce, but the Thames,--the Thames represents liquid
+history.
+
+There was great joy and rejoicing when we were informed that everybody
+was to have a holiday either at Christmas or New Year, and that His
+Majesty had decreed that free transportation would be provided for
+such as wished a holiday to visit friends. A free trip to any place in
+Great Britain or Ireland meant a great deal to our men. The Government
+had taken over the British railways on an agreement to pay the
+proprietors the amount of the earnings in 1913, during the period the
+roads would be under control. The managers of the railways had been
+formed into a Board to run the roads, and the whole thing had proved
+such a great success that the Government was virtually having the work
+done for nothing. In the language of the London _Statist_, this was
+"the best bargain" the British government ever made.
+
+The curse of railways is competition. Governments can and have
+endeavored to adjust rates so as to cheapen the cost of service and at
+the same time put a stop to rate cutting, but there is such a thing as
+competition in service or operation which means running too many
+trains, where control by the Government ends.
+
+The whole matter, however, turned out to the advantage of the
+soldiers. Those of our men who had friends in England chose Christmas
+for their holidays. The Scotchmen selected New Year's, and the Irish
+chose both and had their way, for what Commanding Officer could deny a
+man a two weeks' holiday in the Green Isle when the recipient stood a
+good chance of never seeing the home of his ancestors again?
+
+The pipes of the 48th Highlanders played on New Year's Day in Glasgow,
+but Scotland was too busy with the war to listen. I spent a few days
+in the Hebrides. This is not the place for the description of a tour
+in the Highlands. There is something about the Highland Hills that
+impresses one very deeply. The peaks are not so majestic as the Saw
+Tooth Rockies, the Kicking Horse Range, the Cariboo Mountain, or the
+Range of the Agawa Valley on the northwest shore of Lake Superior
+which is the most beautiful spot probably in the whole world, but
+there is something of solemn grandeur in the Scottish Hills that
+pertains to them alone. They are cathedral-like in their majesty. No
+wonder they have produced poets and soldiers.
+
+But Scotland was busy arming for the war. Every man of military age
+was taking to the field. It required no conscription to send the Scots
+to the war. Ninety-three per cent. of the sons of the Scottish Manse
+had volunteered and gone, and only the lame, the halt and the blind of
+military age remained. If this war continued very long there would be
+no Scotch left, except what you get in bottles.
+
+I spent a day in Mull and Iona motoring with a friend who was
+enlisting men for the naval service. We stopped at a village on our
+return, and while he went off to see a young man, I was sitting in the
+automobile opposite a small cottage, at the front gate of which stood
+a tall, handsome young woman, with two tiny children clinging to her
+skirts. She managed to pluck up courage to speak to me.
+
+"Perhaps you are from the war, Sir?" she said with a wistful look on
+her face, and a strong Highland accent.
+
+"My husband is in one of the Highland Regiments, perhaps you have seen
+his battalion, the Argyles?"
+
+I replied in the negative, adding that I belonged to a Canadian
+Highland Regiment.
+
+"There are only two young men left in this village who have not gone
+to the war," she volunteered. "And they will have to be out of here
+to-morrow, or they will hear from the women."
+
+"You Scotch women are very hard on the men," I said in a half joking
+way; "You are sending them all to the war. There won't be any left.
+Why did you, with those two little children, let your husband go to
+the war?"
+
+This seemed to stagger her for a moment, then she drew herself up
+scornfully and turning on me, with her eyes fairly blazing, she said:
+
+"I am a Cameron, Sir. I would never have spoken to him again if he had
+not volunteered to go to the war."
+
+I regretted my remark, and the refrain of the old Jacobite song
+recurred to me, "A Cameron never can yield." This is an example of the
+spirit of the Highland Scotch people in the Great War.
+
+It should be considered a duty of every person of Scottish blood to
+see Scotland and live in it, if only for a short time, and have their
+children see "Home." The people of Scotland cannot understand why
+Colonials and Americans of Scottish descent to the second and third
+generations, especially Canadians, should call Scotland "Home." The
+reason is easily explained.
+
+In America we are constantly struggling to attain wealth, social or
+political greatness, or else we are busy all the time fighting to
+prevent others from achieving success. We were only in Scotland a very
+short time when the kindly spirit and homely friendship of the people
+give us a new experience. It is like the feeling of good-will that
+centres about one's own fireside. As a country Scotland is "Home."
+Everyone there from the humblest fisherman to the highest born in the
+land is anxious to show you some kindness and make you feel at home.
+That is why Scotland is the cradle of soldiers, poets, statesmen and
+heroes.
+
+As soon as the holiday season was over the Canadians again settled
+down to Field Training. Every morning we started off with our waggons
+and enough food to do us for the day. We drilled and fought and put
+into effect new lessons in tactics. Particular attention was paid to
+musketry, such as training the men and the squad leaders to name and
+recognize targets, also to judge distances by practical methods. Every
+day we were becoming more efficient.
+
+Before the Christmas holidays I had had the good fortune to be able to
+take the "Hythe" Course and certificate in musketry and machine gun
+training at Hayling Island. I went there a confirmed adherent to the
+old Bisley style of deliberate shooting. I left a convert to the new
+British system of musketry that turned out the formidable riflemen of
+the First British Army. These soldiers overwhelmed the Germans with
+the great rapidity and accuracy of their fire. The Germans would
+hardly believe that the British were not armed with automatic rifles.
+
+On the way back from Hayling Island I met with an accident which
+luckily had no bad results for me. Accompanied by General Turner,
+V.C., and Lt.-Colonel Burland, I was being driven in an automobile
+from Salisbury city to Lark's Hill Camp, when the steering gear of the
+automobile went wrong and we ran into an embankment, the car turning
+turtle. I was sitting in the front seat with the driver, and the
+machine, going at the rate of thirty miles an hour, crashed into the
+bank. I braced myself, seeing visions ahead of a broken neck and a
+sudden inglorious end to my campaigning. But Providence saved me from
+even a scratch, although I was projected with such force against the
+glass windshield as to smash it to atoms. As the car went over, I had
+presence of mind enough to grasp the stancheons of the top, and thus
+saved myself from being thrown out over the front of the car. General
+Turner, V.C., who was in the rear seat with Colonel Burland, was
+buried under the machine, and as I cleared myself from the broken
+glass and debris I hear him groan, whilst the automobile hind wheels
+continued to revolve as long as any gasoline was left in the
+carburettor to feed the engine. We managed to get him out of the wreck
+and commandeered another automobile to take him back to Salisbury,
+where it was found that his collar bone and several ribs were broken.
+He was very cheerful and his only anxiety was lest his injuries might
+prevent him from going to the Front. As this book was published while
+I was still "soldiering" my lips were sealed as far as saying anything
+about my superior officers was concerned. All I dare say is that no
+braver, better, truer man than General Turner, V.C., ever lived.
+
+Our field training brought our men along very quickly. They were
+gradually becoming seasoned. They had gone into huts at Lark Hill
+which they had built themselves, and as these huts were warm and
+comfortable life began to be a real pleasure.
+
+About the last week in January Hon. Sir George H. Perley and Lord
+Islington paid us a visit at Lark Hill, and we had the pleasure of
+their company at an informal luncheon.
+
+Thursday, February 4th, 1915, was one of the greatest days in the
+history of the regiment. The previous week, when Sir George Perley and
+Lord Islington visited us in our huts and messed with us on soldiers'
+fare, the Acting High Commissioner told me that it was probable that
+His Majesty the King and Lord Kitchener would be down the following
+week to review the Canadian Division and say good-bye. This put
+everybody in tune, even the lads who had to stay in England with the
+surplus officers. On Wednesday afternoon the field officers spent some
+time in going over the review ground, pegging it out, so it will not
+be out of place to say a word about the grounds. Lark Hill Camp lies
+on a gentle slope facing west, and from the door of my hut I could see
+Stonehenge, that mighty monument to the great race that at one time
+lived on these plains and raised the enormous tumuli monuments to the
+heroes of their day.
+
+The reviewing ground was selected about a mile and a half west of the
+camp on the new line of railway which had been built largely by the
+Canadians. The stand was placed to face north and the long lines, two
+of them stretched away east and west. About a mile south Stonehenge is
+visible, and from Signal Mound in the rear of the reviewing grounds
+the river and Old Sarum can be seen in the distance. All about the
+plains huge mounds raised by the Druidical Celts rear themselves, of
+varying sizes, some twenty feet high, others smaller. This must in all
+ages have been a great military centre. We are not the first comers by
+any means, and this is truly historic ground that has resounded to the
+tread of the warrior for thirty centuries. It was fitting that it
+should be ground chosen by the King on which to review his Canadian
+troops.
+
+The morning looked very uninviting. It threatened rain, sleet and
+snow. For a moment it brightened up and then we were ordered to parade
+with overcoats in packs, but by the time the troops got to the ground
+it was raining heavily and we were reviewed in overcoats after all.
+
+The troops were placed in two lines, at about two hundred paces
+distance, the cavalry on the right, then the artillery and the
+auxiliaries, then the infantry, three brigades of them, the pick of
+the contingent. They certainly looked well as they marched across the
+Downs to their appointed stations. The training had had its effect.
+They looked much better than at the first review, many of them on that
+occasion being without parts of their uniform, and the drill was
+rather loose and frayed at the ends.
+
+However, that was an historic occasion for we had Her Gracious Majesty
+with us then, as well as the King, and Lord Roberts, whose smile was
+so refulgent it was worth the whole voyage to see it.
+
+The King was to arrive at eleven o'clock, and a few minutes before
+that hour the whistling of a locomotive was heard as the train wound
+its way up and down over the hills of Amesbury. The road was built
+along the sides of the hills without any pretence of grading to a
+level. It was built by the sturdy Canadians who will leave that
+monument behind them on Salisbury Plains, more useful if not more
+ornamental or enduring than Stonehenge, the tumuli, or the fallen
+ramparts and ditches of Celts, Saxons, Normans or Romans.
+
+The train consisted of two locomotives and two coaches. After a few
+moments it stopped and His Majesty and his Staff stepped out and
+advanced along a board walk to the platform which had been erected for
+him to stand on, and over which the Royal Standard was then floating.
+As he took his place on the stand, a trumpet sounded and as one man
+the troops came to the salute. Each double line was over a mile in
+length. His Majesty and Staff, accompanied by General Alderson and
+Colonel Seely, M.P., now the new Cavalry Commander, started down the
+first line to the left, then back up the front of the second line to
+its right. The officers commanding units dismounted as His Majesty
+left the stand.
+
+My regiment was the second from the left in the second line. His
+Majesty walked between the line of officers and the front line of men.
+The most prominent figure on the Staff was Lord Kitchener, who, wonder
+of wonders, wore a smile like a summer morning. As His Majesty
+approached the left of the regiment, I met him, saluting. He shook
+hands with me, and I took my place on his left hand. He asked me very
+kindly about the health of the men and expressed great pleasure to
+know that we had almost recovered from the terrible epidemic of
+influenza and of la grippe that had affected the troops. I assured him
+that the men did not grumble, they considered it part of their work
+and were quite content to "do their bit" for His Majesty and the
+Empire. He repeated that it was altogether too bad that the Canadians
+had had to put up with disagreeable conditions, but they were going
+abroad in a few days, and he felt sure they would distinguish
+themselves. He then shook hands with me, bade me good-bye and wished
+myself and the regiment "good-luck." Lord Kitchener then shook hands,
+and with a "Good-luck to you and your fine regiment, Colonel," they
+passed along to the next battalion. Several of the other officers on
+the Staff shook hands and chatted for a moment.
+
+His Majesty looked greatly improved in health, and seemed in better
+spirits than the first time we saw him at West Down South. On that
+occasion he was showing the effects of the hard work he had been
+giving to the Army--here to-day, miles away to-morrow. But those first
+strenuous days were over. The war was well in hand. The measure of the
+Germans had been taken, at sea as well as on land.
+
+When the war broke out the one thing the people dreaded was lack of
+efficient leadership. No one imagined the King would be the strongest
+and best King the Empire had ever seen. To him alone is to be ascribed
+the wonderful political solidarity of the British people. The masses
+always had a latent feeling that King George would make a great King.
+
+His Majesty returned to the stand, and we marched past in double
+lines, the cavalry eight deep in fours, the artillery two guns
+abreast, the infantry in double lines of fours, eight men abreast.
+Then they defiled along the railway four deep to cheer His Majesty as
+his train passed. The bonnets were placed on the muzzles of the rifles
+and the men cheered like mad. His Majesty stood at the window of the
+Royal Coach and waved farewells, and the second review by the King was
+over. I heard the men say how much they regretted that Her Majesty had
+not been there, for we enjoyed her first visit very much, and the
+interest she took in the soldiers.
+
+The frills are now all over and it is get ready to entrain and cross
+over to France.
+
+It was a great pleasure to learn from time to time that the officers
+that went to Valcartier supernumerary to our establishment and were
+transferred to other corps were getting along well. Lieutenants Smith
+and Ian Sinclair had gone to the Royal Highlanders of Canada,
+Lieutenant Bell to the 17th Battalion. They all subsequently
+distinguished themselves in France.
+
+At Salisbury Plains Captain J.W. Moffatt was transferred to our
+Battalion as Chaplain. He immediately joined the officers' training
+class and qualified as a combatant officer so that if need be he could
+transfer to the effectives in Flanders. He was a great favorite with
+us all.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+OFF FOR FRANCE.
+
+
+"Sir! There is a cup of coffee ready for you, and your horse will be
+at the door in fifteen minutes."
+
+I had thrown myself at ten o'clock on my cot, fully equipped for the
+first march on the way to France, and had slept soundly till roused at
+twelve forty-five by a knock on my door, followed by the voice of the
+orderly room sergeant.
+
+I went to the door of my hut and looked out. The night was dark as a
+wolf's mouth. The stars in this northern latitude sparkled with
+unusual brilliancy.
+
+On the evening of the 9th, I had been asked to go to the Headquarters
+of the Third Brigade, where General Turner, V.C., had informed me that
+my regiment would march out for France on the 11th.
+
+There was great glee when this became known. The tents hummed with
+bustle and activity. Everybody got busy polishing and packing up. The
+spare kits and kit bags were to be left at Salisbury. Many of them
+would never be claimed.
+
+It seemed almost impossible for us to get ready in time. We had not
+yet learned to march on an hour's notice, but we were told to cut down
+our baggage to the regular allowance.
+
+We were not sorry to leave England for we had spent many disagreeable
+hours on Salisbury Plains with rain a dozen times a day, mud varying
+from ankle to knee depth, wet clothing and poor tents.
+
+A few undesirables had crept into our Force at Valcartier where they
+had not been confronted with the wet canteen evil. When these chaps
+got to England they broke loose and had to be sent back to Canada.
+They should have been put through the wet canteen test before they
+sailed. It would have saved Canada a great deal of money. These men
+caused a lot of talk about the Canadians in London.
+
+London was the Headquarters of a German lie factory and all kinds of
+yarns were circulated there about us. For instance, it was told about
+the Princess Pats that when they went to Flanders they failed to hold
+their trenches and had to be brought back to London and hidden away
+"somewhere" to cool their nerves. This was a shameless lie about one
+of the grandest corps ever raised for the British army, a corps that
+in holding the "warm corners" in the British line in six months had
+casualties of over 2,700 men, or about three times its effective
+strength. The deeds of this gallant corps at Ypres and St. Eloi will
+live forever in song and story, and the names of Lt. Colonel Farquhar
+and other gallant leaders will not be forgotten in the future annals
+of the British Army.
+
+The people of Salisbury were sorry to see us leave for we had spent
+much money in the town.
+
+The day before we marched out I had visited the city to pay up our
+bills, see about the storage of baggage and kits, and pay a visit
+before leaving to the ruins of old Sarum.
+
+Contemplation of these stupendous ruins of a great people recall the
+fact that it was the Huns that destroyed the civilization of Greece
+and Rome. Always when the Hun absorbs sufficient civilization from his
+neighbor to make him efficient in the art of war he becomes seized
+with a military mania, the madness of Thor, and he seeks to destroy
+the civilized efforts of ages. Replacing nothing he thus plunges the
+world into darkness and barbarism. He destroyed the Graeco-Roman
+civilization and the world reverted to utter darkness for four
+centuries. Then Charlemagne came and there was a renaissance of
+civilization and law, and literature. Education and the arts again
+flourished, but after him came again the conquering Hun and then
+followed another long era of darkness and barbarism.
+
+I rode out in front of the battalion and could just distinguish the
+dark outlines of two companies. The other two were getting ready and
+would march two hours later with Major Marshall in command.
+
+With me was the Quartermaster, Captain Duguid, the Adjutant, Captain
+Darling, the Transport Officer, Captain Jago, and most of the train.
+We had a little difficulty in getting the men moving. I asked the
+transport officer the number of vehicles and animals and he told me he
+had eleven waggons. I rode to the cross roads, halted the regiment and
+ordered the transport to lead, counting them.
+
+When I ordered the regiment to march, Captain McGregor's hoarse
+command "Form fours! right! left wheel! Quick March!" from the
+darkness, set the column in motion.
+
+I took a final look at Lark Hill Camp and Salisbury Plains. The lights
+here and there on the Downs showed a glimmer of life. We had spent
+some happy days in the Lark Hill huts, the happiest we had spent in
+England.
+
+I carried an electric torch in my hand and led the way. There was a
+slight frost that made the muddy road better for marching. The
+adjutant rode ahead to look after the transport, and Sergeant-Major
+Grant strode at my saddle bow. My horse kept dancing all the way on
+his hind legs, as if he too was glad to leave and anxious to be over
+in France. Soon in the distance ahead gleamed the lights of Amesbury,
+and after a while tall firs closed on either side of the road as we
+passed the gates of the Manor House of Amesbury.
+
+These gates were built over a hundred years ago and were designed by a
+celebrated architect Inigo Jones.
+
+In an hour we were at the station. As we approached I rode ahead into
+the station yard and found that our train had not yet arrived. The
+regiment marched on the entraining platform, and on looking over the
+transport I found that my spare riding horse, which was lame and
+carried my saddle bags, had been left behind on the roadside. I sent
+Private Gold, one of my orderlies, back to look them up, with
+instructions to bring them along with the second half of the
+regiment.
+
+Our train was half an hour late, but when it backed in it did not take
+us long to load. The English open cars are coupled up close, and the
+open waggons that take our transport are all loaded from the end of
+the train the way circus waggons are loaded in America. We entrained
+horses and waggons in forty minutes. We startled the train people so
+that they all came to see me when we had finished to tell me how fast
+we had loaded. The railway transport officer came to my compartment
+and told me that he had been loading troops for four years there and
+he had never seen such a fast clean piece of work.
+
+We had to sit for fifteen or twenty minutes before the train moved, as
+we were ahead of time. Our destination had not been given us. It was
+very cold in the compartment as there was no steam available, but the
+train rushed along, and soon we were in Salisbury. On we went west.
+Fortunately a long course of travel in Canada had given me the habit
+of sleeping sitting in my seat, and I took advantage of it. At dawn I
+woke up and found we were nearing Bristol of which Avonmouth is the
+seaport.
+
+We arrived at our port of embarkation about seven in the morning. The
+green fields glistened with hoar frost and the distant hills seen
+through the haze were covered with snow. Through the gaps of the hills
+here and there could be seen the mounting flames of great blast
+furnaces. This is the region of coal and iron.
+
+When we reached the station we could see the harbor filled with
+transports waiting to carry our Division to France.
+
+I disembarked and asked for the R.T.O. who is the official in charge
+of the handling of the troops. I found that he was uptown having his
+breakfast. We had to wait about fifteen minutes till he arrived. Then
+he was apologetic and said he did not expect we would be on time. He
+then got busy calling for a fatigue party to unload the transport, but
+after he had blown off a little steam I pointed out to him that the
+fatigue party was waiting at the head of the column, and had been
+waiting for him for a quarter of an hour, and that they wanted to be
+shown to the unloading platform. Then he took a tumble that we "knew
+our job," and from that time on sugar could not have been sweeter. He
+told us that our transport was the _Mount Temple_, and showed me the
+ship, and in a very few minutes we had the men on board. They soon got
+busy and had the waggons slung into the hold. We found that on the
+evening before the five-inch gun battery and one unit of an ammunition
+column under Major McGee had gone on board. They had stowed the big
+guns in the lower hold, and they had enough lyddite stowed forward to
+insure a perfectly good explosion provided a submarine plugged us with
+a torpedo. Our adjutant and the steward soon had us in our cabins.
+
+A couple of hours after we embarked Major Marshall came along with the
+left half battalion and reported a very successful entraining. The
+railway company, however, had provided a train with one coach too few,
+and four horses and eight mules had to be left behind to be brought by
+the next train. They were in charge of Sergeant Fisher, my transport
+sergeant, who was a very good man, one of my best non-commissioned
+officers. Sergeant Gratton, who had been my transport sergeant, took
+ill before we left Lark Hill. He had to be left behind eating his
+heart out like a lot of other good officers; non-commissioned
+officers, and men that I would have liked to have had with me, viz.,
+Lieutenant Davidson, who had bronchial trouble and a bad knee,
+Lieutenant Lawson had bronchial trouble and a bad throat. Captain
+Marshall had pneumonia, Lieutenants Campbell, Kay and Wilson each had
+a touch of pneumonia. Lieutenant Art. Muir was recovering from
+bronchial pneumonia. Capt. Musgrave and Lieut. Malone, good steady
+officers, had to remain with the base company. Lieutenants Acland and
+Livingston had been sent several weeks before to help drill "Details"
+and reinforcements for the British troops in France, and they were
+both at Falmouth working hard putting some polish on the English
+Tommies. I wrote General Alderson before I left, asking him to let me
+have Lieutenants Acland and Livingston back, but got "no" for an
+answer. They were sent to Falmouth while I was in Glasgow at New
+Year's. If I had been in Camp I would not have parted with them.
+
+    [Illustration: 48TH HIGHLANDERS AT CHURCH SERVICE UNDER FIRE
+    NEAR MESSINES, REV. F.G. SCOTT OFFICIATING]
+
+We got through loading early in the afternoon and later on the mules
+arrived in charge of Sergeant Fisher and were safely tucked on board.
+I had a little trouble keeping people off the dock who were intent on
+handing liquor to my men.
+
+We were pretty well crowded up and I was informed that this ship had
+been wrecked once, but the good old C.P.R. flag was floating at the
+mast head and we took that for an omen of good luck, and it was.
+During the afternoon I told the men off to the life-boat stations and
+received the cheerful information that the ship was short a few life
+belts. I intended to have carried an inner motor cycle tube for my
+personal use, but forgot to take it along, so would have had to take
+my chances on a hen coop or a hatch if anything had gone wrong.
+
+The men were in great good humor. They were singing like larks. Some
+of them had left newly married wives at home in England. One at least,
+one of my best men, was too much married as he had left two wives
+behind. He had joined the regiment in Toronto and had given his
+separation allowance to a wife in Paisley. When we got to Salisbury
+another woman wrote from Glasgow saying she was his wife and claiming
+the allowance. In an unfortunate moment he had taken a trip to Paisley
+and wife No. 1 had pounced on him while he was visiting wife No. 2 and
+there was a scene. She wrote to me threatening to have him arrested
+for bigamy. I saw this would not do as there were three interests
+demanding satisfaction. First, there was his duty to the King. It had
+cost a lot of money to train him and bring him so far. He would be no
+use to the King in gaol for bigamy and would be only a further expense
+to the country and a good soldier would be lost to the service. So I
+suggested to Wife No. 1 that she leave him alone till after the war if
+he gave her an assignment of his pay of twenty dollars a month. Like a
+sensible Scotch woman she saw the wisdom of Solomon in my suggestion
+and accepted it. Wife No. 2 received the separation allowance and the
+King got the services of a first class soldier and all three interests
+were satisfied.
+
+We embarked for France with not a dozen men in the regiment with
+entries on their conduct sheets. A better behaved lot of men it would
+be hard to find. We had succeeded in instilling in them the iron
+discipline of duty which was to prove better than the discipline of
+fear. It was Napoleon who said, "Show me the regiment that has the
+most punishments and I will show you the regiment that has the worst
+discipline." He was right.
+
+We sailed during the early hours of the morning. I got up early and
+after some breakfast went on deck. Colonel Burchall Wood of the
+Divisional Staff had joined us on the previous afternoon, and as he
+was my senior officer I reported to him, but he said he preferred to
+be my guest and for me to take command. The Captain who was a Welshman
+named Griffith told me he wanted a guard of fifty men fore and aft
+with loaded rifles to look out for submarines. We also mounted two
+machine guns on the bridge so we pitied the submarine that would come
+along. The _Mount Temple_ could make ten knots in calm weather and the
+Captain told me that he intended, if a "sub." showed up, to go for it
+full tilt and run it down.
+
+By ten o'clock we were well out in the British channel. The Welsh
+Hills were covered with snow and it was a delightful day, hardly a
+ripple on the surface. Two destroyers, Numbers "1" and "2," kept doing
+"stunts" back and forward ahead of us all day.
+
+Before dealing with France or anything further, I desire to say that
+the Canadian Ordnance Officers were very hard worked and had to make
+"bricks without straw." The death of Colonel Strange made a vacancy
+which should have gone to Captain Donaldson, a Canadian, my
+Quartermaster, and no better or more experienced officer ever served
+the King.
+
+A British officer, however, was called in to do the work. The
+difference between a British officer of the old school and the
+Canadian is that when the former is confronted with some work he says,
+"I'll call my man," that is a non-commissioned officer with a "red
+tape" training, to do the job. The Canadian takes the responsibility
+himself and sees that the matter is attended to.
+
+The first evening was bright and clear and I tried my field glasses on
+the stars. The Captain told me the barometer was falling and that we
+were likely to have a change of weather.
+
+The thirteenth is generally a tough day with everybody and this was no
+exception. I was aroused shortly after daylight by a loud noise, the
+banging of furniture and the sound of dishes rattling. Sure enough we
+were having a storm. The first officer was in the hall. His room was
+opposite to mine and he was trying to get in, but the drawers and
+chairs in his room had piled up against the door. I asked him what was
+wrong and he said he wanted a surgeon as he had hurt his leg. One of
+the boats had got loose and while fastening it he had his leg jammed.
+The boat had been carried away. The ship was going like a pendulum,
+swinging nearly forty-five degrees every jump. One minute I looked
+down on Major Marshall who was in the top bunk over on the opposite
+side of our cabin, the next minute the curtains on his bunk hung
+straight over my head. Then the ship would take a turn and stand on
+her head, and the roar of the screw told us there was still plenty of
+steam in the boilers. Then the screws would submerge and the shock
+would send a shiver all over the ship. We were in the "chops" of the
+channel all right. It looked as if the storm would get us if the
+submarines did not. I told the first officer that the doctor was in a
+room in the sick bay, and he was helped away limping along the deck.
+Captain Frank Perry came along as cheerful as a morning in June. He
+was Officer of the Day and a first class sailor. He came to my room to
+report that there was a big gale outside, that the men were all right,
+very few sick, that an artillery horse had broken out of his stall and
+that he was down and likely dead; also that the waggons were loose in
+the hold forward with one or two waltzing around. While he was telling
+this he had to sit on the floor of the cabin. He had split his oil
+cloth coat up the back, and a stray door speeding the parting guest
+had slammed on a very tender part of his body, making it difficult for
+him even to sit down. I laughed till my sides ached.
+
+The admiralty stevedores had stowed the waggons in the hold and a mess
+they had made of it. I asked him if the big guns were lashed down,
+fearing that if one got loose in the lower hold it would go through
+the side of the ship like paper. He assured me that the big gun
+lashings held, and I ordered him to get a fatigue party and get baled
+hay and dump it among the waggons to stop the riot, then to lash the
+waggons. He departed on his errand.
+
+The steward brought me in some Bovril and biscuits, and Major
+Marshall, who also kept to his bunk on my advice, began feeding upon
+hard tack to get into trench practice. Bye-and-bye Perry came back and
+reported that Sergeant McMaster had fallen and broken his arm. Capt.
+MacLaren was up and he was a good surgeon and hastily set the injured
+limb. The sergeant had fallen and struck his elbow on the iron deck.
+The men were all wearing their English boots with heavy iron nails in
+the soles and they did not hold well on a steel deck. I took a few
+looks out at the sea and it was a daisy. I saw the Captain who came in
+and reported very bad weather, but he hoped to clear Cape Ushant.
+Captain Perry reported that the ship was making about half a knot an
+hour sometimes, sometimes not making anything, wouldn't steer, and
+half the time in the trough of the sea, if there was any trough to be
+found, for a cross gale had turned the sea into pyramids. He also
+informed me that everything had been made fast, that the men were
+cheerful and that there were no German submarines in sight, and the
+storm continued with terrible violence all day. The destroyers had
+sped as soon as we had left the British Coast. Several times during
+the day the ship took to her beam ends and the crew thought she would
+not come back, but she did. I took a bite in bed and stayed there all
+day. Perry looked after the rations and feeding of the men.
+
+I woke up about seven the next morning and still the ship was
+swinging. Captain Perry came in to say that they had made a good
+night, another boat had gone by the board and also a bit of the rail.
+The horse belonging to the artillery was dead. About nine o'clock I
+got up, and at ten went the rounds of the ship and saw the Captain who
+told me we were bound for St. Nazaire in Western France. This place
+had been used as a British base before the retreat of the Germans from
+the Marne.
+
+The weather moderated during the day, and on going the rounds I found
+the men cheerful and that most of the horses had been moved into the
+centre of the ship which was some improvement. My horses were all well
+except the big mare whose leg still gave her trouble. In the afternoon
+the sun came out and it got so warm that we could go about without
+overcoats. We were 300 miles south of Salisbury Plains. No wonder the
+swallows follow the summer. We were not as low yet as the latitude of
+Sault Ste. Marie. What would it be when we got to the latitude of
+Toronto?
+
+During the day several ships passed us going in the opposite
+direction. They were all tramp or troop ships. I forgot to say that
+the first day out near the Irish Coast we saw a great three-masted
+full-rigged ship in the distance. She was a magnificent sight with all
+sails set. What a great sight a fleet of these sailing vessels must
+have presented in the days of Nelson. Now ships only showed low black
+platforms and smoke stacks. No novelty nor romance about them.
+
+In the evening the Captain said we would soon see the light houses on
+the French Coast. As soon as it became dark we could see in the sky
+the double flashes of a great light at Belle Ile forty miles away.
+This is one of the most wonderful lights in the world. The sea was
+still high, but we were making good time. The Captain told me we would
+not make the harbour till the following afternoon at four o'clock when
+the tide was up. We came into the estuary of the Loire and halted,
+waiting for a pilot. Then the ship began to roll in earnest. I was up
+on the bridge with the signalmen, and one minute we were up in the air
+and the next the black sea yawned beneath us. I had my sea legs by
+this time. There were two or three lights bobbing about and a very
+powerful lighthouse light cast a baleful gleam every five seconds. The
+officer of the deck said we were about twenty miles from our
+destination and that we would hardly get in until after four in the
+morning when there was high tide, and if not then, not until the
+afternoon. Bye-and-bye we saw a light bobbing up and down in the swell
+and he said that was the pilot. He missed the ship the first round but
+came about to lee, and in the dim light we saw a cockle shell of a
+boat with two men in it. In a few minutes a line was thrown to them,
+the ladder was let down over the rail, the pilot grasped the rungs and
+began his perilous climb. He was a French sea dog and hung on like
+grim death and managed to get on deck safely. He went into the wheel
+house and I went to bed.
+
+I got up early the next morning to see what was doing. I learned that
+they were going to move the ship to the docks before noon and that we
+would start disembarking right away. The river Loire was in flood and
+no tide was necessary to give a sufficient depth of water.
+
+It was a glorious morning and pretty soon we were on the quay. It was
+a typical French sea port, not very prepossessing, but a busy place.
+French soldiers of all kinds were about, some on duty, some with their
+arms done up in slings, some of them apparently loafing. About noon
+two puffing tugs got us through the lock and tied up to a wharf. A
+Canadian transport officer and admiralty man came on board. We were
+told as soon as we were ready we could start unloading, and as soon as
+the "brows" (the sloping platform or gang planks for the horses) were
+in place we could start taking off the horses. It did not take us long
+getting ready. Pickets were put out on the quay and various fatigue
+parties manned the horses. My big mare was pretty lame but my other
+horse was in good shape. We had escaped the perils of the Bay of
+Biscay and were now in Western France. Towards evening I asked the
+transport officer what time we would take the train, as we had been
+told we were to go up country. He said that as soon as we had unloaded
+he would be able to tell me, as he would then order a train from the
+French. I then learned that the French had a wonderful system of
+moving troops. When you want to move troops in France you tell them
+and they supply you a certain number of box cars, a guard van, an
+officer's car and a certain number of cars to handle your men, horses
+and waggons. They tell you what time you are to move out, and you have
+to be ready to the minute. If you have not finished loading, the train
+moves just the same. There is no fussing among the French, but a
+deadly efficiency in all things.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+"SOMEWHERE IN FLANDERS"
+
+
+Bah! Ba! Ba! Ba-a-a! Moo! Mo! Moo! M-o-o-o! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ba-a-a-a!
+
+I was taking a stroll along the railway platform of a station in
+Northern France where the engine stopped to coal and water when this
+chorus of barnyard calls burst from the men packed in the box cars,
+reminding me of a cattle train. When they saw me halt and turn in
+astonishment there was a roar of laughter.
+
+"I'm very sorry men, that you are so crowded."
+
+"That's all right, Sir," came back the cheery answer, "that's what we
+are here for."
+
+No wonder they thus amused themselves, for they had been travelling
+two nights and a day on the way to the front, and the accommodation;
+Well! only those who have been there can tell about or realize it.
+
+The French do move troops in a wonderful manner. Each train is made up
+of a certain number of box cars, flat cars and passenger cars. Into a
+passenger car of the compartment kind the officers and staff are
+jammed, eight in a compartment. On the flat cars the waggons, guns and
+vehicles are run and lashed, and into the box cars the men and horses
+are crowded. On each box car there is painted the legend "Cheveaux 8,
+Hommes 40," which being translated means that the capacity of the car
+is eight horses or forty men, and we had to put 40 men into each box
+car which crowded them so that only eight men could lie down at a time
+while the rest stood up. It was thus a very trying journey, but the
+men did not grumble. They had to stand 48 hours of this and did it
+without a murmur.
+
+They expected greater hardships than this when they got to the front,
+and as a poor shattered warrior said to me later on when I clasped his
+hand and regretted his terrible wounds, "Don't you mind, Colonel.
+That's what we came over here for."
+
+When we landed we were told to march for the train at seven in the
+evening, and we were ready to the minute. We marched silently through
+the streets of Nazaire, and in a quarter of an hour we were at the
+station. We found the train all ready, but no crew, no conductor, no
+engine. An official at a water tank told us that the crew and
+transport officer were at the cafe dining. They came along presently
+and we started loading. Barnum & Bailey's circus never loaded a train
+as fast as we did that one.
+
+When we were loaded I was handed my train orders and a big yellow
+ticket on which was marked the halts and times to eat. We had at least
+a twenty-four hour run ahead of us. I was told that when I got to
+Rouen we would get further orders. We carried three days' rations, so
+I climbed into my compartment, and was soon asleep. I woke shortly
+after the train started to find we were travelling through a big city
+along the banks of the River Loire. We halted about seven in the
+morning to feed and water the horses and make tea for the men in their
+dixies or oval camp kettles. It is rather a serious business looking
+after a thousand men and over sixty horses and mules, but our
+organization stood the test well. My Quartermaster, Captain Duguid,
+knew his work. I had Lieutenant Dansereau as our scouting and
+interpreting officer. He was a graduate of the R.M.C. and a good
+officer.
+
+It is a beautiful country but not really to be compared with Western
+Ontario. Many large chateaus with square doleful looking windows were
+passed and hillsides covered with vineyards. We were on red clay, soil
+like that of Devonshire or Niagara. The landscape is punctuated with
+windmills, most of them old and without sails. At noon we came to Le
+Mans, a large railway centre, only about forty miles from Paris. We
+then turned west for Rouen. We stopped at La Hutte for dinner. It was
+a small wayside station with several large switches. There was an
+English officer at the platform. The place was right in the country.
+He informed me that he enjoyed his stay there very much, but that
+rural France was not like Paris. He said a transport officer up the
+line kept calling for the 48th. A beautiful country girl of about
+twelve years of age came along with a big box of cigarettes which she
+handed to the men. This was the first demonstration we had had of any
+kind since we left England. Evidently the people were accustomed to
+seeing English officers and paid very little attention to us. We were
+only "Anglaise." During the afternoon when we stopped at towns the
+streets and approaches to the station were crowded with people. About
+ten o'clock at night we came to Rouen. This was as far as my ticket
+read. An officer, however, came on board and took my ticket, but
+returned in a little while with it and another one, sending us on
+further. We were in for another night on the train. We were now in old
+Brittany and back in a chalk country. There was not very much to
+report the next day. We arrived at Bologne about ten o'clock. The
+Canadian base hospital is stationed here and I did not think we were
+going further, but we went on. We also passed through Calais which a
+noted English Queen said would be found written on her heart. They
+were certainly giving us a trip around the country. At St. Omar we
+were told we were to go to Hazebrouck, where we arrived about seven in
+the evening, and the R.T. Officer who kept asking for us came aboard.
+It was Lieut. Russell who had sat with myself and officers at the St.
+Andrew's dinner given at the Queen's Hotel, Toronto, in 1913. He had
+attended Varsity and knew me and most of our officers. We were
+delighted to see him again. He told me we had to march out five miles
+into the country but, if I preferred it, I could stay all night in
+billets in a new hospital that was in course of erection and was
+prepared for such use. I chose the hospital, as my men had been
+standing for two days and nights in box cars. We marched a quarter of
+a mile through the streets to the hospital, and it did not take us
+long to get to bed on some straw trusses.
+
+In finding our billets here Sergeant Burness and a piper had dropped
+through a hole in the floor. Burness was badly hurt and was unable to
+go any further.
+
+This was the evening of the 17th of February and "it is a strange
+thing but this regiment has ended most of its big moves on the
+seventeenth," remarked my orderly room sergeant.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+WITH FIELD MARSHAL SIR JOHN FRENCH
+
+
+"I am the Commander of the British Army in France," said a thick-set
+ruddy-faced, grey-haired officer in staff cap and uniform.
+
+"Yes, Sir John," I answered, saluting.
+
+"I have had the pleasure of seeing you and your battalion before in
+Toronto. Have you all the Toronto Highlanders with you?"
+
+"Yes, Sir John," I replied, "most of them."
+
+Our Brigade was being reviewed by the Commander-in-Chief in a hop yard
+not far from Caestre.
+
+It was raining as usual. We had not yet been reviewed, from the time
+we first went to Valcartier, that it had not rained.
+
+"Is your establishment complete?"
+
+"Yes, Sir John. In fact we are twenty over strength, and I am afraid
+you will 'wig' me for it, but we marched out at night and some of the
+men in the base company, hearing we were leaving, stole away from
+their quarters, marched five miles and smuggled themselves into the
+ranks as we marched out into the darkness."
+
+"You will never be wigged by me for bringing such a battalion as this,
+a few men over strength. We will need them all. Good luck to you,
+Colonel." We shook hands, and he started over to review the 16th
+Battalion.
+
+"I am the Officer Commanding the Second Army," and I was saluting and
+shaking hands with General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien. With Sir John
+French were the principal officers of the British Expeditionary Force.
+
+General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien I had often heard of and he impressed
+me more than any officer I had hitherto met. Above medium height,
+broad-shouldered, with head set square on his shoulders, he seemed the
+living embodiment of resolution and force. His manner was kind and
+courteous.
+
+He reminded me that our regiment had sent a detachment to England to
+the manoeuvres, some years previous, and that he had had the pleasure
+of meeting some of the officers.
+
+He complimented me upon the fine appearance of the battalion and
+passed on.
+
+Another officer shook hands. It was Prince Arthur of Connaught.
+
+"Good luck to you, Colonel, and your fine regiment."
+
+Then another officer stopped and shook hands. It was Lord Brooke. He
+had commanded the Canadian forces at Petawawa the year before when we
+were there. "I expect to get a command in the Canadians shortly," he
+informed me. He did. He got a Brigade in the Second Division.
+
+In a few minutes the review was over and we marched back to our
+billets in Caestre.
+
+Two days before the battalion had marched out of Hazebrouck hospital,
+leaving a picquet behind to clean up and bring along any stragglers.
+Thank goodness we were not bothered with many of them, and if it had
+not been for the bad weather at Salisbury Plains, which accounted for
+nearly seventy-five good men in the hospitals, we would have had very
+few weaklings.
+
+We took the main road which turns north from Hazebrouck to Caestre. We
+were going into billets in the war zone. The place where we were to be
+billeted was just back of the centre of the line held by the British.
+East, slightly north, was the famous town of Ypres, due east twelve
+miles was Armentieres, southwest seventeen miles was La Bassee, south
+was Bethune, fifteen miles away. East twenty miles, or about as far as
+Port Credit from Toronto, was the famous fortress of Lille held by the
+Germans. We were in old French Flanders.
+
+The farmers were ploughing and working in the fields as we marched
+along the road. The children ran out to look at us. They were all
+fair and flaxenhaired. It was as peaceful as a Sunday at home, but we
+were reminded of the war by the trenches running through the fields.
+The Germans had been here, but left on the big drive from the Marne.
+The road was a model, made of large stones set about 8x16 inches
+square and of granite hardness.
+
+Just before we got to Caestre we ran into the Royal Montreal Regiment
+halted on the road, and I saw a horseman riding along a sideroad
+waving his hand. He joined us and proved to be Colonel Penhale of the
+Divisional Ammunition Column, who had been with us on the "Megantic."
+
+I had sent out a billeting officer, Lieut. Dansereau, ahead of us, and
+when we got within a mile of the town I was joined by General
+Alderson, who rode Sir Adam Beck's prize winning horse, "Sir James."
+We rode along for a while and he told me a little about our future
+programme, just as much as he dared speak about. I rode into the
+village ahead to find out why we were halted. As I got to the
+outskirts of the town three horsemen appeared. They were English
+officers with lots of ribbons on their jackets. We saluted, and as I
+was going at a good trot, it was only as he passed and smiled and
+saluted that I recognized His Royal Highness Prince Arthur of
+Connaught.
+
+When I got into the town I found Captain Pope who had been sent ahead
+by the Brigadier to divide up the billets among the battalions of the
+Brigade. My battalion was given the western part of the village. I was
+interested to know how the billeting would work out. I was put up with
+a brewer. The brewery was in the back yard. I was shown to my room
+which contained a large bed, plenty of sideboards and a pair of
+magnificent bronze lamps on the mantel which were never used.
+
+We very soon got settled down, and mounted a guard and an inlying
+picquet. We then adopted the plan of making one of the companies
+furnish the duties every day. One company each day provided all the
+duty officers, guards, picquets and fatigue parties. This had the
+advantage that the men are all the time working under their own
+officers.
+
+On Friday, February 19th, I was sent for to go to Brigade
+Headquarters. I found Colonel Mitchell of the Toronto artillery there,
+also the other regimental commanders. Soon a British General dropped
+in. It was General Campbell of the Ordnance. He was introduced to me
+and we had quite a chat. He told me that he had belonged to the
+Gordons, and was so glad we were here. He left, and shortly after
+another General came in. He told us he was our corps Commander,
+General Pultney. He had another General with him who sat down beside
+me and talked for a moment or two. Presently General Alderson came
+along and then we were told about the review next day.
+
+In the afternoon the Brigadier and I rode out to the field where the
+review was to take place. There was a quaint old-fashioned churchyard
+across the road and a brewery further up. Behind us was a Flemish hop
+yard. This country is full of breweries, broken down wind-mills and
+hop yards. In the graveyard they said a German Prince was buried. His
+grave is not marked. The British and Germans had a pretty smart action
+down the road several months ago. They tell us that six thousand
+British troops defeated forty thousand Germans and drove them like
+sheep across the Lye.
+
+We opened the officers' mess in a school room. I tried to keep the
+officers dining together as long as possible as I knew that as soon as
+our billets were more open we would have to mess by companies. At this
+time we were virtually occupying alarm quarters. The men had been
+behaving splendidly. The inhabitants took to them kindly and of course
+relieved them of all their spare change. The people of the town are
+mostly old Flemish. The Flemings have the proverbial long noses, sharp
+features and have fair complexions. Occasionally a stocky, swarthy
+individual shows Wallon extraction. Some of the peasants speak nothing
+but Flemish, which is one of the ancient Gallic languages.
+
+The regiment was up at an early hour next morning and everyone was
+shaved and cleaned. We had thus far avoided that terrible but famous
+pest of the soldier that sheds more blood than bullets.
+
+The regiment paraded at the alarm post at ten o'clock. At ten-thirty
+we marched out and in a few minutes were on the parade ground. We were
+the first regiment there and were soon formed up _en masse_ facing the
+town. The officers were ordered to be dismounted and I sent my horses
+back. Shortly after the Brigade staff turned up and all the Brigade
+formed up in two lines, the 14th Montreal Regiment on the right, the
+13th Royal Highlanders on the left of the first line, our regiment on
+the right of the second line and the Canadian Scottish on the left.
+The inspecting generals arrived and were accorded the customary
+salute. The inspection started with the Royal Highlanders, and I
+noticed that the General who led was a short chunky man with grey
+hair. He passed up and down the Montreal Regiment and went back and
+forwards through it. I expected he would go to the left but he headed
+straight for me, and I recognized the Commander-in-Chief, Sir John
+French, as already told.
+
+In the afternoon after the review I met Canon Scott, who had lost (?)
+his way and had come up to the Front with the troops. I asked him to
+dine with me at a little Flemish restaurant, and we had an excellent
+Flemish dinner. The proprietress was a very lively creature. She
+chattered in French and broken English like a magpie, and flew here
+and there as lively as if she were on the stage. The Canon said the
+whole affair was like a scene from a French comedy.
+
+Canon Scott was a well known poet and churchman in Canada. His son was
+an officer in one of the Canadian battalions, and was subsequently
+wounded. Canon Scott had volunteered as Chaplain with the First
+Contingent, giving up a fashionable congregation in Quebec city. I
+took him on the strength of our battalion from that night.
+
+The men all behaved very well indeed. It had been given out in
+Divisional orders that several men had fallen out of the line of march
+for drunkenness, in other regiments, and been shot. The Canadians were
+all too keen to get to the front for anything like that.
+
+    [Illustration: CHURCH STEEPLE WHERE V.C. WAS WON]
+
+On Sunday, February 21st, I arranged that Canon Scott should preach to
+the regiment in the morning. We marched out to a green field about a
+quarter of a mile from the village and formed up in a hollow square.
+The day was bright and clear, a typical March day in Canada. The
+ground was very wet and soggy, but the sun shone out bravely. The
+scene was very impressive. There was no wind and to the northeast of
+us, about three or four miles away, a terrible battle was going on.
+The drum fire of the guns shook the earth, and sometimes the good
+Canon could hardly be heard. He remarked about this unique experience
+of holding his first service in Flanders within sound of cannon. We
+sang the hymns quite cheerfully and then he left to attend another
+service.
+
+I said a few words of thanks to my men, and then we marched back to
+billets.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+UNDER HIEX SHELLS
+
+
+"I understand that orders have just arrived at the orderly room that
+we are to march up to the trenches to-morrow. I guess we will have to
+close the officers' mess till after the war."
+
+This is the greeting I received from Surgeon Major "Alick" MacKenzie
+when I rode up to the door of my billet on the 22nd.
+
+I had just been out for a gallop. "Alick," as our officers
+affectionately called our regimental surgeon, had been sitting on the
+doorstep surrounded by a group of Flemish children. He was engaged in
+giving them a lesson in English as I rode up. Wherever we went, the
+children seemed to recognize a friend in our regimental M.O.
+
+I told him that I was glad we were going to the trenches at last and
+that we would form a staff mess which would consist of Major Marshall,
+the adjutant, Captain Darling, the signalling officer, Lieutenant
+Dansereau, and myself. That evening the officers of the 15th Battalion
+dined together in the Academy at Caestre, and it proved to be the last
+time we were all to dine together. We were all in good humor, but
+there was not much ceremony.
+
+Our orders were that we were to move up nearer to the trenches and
+take up quarters at the City of Armentieres. Armentieres is about ten
+miles west of Lille, the famous fortress built by Vauban and besieged
+and taken at one time by the famous Duke of Marlborough. Previous to
+the war it was a great manufacturing centre. The line of opposing
+trenches was about a mile and a half east of Armentieres. We were to
+march as light as possible, our packs being carried on transport motor
+trucks. We spent all day getting ready for it as it was to be a hard
+march along a stone paved road.
+
+Our first march to the trenches began on February 23rd, and it took
+some time for us to parade. For the first time my regiment did not
+march on the minute. We were ten minutes late in starting. Then I
+halted five minutes to let the transport catch up. Three hundred pairs
+of rubber boots had been issued to us the night before and we had to
+pile them on the waggons which caused delay.
+
+Two miles up the road General Alderson stood waiting for us to go
+past. Each platoon was called to attention, and the officers saluted.
+The General was apparently highly pleased. Near the village of Fletre
+General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien and his staffs were waiting for us.
+He marched with us on foot for a while, and complimented me on the
+appearance of the regiment on the march and wished us good luck.
+
+At the village of Fletre General Pultney and General Turner, V.C.,
+with their respective staffs, were waiting. We gave them the customary
+salute, and later on in the afternoon General Pultney sent word to me
+that one of my officers had saluted him with a stick in his hand, and
+that two of the men had failed to remove their pipes when called to
+attention.
+
+We recognized General Pultney as having what we called "class" and we
+were delighted that that was all the criticism we had evoked.
+
+The march came to an end about half past three. We soon found our
+billets. It was a stone block paved road all the way. The men had on
+new English boots with iron nails in the soles and the hard smooth
+stones made the walking very hard. It was the most trying march the
+regiment had. Putting the packs and great coats on the waggons had
+caused great confusion. The men on reaching town found their packs and
+coats all mixed up and it took several days to straighten them out.
+The men would never be allowed to part with their great coats and
+packs again if I could help it, unless they are going into action.
+
+On going into billets, with the trenches only a mile and a half away,
+we learned some new wrinkles and it is a blessing we were now in
+double companies.
+
+Our platoon commanders were ordered to go to the trenches that night
+to learn something. It was to be their baptism of fire. They came back
+to my orderly room at ten o'clock after going the rounds and dodging a
+lot of German bullets. I was to go in on the 26th with Colonel
+Levison-Gower of the Sherwood Foresters who had called and said he
+would take me around and show me what to do when my men were in the
+trenches.
+
+Our orderly room was in a fine house. We had good cooking facilities
+and two women to look after the meals. Our orderlies had only to look
+after the kits. The number of the house was thirteen and we came here
+under gun fire on the 23rd. That meant bad luck to the Germans.
+
+Armentieres was a factory town. They made linen chiefly and there are
+several large weaving mills. The people were very friendly and cheered
+us along the way. We met a lot of English soldiers, the Westminsters,
+the Yorks, the Durhams and Sherwoods. They had been fighting here
+since early in November and were rather "fed up" on the trenches as
+they describe it. The Toronto Regiment was up here and were full of
+ginger, they told us. Outside of being a little too eager to let off
+their ammunition, the Canadians were declared to be first class
+troops. We are at the point of a small salient that sweeps east in the
+German line towards Lille.
+
+That famous city was only about seven thousand yards from our
+trenches, well under our cannon fire.
+
+The next day I had lunch with Colonel Levison-Gower of the Sherwood
+Foresters. They were quartered in a magnificent chateau owned by a
+French cavalry officer who was married to the heiress of the place.
+She owned most of the factories. The town was shot full of holes,
+about one house out of every ten having been peppered with shell fire.
+The British had some big guns there. One half of my battalion was to
+go into trenches one night, and the other half went the next night. I
+warned the officers against any foolishness or bravado. I could hear
+the rattle of rifle and machine-gun fire and I tried to sleep. The
+billets we occupied were the finest we had lived in so far. I had a
+good coal fire in my room. Some devilish battery commander kept
+pounding away all night. Every ten seconds his blighting guns would go
+off and rattle the windows. Major "Billy" Marshall slept in the next
+room, and his snore told me he was dreaming of Paardeburg, Poplar
+Plains and battles of South Africa. A few days before we left England
+his horse had slipped and rolled over on him, lacerating some of the
+ligaments of his hip and rendering him virtually unfit for duty. He
+could hardly walk or ride, and should have been put in hospital, but
+he pleaded so hard with MacKenzie and I to let him go, and forget that
+he had been hurt, that he was passed as fit for duty. He was a brave,
+keen soldier.
+
+February 25th was my birthday and it was the first day that the
+regiment I had helped to organize twenty-four years before went into
+action. I hoped it would be a fortunate day and that none of my
+officers or men would be hurt. Trench work is bad, and gun shot wounds
+there are usually fatal as they are generally in the head. I spent an
+excellent day and in the evening the Staff had a little dinner for me.
+I telephoned Brigade Headquarters and found out that up till noon none
+of my men had been hurt. They had been told off with the British
+soldiers and mixed up so they would learn the work.
+
+While we were at dinner the first of the officers that had been in the
+trenches came in. This was Lieutenant Barwick and he reported no
+casualties in his section. He was as cool as a cucumber. He was
+followed by Captain McLaren and Lieutenant Bickle. Then Captain
+McGregor came in and reported for his company. In a few moments I got
+a note from Major Osborne saying his men were all right so that the
+first day was a fortunate one. I thanked God that it was so, and the
+officers were as cheerful as if they had been at a ball game and had
+won it. They said they had put several German snipers out of
+business. They drank my health in cocoa and we all hoped that my next
+birthday would be spent at home with all the officers and men with me
+safe and sound.
+
+It is wonderful how careless of danger people become. In the afternoon
+while I was out riding the Huns started shelling the station and town.
+Half a dozen British Howitzers 9.2 inch guns started to reply. The
+German high explosive shells, or "Hiex" as they were called there,
+were falling five or six hundred yards off, still the children were
+playing in the street and a bunch of little girls were skipping with a
+rope. That night there were several outbursts of rifle fire, and it
+sounded very much as if an attack was taking place in the section of
+the trenches held by the Royal Montreal Regiment.
+
+When we got up the next morning the sun was shining very brilliantly.
+A big British naval gun had opened fire on the German lines, and
+overhead two aeroplanes were sailing about directing the fire of the
+naval gun. The Germans had opened fire on the aeroplanes with anti-air
+craft guns, and their shells were bursting high in the air in white
+puffs like Japanese fireworks. We took our field glasses out to the
+square in front of our billet and could follow the course of the air
+craft quite plainly. After each one of our shells fell the plane would
+shoot a rocket as a signal. The German air craft shells fell hundreds
+of yards short. The aeroplanes soon rose to such a height that the
+German guns quit firing on them. The British naval planes were
+beautiful large craft. On the frontier we had already established air
+preponderancy and were also doing well now with our artillery.
+
+About five o'clock Colonel Levison-Gower sent a guide to take me to
+the ruined Chateau near the trenches where he had his headquarters.
+Captain Darling and Major Marshall and Surgeon Major MacKenzie
+accompanied me. We took our horses as the Chateau was about two miles
+down the road. The road wound along like a serpent with about every
+second house on either side blown up with shell fire or the walls
+peppered with rifle bullets. The British guns were growling on either
+side. This is an old historic road. Many a time William the Silent,
+Count Alva, and the great Marlboro galloped along it. Lille, the great
+masterpiece of fortification designed by Vauban, is only a few
+kilometers further on. We were beginning to think and calculate now in
+kilometers. After a smart trot of about twenty minutes we came to a
+coal yard on the left side of the road. We had passed a number of
+batteries of heavy guns in position ready to open fire.
+
+It was a beautiful evening. The moon was in its first quarter and
+there was every prospect of a bright night. At the wood yard we were
+told to stable our horses, and pretty soon we were struggling along
+the muddy paving stones on our way to the Chateau. We had on one side
+passed a small cemetery that had been set aside for the British and
+Canadian soldiers shot in the trenches. I should have said that just
+before I left, word had come in that Private Ford of "H" Company had
+been shot in the thigh. This was our first casualty. A bullet struck a
+British soldier of the Westminsters in the shoulder and cut into
+Ford's thigh, failing to go through. Ford was a fine brave man. He and
+another chum came over from the Edmonton Regiment just before we left
+Lark Hill. He asked to be allowed to join the 48th, and as he was a
+very likely chap, with a clean conduct sheet, I said, "come along." He
+was steward of the Edmonton Club and joined at the outbreak of the
+war. He was hit in the thigh, and the fact that he was wearing the
+kilt greatly facilitated the bleeding of his wound being stopped. He
+had two small arteries cut, but the first aid dressing which he
+carried was soon tied over the wound and the hemorrhage ceased.
+
+It was still light when we got to the Chateau. Colonel Levison-Gower
+welcomed us into what was originally the kitchen, where a beautiful
+range decorated with tiles made the room look very cheerful. Several
+of his officers were there having tea, and I was offered a cup which I
+accepted. We sat around waiting for darkness. It was going to be a
+moonlight night, just the night for sharpshooters, but we had some
+good sharpshooters of our own out in front of where we were going,
+and we felt that not even a hare could get through the lines. When it
+became dark Colonel Levison-Gower said "get ready," and began putting
+on his togs. He wore an old Burberry coat with the skirts cut off,
+heavy trench boots, a slouch British cap and armed himself with a long
+pole, in other words a stable broom handle. He gave me one and said,
+"This will help you to find a footing in the trenches." We started out
+the front door of the shattered house, turned to the right past the
+driving shed where a sentry sharply challenged us. It was one of those
+moonlight nights with a bit of a haze making objects indistinct and
+exaggerating them. We started out across the fields towards the
+trenches. There was plenty of light to see our way across several
+ditches. The ground was perfectly flat and the outlines of several
+pollard willow stubs, with a bundle of small branches growing out of
+them, etched themselves on my memory.
+
+"Ware wire," said the Colonel, who walked ahead to show the way. I
+ducked a field telephone wire strung between trees.
+
+"Ware wire," he said again, and I found we were making our way between
+barbed wire entanglements.
+
+"These are the breastworks," he said, pointing to ghostly heaps that
+loomed on either side. "We line them every night, they furnish our
+support."
+
+Several wet ditches were jumped by the aid of the broom handles we
+carried. The ditches in Flanders are exceedingly deep and the gunners
+find much trouble in negotiating them.
+
+The Colonel pointed out a line of shelter trenches his men held on the
+first advance. They held these trenches where they "dug themselves in"
+on the first night they won this ground. A little further on we came
+to small holes dug in the beet field.
+
+"Here is where they did some digging that afternoon." "They are pretty
+shallow fire trenches, barely deep enough to give cover to a man."
+Pretty soon a shadow loomed up ahead of us. "This is our first line of
+trenches," he said.
+
+The line of trenches proved to be a wall of mud, willow hurdles and
+sand bags; in reality two walls. I followed him down a short bit of
+zigzag ditch or communicating trenches and found myself in the
+trenches that will go down to history, the famous trenches of
+Flanders.
+
+It would require the pen of a Dante to picture this inferno. Day and
+night, night and day the rifles were cracking like the sound of a big
+rifle match on the ranges at home. Two lines of parapets, for there
+are really very few trenches, wind sinuously over the country from the
+sea to the Alps. These parapets are about the height of a man, and run
+in zigzag fashion. Here and there where the wall is specially built a
+dugout is constructed that will hold four or five men. In these huts
+the men cook and sleep during the day.
+
+At night they come out like moles digging or straightening their
+defences or else running saps towards the enemy. Here and there along
+the line about every hundred feet a machine gun position is built into
+the wall. These positions are not disclosed. The sharp "chop" of the
+Ross Rifle, the hoarser report of the Lee Enfield and the double cough
+"To hoo" of the German Mauser made it impossible for any conversation
+to go on except at very close range. Now and again an eighteen pounder
+would crack wickedly in our rear and its projectile went screaming
+overhead down to the rear of the German lines to keep the supports and
+reserves in their "funk holes." Now and then a German bullet would
+strike the edge of the parapets in our front and ricochet with a
+wicked note overhead. The air was filled with a swishing sound as if
+thousands of swallows were passing overhead. Down the line of the
+trenches we went to the right, then back to the left. The new relief
+were going in and manning the parapets. Manning the parapets means
+standing in a recess built into the wall of the parapets on the side
+away from the enemy. At stated periods during the night the men man or
+line the parapets ready for an attack. "Tut tut tut," sung out a
+German Maxim and a shower of the bullets swished uncomfortably close.
+"Bir-r-r-r," replied a British Vickers that fires twice as fast, and
+the German subsided.
+
+Death was sailing about in the air everywhere, but everybody went on
+with their "business as usual." The Canadians were cool under fire,
+just as cool as the British Tommy, and violent language and "swank"
+was very little in evidence. After inspecting the line we walked back
+across the turnip field in the fitful moonlight to the ruined Chateau.
+
+"How is it all going to end?" I asked Colonel Levison-Gower.
+
+"We will have to break through when the time comes," he said, "and we
+can do it if they give us support."
+
+The total losses in his corps since he came over in September has been
+over fifteen hundred. Very few of the original battalion remained. I
+forgot to say that in the trenches we met Captain Street, son of the
+late Judge Street of Toronto. He had been distinguishing himself as a
+very brave man. He had been caught out the day before in front of the
+trenches on the devil's strip with a scouting party as a fog lifted
+and two of his men were wounded. He had his own clothes ripped with
+the German bullets. He got his men in safe and doubtless will get his
+decoration. We returned to our quarters, had a bite and went to bed.
+
+On the morning of the 28th word came from the trenches that Private
+Ferland of my regiment had been struck in the head and killed. Ferland
+transferred to the 48th at Valcartier. He had seen service in the
+American Army and Navy and wore a medal for bravery which I understood
+he had won in the Philippines. He was of French Canadian descent and
+was a very good soldier. When the time came to man the parapets in the
+morning he jumped up on the banquette and called to his comrades to
+come along and not be lazy. He was tall and his head was above the
+parapet and two bullets caught him, one in the eye, the other in the
+temple. He was stone dead when he fell. He belonged to Captain
+Alexander's Company and the Captain felt very badly about him. They
+took the body out in the evening. He was a Roman Catholic and his
+nearest of kin lived in Quebec. The next morning the Sherwoods had a
+casualty. A soldier was shot through the heart by a sniper. There was
+one consolation, my men claimed they got the men of two patrols of
+Germans. In one patrol there were six men, and the six went down on
+the first volley. One got up and tried to make his trench, but poor
+fellow they were too much for him. It seemed cruel and rather rough,
+but the Prussians are not sports, they snipe all the time and when a
+man falls they fire away at his body for hours to make sure he is not
+"foxing." This war is a game without an umpire or referee.
+
+We buried Ferland at nine o'clock the next morning. Reverend Father
+Sylvester performed the service which was very simple. The section to
+which he belonged marched to the little graveyard. Bullets sang over
+our heads and pattered on the clay tiles of the barn as the simple
+Latin service of the old church was read. High in the easterly sky a
+German aeroplane hovered and our guns were making trouble for him.
+
+I rode home and found the regiment, all that were out of the trenches,
+formed up on Victor Hugo Square ready for church service. Canon Scott,
+who had accompanied my regiment from Caestre, and who had managed to
+make his way up from the front in spite of many obstacles, preached a
+very fine sermon. Eight of my best shots formed the choir.
+
+General Congrieve, V.C., was present and before the service began he
+instructed me to post a man with a strong field glass to observe if
+any German air craft approached. After the service he reviewed the
+regiment and complimented us very highly on our appearance. He said
+that I had every reason to be proud of the men, and that he had heard
+nothing but good words spoken of them since they went into the
+trenches with his men. He invited me to luncheon next day. Late that
+night, however, I received my marching orders for next day, which
+precluded the possibility of accepting his kind invitation. I was to
+go next day to a conference at the headquarters of the Seventh
+Division, the Guards and the Gordons whose trenches we are to take
+over shortly. We are to take their places and give them a chance to
+rest and refit.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+THE FLARE-LIT TRENCHES OF FROMELLES
+
+
+Next day I started out on foot with an officer of each of my companies
+to go to the headquarters of the Seventh Division. We got a motor bus
+where the railways cross the Armentieres road. Our Brigadier and Staff
+were all there, and we rode out to a big farmhouse where the
+conference was held. As we went along the road we could hear the
+Maxims going like air rivetters. The Germans were shelling Armentieres
+which has been shelled again and again. They threw two shells a couple
+of blocks away from where I was quartered. When the Germans start
+shelling the people take to their cellars. The Germans are great on
+killing children. Priests are also a specialty of theirs. At the last
+town where we were quartered they were being run out by the English,
+and they wanted the church tower for a machine gun position. They
+asked the Cure, an old man, for the keys of the church tower and he
+refused to give them up to them. He was at once taken out and shot.
+They broke into the tower and cut a Scottish battalion up pretty badly
+with their machine guns, but a Scottish sergeant of the battalion made
+his way into the church, climbed the tower and surprising the Germans
+bayoneted them all single handed. He was decorated for this brave act
+and the shooting of the priest was thus avenged.
+
+We considered it a very great honor for our regiments to relieve the
+Guards and Gordons. The people at home in Canada would thus understand
+that in spite of bad weather, sickness and other difficulties that
+made us leave over one hundred and forty men of the battalion in the
+hospitals in England, that our hard work, drill and discipline had not
+been in vain. We had learned a great many lessons and the men now
+drilled and moved like regulars. In fact, the British had no regiments
+there that were smarter, for to tell the truth they had found the
+trench work very trying. I desire to give every praise to my officers.
+They had their work up perfectly, and the men as a result gave me very
+little trouble. On parade the men stood like a rock. The captains and
+other officers had the knack of getting along with them which makes
+for the best of discipline and prompt obedience born of respect. There
+were many regiments there, good ones, but there was very little fault
+to be found with ours. No commanding officer was ever better supported
+by his officers, non-commissioned officers and men.
+
+It was on March 1st, St. David's day, dear to the Welshmen, that I
+visited the headquarters of the Seventh Division and of the Guard's
+Brigade, whose trenches we were to take over. We met Colonel
+Fisher-Rowe of the Guards and had a cup of tea with him. He was a very
+kindly-mannered man and we took a liking to him. One of his officers,
+Lieutenant Barry, was to remain with my regiment and initiate us into
+the mysteries of the flame-lit trenches in front of Fromelles.
+
+The regiment paraded on the morning of the 2nd and General Congrieve
+and Colonel Levison-Gower were on hand to bid us good-bye. It was a
+very pleasant march. The day was fine and cool and the men in splendid
+spirits. We reached Bac St. Maur in the afternoon and went into
+billets for the night. I was quartered at the Mayor's house. We now
+began to realize that in Flanders every cross road means a town or
+village. The men were quartered in a flax weaving mill. Every town in
+this country boasts a flax mill with numerous weaving and bleaching
+plants. Many of the factories before the war were owned by Germans. As
+the German-owned factories are never shelled they make splendid
+billets for the troops.
+
+We spent one night in Bac St. Maur, and next day we marched to Sailly,
+taking over the billets held by the Guards. My quarters were in a
+large farm house. The companies were each quartered at a similar farm
+and telephone wires were soon laid by our signallers. We took over the
+living room of the farm house for our sleeping bags, and as straw was
+plentiful we made some trusses to soften the feel of the red tile with
+which the room was floored. It was chilly so I ordered a fire to be
+made in the grate. We had only just stretched out to enjoy the warmth
+when suddenly there came the report of a rifle followed by a
+fusillade, and bullets flew all over the place. We at first thought
+the Germans were upon us, but the scattering of the fire brands all
+over the room told us that some "blighter" had left some clips of live
+cartridges in the sweepings of the fire place. The stampede which had
+followed the first burst of fire died away in roars of laughter. No
+one was hurt although pieces of cartridge cases had been shot some
+distance.
+
+While we were in these billets we experienced for the first time the
+splendid system that had been organized to keep the men of the allied
+armies clean. Soldiers from time immemorial have suffered from vermin
+but a new cure has been discovered by some one attached to our column
+which was soon used universally. The cure is gasoline. One or two
+applications destroy all living creatures or their ova. Arrangements
+had also been made so that the men could all have a hot bath once a
+week. A factory, usually a bleachery, was commandeered and about a
+hundred large tubs of hot water were provided. One after another the
+various companies and units were marched to these bath houses. Every
+man handed in his soiled shirt and underclothing on entering, and
+received a complete clean outfit after he had performed his ablutions.
+The only inconvenience attached to this system was that the underwear,
+shirts and socks were pooled and they sometimes got mixed, and our
+battalion being comprised chiefly of very large men sometimes had
+difficulty struggling into their clean underwear.
+
+On Saturday evening, March 6th, we went into the trenches opposite
+Fromelles at La Cardonnerie Farm which had been the scene of a very
+warm action in the previous November.
+
+Before we came to Flanders we had been told a great deal about the
+trenches in the Low Countries. We had seen pictures in the illustrated
+papers of deep ditches in which men were packed like sardines, so deep
+that we wondered how they used their rifles. After we arrived at the
+front our ideas were changed, and we came to the conclusion that the
+trenches we had seen depicted at home had been dug for the benefit of
+photographers, and were situated in some nearby park. Certainly the
+trenches in Flanders were not at all like the photographs we had seen.
+In addition, the trenches described in "Our Notes from the Front" were
+the trenches at the Aisne, where the country is altogether unlike the
+country in Flanders. At the Aisne the soil is chalk and limestone and
+the country broken and rolling. In Flanders, on the other hand, the
+soil is sticky, yellow clay, and the land flat with the exception of
+an occasional sand dune like an inverted pudding dish, at intervals of
+about ten or fifteen miles apart. Hill 60 was one of these. All over
+this flat clay country there are countless ditches. The roads are
+elevated above the level of the fields, and along each road there is a
+deep ditch or two, while there is sure to be one along each hedge.
+Water is invariably found at a depth of about two feet. One can
+therefore quite comprehend how in such a country trenches dug in the
+form of ditches would be full of water in a very short time.
+
+The trenches in Flanders are altogether unlike our conception of them.
+Trenches are an evolution, not an accident nor a design. This is how
+they happen. Our troops will be advancing or retiring as the case may
+be, and will have reached a point where progress is difficult, either
+by reason of the resistance of the enemy or the impossibility of the
+flanks coming up and conforming. Word comes from a higher authority
+that the men are to "dig in." Every man carries, attached to his waist
+belt on his back, a small entrenching tool, a "grubber" it is called.
+This tool is like a hoe, only the blade is pointed like a Canadian
+railroad shovel, and opposite the blade there is a chisel-shaped pick.
+The handle, about eighteen inches long, is carried in a sling along
+with the bayonet and enters the "grubber" at right angles. Immediately
+the word comes to "dig in" the men get out their entrenching tools or
+"grubbers" and set to work. They stand at intervals of about a yard
+apart, make a half turn to the right, lay down their rifles at arm's
+length, and as they are taught to use the grubber in the prone
+position, when the ground is favorable they can dig themselves in in
+fifteen minutes. The trench is dug at an angle of about 90 degrees to
+the enemy so there will be a clear field of fire in front. Each man
+places the earth in front of him and digs a hole about two feet wide,
+six feet long and about eighteen inches deep. These are known as
+"hasty" or "shelter" trenches. They are the safest trenches to be in
+when high explosive shells or Mauser bullets are about. If a shell
+falls it will rarely get more than one man. A little straw in the
+bottom makes these shelter trenches not uncomfortable at night.
+
+After a battalion has spent a night in the "dig ins," as they are
+called, it is usual, if no retreat or advance is ordered, for higher
+authority to send word for the trenches to be "consolidated." That
+means that more deliberate entrenchments are to be made. "Deliberate"
+entrenchments in the Low Countries mean parapets, not ditches.
+"Consolidating" invariably means building parapets. Before a man "digs
+in" he is supposed to move forward to a position where lying prone he
+can have a clear field of fire of about one hundred yards in front of
+him. It will thus be seen that the line of parapets will usually come
+just in the rear of his shelter trench. At night the engineers send
+down waggon loads of sand-bags and hurdles. These hurdles are made by
+driving a number of sharp stakes about two inches in diameter into the
+ground, the stakes being about four feet high and eight inches apart.
+In and out between these stakes wire and elm or willow branches are
+woven basket fashion and the ends are strengthened by a warp or two
+of wire. When the hurdle is completed it forms a grill-like section of
+from four to ten feet in length, ready to be set up like a fence by
+driving the stakes into the ground. Similar hurdles were used at the
+time of Caesar, so they are not new in this war. In fact such hurdles
+were used by Julius Caesar in building his camp a few miles east of the
+Fournes ridge opposite the trenches which we occupied, for it was
+there he met the Nervli. These hurdles were set up on the side
+furtherest away from the enemy and the men, being provided with picks
+and shovels by the engineers, build parapets of earth against them
+about four feet high and four feet through at the top. The hurdle is
+fastened into the parapet with stakes and wire, and on top of these
+parapets are placed three or four rows of sand-bags filled with earth.
+At intervals among the sand bags steel plates about half an inch thick
+are inserted. These plates have a hole in them for the rifle to go
+through, and sharpshooters "man" these port holes night and day.
+Immediately behind these parapets zigzag trenches about four feet deep
+are dug. These are called "fire" trenches. When the enemy shell us we
+get into these deep trenches. When they come to an attack we "man" the
+parapets. Behind the parapets at intervals are located the "dug outs"
+where the men sleep and hide in the day time. These are built to
+accommodate about four men each. They are eighteen inches high, dug
+into the ground about one foot, then a row of sandbags make a bit of
+wall. The roofs are sheets of corrugated iron with three or four rows
+of sandbags piled about four feet high. On top of the earth and
+sandbags there is generally placed a row of broken brick to cause any
+shell striking the roof to explode before it penetrates. Behind the
+parapets are places where the men cook and attend to their wants.
+
+    [Illustration: SIGNALLERS IN FLANDERS]
+
+Behind the first row of parapets about two or three hundred yards is a
+second line of parapets or breast-works with fire trenches. This
+constitutes the second line or supporting trenches. Behind these again
+about one thousand yards, with plenty of barbed wire entanglements
+and a clear field of fire, will be built a line of small forts or
+redoubts. In the parapets at various intervals are located machine-gun
+positions hidden so that the enemy's aviators cannot see them.
+
+Two lines of parapets such as I have described with but few variations
+extend from the North Sea near Nieuport to the Alps, for the Germans
+build their trenches exactly like ours. Sometimes they run short of
+sandbags, and at one place where we were they were using blue drill,
+such as engineer's overalls are made of, for sand bags.
+
+The distance between these two lines of trenches varies; sometimes it
+is one hundred yards, sometimes two or three hundred, but never more
+than four hundred yards. This "devil strip," as it is called, is night
+and day subject to fire from sharpshooters from both sides.
+
+All night long the Germans shoot "flares" into the air. These flares
+are like rockets filled with magnesium and they show a very brilliant
+light, so brilliant that objects on the darkest night are brought into
+prominent relief a mile behind the line of our trenches.
+
+The Germans are prodigal in their expenditure of these flares. We had
+to husband our supply, but if the lights began to die down a few
+rounds of rapid fire from our trenches would soon cause them to send
+hundreds of their flares into the air. The Germans are rather given to
+"nerves," and while they were cooling down our men read the papers by
+the light of their flares.
+
+On the evening of the sixth we went into the trenches at La
+Cardonnerie Farm, which being translated means thistle farm. The
+trenches were very wet and muddy and my headquarters were located in a
+ruined farm house about five hundred yards from the trenches. There
+was a fine row of tall elm trees in front of the house, which offered
+a splendid target for the German gunners.
+
+We took over the trenches from Colonel Meighen of the Montreal
+Regiment who had gone into them three days before. In running wires
+to the various sections Lieutenant Dansereau and Captain Cory had an
+exciting time. They had to drop flat in the mud several times while
+the German flares and bullets flew overhead. The left section was
+taken by Captain Alexander, the right by Captain McLaren and the
+centre by Major Osborne. The left section was about eighty yards away
+from the enemy and subject to constant bombing and enfilade fire. The
+river Layes crossed our line of trenches. What we would call a creek
+in Canada is called a river in Flanders. Five lines of wire connected
+us with the various sections of the front. Captain McGregor's Company
+was in reserve, hidden away in dug-outs. No finer officer ever drew
+the breath of life than Captain McGregor. Always cheerful and loyal,
+an experienced soldier of the King, he did credit to his name. There
+were many McGregors in the army but none braver, more skilful or
+careful of their men than Captain Archie McGregor, veteran of
+Paardeburg.
+
+The duties of a commanding officer, and also of company officers while
+their units are in the trenches, are so strenuous as to leave very
+little leisure. A great many reports have to be sent to headquarters
+during the night, and at least once an hour the signallers in the
+trenches have to report that they are awake. Every burst of rifle
+fire, every bomb explosion, has to be reported, and any unusual
+happenings explained. It soon becomes the usual thing to throw one's
+self down on an old mattress, tuck a blanket over you and take forty
+winks.
+
+It did not take us very long to get into the swing of things and
+become quite at home. It is a law of the trenches that at night the
+men must sleep on their arms, that is to say, they must sleep, if they
+sleep at all, in their greatcoats, clothing and boots, with equipment
+and ammunition buckled on and rifle in hand, so as to be ready to
+"stand to" at a moment's warning. To "stand to" means to fall in
+behind the parapets ready to repel or take part in an attack. In the
+trenches the men "stand to" at least half an hour before daylight and
+remain in readiness to man their parapets until half an hour after
+dawn. Then they are ordered to "stand down."
+
+The first duty of a soldier in a well ordered regiment after he
+"stands down" is to take out his oil-bottle and cleaning apparatus and
+clean his rifle. Then he takes off his puttees, boots and socks, rubs
+his feet to restore circulation, and if he has an extra pair of socks
+he puts them on, or if not he changes the ones he is wearing from one
+foot to the other, puts on his boots and puttees again. Cotton socks
+are very uncomfortable, for when a man stands all day and sleeps at
+night in his boots, if the socks are made of hard thread, the thread
+will leave a mark in the feet. Unless the men remove their puttees,
+boots and socks once a day they are liable to have "frost bite"
+"cobble feet" or varicose veins. These troubles soon render them fit
+subjects for the hospital. After the rifle and feet are attended to
+the men shave. Our men always shaved every day, and were very proud of
+their clean appearance in spite of the mud. One man was brought before
+me shortly after we went into the trenches for neglecting to shave. He
+explained that he had served in one of the South African wars and that
+on service there he was supposed to wear a beard. I fined him for
+neglecting to observe the King's Regulations and Orders, and his
+comrades who had warned him against trying to "put anything over" on
+the Commanding Officer gave him the laugh. He asked to see me and
+expressed such regret that I forgave him. He was a splendid soldier
+and his example made a rule for the others.
+
+Perhaps it will be just as well here to explain the remainder of the
+daily routine and how the men are fed and cared for. Some time during
+the night the company waggons, which are kept in billets at the
+quartermaster's stores, are loaded with food for the men in the
+trenches. This food, also charcoal, for fuel, barbed wire and other
+supplies are placed in sand bags, in weights that one man can carry. A
+fatigue party from each platoon meets the waggons at a convenient
+spot, and carries their respective sacks into the trenches held by
+their platoons. A non-commissioned officer from each company remains
+always in the quartermaster's tent to supervise the preparing of
+supplies for his company. He sees that the company cooks prepare
+steaks, soups and other food to be sent into the trenches. He is
+responsible to his company commander that his company gets its proper
+share.
+
+The rationing usually begins about eight o'clock, and if you listen
+you can hear the rumble of the ration waggons in the German lines as
+clearly as in our own. At this hour there was generally a truce to
+sniping, but as soon as either side finishes rationing a few rounds of
+rapid fire warns the other to hurry up and get down to the business of
+killing.
+
+When the water in the vicinity of the trenches is bad, water waggons
+are brought down along with the ration waggons, and the men's canteens
+and a number of dixies or camp kettles are filled with water and sent
+into the trenches.
+
+Every man, besides carrying a "First Aid" bandage in the flap of his
+coat, carries a day's "iron" rations in his haversack. An "iron"
+ration consists of two or three hard-tack biscuits, a package
+containing tea and sugar, and a tin of what is currently known as
+"Macconnachie's Rations." This consists of a tin containing about a
+pound of what would generally be called thick Irish Stew, made of
+meat, potatoes, green peas, carrots and some condiments. Thank
+goodness it contains no Brussels Sprouts. Great Britain went Brussels
+Sprout mad about the time we got over there. Wherever we went, on the
+trains, in the restaurants we had indigestible Brussels Sprouts.
+
+In the trenches the men make charcoal fires, boil water, make tea and
+fry their ham or bacon and eggs. Ye gods what eggs they ate. All the
+hens in Flanders seemed to be busy night and day laying eggs for the
+Canadian soldiers at five cents an egg.
+
+This is a standard feeding routine for the men in the trenches. The
+men and officers get the same rations. Often the men fare much better
+than the officers for they get parcels of food from friends in Great
+Britain and Canada. The officers are supposed to be millionaires and
+of course are expected to live like Nabobs. But they do not have
+anything better than the men.
+
+After the men have cleaned up they gather about the charcoal fire with
+two or three chums that mess together. Bacon or ham of the best
+quality is soon sizzling in the lid of a dixie. Frequently some cold
+potatoes are provided which are sliced in with the ham and the meat
+ration is ready. There is always plenty of good white bread, which
+arrived the day before fresh from England. There is tinned butter from
+Australia, and hot tea with plenty of sugar in it. After the meat they
+have dessert. Usually a fine tin of jam with more bread and butter. If
+jam does not suit, or they grow tired of jam, they have honey. What a
+breakfast for a hungry man. The noon day meal will consist of thick
+soup, steak or mutton chops grilled on charcoal, potatoes dug from
+nearby pits in the deserted farms, bread, butter, tea and jam or
+honey. For supper they had cold meat, cheese, bread and butter, jam
+and tea. The men seldom grumbled at their food as everything was of
+the best quality, and they had plenty of work and fresh air to give
+them good appetites, and with such excellent fare they gain in
+strength and weight. Many a weak, hollow-chested "mother's boy" has
+developed in a few months into a rosy-cheeked, bread-shouldered
+athlete, weighing twelve or fourteen stone.
+
+It was a wonderful sight at night to watch the trenches at Fromelles.
+As far as the eye could see from the North Sea, away past Bethune and
+death-stricken La Bassee, streamed the meteor flares like a great
+Milky Way, the flares crossing and recrossing each other. In front of
+us the German Mausers sound with their constant "to-ho," "to-ho," for
+the Mauser has a double report. On the right the wicked bark of the
+English Lee-Enfield rifles, and along our front and to our left the
+"chop, chop" of the Ross rifle of the Canadian Division. The Ross has
+a sound at a distance, for all the world like a lot of men chopping
+wood in a hardwood forest. No wonder the Germans knew when the
+Canadians came opposite their sector. Whenever they heard the Ross
+they generally got an attack of nerves and would fire wildly into the
+air on the slightest excuse.
+
+I visited the line of the trenches passing from flank to flank the
+second night we were in them and laid plans with our officers to
+strengthen the position so as to make it almost impregnable. The first
+man to be killed in these trenches was Private Stanley, a Toronto man,
+who was shot through the head while standing behind the parapet at
+night. He fell dead in the arms of his son. We buried him the next
+evening at the Canadian Cemetery at La Cardonnerie Farm by the fitful
+gleam of an electric torch while the bullets and shells whistled
+overhead.
+
+The Germans were very vicious when we went into the trenches for the
+first time, but we adjusted our fire so as to enfilade their trenches,
+that is to say, instead of firing at the trenches opposite we aimed to
+the right or the left so our bullets dropped behind their parapets. I
+went along the trenches with a photograph of their position taken from
+an aeroplane and pointed out to the section commanders the targets and
+range so as to get in behind the German lines. Sand bags and port
+holes were adjusted to this new form of fire and orders were issued to
+open enfilade fire after nine at night, sniping briskly. Some of our
+men suggested that we must have hit a German General because suddenly
+the whole German line burst into a sheet of flame and they continued
+to fire their rifles for all they were worth for about fifteen
+minutes. After that night the Germans opposite kept very quiet when we
+were in the trenches. A few days later we heard that General Von Kluck
+had been wounded opposite our lines. We wondered if we had hit him.
+
+The friends of the regiment at home were kind enough to present our
+battalion with Khaki Tam O' Shanters which we used in the trenches.
+They were a splendid headdress and we had very few casualties during
+our various turns of duty in the front line, which good fortune we
+ascribed to this headdress. General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien was very
+much taken with the "tam" as a trench cap.
+
+On the morning of March 8th, while Major MacKenzie and I were having
+coffee, the Germans began shelling our quarters. We were in an old
+brick house on the Rue Pettion and our breakfast was rudely disturbed
+by several loud reports. One of the orderlies came in to say that
+German shells were falling in the field in front of the house. We went
+out to see what was happening. The Germans were firing salvos of four
+shells at a time and "searching" for my humble quarters. First four
+shells fell about fifty yards apart about five hundred yards away to
+the right looking to our rear. Then four more came closer. Salvo
+followed salvo but a number of the shells failed to explode. After
+they had raked out our front yard we heard four burst behind our
+quarters and we knew that the next bracket would get our happy home.
+It did. Four struck the barn and the quarters occupied by Captain
+McGregor and his staff fifty feet away from where we stood. We feared
+that our cows were gone, done to death by miserable Hun gunners. When
+we took over these quarters the Scots Guards were good enough to turn
+over three cows in good milking trim to our headquarters. These three
+cows were all that were left on the farm of a fine herd of brown Swiss
+cattle. The rest of the herd were scattered about the fields with
+their feet sticking up in the air, and it was our unpleasant duty to
+later on bury them darkly at dead of night. We forgot our three
+milkers for the moment, however, as we heard the whistling of more
+shells and orders were given for everybody to duck and get under
+cover. Two shells struck the house and tore about two inches off the
+tile ridge at intervals of about ten feet apart. They fell in the
+ditch in front of the house but failed to explode. Four more fell to
+the right, and then the gunners began to rake back and forward,
+dropping in all about fifty shells within a radius of five hundred
+yards. Then they took up another target and we had leisure to examine
+the damage. Our shack had escaped except for a few broken tiles, the
+next building south occupied by Captain McGregor had one room blown
+up, that in which he had his cot. Fortunately he was out when the
+German visitors arrived. The shell, a four inch high explosive, tore a
+couple of sandbags out of the back window, and as it apparently had a
+"delay action" fuse it burst fairly in the middle of the room. There
+was nothing left of Captain McGregor's cot but a pile of woollen
+shreds. His trunk and the clothing hanging on the wall were ripped to
+pieces.
+
+Captain Perry was having a bath in an old fashioned wash tub in the
+next room when the explosion took place. Nothing happened to him as he
+bore a charmed life.
+
+Some of the shells that fell into the ditch were dug up by Sergeant
+Lewis who was in charge of our pioneers. They were four inch high
+explosives.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+WITH GENERAL SIR DOUGLAS HAIG
+
+
+When we left the trenches at Fromelles for the first time we took up
+billets on the Rue Du Quesne. This street was named after a one-time
+General and Governor of Canada during the French regime. His name is
+still perpetuated in the great steel works at Pittsburg, U.S.A., along
+with that of Lord Pitt and Braddock, for it was before Fort Du Quesne
+that General Braddock fell in 1755. Braddock was one of those
+unfortunate British Generals who were sent out to command colonials.
+He would not take the advice of his colonial officers and paid the
+penalty of his unpreparedness with his life. A comparison of Indian
+warfare of one hundred and fifty years ago with the war of to-day will
+convince anyone that the Red Indians on the warpath had nothing on the
+Germans. They burned houses and killed innocent women and children.
+For these atrocities they gained unenviable notoriety. The Germans do
+the same things. Hardly a farm house where we were billeted that did
+not have the graves of the peaceful occupants in the gardens close by.
+Men, women and children were destroyed by shell and other implements
+of war. At Armentieres we were shown Belgian children whose hands had
+been hacked off, and at the farms we saw old men maimed and with
+withered arms and legs still bearing the marks of the cords which
+bound them to trees and posts.
+
+"Frightfulness" was part of the German war religion. When their
+artillery or sharpshooters were bested in the trenches, like a lot of
+mad dogs they turned their guns on the farm houses at their extreme
+range hoping to kill or destroy somebody. The poor peasants suffer.
+The old men, boys, women and children who try their best to till the
+soil are caught unawares by the deadly shrapnel and are killed. The
+courage of these people is wonderful. I have seen a young girl driving
+a single horse in front of a hand-made wooden harrow all afternoon
+with the shells falling within two hundred yards of her. The dastardly
+German gunners were trying to kill her and her horse but an all-wise
+Providence destroyed the aim of the cowards and she escaped unhurt.
+
+These doctrines of "frightfulness" are laid down by two of the
+foremost German writers on the Art of War. Clausewitz, who is always
+quoted in the war schools dealing with the question, says,
+"Philanthropists may think it possible that the disarmament or
+subjection of the enemy can be effected by some artificial means
+without causing too many wounds and that this is the true aim of
+military science. Pretty as this looks we must refute this error, for
+in such dangerous matters as war, errors arising from good nature are
+the worst of all. As the employment of physical force to its fullest
+extent in no wise excludes the co-operation of intelligence, it
+follows that he who makes use of this force ruthlessly and without
+sparing blood must obtain an ascendancy if the enemy does not do
+likewise. By so doing he frames a law for the other and thus both
+strain every nerve without finding any other limitation but their own
+natural counterpoise." Von Der Goltz, the tutor of the Turks and the
+author of a German textbook on war, "The Nation in Arms," says, "If
+from humanitarian principles a nation decided not to resort to
+extremities, but to employ its strength up to a given point only, it
+would soon find itself swept onward against its will. No enemy would
+consider itself bound to observe a similar limitation. So far from
+this being the case each would immediately avail himself of the
+voluntary moderation of the other to outstrip him at once in
+activity."
+
+In other words, according to the German conception, war is a game
+without an umpire or a referee. The boast of civilization that it has
+ameliorated the conditions of war, and of chivalry that the old, the
+women and children shall be protected in the zone of military
+activity, have ceased to be of any value.
+
+We had comfortable quarters on the Rue Du Quesne but we were well
+under shell and rifle fire. Every night the Mauser bullets rattled on
+the roof and during the day the German gunners shelled the houses
+along the road. Rifle bullets flew around very freely at night and we
+fancied at first that snipers were busy within our lines. Sentries
+were posted on the roofs of barns and outhouses to watch for these
+pests. Several men of other regiments had been hit at nights on the
+roads, so orders were given to the peasants to clear out of the front
+line and stay in the houses at nights. Sentries, who were always in
+the war zone posted double, were warned to be more vigilant. While
+here Corporal Y---- of the headquarters staff distinguished himself by
+hitting a German artillery observer at a range of thirteen hundred
+yards. Y---- and several others had climbed to a barn roof to view the
+country with powerful telescopes to see if the Germans had any snipers
+in barns or trees. A careful reconnaissance of their lines disclosed
+an officer in artillery uniform up a willow tree. Y----, who was a
+dead shot, took his Ross, gave two degrees of wind and we all guessed
+the elevation as fourteen hundred yards. He fired and our glasses were
+all levelled on the German, who we knew had heard the bullet whiz
+past, for he looked up, so Y---- cut the range down to twelve hundred
+yards and fired again, and this time the German looked down, so we
+knew his aim was too low. We then saw him deliberately take aim at our
+trenches and fire. Y---- then cut the bracket in two and put his
+elevation at thirteen hundred yards. This time the Hun toppled over
+out of the tree, head first, and a cheer went up. He would snipe or
+observe no more.
+
+We were now in General Haig's command, and rumours were going around
+that there would be something doing before very long. We were very
+eager to get into the big drive which was expected in the spring.
+
+The second time we went into the trenches the men were warned to be
+exceedingly careful of themselves, but to enfilade the German lines
+with steady sniping so as to keep the fire down.
+
+Every night the companies had to patrol in front of our trenches and
+examine the wires. This is a very dangerous pastime and everybody
+wanted to volunteer for the service so I ordered that the men should
+be chosen by roster, that is, according to their turn. Sergeant Jones
+got out one night in a turnip patch in front of our lines. There was a
+German sniper in the same patch so they began to stalk each other.
+Jones got his man first, but as the German keeled over he fired and
+the bullet tore some fingers off Jones' hand and gave him a severe
+flesh wound in the chest. We got Jones in and bound him up, and
+brought him to my headquarters where a motor ambulance came and took
+him away. He was suffering a lot of pain but was game. His wounds were
+not dangerous.
+
+There are certain laws of the trenches that must be obeyed. First, if
+you lose your trenches you are told in general orders that you must
+take them back at once with the bayonet. You must not look for anyone
+else to do that trick for you. Another is that if a man is wounded the
+stretcher bearers must bind his wound with a first aid bandage, which
+each soldier carries in the flap of his coat, after the wound has been
+cauterized first with tincture of iodine, which is supplied to the
+officers and bearers in bottles. The man is then kept in the trench
+till evening when he is taken out on a stretcher. If shot through the
+lower part of the body a man is kept quiet where he falls for a couple
+of hours so that nature will herself repair internal bleeding. To at
+once move a man who is shot through the body is to spoil his chance of
+recovery.
+
+Our sharpshooters are told to shoot constantly at the enemy's port
+holes or at any moving figure along the enemy's line. When we see a
+periscope shoved over the enemy's parapet it is the custom for our
+sharpshooters to aim at it, and after lowering the aim to fire about
+six inches from the top of the German parapet. As their parapets are
+thin we invariably find we have scored a hit. Sometimes duels are
+indulged in between the German snipers and our sharpshooters. One day
+a duel of this kind took place between Company Sergeant-Major De Hart
+and the German who manned the porthole opposite. They fired shot for
+shot. Our sergeant fired at the German's plate, and he answered back
+on ours. Shot after shot was exchanged. Alongside of the porthole we
+had a man watching with a telescope through another porthole. On the
+tenth shot De Hart scored. His shot went through and the Germans
+closed up the porthole and went out of business for the day. One
+afternoon Lieutenant Williams-Taylor of Montreal, a very brave,
+bright, young officer, came to see me. He was on the headquarters
+staff and I had promised to show him around. Staff officers seldom
+want to look over the trenches but he did. I took him along with me
+and had to caution him several times as he is tall and the parapets in
+places were low. We went the whole line of the trenches. When we came
+to Captain McLaren's section one of our men was firing and I asked him
+what was the matter. He said he was firing at a German who was digging
+in a sap-head at the salient opposite, about four hundred yards off.
+Our man was firing and missing, and every time he fired the German
+waved a miss, as they do on the rifle butts with his shovel. Now
+sapping is a most dangerous form of employment. It is dangerous for us
+and it is our business to make it dangerous for the enemy who is
+running the sap. What is a sap? Well, this kind of a sap was a
+connecting trench which the Germans were running out from their line
+so they could get closer to our line in order to start another line of
+trenches, or else get close up with a lot of men to attack us. A
+sapper works on a trench of this kind differently to the way he works
+on an ordinary trench. He digs and picks ahead of him and throws the
+loose earth on a blanket between his feet. This earth is carried away
+in sand bags and put somewhere else, and there is nothing to show that
+sapping is going on in your front unless an aeroplane detects it.
+This sap was being run towards us along an irrigation ditch, and as
+the German sapper could not see us for trees he did not know that
+there was a point in our line from which we could see him. He was
+something of a humorist and thought he was having a lot of fun at our
+expense. Several shots from our men had failed to stop him. I tried
+two shots but he still kept on waving the shovel. I gave the rifle to
+Lieutenant Taylor at his request and pointed out the target. At his
+first shot the German failed to signal a miss. The men congratulated
+Taylor on scoring a hit, but he modestly remarked that it was a chance
+shot and he did not think he had scored. From that time on Lt.
+Williams-Taylor was a constant visitor in the trenches. He was in the
+hottest part of the action at St. Julien, rifle in hand, fighting like
+a hero.
+
+In the first trenches we occupied the line consisted of two rows of
+parapets. The front one was called the parapet, the rear the parado.
+The latter was to protect the men from the "kick back" of the German
+high explosive shells. This form of entrenchment has the disadvantage
+that if the enemy gets over your front parapet he has a rear parapet
+which he can use against you and you have great difficulty in getting
+him out. Where we were later the line consisted of a series of small
+redoubts or forts connected up with a parapet or curtain. The redoubts
+were closed at the back and in them were built the dugouts in which
+the defenders sleep. The redoubts were very strongly held, and if the
+Germans got over the single parapets they could be driven back with
+fire from the redoubts and supporting fire trenches.
+
+For some time we had been waiting patiently for the big advance which
+had been promised as soon as the ground got hard enough for troops to
+manoeuvre over the fields. In the fall and winter in Flanders the
+brown clay of the field is so sticky and soft that troops cannot
+manoeuvre except on the roads. That is why in former wars in the low
+countries the troops went into trenches during the winter. The
+weather had been warm and sunny for some days and the creeks, which
+they designate there with the euphonious titles of rivers, had fallen
+a foot or two. There was still plenty of water in the country for the
+Flemings are great lovers of water. Drains are not used there to carry
+off water at all. They are used to contain water. Every farm has a
+series of big ditches, three to six feet wide and about five feet
+deep, running across it. The water is drained off the land with tile
+into these ditches, but on the other hand these ditches provide with
+the aforesaid tile a form of sub-irrigation inasmuch as the water in
+the dry season flows back into the sub-soil through these same tile.
+The ditches play a big part in the economy of the farms. The farmyard
+buildings are built close alongside the paved roads. The roads are
+paved with stone blocks about 8"x16". The Flemish farmer does his road
+work once in a hundred years when he turns these blocks over and gives
+them a fresh surface. A gateway, generally arched, leads into a square
+around which the farm buildings stand. Next the road will be the
+dwelling houses all under one roof two storeys high. One part,--the
+master's,--will have its parlor and parlor bedroom. Then there will be
+a kitchen, then other rooms for the help, then a dairy. On the other
+side of the square the pigs and horses have quarters. Opposite on the
+right from the gate there will be cow stables, then the back of the
+square will be the barn. The roofs are all connected up. Around the
+inside of the court yard next the buildings will run a brick sidewalk
+about six feet wide, and the square in the centre contains a brick
+walled pit into which the refuse of the stables and houses is thrown.
+One corner of this midden is bricked off to form a drainage pit. Of
+all the smells! Enough said.
+
+One of the most interesting features of the farm is the dairy. Each
+farm boasts of one, and sometimes as many as three dogs. These dogs
+are never allowed to roam at will as in England or Canada. They are a
+fine robust breed, like small mastiffs with pointed wolfish ears. On
+the outside of each farmhouse one of the most prominent features is a
+big upright wheel like a water wheel, fully fourteen feet in
+diameter. All day long the dogs run in this wheel driving the
+machinery for the dairy. After one dog gets tired he is taken out, and
+if the farm is a large one another dog is put in. The Flemish dogs
+certainly have to work for their living and make up for the lazy life
+of their brethren elsewhere. Many of these dogs have long bodies and
+run to what we would call the daschhund type. I can quite understand
+how in trying to catch his tail while working the wheel the process of
+evolution has brought about the long body of the daschhund.
+
+    [Illustration: THE TRENCHES IN WINTER]
+
+According to my recollections of Caesar they had hedges and ditches,
+beautifully cultivated fields and beer and wine in Flanders two
+thousand years old. No doubt they had those dog wheels then also. But
+that does not end the ditch question. Around each group of farm
+buildings there is what we would call a moat, the biggest ditch on the
+farm. This moat will be from five to twenty feet deep and fully twenty
+feet wide. There will be a bridge at the front and back. When the
+front and back gates are closed no one can get at the Flemish
+chickens. Now what use are these high-smelling pits and ditches. The
+Flemings have a use for them. They pump out the contents into great
+big puncheons on their three-wheeled carts, and they spread this
+liquid, rich in nitrates, potash and other fertilizing materials over
+their growing crops. That is why if a man or a horse gets cut in
+Flanders he has to go and be inoculated against lock-jaw. Wounds do
+not heal readily here, the soil and air are too rich in bacteria. If a
+wound is not sterilized at once with iodine a man generally gets
+gangrene and dies of it.
+
+The farmers in Canada will no doubt be interested in the kind of stock
+on these farms. Well, first the horses. They have a magnificent breed
+of heavy horses called the heavy Fleming or Belgian, which is like a
+great Percheron with a flat bone and a foot or so sawed off its legs.
+They are like our Canadian general purpose breed, but much heavier. I
+have seen horses on almost every farm where my men were billeted that
+would weigh from 1,600 to 2,000 pounds. These horses are clean-limbed,
+close-coupled and wonderfully docile and obedient. They answer to the
+word "Gee," which seems to be an international phrase. A "jerk-line"
+on the collar does the rest. Most of the best horses are brought from
+Belgium. A thoroughbred three-year-old mare will cost three hundred
+dollars.
+
+The cows on the farms are a fine brown breed, not quite as large as
+the Holsteins, but they are prolific and splendid milkers. They are
+not allowed to roam the fields. They are much like the brown Swiss
+breed or red Devon, such as can be found in Devonshire. What struck me
+most was their splendid vigor. They are not placid and anaemic such as
+our average dairy cows, but full of life and action.
+
+The hogs are a large white razor back with long ears that droop over
+their noses. They give very little trouble and live on comparatively
+nothing. I have never seen them fed. The farmers say they let them
+root for themselves until they are getting them ready for market.
+
+The hens are a very fine breed, akin to our Wyandotte in shape, but of
+various colors. They are great egg producers and kept the soldiers
+going at sixty cents a dozen. The Fleming, with all his splendid farm
+land, still makes his own implements. Home made wooden, iron shod
+ploughs and wooden harrows are the rule. The implement manufacturers
+are not encouraged.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+THE BATTLE OF NEUVE CHAPELLE
+
+
+On the morning of the 8th of March, being Monday, the Germans began
+the week early by heaving some more shells in the direction of the
+ruin that guarded our quarters. Some one of our men during the night
+had trundled a Flemish cart that was in the way in the farmyard, out
+into the field about two hundred yards away. The vigilant Germans'
+aircraft took it for a field gun, and notifying their batteries they
+proceeded to shell it with shrapnel and high explosive shells. The
+cart, however, stood it well. After they quit shelling some of us
+ventured over to see what damage had been done. Beyond peppering the
+woodwork the dummy gun was intact. I picked up the fuse of one of the
+shrapnel shells and found that the range had been set at 3,400 metres.
+The shell in its flight had clipped a small limb off one of the tall
+sentinel elms in front of our dug-outs. With a compass we learned the
+direction of the German battery on the map, which was located behind a
+hedge at the cross roads east of Fromelles. A telephone message to our
+guns and a half dozen shells from our five-inch guns, and this
+particular German battery troubled us no more.
+
+After the shelling the adjutant of the Royal Scots Battalion on our
+right came over to see me to talk over the battle which we knew was
+now due. I had been told of this by General Turner, V.C., the day
+before. We knew that the big advance was about to begin, and a study
+of the map told us that the first blow would likely be struck at Neuve
+Chapelle, with an idea of forcing our line forward several miles so we
+would gain the command of the high ground back of Aubers, Herlies and
+Fromelles, a region of coal mines. A branch line of railway ran from
+La Bassee to Fromelles and supplied the German batteries on our front
+with ammunition and no doubt took coal back. On the east side of the
+ridge ran the canal from La Bassee to Lille, also the two lines of
+railway between the same places. With our footing secure on the Aubers
+Ridge the gates of Lille and La Bassee would be at our mercy. Then
+with a mobile field army there would be nothing to stop us till we got
+to Ghent or Brussels. This was the place to drive the wedge that would
+cut the German line in two, and once we had Lille we would endanger
+the whole German lines of communication north and south. It used to be
+a favourite amusement among the officers of our staff in the evenings
+to take the map of Western Europe, which we kept hanging on the wall,
+and plan campaigns to drive the Germans out of Flanders. Invariably
+two lines of advance would be chosen. The first via Lille and Ghent,
+to Antwerp, along the high ground between the River Scheldt and the
+Lys. The second route would invariably begin at the Somme and run
+along the plateau between the Sambre and Meuse via way of Le Cateau,
+Mons, Charleroi to Namur.
+
+All this is historical ground, the Low Countries of history. Over this
+ground fought Caesar, Charlemagne, William the Silent, Marlborough,
+Napoleon and all the great captains of history. We used to calculate
+the men, the marches and the guns required. We would plan how we would
+form a great corps army behind the trenches in preparation for a grand
+advance. The attack would be delivered against two different points. A
+feint against one position that would bring the German corps reserves,
+that were always available in some central point, to the assistance of
+their comrades. This corps army we knew always come on the third day
+of a fight. We would have it come to the wrong place. Then a fierce
+storm of artillery fire would be delivered at the point where the real
+gap in the line was to be made; a drive through it with the infantry,
+with plenty of supports; such were Wellington's methods. Then a "steam
+roller" advance for the objective, surrounding and disregarding
+fortified villages and redoubts, that would send the Germans
+scattering right and left for the Rhine. We realized that our task as
+part of the trench army would be a difficult one, but we had every
+confidence that the trench army could open the gate for a field army
+at any point in the line required. But a trench army in so doing would
+lose one third of its effectives, and putting a regiment in the
+trenches for a long tour of trench work destroys its initiative as far
+as field manoeuvring is concerned. All these things were planned and
+marches calculated. It was figured out where the Germans might make a
+stand, generally where some famous battle had been fought in the past,
+how they would be overwhelmed with fresh divisions on their flanks,
+brought up in motor trucks and their troops blown out of the earth
+with hundreds of "four point five" and "six-inch" field howitzers
+which were proving to be such excellent guns for our troops. That is
+how we planned to drive the enemy out of Flanders. Alas, most of those
+young ardent soldiers who were so well trained by our military
+colleges to carry on the staff work of such an army of invasion were
+doomed to give up their lives in the sodden and muddy trenches. We had
+confidence that the day would come soon when a big field army would be
+ready behind us, and it would be only a case of "whoop" and "haloo"
+and the German fox would be off full tear for the cover of the Rhine
+and its fortress strongholds.
+
+For days we had been gaining superiority in various ways over the
+enemy. Our riflemen dominated theirs. When we took over the trenches
+first, if we fired one shot they answered with ten. Now they did not
+answer at all. When our guns fired on their guns for every shell we
+handed to them they religiously gave us five back. Now they kept still
+and took their gruel. They had given us trouble with their trench
+mortars. They had wounded several of my men with the bombs, but they
+tried to move their mortar into a new position one day and we spotted
+it. The artillery observing officer in our trenches, young Lieutenant
+Ryerson, called up the guns and the second shell sent their mortar to
+smithereens. A great artillery officer was young Lieut. Ryerson, fit
+to command any battery.
+
+For a long time the German aeroplanes flew over us every morning at
+sunrise, but now we had a dozen aeroplanes to their one and theirs
+were rather shy. Our guns had ranged up and down the whole front and
+we had all begun to get confident and to think that it was only a
+matter of a few days until we would be on the high road to Brussels.
+
+On top of all this came a very inspiring address from General Sir
+Douglas Haig, commanding our army. He pointed out that the time had
+come for a fresh great effort. He also informed us that we were
+stronger than the enemy, all of which gave us more confidence.
+
+I was told privately that the drive was to take place on our right,
+and as soon as the brigade on our right had cleared out the Germans on
+their front that we were to echelon and follow suit and charge.
+
+On our right the Germans were four hundred yards away across the open.
+I went down and examined the lines carefully with Captain Daniels, and
+found that there were two places where a lot of men could be taken out
+of our trenches and led half way across to the German lines on "dead"
+ground, that is ground on which they would be hidden. Lieutenant
+Schonberger and Captain Warren made a sketch of this ground. I talked
+the matter over with the captains and they were very much cheered up
+over the prospect of a fight. Captains MacLaren and Daniels
+immediately began fixing up exits from their trenches. Steps were cut
+in the parapets, and in other places openings were made. The opening
+in the parapets that were used for "listening" posts and for the
+patrols to go in and out were widened.
+
+What is a listening post? A listening post is made in this way: A gap
+which is carefully hidden with sandbags is cut in the parapets. Then a
+sap is run out several hundred feet in zigzag fashion, which
+terminates in a rifle pit, about five feet deep that will accommodate
+about four men. At night two sentries sit in this pit and listen to
+the sounds in the enemy's lines. Sometimes if the rifle pit is wet a
+couple of barrels are put in and the sentries stand in the barrels.
+They notify the trenches of any unusual movement or sounds made by the
+enemy.
+
+In the evening we left the trenches and went into divisional reserve
+at Rue Du Quesne. Let me give you some idea of the lay of the country.
+There is a road about every kilometer and they run roughly northwest
+and northeast.
+
+Running southwest and almost parallel with the trenches was Rue
+Pettion, a short road that terminated at the Fromelles road near our
+headquarters. The next street, a little over a mile back, is Rue Du
+Bois, north of the Fromelles Road, south of the Fromelles Road it is
+called the Rue De Tilleloy. At the corner there was a shrine which had
+suffered from shell fire and which Canon Scott had immortalized in a
+poem, the best he has written and the best I have read since the war
+began. The next street back is the Rue Du Quesne. Right through the
+centre of our position ran the Fromelles Road. A kilometer southwest,
+the trench line is crossed by the road to Aubers called the Rue
+D'Enfer, or in our language, the Road to Hell. If this road is paved
+with good intentions I have never seen any of them. It is strongly
+held by the Germans. The "intentions" take the form of "crump" holes
+excavated by German shells in the pavement.
+
+The country on our side is perfectly flat and full of hedges and
+ditches. Every hedge concealed a battery of guns of all kinds and
+sizes. On the German side, half a mile back from their trenches, the
+ground slopes up. The villages of Aubers and Fromelle are on the
+western slope and the ridge behind is our true objective. On the ridge
+we could see the church steeples of Herlies to the right and Fournes
+to the left, while here and there peep the derricks, or as we in
+America call them the "breakers" of coal pits. Beyond the ridge the
+land slopes to the Scheldt. It was on the eastern slope of this ridge
+that Caesar fought his greatest battles. There the Nervli charged
+across the stream in thousands and fought until hardly a man of them
+was left, fought until their dead were piled up breast high, fought
+till Caesar had to take a buckler and spear from a fallen soldier to
+defend himself. On all sides, from the horizon downward, rows of tall
+elm trees cast their gaunt leafless branches in the air. Between them
+were a sea of hedges and green brown boles of pollard willows. Elms
+generally grew along the roadways and the limbs for fifty feet up are
+trimmed off annually and tied up into faggots. The willows grew along
+the ditches. They are trimmed off about twelve or fourteen feet above
+the ground and the new branches that sprout out from their trunks
+provide faggots for firewood as well as withes for the manufacture of
+chairs, baskets and hampers. The faggots are sometimes placed in
+earthen pits and burned into charcoal, providing an excellent fuel for
+the interesting Dutch stoves found in the kitchens in this country.
+
+For several days our guns had been registering on the enemy. That is
+to say, our artillery observing officers would go into the trenches
+with a telephone connected up with their batteries. Then the battery
+fires a shot at the enemy's parapets, generally well over. He reports
+the hit right or left, and then the range is reduced until the object
+is hit. That range direction and elevation is recorded in a register
+at the gun. The man who sets the gun does not see the object he is
+firing at at all, but he knows when his gun is trained in a certain
+line at a certain elevation he will hit that part of the enemy's
+parapet. We had all kinds of guns ready for the fray. The Canadian
+sixty pounders under Major McGee a few days before had smashed up the
+brown tower of Fromelles. This tower had been used by the Germans for
+an artillery observing station, and for several months the British had
+been firing at it without success. In about three shots McGee's guns
+got the tower and a half dozen shells reduced it to a hopeless ruin so
+that it was of no use to anyone. The church tower of Aubers followed
+suit. When the British Tommies heard the "birr" of the five-inch
+Canadian shells they all asked whose they were. The Scots thought they
+had come from Scotland. When they saw Aubers tower disappear in a
+cloud of dust they inquired again, "What bally gunners are those?"
+When told they were the Canadians, they said, "Bravo, Canadians, you
+are some class," and cheered heartily. This gave our gunners a
+reputation that lasted for the rest of the war.
+
+Besides our five-inch guns we had our eighteen pounder batteries lined
+up and down behind us, also horse artillery guns from India and an
+armoured train manned by the navy. They had long six-inch guns that
+threw a terrible projectile. We had also some new fifteen-inch
+howitzers that had been brought over from England. "Grandmas" they
+called these guns because they were short and stout. "Grandma" when
+fired only gave a low grunt, but when her shell broke four or five
+miles off, it burst with a "Car-u-m-p" that rattled the windows and
+shook the earth down in our dugouts.
+
+I had a very interesting time one day riding to a conference at the
+headquarters of General Sir H.S. Rawlinson, Bt. I came cantering along
+a road and a sudden turn brought us to a railway crossing. The naval
+guns were on an armoured train, the Churchill battery on either side
+of this crossing, and the gunners seemed to have wakened up for they
+began firing when we were about five hundred yards off. I was riding a
+powerful "Cayuse" or western horse, which Captain "Rudd" Marshall,
+with rare good judgment, had selected for me at Valcartier. He turned
+out to be a splendid charger. Although low set he carried me easily.
+He was as wise as an owl and as sure-footed as a cat. It took a good
+deal of courage on his part to face the naval battery firing for all
+it was worth, the flames from the black fiery muzzles of the guns
+almost scorching his hide, but he did it without flinching, although
+the jar of the guns almost shook him off his feet several times. I can
+quite realize the task of the Noble Six Hundred had in charging the
+Russian batteries at Balaclava. I have since seen a moving picture of
+this battery in action and recognized the raised gate of the railway
+crossing through which we rode, in the centre of the picture, and I
+wondered if the battery was "demonstrating" for the benefit of the
+moving picture photographer when we were passing through.
+
+In my rides about the country when the battalion was in billets, I
+several times ran across "Archibald the Archer," which is the name
+given to an anti-air craft gun which is mounted on a motor truck and
+is used against the German aeroplanes. "Archibald" is capable of
+firing to a great height and very rapidly. He can also move about the
+country quite readily. When he starts after a Hun avatick there is
+something going on in the sky. I have watched the Germans outwitting
+him. Now the aeroplane would dip and glide and circle as the
+"Archibald" shells broke about him. Watching with a powerful glass one
+could see the airship tremble with the explosion of the shell in its
+vicinity. "Archibald" does not always get the German observers, but he
+hastens to make it so hot for them that they cannot observe.
+Observation cannot be carried on with much accuracy above five
+thousand feet, and the ordinary rifle can fire that high. Who named
+the anti-air craft gun "Archibald" no one knows, but the Belgians are
+credited with the naming.
+
+The Belgians are great archers, the sport still surviving in that
+country. At every village you will find a tall mast which you at first
+think belongs to a wireless station. On examination, however, it will
+prove to be an archery pole. At the top of a tall pole the target is
+drawn up by a rope and pulley, and on holidays the local sports
+indulge in shooting at the mark with a long bow. In every farm house
+you will find the long bow and a bunch of arrows.
+
+The programme for the big battle ran something like this: Everything
+being in readiness several divisions were to be brought up behind the
+trenches at Neuve Chapelle during the night of the ninth and tenth.
+Next morning at 7.30 the ball was to open. It was to be a case of
+"nibbling" as General Joffre calls it. Our guns were to form two zones
+of fire. The big guns were to smash the first line of trenches for a
+mile into fragments, while the second line of lighter guns were to
+rain shrapnel on the ground over which supports might come so that the
+first line would be isolated. When the first line was sufficiently
+hammered the infantry was to rip the German parapets with rapid rifle
+fire, then a charge with the bayonets across the devil's strip, and
+once inside the first lines of parapets bomb throwing parties were to
+be told off right and left to clear the trenches. These bombing
+parties consisted of three or four men with bayonets to lead, and
+behind them two or three bomb throwers to throw bombs at the enemy
+ahead of the bayonet men. The leading bayonet men carried a flag which
+they were to plant in the parapets as they passed along so that the
+supporting infantry would know not to fire on them. The first line of
+trenches was to be consolidated the first day. On the second day the
+second line was to be assaulted and on the third day the third line.
+In a similar manner everybody knew there was stiff work ahead. That
+evening my battalion was relieved in the trenches by the Royal
+Montreal Regiment. When we got back to our quarters we received orders
+to "sleep on our arms" that night. That meant in our clothes, with our
+belts and ammunition strapped on, ready to march at a moment's notice.
+There was a good bed, but it was sleep in your boots for me. The fact
+that a blighter of a sniper kept firing off three or four rounds of
+rapid fire at my headquarters every few minutes, his bullets rattling
+on the brick wall close to my window, was not very conducive to sleep
+or good temper. I vowed that I would make it pretty hot for snipers,
+and agreed with myself there and then to pay a reward of fifty dollars
+for every sniper captured dead or alive inside our lines.
+
+The German sniper is really a lineal descendant of the impenitent
+thief. When I say a sniper I do not mean a sharpshooter who fires into
+our lines from the German lines. I mean one of those horrible
+creatures that goes about clad in a stolen uniform or the clothes of a
+Flemish farmer during the day, and at night takes a Leuger automatic
+pistol and haunts the billets and roads in hope of killing some lone
+British or Canadian soldier or sentry, whose duty calls him abroad
+during the night and relieving the dead body of any money or valuables
+that may be on it. Truly this war developed into a form of warfare
+akin to that between the whites and the North American Indians.
+
+We suspect a few of the habitants of being snipers and not without
+some reason. Several of these farmers and small saloon keepers would
+like to see the Germans win the war so that they could "cash in" on
+the German requisitions they hold. It happened in this way: When the
+"Boches," as they call the Germans, overran the country last August
+and September, they took all the wine from the saloon keepers and
+brewers, and the best horses, cattle and hogs from the farmers. They
+paid for these articles with requisitions or orders on the German
+Government, payable after the war if Germany won. We were constantly
+coming up against these people that were devastated by the Germans,
+and when we remarked that the British or French Government would pay
+the "requisitions" after the war they inform us that they hold
+requisitions for 5,000 or 10,000 francs given them by the Germans for
+their property. At one place where I was quartered the proprietor had
+lost 40,000 francs worth of stock and wine. He was rather "frosty" to
+the British. That is why we suspected some of being snipers, and there
+are some cases on record where they were caught red-handed in the act.
+Our experience had taught us to put a dead line of sentries several
+miles behind the line of trenches, and our vigilance was rewarded
+because the Germans throughout were unable to locate our batteries and
+were at sea as to what was taking place behind our lines. On the other
+hand our scouts were so bold that they often crept forward at night in
+spite of the constant firing of flare lights or rockets by the enemy
+and had looked right into the German trenches. Conversations were of
+constant occurrence. "How is your bloody Ross Rifle?" a hoarse German
+voice would enquire. "Stick your nose up and see" would go back the
+prompt reply.
+
+March 10th was the day set for the beginning of the battle which will
+go down in history as the battle of Neuve Chapelle. The village of
+Neuve Chapelle was just like every other Franco-Fleming village on the
+firing line, a huddle of houses partly unroofed by shell fire,
+deserted by the populace, and shunned by the soldiers. It had been at
+one time a smart village of two-storey brick houses with red tiled
+roofs. It possessed the typical church and graveyard such as are found
+in these villages. Almost every second house was a wine or beer saloon
+called an "estament." There were butcher shops, millinery shops and
+shops where they mended shoes. But the British rush, which in October
+had driven back the German lines beyond Armentieres, Aubers and
+Fromelles, had left the Germans in possession of Neuve Chapelle. They
+had a lot of stout-hearted rogues holding on there who would not let
+go, so Neuve Chapelle formed the apex of a salient in the British
+trenches which weakened our line north so much that later on we had to
+give up good ground south of Lille in order to straighten and
+consolidate along the line of the River Layes for the hard winter
+campaign.
+
+Late in December some one in the War Office thought that we had given
+up too much ground about Fromelles and Armentieres, so an attack was
+ordered which resulted in nothing beyond the killing of a great many
+Highlanders, Gordons, Black Watch, Argyles, and virtually destroying a
+Brigade of Guards. But nothing came of all this, and it is, as I
+suppose as Rudyard Kipling would say, "another story." Yes, and a "top
+hole" one at that, but it does not come within my province to tell it.
+
+Now we were going to drive the Germans out of this salient and begin
+the spring cleaning up. When we speak of towns and villages, please do
+not get any idea of distance as in Canada or America in your heads.
+There is a town or village in Flanders at every cross road. The "town
+siter" has not been abroad here selling lots for miles about every
+hamlet, so the result is that a town of three or four thousand people
+will happen at every cross road, all within a diameter of a quarter of
+a mile. As for the roads and streets, they follow the game trails
+haunted by the cave dwellers and trogdolites a thousand centuries ago.
+They wind in every direction and are all good. The main roads are
+covered with heavy square stones, blocks. Once in a hundred years the
+Flemish farmer does his road work by turning these blocks over. They
+are called pave roads. All the other roads are covered with macadam
+made out of black whinstone that is as hard as iron. This will explain
+why the towns of Armentieres, Fleurbaix, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers,
+Estaires and Bac St. Maur are all within a radius of five miles of
+each other. Aubers is a short mile from Neuve Chapelle, while
+Fromelles is only a mile or so from Aubers. The whole British line
+from Ypres to La Bassee is not as far as from Toronto to Hamilton, not
+forty miles.
+
+Our brigade had two battalions in the trenches, the Royal Montreal
+Regiment under Lieut.-Colonel Meighen and the Canadian Scottish under
+Lieut.-Colonel Leckie. The Royal Highlanders of Canada were on the
+left of our brigade and we were on the right, and our two battalions
+were available as reserves for the British troops on our right that
+were going into action. There was one British Brigade between us and
+the section of the line that was to attack. We were not to move till
+this brigade moved. Reveille was sounded early and the battalion fell
+in by companies shortly after seven. We were ordered to march down to
+the Rue De Bois and get out of sight among some farm houses and keep
+out of sight, which we did. Some of the companies crossed the fields
+scouting along the ditches and hedges. A company marched by the road
+Croix Blanche. We found billets at farm houses a few hundred yards
+east of the corner of the Rue De Bois and the Fromelles road. Across
+the road from where I was quartered there was a big straw stack which
+the artillery were using for observation purposes. Behind it Captain
+Pope of the Third Brigade Staff had established a telephone office in
+a couple of wheat sheaves of last year's crop. A cup of bad black
+coffee and a hard boiled egg provided me with breakfast. The men made
+tea and had plenty of food with them. In an emergency of this kind I
+saw that they had two day's rations in their haversacks. They also
+carried a hundred and fifty rounds of ammunition in their pouches and
+two bandoliers, each of fifty rounds, slung over their shoulders. They
+would not be short of grub or ammunition if it could be helped. After
+I had finished the coffee I surveyed the barn and found a spot where a
+hole through the straw thatch gave a good view of what was going on.
+
+I had a very powerful pair of field binoculars with which I could
+count the chickens in a barnyard five miles off. The battle was about
+to begin. A few of our guns were giving the morning "straffing" as
+usual. The sun was up and it was a bright clear day. I could see the
+British lines marked by brown sandbags, now hidden by hedges, again
+showing across the Rue D'Enfer, but hidden by the houses and church at
+the corner called Fauquissart. Beyond that again to my right rear the
+line crossed the Rue Du Tilleloy and swept on to Neuve Chapelle. A
+clump of tall elms here interfered with the view. I could also see the
+German trenches. They were crowned with rows of white sandbags,
+interspersed with blue bundles that looked like army blankets or blue
+bed sticks filled with earth. There was not much stirring for the
+moment.
+
+Suddenly the guns woke up behind our line. The Canadian eighteens and
+five inchers took up the chorus. Back came half a dozen German forty
+pounder shells bursting in the field on my right. They were miles away
+from our guns. One by one the British batteries joined in the chorus
+until in less than five minutes over three hundred cannon of every
+description were pouring death and destruction on the German trenches.
+At first I could see our shells bursting with volumes of green and
+yellow smoke and blowing up the German parapets. I could see sandbags
+flying fifty feet in the air and what looked like men as well. Debris
+flew in every direction, and in a few minutes I could see neither
+sandbags nor parapets. Nothing but the yellow smoke of lyddite and
+behind this in the air a ring of fire where the shrapnel were bursting
+and showering their leaden curtain to keep the enemy's supports from
+coming up. I could see that there was much excitement along the
+British parapets. Men clustered together like bees, and in some places
+I could see soldiers climbing up on top of the parapet, waving their
+rifles and caps in the air. They were telling the Huns what they were
+going to do to them. They were too far away for me to hear what their
+language was, but they were evidently enjoying the punishing the
+Germans were getting. At 8.30 o'clock the roar of the guns died away
+suddenly, only to be followed by the most intense musketry fire. It
+was something like the distant sound of Niagara Falls. I never heard
+anything really like it. This continued for about ten minutes, then
+died away.
+
+A light yellow cloud had settled down over the place where the German
+parapets once were. I could not see through the smoke, as the more
+powerful a glass is the more it exaggerates the fog or smoke. I could
+hear the loud, sharp detonations of grenades, and I fancied cheers,
+more detonations and cheers and cries. All this was occurring within
+less than a mile of where I was standing. From the detonations I
+judged we were bombing their trenches. The noise died away and our
+artillery woke up again and began shelling leisurely in the rear of
+the first line of German entrenchments. Evidently we had won easily. I
+hurried down and over to where Captain Pope and several of my officers
+were grouped about the telephone. "They have carried the first line of
+trenches easily" was the answer he gave to my query as to what had
+happened. "They are going after the second line of trenches right
+away." I returned to my observation post and once more the guns were
+hard at it. It was now a little after nine o'clock and the haze
+that hung around the German positions made observation difficult. The
+guns redoubled their efforts, and at about ten o'clock they stopped
+and again the rifle fire followed, if anything, more intense than
+before. The detonation of bombs, the rifle fire and cries of the
+combatants came to my ears distinctly now that our own guns on both
+sides and behind us were silent. Again I travelled over to the
+telephone station wondering if they had forgotten us, or if we were
+going to have a hand in the game. "The second line is taken" came over
+the wire at 10.30 o'clock. "They are going to attack the third line."
+So they were going to force through and make a one-day job of it after
+all. That would surely bring us into the fight by the afternoon or the
+next day. So my young men would be pleased.
+
+    [Illustration: FIRST AID IN THE TRENCHES]
+
+I had had a lot of pacifying to do among my officers over the question
+of "When are we going to get into this thing?" Major Osborne always
+had an idea that everybody from General French down was trying to keep
+the Canadians from starting a grand parade to Berlin. Lieut. "Fred"
+Macdonald's question to me would always be, "How long are they going
+to keep us at this rotten trench business?" "It's about time we got
+into a mix-up. Look at the Princess Pats what they have done! They
+must be afraid to use us," etc., etc. I would gently chide him and say
+that we were on the lap of the gods, in other words sitting on our
+General's knees, and Mac would look as if I were a partner in a deep
+laid conspiracy to keep the regiment from being covered with glory.
+
+When we last went into the trenches Captains Alexander and Cory had to
+take the line nearest the Germans. They were only eighty yards away
+and the parapets were as thin as bargain day wall paper. Lots had been
+cast, and McGregor had won the reserved position and Alexander the hot
+corner. I ventured to remark to Alexander that I was sorry that his
+luck had put him in a dangerous place, and that he should have his
+turn next in reserve. I did not get far with this speech when he
+snapped back quietly and firmly, "The post of danger is the post of
+honour." As for Cory and Jones, I had to threaten them with a
+court-martial if they did not stop hopping on the parapets in full
+view of the Germans both day and night.
+
+They were all feeling happy to-day, even grim Captain MacLaren was
+wearing a broad smile. As for McKessock, well his ancestors followed
+Bruce from Kilmarnock to Ireland. There is no need for further
+comment. He had the machine guns well cleaned and the cartridges in
+the belts polished like front door knobs so they wouldn't jam.
+
+After hearing that the third line was to be attacked I hurried back to
+my post. The artillery had stopped firing for a while to let the haze
+and smoke clear away so they could observe, but it still hung heavy
+over the German lines.
+
+Shortly after eleven o'clock the artillery started in again. Most of
+the Canadian guns seemed to be firing at Aubers, and if there were any
+Germans in that town they must have suffered. For nearly an hour the
+bombardment of the third line continued. Then followed a longer
+interval of rifle fire and then the bombs; shouting and rifle fire
+died away shortly after one o'clock. At about half past one I could
+see khaki figures in kilts in the outskirts of Aubers. They seemed to
+be strolling around looking for something to do. When I went to the
+telephone I learned that the third and last line of the German
+trenches had been taken and the battle had been won. What a place to
+win a victory over the same Germans that for two thousand years have
+been crossing the Rhine and invading Flanders, only to be defeated and
+driven back again as the Germans of to-day will be driven back.
+History will surely repeat itself. What is the use of these invasions,
+these fierce raids by the Germans? Nothing but the loss of thousands
+upon thousands of lives. Every acre of the ground we were fighting on
+has been watered with the blood of German and Fleming long ago. We
+were only repeating the centuries' old feud.
+
+All afternoon we waited patiently, expecting that in the pursuit that
+would follow our battalions would be echeloned through the gap made,
+but not a word came. We returned at night to our billets and were
+warned again to be on the _Qui vive_.
+
+Thursday, March 11th, was slightly hazy and we were kept in readiness
+all day, but no new developments followed. Something must have
+happened, lack of ammunition, or something of that kind. My officers
+were worrying me all day wondering if the grand advance had gone on
+and we were left behind. I could give no explanation. It is a
+soldier's duty to wait and do as he is told. The impression prevailed
+for the moment that the terrible tales they told about us in England
+had followed us to Flanders and that General French was afraid to
+trust the First Canadian Division. In the evening we were notified
+that hot baths would be ready for the men and a change of clothing at
+Sailly next day. That meant that we would not take part in any
+advance, at least for the moment.
+
+On March 12th, in the morning, accompanied by Dr. MacKenzie and
+Lieutenant Dansereau, I set out for Estaires. We were told before we
+left that the Canadian troops would not be required that day. The
+battle orders given to me confidentially by Colonel Hughes burnt holes
+in my pocket, but we would not need them yet. On the way we found a
+lot of cannonading going on, and as we came to Estaires we met long
+lines of ambulances coming in from the front with the wounded. There
+were Guardsmen, Indian troops and Highlanders. At first we thought
+they were the wounded picked up on the battle field on the 10th of
+March. In Estaires from some of the slightly wounded we learned the
+vastly important information that another big attack was on and that
+the British troops were making very little headway, and were having
+terrible losses. The artillery were not doing much, and the infantry
+were getting the worst of it. The German corps army had been brought
+up.
+
+From a wounded Highland sergeant we learned that on the 10th the
+three lines of German trenches had been carried as stated. The British
+troops were in the environs of Aubers and along the Rue D'Enfer. The
+Germans were apparently in full retreat and our losses were only about
+five per cent, of the men engaged. The troops in the first line,
+victorious, were eager to go on, but they were halted on the western
+outskirts of Aubers all afternoon and then told to dig themselves in.
+Next day they were for some reason ordered back to the third line of
+German trenches and told to prepare these trenches, strengthening and
+consolidating the lines and to prepare for a German attack which did
+not come. To-day being the third day they were ordered to carry
+Aubers, the Rue D'Enfer and the ground extending to the Wood of Biez.
+In these places a terrible resistance had been encountered. The
+Germans Corps Reserves, several divisions of them, had arrived. They
+had fortified Aubers by using the lower or basement storeys of houses
+for machine gun emplacements, and a large redoubt with wire had been
+constructed in the woods.
+
+The commanding officers of both the battalions of the Gordons had been
+killed, also Colonel Fisher-Rowe of the Guards, who had turned the
+trenches at Fromelles over to us, was killed leading his battalion in
+a charge. The Gordons had lost sixteen officers from each battalion,
+killed and wounded, and about half their men. The Guards Brigade had
+lost about the same. Again and again the unconquerable British
+infantry this day charged across the open to carry ground that was
+virtually theirs two days before, but the Bois de Biez and the Rue
+D'Enfer bristled with machine guns that mowed them down in hundreds.
+Guards, Ghurkas, Highlanders, Pathans charged again and again till at
+last towards evening the attack was called off. The German counter
+attack had taken the form of a pure defensive and we had sacrificed
+ten or twelve thousand troops trying to retrieve what we lost through
+lack of support two days before. There was no truth in the stories
+subsequently circulated that our guns fired in mistake on the British
+troops. A few Indian guns that had been worn out with constant firing
+since the Battle of Mons fired stray shells but that is likely to
+happen at any time. An error of a line or two on the indicating ring
+of the fuse when set will cause the shell to burst short.
+
+The Battle of Neuve Chapelle was a great victory for the British, but
+we did not gather much of the fruits of victory. Everybody felt that
+something had gone wrong, but what it was only history will disclose.
+Our younger officers were beginning to think that the old Wellington
+tradition of "support promptly" had been forgotten in the army of
+Flanders.
+
+Over eight hundred German prisoners fell into our hands. They were
+mostly Bavarians and Saxons. They were in the bombed trenches and had
+had a very hard time from our shell fire. Their clothing, hands and
+faces were stained yellow from the lyddite fumes. I saw these men at a
+factory at Estaires where they were held. A number of them spoke
+English. I also saw them on the street as they were being conducted by
+a French reserve officer and guarded by French reserve troops. They
+were a mixture of young boys and middle-aged men, well fed and well
+clothed, and it did not appear as if it was costing the German
+Government much effort to look after them. Like all Germans they had
+let their beards grow which made them look like "Weary Willies." From
+an intellectual standpoint they did not seem to be overburdened with
+brains. "Blond beasts" they would be nicknamed in the London music
+halls. We used to wonder why the German helmets would not fit us, they
+were so small. After seeing these men we knew. A number six to six and
+one-half hat would fit any of these chaps.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+BILLETS AND BIVOUACS
+
+
+A terrible disaster happened the regiment on March 23rd. Our adjutant,
+Captain R. Clifford Darling, was wounded. This is how it happened: An
+artillery lieutenant was with us constantly in the trenches as
+observing officer. Sometimes it was Lieutenant Lancaster, son of an
+old colleague of mine, E.A. Lancaster, Member of Parliament for
+Welland, Canada. Sometimes it was Lieutenant Ryerson, son of
+Surgeon-General Ryerson, another friend of many years standing. This
+morning a young English artillery officer came along and said he
+wanted to be shown the German trenches and anything else that could be
+seen from our section. It was about noon, and Captain Darling insisted
+upon going down to the trenches with him. As I wanted to go over the
+trenches myself and see how some work was progressing on our right
+sector, I asked the adjutant to stay at headquarters till I returned.
+We got as far as the corner of the Rue Pettion and the Fromelles Road
+when we proceeded to climb up on the roof of a ruined house to have a
+look at the trenches. I had with me a panoramic sketch of the trenches
+which had been made by an English officer at Christmas during the time
+the British and Germans fraternized, for this was one of the places
+where there had been a truce for a few hours and Briton and Hun forgot
+their grudges. The various villages and farms were pointed out. Aubers
+and Fromelles, with their ruined towers, the Bois du Biez, Aubers
+Ridge and other objects on the landscape. In front of us there was a
+partially erected factory of some kind. We suspected that its
+blinking, unglazed windows harboured machine guns, and I fervently
+urged him to try out his guns on this building as soon as he got them
+in position.
+
+After we had feasted our eyes on the German lines we climbed down, and
+no sooner had we reached the ground than we were met by Captain
+Darling, who said he had a message for Captain Perry, who was in a
+small redoubt on our extreme left, and whose telephone wire had been
+cut some time before by a German bullet. We all walked down a zigzag
+communication trench which led to the centre of our trenches. As we
+walked along I warned Darling to be very careful and not to take the
+short cut back to our quarters, but to join me at the communication
+trench and we would come out together. We turned to the right and I
+showed the visitor over our right section. While I was doing so a
+message came to me over the wires from brigade headquarters, asking me
+to go there for a consultation with General Turner. I turned back and
+started for brigade headquarters, which were about a mile back of the
+line. When I got there Colonel Garnet Hughes informed me he had heard
+by 'phone that Captain Darling had been wounded while he was on his
+way out from the trenches.
+
+After receiving my orders from headquarters I hurried to my own
+quarters to see what had happened to our adjutant. I met Major
+MacKenzie, our medical officer, as soon as I entered the house, and he
+was very much cut up over Darling. The three of us, with Captain
+Dansereau, had messed together under shell and rifle fire so long that
+we had become very much attached. Darling was an ideal adjutant, a
+fearless rider and a splendid comrade. He coupled with a graduate's
+course at the Royal Military College, a thorough training as an
+accountant and business manager. The "Red Watch" was sad that day, for
+he was universally admired by everybody. He had been returning after
+delivering a message to Captain Perry that he was to get ready to go
+to Ypres to assist the British forces there in some mining operations
+at Hill 60. On his way back he met several officers who insisted on
+taking the short cut. They had to run across a short space of about
+fifty feet to get into a ditch which saved a walk through the trenches
+of several hundred yards.
+
+In a moment of weakness, having learned that I had been called from
+the trenches and would not be waiting for him at the communication
+trench, he gave in and took the short cut. The Germans, who were
+always on the alert at this point, and only about one hundred yards
+away, let drive a volley, and a bullet caught him in the back under
+the right shoulder blade. As he was stooping it penetrated his body
+and came out above the right collar bone. The wound was a clean one
+and bled very little. The bullet had not pierced his lung. He was
+resting quietly when I saw him. He had very little pain, was quite
+cheerful and told me he would be back to duty in a few weeks. He had
+left a youthful bride behind him in London and was anxious to join
+her, so I gave orders that he was to be sent as quickly as possible to
+England. General Turner seconded me in this, but he was kept in France
+a week after he was wounded, the reason given being that they wanted
+to make sure that the bullet had not penetrated the lung cavity.
+
+I immediately offered the vacant adjutancy to Captain Warren, but he
+declined it, saying that he now had the cares of a company on his
+shoulders and was taking a great deal of enjoyment out of it. I
+sympathized with him, for I knew his men would miss him very much for
+he was an ideal company officer. Captain Dansereau, who had been my
+scoutmaster and signalling officer, and who had learned all the
+topography of that part of France on his hands and knees at night,
+laying wires and hunting broken ones, consented to take over the job.
+We took on Lieutenant Hamilton Shoenberger as signalling officer.
+"Shon," as he was affectionately called by his comrades, and Dansereau
+were graduates of the Royal Military College. Captain McLaren raised a
+storm when I asked for Shoenberger, but when I pointed out that
+Darling expected to be back in a month or so he consented.
+
+The men took all the fun there was in life out of things when they
+were back in billets. They fed, slept and played football, and had a
+good time generally while they were resting. Beyond furnishing
+fatigues for the engineers, a few hours' physical drill or a march,
+they had very little work to do.
+
+The motto of the Canadian Engineers is, "We never sleep." They were
+very keen and ardent and were constantly working to strengthen the
+trenches. Major Wright of Hull, who was at the head of our section,
+was a very big man, about six feet four in his stockings, with a width
+of chest and shoulder that is found nowhere in the world so
+plentifully as in the valley of the Ottawa River and in Canada's
+Glengarry County. His towering form would loom up everywhere in the
+trenches at night, and along with him generally came young Pepler,
+another intrepid youngster, who was never quite at home unless he was
+in the most dangerous spot in the trenches, or out in front examining
+the German wire at close range. Wright was a born leader of men, and
+another of his staff whose light burned brightly was Captain Thomas
+Irving of Toronto. The exact opposite of Wright, they reminded me
+always of the two great warriors in Sienkiewicz's "With Fire and
+Sword." All the engineers were men of technical training and much
+experience. They were right at home in Flanders, and deserved the
+tributes that we heard tendered them by the British General Staff.
+Their confidence in the practical experience of the Canadians was
+demonstrated by their sending to us for a practical mining man to
+direct the big mining operations south of Ypres.
+
+One of the happiest features of billet life was the receiving and
+writing of letters to friends at home. Pen and ink were plentiful, so
+was paper, and most of the spare time of the men was spent in writing
+letters to friends. All these letters had to be censored, and the
+censor was not Lord Kitchener, as some people seem to think, nor Sir
+John French, as the London papers would have it, but the colonel of
+each regiment. He is the heartless man who has to wade through reams
+of love letters, and he never even drops a tear when he finds one of
+his young men corresponding with two or more young ladies at home, and
+assuring each of them in the most fervent and fond language that he
+loves but her and her alone. Sometimes the commanding officer is so
+busy that the labor of censoring the letters is turned over to a
+junior subaltern who may happen to be handy. The letters are brought
+in to headquarters and left unsealed. They are supposed to be read by
+the colonel, closed and his name written across the front page
+vouching for the contents. On one occasion one of my platoon
+commanders brought into the orderly room a very large bundle of
+letters. His men had been very busy with their pens that morning, and
+he made some remark to that effect to me. At the moment I was very
+busy writing letters to irate mothers who would write to me whenever
+their sons neglected to provide a weekly batch of correspondence, so I
+told the young officer to take my stamp and censor the letters
+himself. When he had gone about half way through the correspondence,
+he gave an exclamation, jumping half way out of his chair. "What's the
+matter?" I asked in alarm, wondering if he had caught one of his men
+in treasonable correspondence with the enemy.
+
+"The matter," he said in a tone of rage, "Why, one of the men in my
+platoon is writing love letters to my best girl in Toronto."
+
+I advised him to let the letter go through and leave the settlement of
+the matter until after the war. Such a situation would in ordinary
+times have provided a theme for a three-volume love story.
+
+After the battle of Neuve Chapelle, the Seventh Division, comprising
+the Gordon and Guards Brigade, moved to our right. They were badly
+battered but still in the ring. The first night they were in the
+trenches on our right they would occasionally open up with their
+Maxims, and the scare they would give the Germans was a sight worth
+seeing. The German flares would go up, and the Huns "stood to" and
+blazed away like mad. Out of some 800 men in the second battalion of
+the Gordons only about 350 came out uninjured from Neuve Chapelle.
+Only about thirty of the original battalion that fought on the retreat
+from Mons remained in the ranks. In the afternoon the day after they
+came alongside of us, my adjutant, Dansereau, and I paid them a visit.
+There were only six officers left in their mess, but they were
+cheerful nevertheless.
+
+After another turn in the trenches we were moved back to Estaires and
+placed in billets. We were given to understand that we would soon be
+given a chance at the Rue D'Enfer, and so we began to train for it.
+Dummy trenches were fitted up and our bombing parties practised daily.
+The men were turned loose with their entrenching tools and practised
+"digging in" every day.
+
+While here another serious casualty occurred. On the evening of
+Saturday, March 27th, Sergeant Rose and Piper Miller were returning
+with several comrades from Estaires. They were passing one of our
+billets when a sentry challenged them. Miller was playing the pipes,
+and there was a high wind blowing at the time and they did not hear
+the challenge. The night was dark and the sentry who misunderstood his
+orders fired and brought down both men with one shot. Rose was shot
+through the hips and Miller across the back. They were both very
+severely wounded and the sentry was at once imprisoned. Rose was a
+very fine young man, having risen rapidly from the ranks to be
+quartermaster sergeant. He was an ideal soldier. Miller was a splendid
+piper, a Lowland Scotchman with a Glasgow accent that convulsed
+everyone who heard him. He took great delight in using the dialect of
+Bobby Burns in its purest form, and could get his tongue around "Its a
+braw bricht moonlit nicht the nicht" like Harry Lauder. Dr. MacKenzie
+was quickly brought and did what he could to alleviate the sufferings
+of the two men. Rose received a wound large enough to insert your two
+fingers into it but did not bleed very badly. Miller had his ribs
+smashed at the back and bled internally. He had to lie on his face
+and groaned a good deal. Rose, like all the Canadians that I have
+seen wounded, never uttered a sound.
+
+On March 31st General Turner took Colonel Loomis and me along with him
+to Laventie to reconnoitre the ground about the Rue D'Enfer. I was
+again told in confidence that the Canadian Division was expected to
+frame up an attack on this justly named road. We rode to Laventie and
+walked down to what was left of the village of Fauquissart. Laventie
+was deserted except for the troops, but the village with the
+euphonious name, which stood at one time at the corner of the Rue
+D'Enfer and the Rue de Bois, was nothing but a heap of bricks. When we
+approached, the Germans were busy throwing coal boxes at the church
+tower, or what was left of it. They generally like to leave a bit of a
+church tower or gable standing, for as nearly as I could follow their
+gunnery they used these points to "clock on," that is to say, a ruined
+steeple will be the centre of the clock. The observer will then direct
+the guns something like this, "Aubers Church, one o'clock, five
+hundred yards." The above directions would mean to fire from the
+church tower as the centre, five hundred yards towards one o'clock
+from the tower. Our gunners use a different system.
+
+We got into the village without any casualties, and I climbed into a
+ruined house and had a look through the tiles of the roof at the
+German lines and made a panoramic sketch. Then we went down into the
+trenches and met the "Yorks." They told us that we were to do the
+attacking and they were to do the looking on and cheering. They
+appeared to be pleased that it was not the other way on.
+
+On the way out General Turner, V.C., had a narrow escape. He missed a
+communicating trench and started with Colonel Loomis across an open
+spot about two hundred yards from the German lines. He was spotted and
+several volleys sent after him. The General is a very brave man, and I
+was always afraid he would be hit. We went back and arranged for
+working parties to make more supporting trenches to hold troops for
+the assault.
+
+I made Lieutenant Dansereau my acting adjutant. He was my scout master
+and signalling officer, and when I went into the trenches either he or
+one of the other young rascals would step up smartly and start a
+conversation when I was passing a dangerous spot. I noticed that these
+escorts always got between me and the German lines so that if a bullet
+came they would get it first. This touched me very deeply but I made
+them stop it. No commanding officer was ever served more devotedly by
+his officers than I have been. My acting adjutant was Scotch on his
+distaff side, a descendant of Colonel Mackay, who climbed the Heights
+of Abraham with the immortal Wolfe. His father was one of the ablest
+men in the public life of the Province of Quebec. Young Dansereau knew
+no fear and would as soon go out in daylight and cut the Germans'
+wires as eat his breakfast. He was a graduate of the Royal Military
+College and a splendid soldier and engineer. I had offered the
+position to Captain Trumbull Warren, but he declined it, as he was
+second in command with Major Osborne and he said he wanted "company"
+experience, how to handle men and to get to know them and learn how
+the military machine was worked. The real reason he stayed with his
+company was because he was so devoted to his men. He had formed ties
+which he did not like to break. Every man in the company thought he
+was the greatest company officer in the division, and I thought so
+too.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+WITH GENERAL SIR HORACE SMITH-DORRIEN
+
+
+The battalion paraded early on April 7th and once more we were on the
+march. We were working north and were to go into billets near Cassel.
+The intended attack on the Rue D'Enfer never took place. It was only
+an April fool joke.
+
+We did the twenty mile march to Cassel in heavy marching order in good
+style and got into our new quarters at four in the afternoon. We were
+to have a week's rest there. Then we were to take over a piece of
+trench east of Ypres from the French so that the British line would
+extend between the Belgians and the French. As it stood, we were in
+the French line. Our billets at Cassel were excellent. We were in the
+Second Army under Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien.
+
+The battalion paraded on April 10th at 9.15 and marched off to Cassel
+to be reviewed by General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien. The city of Cassel
+is situated on one of two sugar loaf hills that rise about a thousand
+feet above the adjoining plain. There is a wall around the city and it
+is now strongly garrisoned by French troops. From the summit of the
+castle you can, on a clear day, see Dixmude, Calais and the sea. You
+can also view Ypres, Armentieres and many other towns and villages.
+The city was not taken by the Germans in their rush last fall. The
+hills around Cassel are rich in historical associations, dating back
+to the Roman period. There is still shown the remains of one of
+Caesar's Camps, and underneath its walls William the Silent of Orange
+fought one of his most notable battles.
+
+For review our brigade was drawn up in a field below the city walls.
+This field was in the form of an amphitheatre and the troops looked
+splendid in the bright spring sunshine.
+
+General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien did not keep us waiting long. We
+presented arms, and he went over each platoon most carefully. While he
+was inspecting one battalion, the others rolled in the grass or
+enjoyed themselves by tossing bits of turf at the tame pheasants that
+gazed on the soldiers in wonder from the hedges surrounding the
+enclosure. The General reviewed the 48th and expressed much admiration
+for the fine physique and soldierly bearing of the men. He said it was
+a pity that such fine men should be taken from their homes and sent to
+war, but he was sure they would give a good account of themselves.
+
+When the review was over the General called the officers and
+non-commissioned officers together and told them that he had never
+seen a steadier or finer body of troops; that we would soon have some
+stiff work to do and he knew we would do it, but that he considered
+the war would be over in a year. He told us that when the Canadians
+came to France they had been preceded by rumors that questioned their
+drill and discipline, and that the British doubted their soldierly
+qualities. They were, however, much surprised to find that the
+Canadians were most excellent soldiers, that they were as highly
+trained as any British soldier who had come to France, that their
+discipline could not be questioned, and that their behavior in the
+trenches had been splendid. The British generals at first thought the
+Canadian technical troops, such as the artillery and the engineers,
+might lack skill. They found that the artillery knew their business as
+well as the best British artillery, that the engineers were superior
+in many ways and that now every corps commander wanted the Canadians.
+
+General Smith-Dorrien, at the conclusion of the review, called the men
+together and addressed them in a similar strain, and then we were
+ordered to march our battalions off to their billets.
+
+It was a great pleasure to hear a few words of commendation from such
+a great soldier as General Smith-Dorrien, for the first Canadian
+Division had been greatly lied about and maligned in England. Every
+offence on the calendar had been charged against it, and one would
+have thought, instead of being composed as it was of young, well
+educated and well-behaved men, it was the off-scourings of the
+Canadian prisons and jails.
+
+If we were well drilled we owed it all to ourselves. We went to
+England filled with high hopes that we were to be associated with
+British Regulars and to have the best of British instruction. We were
+disappointed from the first. No British troops were associated with
+us. We had to work out our own salvation.
+
+But the Canadian officers were a self-reliant lot, so the drill
+manuals were conned carefully and the men were exercised in a sound
+system that made the companies great self-confident fighting machines.
+Every officer was on his metal and worked hard to bring his men to
+perfection in spite of mud and rain and all sorts of difficulties
+worse than we ever encountered in Flanders.
+
+Comparisons are odious, but experience has shown that the Canadian
+officer, on the whole, is equal to any officer in the British army.
+His Majesty graciously ordered that we were to be classed as "regular
+Imperial officers." We had to line up to that standard.
+
+The present war is altogether unlike previous experiences in the
+British army. "Forget South Africa" became a byword. The numbers are
+so great and the ground so restricted that new conditions have arisen.
+The Canadians quickly assimilated the new conditions.
+
+On the morning of April 15th the battalion paraded at its billets at
+Ryveld and marched to Beauvoorde. This hamlet consisted of a couple of
+stores and a saloon. The men were quartered on farms. On one side of
+the road is Belgium, the other side is France. I was quartered in the
+estament or saloon, and the landlady told me that in the room in which
+I slept a German Prince Este had slept the night before he was killed
+by the British near Caestre. This was very cheerful news, and I am
+thankful I did not have his luck.
+
+    [Illustration: TRENCHES AT NEUVE CHAPELLE]
+
+The night before we marched we chopped down a tree at my headquarters
+and had a bone-fire and singsong. The Germans east of Ypres must have
+thought Cassel was on fire. The tree was an old dead one and burnt
+beautifully, but next day the owner put in a demand for one hundred
+francs. I agreed to settle for twenty francs cash, or a requisition
+for one hundred francs. The shrewd old Fleming chose the gold. We had
+the worth of the money.
+
+Early the next morning the battalion paraded again and marched to
+Abeele, where thirty-eight motor busses that had been brought over
+from England carried the men with their kits to the eastern outlet of
+Poperinghe, where we alighted and marched down the famous road to
+Ypres along which thousands of Canadians marched never to return.
+
+We crossed a stone bridge over the Yperlee Canal, passed by a large
+basin for ships with docks and warehouses, and found our billets in
+the north section of the city. My billet was at an old gas works by
+the railway and the house, which was a modern brick, had previously
+been shelled, as a large hole through the wall and floor of the parlor
+showed. The chimney of the old gas plant made an excellent mark. The
+man of the house, his wife and nine children, were living in the
+house. I took the front dining room as an office, put the telephones
+up in the back parlor and took down the half inch steel plates that
+were over the windows to keep out the shrapnel and let in the light of
+day.
+
+It is wonderful what fatalists we become in the trenches. This war is
+not like any other modern war. In previous wars if a man was under
+fire once a month he was doing well. Here on the western front of
+Flanders in the British section if he gets out of rifle and shell fire
+one day in a month he is doing well.
+
+The effect upon the men is very evident. They sobered up as it were.
+They were very happy and cheerful, but every man that goes in the
+trenches soon makes his peace, with past, present and future. The
+Protestants attend service every time they get a chance. There was a
+great service in Estaires before we left for Cassel and every man
+attended. The Roman Catholics attend Mass regularly and there is very
+little attention paid to politics. At home in Canada they were warring
+in Parliament over giving the soldiers the vote. In the trenches no
+one cared. What did it matter to a man who was appointed pound-keeper
+or member of Parliament, at home in Canada, if to-morrow a shell
+should take his own head off. The petty affairs and jealousies that
+affect politicians at home and give them spasms and sleepless nights
+do not interest the man who sleeps on his arms in a dugout with the
+thunder of cannon shaking down the clay on his face. Religious
+controversies are also forgotten. The men of this war are not inspired
+with religious enthusiasm like the men of Cromwell's time or the
+Japanese and Russians. There is religion of a deeper kind. The Bible
+is constantly in evidence. The Protestant and the Roman Catholic sleep
+side by side in the consecrated ground of Flanders. Both deserve the
+brightest and best Heaven there is, for they were all heroes and gave
+their lives for the cause of justice and humanity. In the church yard
+at Estaires, close by the wonderful church steeple which no German
+shell had so far been able to find, they buried the dead heroes of
+Neuve Chapelle in long trenches, three and four deep, with the
+officers who fell at the head of the mounds. In the corner of every
+farmyard and orchard you will find crosses marking graves, black for
+the Germans, and white for our soldiers.
+
+In the presence of constant death, of wounds and anguish, it is
+wonderful the spirit that pervaded our men. They were reconciled with
+death and, often when I took a wounded Canadian by the hand and
+expressed regret that he was hurt and suffering the answer always was,
+"Its all right, Colonel, that's what I came here for." We all realized
+what we were fighting for, and the destruction wrought upon the poor
+Belgians has been so great that we all felt if we had a hundred lives
+we would cheerfully give them to rescue stricken Belgium and aid brave
+unconquerable France.
+
+The Canadians that survive this war and return home will have a higher
+viewpoint, and there will be very few reckless drunken men among them.
+The "rough-neck" swearing soldier has found no place in this war.
+
+With our brigade was Canon Scott of Quebec, an Anglican clergyman with
+a stout heart and a turn for poetry. He never tired of going about the
+billets among the men. There was no braver man in the division and his
+influence was splendid. Everybody loved him, and he was an ornament to
+the church to which he belonged. He reminded us often of the old
+fighting Crusaders.
+
+On the evening of our arrival at Ypres I visited the Cloth Square a
+short distance away, and reviewed the ruins of the fine Gothic
+building known as Cloth Hall. This building was one of the glories of
+Flanders. In every niche over its hundreds of pointed windows there
+was a full-sized statue of some noted Count of Flanders and his wife.
+But the place was one great ruin, the inside having been blown out,
+and now it is turned into an horse stable. The town itself was
+resuming some of its wonted activity and workmen were busy mending the
+scars of war in the tiles and brick of the houses of the city.
+
+Ypres was, in days gone by, the capital of Old Flanders. Within its
+walls there was an Irish convent, and in this convent was shown one of
+the few colors ever taken from a British regiment. Clare's Irish
+Regiment in the service of France, it is said, took this flag at the
+Battle of Fontenoy.
+
+We were now among the Flemings proper, and they are a fine race of
+tall people, some with light brown eyes and flaxen hair, a rather odd
+combination. They are very clean and very friendly, worthy descendants
+of the warlike Belgae. They worship King Albert, who they say is the
+greatest warrior and king that Belgium has ever seen. The Belgians of
+to-day will not rank him second to even Claudius Civilis, the
+companion of the Roman Emperor Vespasian, nor to any of those heroes
+of Tacitus, who took up arms for Belgian liberty against the Romans,
+nor yet to Charlemagne, the great conqueror of Middle Europe.
+
+We were to garrison Ypres for four days, and then we were to take over
+the piece of trench occupied by another battalion in our brigade, the
+Canadian Scottish. Our position in the line was the extreme point of
+the great salient of Ypres that has been held so valiantly for months
+by the British, French and Belgians.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE HISTORIC SALIENT AT YPRES
+
+
+On April 17th we received orders not to gather in groups on the street
+if hostile aircraft were seen, and also that officers were to keep
+close to their billets. Three of my companies were moved out to farms
+in the outskirts. They had been billetted in a big factory, and if a
+shell had come in many would have been killed. I went out to see
+Brigadier-General Turner at noon. His headquarters were located at a
+large farm northwest of St. Julien. I found General Alderson and
+several of his staff there, and the matter of the defence of the
+Canadian line was discussed. From this point with my field glasses I
+could get a good view of the greater part of the salient at Ypres.
+
+Let me here explain the line of the salient of Ypres held by us. South
+of Ypres, about four miles away, at St. Eloi, the opposing trenches
+ran straight south of Armentieres, a city named after Thomas de
+Armentieres, envoy of Flanders to Philip of Spain of Armada fame. From
+St. Eloi the German line was bent northeast running to what is called
+Hill 60, and from there northeast past Chateau Hooge to the village of
+Zonnebeke. From there the line ran almost north across Gravenstafel
+ridge to where Stroombeek Creek crossed the road from St. Julien to
+Poelcappelle, thence the line ran northwest past Langemarck to
+Bixschoote, on the Yperlee Canal which runs northwesterly. The British
+held the southern face of the salient as far east as Zonnebeke. The
+Canadian Division replaced a French division on the extreme toe along
+Stroombeek brook almost to Langemarck. From there on to Bixschoote two
+French divisions were garrisoning the northern face until they came in
+touch with the Belgians.
+
+Roughly speaking the whole British front from north to south on the
+whole Flemish frontier is only about forty miles. All the Ypres
+salient is historic ground and every foot is rich in sentiment. Every
+farmhouse, every field bore the scars of war,--the houses and barns
+with their broken tiles, the fields with almost every hundred feet, a
+"crump" hole where a shell had fallen and exploded! Some of these
+holes were ten feet deep and thirty feet across. Life was cheap in
+this great salient and the Canadians were given "the post of danger,
+the post of honour."
+
+There was no strategical reason why this salient should be held so far
+east of Ypres. If we kept our artillery west of the canal where they
+could not be enfiladed, the shells would not reach where the Canadian
+battalions were holding the trenches six miles away. If the guns were
+brought into the salient they could be bombarded by German artillery
+from each flank as well as the front. If the infantry line was broken
+at any point the whole would be compromised. There was the danger also
+of the canal in the rear with only a few pontoon bridges. The canal
+would be filled with our guns and dead. Very few of our men could
+escape. There were no troops but ours and the French on the left
+between us and Calais. Two weeks after the Battle of St. Julien the
+salient was flattened to conform with sound strategy.
+
+The weather had been very fine and it was a bright clear day with
+clouds scudding across the sky, such as we see in Flemish pictures.
+Everywhere tall lines of elms and stubs of pollard willows filled the
+landscape. The cattle were grazing in the field and everything looked
+very peaceful. The larks were soaring and singing on high. Every now
+and then a muffled roar alone told us that there was war. Somewhere
+along the horizon to the south I could see the famous Hill 60, and
+east of it the Zillebeke ridge where, on October 31st, Moussey's
+Corps, with a division of the French Ninth Corps, made a great stand
+against the Germans and foiled their attack by calling in the cooks
+and transport men and dismounting their cavalry. There again in the
+evening of November 6th our Household Brigade under Kavanagh saved
+the situation that cost the British Blues and Second Life Guards their
+commanders. Along the same ridge towards Gheluvelt Cawford's Brigade
+came out of action reduced to its brigadier, five officers and seven
+hundred men.
+
+A little to the north, on the afternoon of October 31st, the
+Worcesters made a famous stand, and on November 10th the Prussian
+Guard was wiped out by the Black Watch on the same spot. They tell how
+General French told the Black Watch that they had many famous honors
+on their colors that told of many glorious days, but that the greatest
+day in the history of the Black Watch was that on which they met the
+Jaeger Regiment of the Prussian Guard and the Jaegers ceased to exist as
+a unit.
+
+Every little farm was dotted with graveyards where the British and
+French had buried their dead. On the way back to Ypres, Major Marshall
+and I took a short cut across the fields and ran into a battery of 4.7
+British guns, Territorials. When they saw us coming they loosened up
+for our special benefit, and the first thing we knew the answer came
+back in the form of a heavy German shell that came within a few
+hundred yards of the British batteries.
+
+That evening the British blew up Hill 60. Captain Frank Perry had been
+told off to assist the British engineering officers in this work. The
+explosion was followed by a most terrific cannonade and rifle fire
+which continued all night. This was a hot corner. During the night my
+slumbers were disturbed with the whistling of German high explosive
+shells in our vicinity.
+
+On Sunday, April 18th, Canon Scott preached a sermon to the men.
+During the day several shells burst in the town and some of them not
+far from our billets. The inhabitants had begun to flee.
+
+About eleven o'clock at night Canon Scott wandered into my billets. He
+had been holding service with the men and had lost his way. I was
+afraid he would get killed or drowned. He was so zealous, and such a
+charming character, he made an ideal chaplain. No hour was too late,
+no road too long for him. His son was wounded with another corps and
+would lose his eye.
+
+Early in the morning Sergeant Miller of the headquarters staff called
+me to witness a duel between a German and a British aviator. It was a
+beautiful bright morning, with not a breath of air stirring and not a
+cloud in the sky. Away to the north the two aviators were at it,
+circling about each other like great hawks. The British aviator was
+the smarter of the two, and he finally got the Hun, whose machine
+started for the earth nose down at a terrific speed. Both of the
+German air men were killed we learned later. It was certainly a
+thrilling sight.
+
+The next day, the 19th, more shells were thrown into the town. One
+shell fell into the billet where Lieutenant Frank Gibson was
+quartered. It killed an old man, his wife and daughter, a beautiful
+girl of seventeen. The back of her head was blown off. Lieutenant
+Gibson got a splinter of shell in the calf of the leg and had to be
+sent to the hospital to have it cut out. The Germans continued
+shelling the town all day. When they get beaten they always start
+shelling the nearby towns and work their spite off on the inhabitants.
+The blowing up of Hill 60 seemed to have stirred them to an
+extraordinary degree. Towards dusk I went down the Menin road to watch
+the bombardment. Some of our batteries, hidden in the hedges away on
+my right, were sending shrapnel across the German lines beyond Hill
+60. I could watch the flight of the projectile and its bursting in a
+sheet of flame over the enemy's line. The opposing guns were hard at
+it, while away in the distance the rapid rattle of rifle fire told of
+the tragedies that were being enacted near the crater that Captain
+Perry had blown in Hill 60. Away to the south a momentary flash like
+sheet lightning on an autumn evening would light the horizon with a
+baleful gleam, and after a long interval the muffled roar of a
+"Grandma" would mingle with the twang of the bursting shrapnel. Truly
+as one British Tommy, who watched the battle, said, "Hell was let
+loose that night." As I returned to my billets along the ancient moat
+that at one time defended the city, shells passed over my head and a
+dozen or so aimed no doubt at the tall chimney of the ancient magazine
+de gaz fell within a few yards of my quarters.
+
+On the evening of April 20th we were to take up the line of trenches
+held by the Sixteenth. The Germans still continued to shell Ypres,
+(which is pronounced Ep-r-r, E as in fee, two syllable r-r, the R
+sounded the Scotch way with a burr aspirate).
+
+Shortly after luncheon Captain Warren and Lieutenant Macdonald came to
+the orderly room to ask some questions about the order in which we
+were to march into the trenches. An officer from each company had gone
+into these trenches the night before and looked them carefully over.
+The left section was given to Captain Osborne, the right to Captain
+McGregor and the centre to Captain MacLaren. The position consisted of
+seventeen half moon redoubts and they were not at all strong. Captain
+Alexander's company was to be in reserve with headquarters at St.
+Julien. As the officers had received orders not to go away from their
+billeting area, and had to receive permission to do so, both Warren
+and Macdonald asked me if they could go up to the Cloth Square to buy
+some comforts to take down into the trenches for the men. I gave my
+consent, but warned them to be careful and take cover from any shells
+that came along. About ten minutes later Lieutenant Macdonald arrived
+back breathless. He asked quite coolly, "Where is Major MacKenzie?
+Trum's hit with a piece of shell."
+
+I immediately called the major, who was in the next room, and we
+learned that "Trum," as Captain Warren was affectionately called, had
+been badly wounded. He and Macdonald were standing in a grocery store
+at the north side of the square when a "Jack Johnson," as the huge
+seventeen inch shells fired by the Germans from the Austrian howitzers
+they have brought up to shell this town are called, fell into a
+building in the south side just opposite. The shell wrecked the
+building into which it fell, killing an officer and seventeen men. A
+piece about an inch square flew fully two hundred yards across the
+square, passed through a plate glass window, missed Macdonald by an
+inch, and struck Warren below the right collar bone piercing his lung.
+"They have got me in the back, Fred," were the last words he said. He
+was carried on a stretcher to the hospital a few hundred yards away,
+and the surgeon made an examination of his injury, cutting his
+clothing away. In a moment we saw there was no hope for him. It was
+only a matter of a few minutes. Canon Scott heard that he had been
+injured and hurried to the hospital. He had only time to repeat the
+prayer for the dying as poor Warren passed away in Major MacKenzie's
+arms. His death was a great loss to the regiment.
+
+    [Illustration: Map of the BATTLE OF ST JULIAN April 22nd May
+    4th 1915. Position April 22.
+    THE ORIGINAL SALIENT AT YPRES]
+
+I left the arrangements for the funeral with our Quartermaster,
+Captain Duguid. He was to be buried the next night at the Place
+D'Amour.
+
+Truly, this was a war of attrition. One by one we were losing the
+gallant young officers that came over with us to Flanders. Darling was
+wounded, Sinclair wounded, Warren killed. Sinclair had had a dixie of
+boiling water spilled on his leg while in the trenches and had
+received a very severe burn.
+
+In the evening Captain Perry arrived from blowing up Hill 60. He had
+escaped as usual without a scratch. Perry bore a charmed life. I
+suppose it was because he lived so much in the north country in Canada
+among the miners who always carry a stick of dynamite in their boot
+legs. At the Rue Pettion billet he escaped the "coal box" that entered
+the next room in which Captain McGregor slept. The shell made pulp out
+of McGregor's clothes and belongings, but Perry was not scratched,
+although not ten feet away from where the shell burst. At Hill 60 he
+assisted the British engineer to run several mines under the German
+trenches. He was the last man out of the tunnels when they were loaded
+with several car loads of dynamite, and his was the grimy hand that
+touched the button that sent half the Hill and about eight hundred
+Germans into the air. He had a narrow escape from being buried alive.
+
+Captain Perry had a terrible experience after the mine was blown up.
+As soon as the mine blew up the Germans turned all their artillery on
+the crater to prevent the British from taking possession till they
+could bring up reserves. The place became a living hell. Perry, after
+examining the crater with a lantern, found a German counter mine with
+a candle still burning in it. It had been vacated. He started to make
+his way out through a communication trench to make his report when he
+ran into a British brigade coming in and had to lie down in the trench
+and let the brigade pass over him. He was mud and sand from head to
+foot.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+THE RED COCK CROWS
+
+
+On the afternoon of the 19th I was very busy closing out my
+correspondence. I always made it a point while I was out of the
+trenches to answer all the letters I had received, and that usually
+occupied three or four hours every day while we were out of the trench
+line.
+
+Previous to this our battalion has alternated with the Royal Montreal
+Regiment in our tour of trench duty. The rule used to be for each
+battalion to be three days in the trenches, and then three days out.
+In these trenches we were changed around. The 16th Canadian Scottish
+were to alternate with the 48th Highlanders. The 16th reported to us
+that the trenches were very bad, and we were to go into them the next
+night. This evening Majors Marshall and MacKenzie were out visiting
+company billets, and my Adjutant, Capt. Dansereau and I went into a
+small Flemish restaurant to have our dinner. While we were seated at
+the table an officer of the French Flying Corps and several of his men
+came in for something to eat, and we engaged in conversation. The
+French Officer, whose name is well known, and who was afterwards
+killed, was a small perky chap with black hair and eyes. His cheeks
+were hollow, as like most of the top-notch aviators he had had his
+teeth pulled out.
+
+Many of the aviators have all their teeth drawn because when at very
+high altitudes it is very cold, and the nerves of the teeth become
+affected and give them most intense pain.
+
+These officers told us that the French Flying Corps was going to leave
+that night for a district further south where there was going to be
+some "nibbling" at the German front. He told us further that the
+Germans were moving a great number of guns into the Ypres section, and
+that he had an idea that as soon as the Canadians and British took
+over the salient we would be "jolly well shelled," if not attacked in
+force. This was very cheerful news, and sure enough the next day they
+began shelling the city with big Austrian siege mortars, a shell from
+one of which killed Captain Warren.
+
+In the evening of the 20th I rode out to the company billets to see
+that everything was in readiness for the battalion to take over the
+right section of our line from the 16th. The companies were to march
+into three sections independently, shortly after dark, and the idea
+was to have the relief over as quickly as possible. I found the men
+and officers in excellent spirits. Captain McGregor was to take the
+right section of our line, Captain Alexander the left and Captain
+McLaren the centre. They started off a little too early in the
+evening, and I had to send couriers to halt them and wait for the
+darkness. It was a beautiful spring evening, bright and warm. The
+larks were still soaring and singing in the sky, and the sun in the
+west was going down in a sea of gold and amethyst. South of us at
+about Hill 60 the guns were growling, the only sound at the moment to
+remind us of the war. But there was something else of ominous portent
+noticable. Simultaneously, northwest, east and southeast of our line
+three huge German captive balloons reared their heads for all the
+world like golden hooded cobras. Away, twenty miles to the south, in
+the sky could be seen the snaky outline of a zeppelin. The Germans
+were taking observations. When I reached the headquarters' line of
+trenches in front of our brigade headquarters, a few hundred yards
+west of St. Julien, I sent the horses back with Smith, my groom, and
+stood by the roadside to watch the companies go by. First came Major
+Osborne, who was to take the left, with his tam-o-shanter bonnet
+cocked on the side of his head, as jaunty a Highland officer as ever
+trod the heath in Flanders. His company swung after him, marching like
+one man. The trenches had certainly not taken anything out of them,
+for if anything they looked steadier and sturdier than they did the
+day they left their billets in Hazebrouck to take their first march in
+France.
+
+Some distance behind came Captain McGregor, his two hundred and forty
+men tall as pine trees, with Lieutenant Langmuir and Lieutenant Taylor
+at the head of their platoons, both well over six feet. Next came
+Captain McLaren, always staid and correct, his company well pulled
+together, going so fast that a word of caution had to be given to
+them. Last of all came Captain Alexander, whose turn it was to be in
+reserve. His company was to occupy and act as part of the garrison at
+St. Julien, there to cover themselves with glory.
+
+When I reached the village I found that Major Leckie was occupying the
+reserve headquarters of the 16th, and across the road was Colonel
+Meighen of the 14th or Montreal Regiment. The south section of the
+village was ours and the north was for the reserve corps of the
+battalion holding the left section of the line. The house in which we
+were quartered had at one time been a small restaurant, but the
+village had several times been shot up. The walls almost to the
+ceiling were plastered with blood. There was hardly a house in the
+village without several shell holes in the roof. Terrible tragedies
+had been enacted here. The gardens had a full crop of black and white
+crosses.
+
+Colonel Meighen had a very swell house, the windows looking south
+towards Hooge and Hill 60. He came over and welcomed me to St. Julien
+and showed me his trench diary and plans of the trenches. Colonel
+Meighen was a very thorough and painstaking officer, very much loved
+by his men. Several companies of his battalion were French Canadians
+and they fairly worshipped him. He was a model trench commandant,
+never tired of strengthening the works, and always ready himself to do
+anything that he asked of his officers or men. He had made an
+excellent battalion out of his corps, and as we had alternated with
+them in the trenches until this turn, we knew their worth. His second
+in command, Colonel Burland, was also a keen and efficient officer.
+The commandant of the 14th was not a "fusser." He was always cool and
+collected and his example permeated his whole staff and officers.
+Captain Holt, his adjutant, was one of the hardest working officers in
+the division, cheerful, obedient and alert. He was a model staff
+officer.
+
+Major Leckie turned over the trench diary to my adjutant. He reported
+that the 16th were hard at work fixing up the trenches which were in a
+very poor condition. His brother, Colonel Leckie, was down at
+commandant headquarters in the supporting trenches. Major Marshall
+went down to take over from Colonel Leckie, and I stayed at report
+headquarters to report back as quickly as possible that the trenches
+had been taken over. The 16th Battalion did not take very long to get
+out, and one by one our Captains reported their companies in place.
+
+The battalions in the trenches reported that the front was quiet, and
+it was added that there had not been a casualty in our section among
+the French troops for a month.
+
+My sleeping bag was placed in a corner of the only room with a sound
+roof in the house, and I slept soundly in spite of the blood-bespattered
+wall which told of a desperate struggle in this room during the great
+battles of the previous November.
+
+In spite of the fact that the French had not had a casualty for a
+month, the map told me we were in the hottest corner in the whole of
+Flanders. I did not feel at all nervous, as a matter of fact after a
+person has been under shell and rifle fire for a few days he ceases to
+be nervous. Nerves are for those who stay at home. At first the heart
+action quickens a little with the sound of the explosions and the
+crack of the Mauser bullets, but after a while the nerves fail to
+respond and the action of the heart becomes slow and the beats below
+normal. The explosion of a "Jack Johnson" in the next room will not
+give you a tremor. Why should it? Jock will say, "If you are going to
+be kilt, you will be kilt ony-way." That is the everyday religion of
+the trenches. "When your time comes you will get yours, and all the
+machine guns and shells in Germany can have no potency if your time
+has not come."
+
+    [Illustration: THE FAMOUS ROAD TO YPRES.]
+
+War tends to make us all fatalists, and the officers have to be
+continually on the alert to keep the men from becoming careless.
+
+In the morning I tried to arrange to go down to Ypres to the funeral
+of Captain Warren. Major Osborne wanted to go also and take a firing
+party with him, but much as he would have liked to acquiesce, General
+Turner had to refuse, for we were in a dangerous corner and no one
+could be spared. Lieutenant Drummond, his brother-in-law, was
+permitted to attend. Captain Duguid, the quartermaster, with the
+assistance of the engineers, had a metallic coffin made for him and
+they buried him in the Canadian burial plot.
+
+That morning I learned of the death of Captain Darling in London. We
+had expected that Captain Darling would be convalescent shortly after
+he went to England, but about a week before news had come that
+gangrene, the terrible disease that took so many of our wounded, had
+infected his shoulder, and a number of serious operations had to be
+performed. Still we had hoped that his splendid physique would pull
+him through. But it was not to be, and the two comrades that had been
+the pride of the regiment died within a few hours of each other.
+
+The whole Empire did not possess two kinder or braver men than
+Captains Darling and Warren. It is only when men go down into the
+valley of the shadow of death together that they learn to appreciate
+each other. In the trenches soldiers are true comrades, backbiting,
+lying and slandering is left to the slackers and "tin soldiers" who
+stay at home. Both these young men were in the flower of their youth,
+both left young wives, both were men of means, brought up amidst
+wealth and refinement. They gave up a good deal to go to the war, and
+their example and their lives should fix a tradition not only for
+their fellow officers of "The Red Watch" but also for the whole
+Canadian Army. They did not hesitate to "take their place in the
+ranks," and they died like the heroes of Marathon and Salamis.
+
+Early in the morning a German aeroplane, an albatress, came over St.
+Julien. The German aeroplanes have a large, black maltese or iron
+cross on each wing. The allies have a red, white and blue rosette.
+Shortly afterwards the German artillery started to shell the southern
+section of St. Julien. They threw a few shells at the remains of the
+church, then they started after a house and large barn south of us,
+about half way to the village of Fortuin. The barn was a large
+structure covered with a couple of feet of rye straw thatch
+beautifully put on. In a moment there was smoke and we saw some
+Canadian artillerymen running towards the barn which was apparently
+full of horses. One after another the beautiful artillery teams were
+chased out of the burning structure which the Germans continued to
+shell. The horses were turned loose in the field and proceeded to
+enjoy themselves like colts, and although the Germans fired shrapnel
+at them they did not hit one. In a moment the "red cock," as the
+Germans say, "was crowing on the roof." The flames rose to a great
+height and in a few minutes there was nothing but the charred rafters
+left.
+
+The trenches reported everything quiet for the rest of the day.
+
+That afternoon along with one of my signallers, Sergeant Calder, I
+made my way to commandant headquarters at the northern extremity of
+Gravenstafel ridge, northeast of St. Julien. I met Colonel Meighen,
+who showed me a line of trenches east of the church which his
+battalion was putting in order. When I got down to commandant
+headquarters General Turner came along with his Brigade-Major, Colonel
+Hughes. They were looking over the position with a view to having some
+dugouts and rifle pits established about five hundred yards south of
+my headquarters to support our right in case of trouble, the intention
+being to put a company in reserve there. I found commandant
+headquarters located in a dugout in the rear of a ruined windmill. The
+charred timbers of the mill lay scattered about, and all that
+remained of the dwelling house was a heap of bricks and some tiles
+still sticking to the roof. A line of short irregular trenches ran
+across the front of the slope. Behind headquarters the hill sloped
+back to Haenebeek brook, northwest and southeast. Five hundred yards
+behind the Gravenstafel ridge ran the road from Zonnebeke to
+Langemarck. On this road immediately in our rear there was a ruined
+blacksmith shop and several old farm engines. Some of the implements
+bore the name of Massey-Harris, which brought back visions of Canada,
+and was another evidence of our coming world-wide trade, the
+possibilities of which first struck me when I saw the name of another
+Canadian manufacturer, Gurney & Co., on a heater alongside the tomb of
+William Longsword in Salisbury Cathedral.
+
+A few yards south of the blacksmith shop a dressing station had been
+fitted up in the ruins of another farm house at a cross-road which
+subsequently came to be known as "enfiladed cross-road." In front of
+the blacksmith shop a clear spring of water ran out of a pipe and the
+water was cool and good. I quenched my thirst from the steel cup taken
+from a French Hussar's helmet. The man who wore the helmet was no
+doubt sleeping peacefully beneath one of the crosses that were strewn
+thickly over the little cemetery of St. Julien. These little
+graveyards were to be found in all the fields and gardens. It was
+wonderful how the French soldiers cared for them. Wherever a soldier
+of France lay there you would find a cross, with his name and the
+legend that he fell on the field of honor. The graves were usually
+decorated with tile and flowers, some real, some artificial. France
+thus silently worships the memory of her gallant dead.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+GERMAN GAS AND TURCOS
+
+
+"Be careful there," said Capt. McGregor. "The French were short of
+sandbags here and they have built several dead Germans into the
+parapets." I was examining our new trenches in the twilight and my
+nose had been assailed by that peculiar odor which emanates from the
+dead.
+
+"Get plenty of quicklime down here to-morrow," I suggested. "Build
+some traverses where they are laid."
+
+"You're pretty heavy, don't step too hard. Dead Germans there."
+Lieutenant Langmuir was then piloting me along his section.
+
+"Out in front, there on the left, there is a dead French officer
+caught in the German wire. He has been hanging there since last
+November. The Germans have left him there. There is nothing now but a
+blue coat and red trousers."
+
+This certainly was the worst corner in the way of trenches I had seen
+since we came to Flanders. Behind the ditch rows of crosses, black and
+white, stood up a few feet away, ghastly reminders in the half
+darkness of the toll that had been paid to take and hold the trenches.
+The defenders here were buried where thy fell.
+
+Earlier in the day I went down to the front line and had leisure to
+examine the commandant's headquarters, which had been held by our
+gallant French Allies since November, 1914. It was a dugout in the
+rear of a ruined windmill, and contained several pigmy rooms. There
+was a room for the signallers, another for the adjutant and one for
+the commandant. The French officers had left behind them excellent
+maps of the German position showing their trenches, also panoramic
+sketches showing the roads, villages and houses opposite, with
+compass points. These sketches were the work of their gunners. No
+wonder the 75's were so deadly. Their efficacy is in their recoil and
+the "graze" fuze they use. Their high explosive shells strike the
+ground, bound in the air and burst about thirty feet forward from
+where they strike. In this way they form a curtain of fire filled with
+splinters of steel, over the German trenches.
+
+I turned a copy of the panoramic sketch over to Major MacDougall of
+the Toronto Battery, when he went into the loft of a ruined house some
+distance away to check up his guns as they fired on the Poelcapelle
+road in front of us.
+
+I slipped quietly into a fire trench on the forward slope of the ridge
+to observe the guns at work also. I had sent word down to Major
+Osborne in the forward trenches to clear the men out of the redoubts
+on either side of the road so that if a shell fell short it would not
+hurt anyone. The Canadian "observing officers" were always very
+careful in "registering," as they called it. They began by sending
+their shots well over the German parapets, and gradually coming
+closer, instead of firing a shell short, another long and dividing.
+
+While we were observing the Germans replied to our guns, and very
+nearly got Major MacDougall. Poor chap, he was subsequently
+assassinated by a German spy or sniper behind in billets. His clothing
+was stolen and worn by the assassin who was caught and suffered the
+death penalty.
+
+Major Marshall came along to see what was going on and stood for a
+minute at the head of my trench. The Germans spotted his Glengarry and
+began shelling my trench with "Jack Johnsons," and Major Marshall had
+to clear out. I stayed until they got tired of shelling and then had a
+good look at their lines through my field glasses. The ground sloped
+gently down from where I stood in the sap-head for about three hundred
+yards to our forward line of redoubts. Away to the northwest the
+double line of parapets disappeared in the trees and hedges around
+Langemarck. Just short of the village the Third Brigade (ours) took up
+the defence. The trenches here for about five hundred yards were held
+by the Royal Highlanders of Montreal. Major Osborne held several half
+moons on the far side of the Poelcapelle Road. Then our battalion
+lines continued southerly, running for about eight hundred yards till
+there came a gap which occurred between us and the Winnipeg Rifles.
+Immediately behind our line ran Strombeek River, (we would call it a
+creek). It marked the bottom of the slope and crossed the line of
+trenches held by the "Little Black Devils," as the men of the Winnipeg
+Battalion were called.
+
+    [Illustration: Map of the BATTLE OF ST JULIAN April 22nd May
+    4th 1915. Position April 23rd
+    THE BREAK IN THE SALIENT]
+
+The line of the Second Canadian Brigade trenches then ascended the
+Gravenstafel ridge. On the east side of the ridge the land sloped up
+towards Poelcapelle and Roulers. This slope was not very steep, but
+sufficiently so to dominate the little valley in which were our
+forward line of trenches. All along the enemy's lines were various
+clumps of trees, each one of which no doubt concealed several
+batteries of artillery, referred to in the conversation of my friend
+of the flying corps. High above the trees and the distant red tiled
+roofs of Roulers I could see the spire of the Gothic Church of St.
+Michael. Beneath these walls on June 13th, 1794, a fierce struggle
+took place between the Austrians under Clerfait and the French troops
+under Marshal Macdonald, in which the French Republican troops of the
+latter were victorious. Beyond Roulers lay Ghent, Antwerp and
+Brussels. The high ground in front was strongly held by the enemy, for
+this was the key to the advance on Brussels and Waterloo.
+
+My examination of our position ended. I began to retrace my steps to
+St. Julien, but the Germans spotted me in some way and followed me
+across the fields with salvos of high explosive shells. I could hear
+the shells coming as the field was dotted here and there with "crump"
+holes or craters where shells had fallen. I promptly ducked into a
+hole till the "whistling Willies" fell and sent showers of mud and
+flying steel over my head. I observed that sometimes these "crump"
+holes were very small, and found that after all in this war a small
+man had some advantage over me. I made my way back to the village,
+carefully reconnoitering all the trenches on the way, for I had a
+premonition that we might want to use them some time soon.
+
+After dusk I returned again to commandant headquarters and went into
+the front line of trenches along with the ration party. There was lots
+of work to be done to strengthen our position if we were to hold our
+trenches as we had been ordered to do.
+
+We started down the old disused mill road in the twilight of a lovely
+spring evening. Behind us the moon hung a silver bow almost on the
+horizon. It was going to be one of those nights, clear, but with
+objects not distinguishable at any great distance. Major Osborne met
+me at his dugout, which was on the east bank of the creek, and
+together we went on to the left of our line where his men were busy
+digging fire trenches in the rear of the half moons. Here I saw for
+the first time a line of French trenches. The French lines were held
+entirely different to ours. We usually built solid parapets of clay
+and sandbags high enough and strong to protect a man standing up, but
+the French usually do not allow this to be done. They had adopted
+their favorite method of entrenchment here, namely, a series of low
+parapets built in the form of half moons. My battalion held seventeen
+of these half moons and our brigade, I understood from our Brigade
+Major Lieut. Col. Hughes, held far more of the line than it was
+intended we should hold. About three hundred yards of our right line,
+some seven half moons, were to be turned over to the Second Brigade on
+the next relief.
+
+I went over his section carefully with Major Osborne. All the young
+officers were hard at work bracing up the parapets, joining them
+together and rapidly erecting formidable defences. I consulted with
+them all as I passed along the line from left to right, Macdonald,
+Fessenden, Daniels, Taylor, Bath and Smith, and all were of one
+opinion, viz., that the half moons should be turned into small
+redoubts, and a line of parapets built as quickly as possible
+connecting them.
+
+The French parapets were not built to be held, as we were ordered to
+hold our line. They build low parapets so the men will have to crouch
+behind them, and they will want to go forward and take the other
+fellow's line in order to get better quarters in the German trenches.
+
+This corner had been the scene of some hot fighting at some period
+during the war, for in my tour of the trenches that night I
+encountered a dozen little graveyards a few yards in rear of the
+parapets.
+
+Back and forward I went, and the entire line was canvassed and
+discussed. Lieutenant Fessenden, one of the most brilliant graduates
+of the Royal Military College, had a particularly hard spot to deal
+with, and was handling it in a manner worthy of any of the great
+Belgian engineers. Fessenden had a brother in the British army. No
+lieutenant in the whole allied army was a better student of the art of
+war, or a more fearless man, than this rosy-cheeked boy of twenty-two.
+
+"Sandbags, and more sandbags!" was the reply of Lieutenant Macdonald,
+when I questioned him as to the requirements of his section. He was on
+the extreme left, and if anything happened on that side he was sure to
+be enfiladed. He was quite cool about it, however, a worthy namesake
+of the great Marshal who had fought so valiantly beneath the walls of
+Roulers a few miles away.
+
+Lieutenant Smith, always cool and dour, a thorough Scot, was a man to
+be trusted in a tight place. Captain McKessock had a long talk with me
+about the machine gun positions. He had reconnoitred his ground very
+carefully, and had found several places back of the lines where he
+could mount a gun and rake the German lines if they advanced to the
+attack. Captain McKessock was one of the men who had sacrificed a
+great deal to do his share in this war. He was a captain in the 95th
+Battalion when the war broke out, and he brought a large quota of men
+to Valcartier. He joined the 48th and insisted upon having command of
+the machine gun section. It was pointed out to him that it was a
+subaltern's position, but he wished to have it, and his wishes were
+gratified. He left the position of crown attorney of a large district,
+with an income of ten thousand dollars a year, to go to the front,
+leaving behind him a wife and family. Such devotion to duty is
+exemplary. He understood his guns thoroughly, and is one of the few
+men I have met who had studied the tactical employment of the gun as
+well as its technical operation.
+
+When I came to Captain Daniel's section he was waiting for me. Daniels
+was a very handsome man, an engineer of note, a graduate of the
+Technical Department of Mines in Queen's University. He, too, gave up
+a splendid position, as manager of a large mine in Cobalt, to go to
+the war. He was a very competent engineer and knew his work
+thoroughly. As we passed along his parapets we could hear the Germans
+talking, and a party of them out in front of their parapets were
+driving in stakes for their barbed wire. There was not much firing
+going on, and as we had several parties out in front engaged on the
+same task, we decided to leave our Saxon friends alone for the time
+being until ours got back under cover. We could see their ghost-like
+forms close by from our listening post. If we opened fire on them they
+would likely get some of our patrols.
+
+Lieutenants Taylor and Langmuir were both busy at their sections.
+Langmuir was one of the "finds" of the 48th. He joined us at Long
+Branch by coaxing me very hard to give him a commission. I hesitated
+on account of his youth, but finally consented because I recognized a
+gleam in his hazel eyes that told me that if the occasion arose he
+would be a man of high courage. He was tall and slim with a bright
+color on his cheeks, and several of my older officers said it was a
+shame to take him along, he was so young that the hardships would kill
+him. I took him nevertheless, and though he knew very little about
+drill or military matters, he studied night and day so hard that it
+soon became known he was one of the best instructors in the battalion.
+He developed into a strong well built man, over six feet tall with
+broad shoulders and a commanding presence. He had a splendid grip on
+his men, who worshipped him and would follow him any place. Captain
+McGregor never tired of singing his praises. He was admired and loved
+by everyone, an ideal officer and a gentleman worthy to lead a
+Highland platoon or regiment anywhere. Taylor, who was with McGregor,
+looked up his captain for me when I came to his section. Lieutenant
+Taylor was a student at Oxford University when the war broke out. He
+threw up lectures and joined our battalion as a supernumerary. Our
+officers had almost all known him before. Standing over six feet tall,
+with the shoulders and chest of a young giant, Taylor was a man to be
+noted anywhere. He was famed both at home, in Canada, and abroad as a
+student and an athlete. He pulled a good oar, played a splendid game
+of football, hockey and lacrosse. He was an all round star, "a born
+leader of men," as Lieutenant Alex. Sinclair, himself a well known
+athlete, said to me when he was pleading Taylor's cause for a
+commission. Both Taylor and Langmuir were very fearless men. They were
+constantly out in front of their lines at night reconnoitreing the
+German lines and boldly trying to get a look into the German trenches.
+I had to check them several times and warn them against taking any
+unnecessary risks.
+
+Daniels had a very hard section of trenches at Neuve Chapelle. He had
+gone out on the "devil strip" at night, reconnoitred his whole front
+and mapped it for an advance.
+
+I arranged with Lieutenants Mavor and Fessenden to have a sketch of
+the line made showing the work proposed to be done. On our right there
+was a wide space between ourselves and the Winnipeg Battalion. This
+open space was protected by wire entanglements, but McGregor and Mavor
+both contended that it was a dangerous spot. I told them that it was
+the intention to give several of the redoubts on our right to a
+Company of the 8th Battalion, and that the order was expected to come
+through the following evening. Lieutenant Mavor accompanied me out to
+commandant headquarters. On the way out we met a working party of the
+Canadian engineers going in with Major Wright at their head. I could
+not help remarking about the commanding figure of Major Wright, who
+looked like a giant in the uncertain light, a paladin out of the pages
+of ancient or mediaeval history. I made my way back to St. Julien that
+night, not by any means satisfied with our military position. The
+Germans could certainly shell us jolly well if they liked, for so far
+only five of our own batteries had been put in position behind our
+lines. But the French had some ten batteries of 75's on our left rear
+and that was assuring. The way in which our fire trenches were sighted
+at the bottom of the Gravenstafel slope did not commend itself to me.
+It is very difficult to get a good position for trenches. If you go on
+top of a ridge, the enemy's guns will pound you to death, and if you
+lift your head they will get you with rifle fire on the sky line. If
+you dig in on the forward slope they will look into your trenches with
+their guns. If you go to the bottom of the slope, the enemy on the
+high ground on the other side can command your trenches. In rear of
+the crest, the old Wellington position is the best. Our supporting
+line held this position, but I felt that on the forward slope towards
+the enemy a few rifle pits would give us a chance to get at them
+behind their lines. This was to be attended to as soon as the work on
+the forward trenches was completed. This Ypres salient had only one
+thing of military value to commend it. It afforded a position in which
+troops could be massed to break through and advance on Ghent and
+Antwerp. I suspected that when the proper time came that was what
+would happen here. "Sentiment should have no place in business" is a
+hackneyed expression. War is a business, therefore sentiment should
+have no place in war. In war there is usually too much sentiment. We
+cling to impossible positions because we have won them and held them.
+We attack villages and redoubts that we should go around, and out of
+which the enemy would run the minute they found us on their line of
+retreat. We fail to support because we think it is a corps duty to
+hold their own line, which they may be able to do, but out of which if
+they had been supported they might launch a counter attack at the worn
+and shaken enemy which might bring us a notable victory. The
+principles of war which guided Wellington and his staff apply to this
+war. I often wished I had brought my "Napier's History" of
+Wellington's campaigns with me.
+
+When we got back to St. Julien the staff told me that the Germans had
+registered pretty nearly all over the place during the evening, and
+that it was a case of shells from north, south, east and west. During
+the night I called up the various sections of our line and they all
+reported that the Germans were very quiet.
+
+While I was doing the rounds of the forward trenches I could not help
+noting the roar of waggons and limbers along the whole German line in
+front of us. The night was very calm, and whilst it was quite usual to
+hear a lot of waggons about rationing time, still on this occasion the
+whole German line seemed to be in motion. I had never heard anything
+like it before. Something extraordinary was certainly happening.
+Either the Germans were changing the army in front of us, or else I
+thought they had got tired of holding the line in our immediate front,
+and anticipating a strong offensive of which rumors were abroad, they
+were preparing to retreat to the Rhine. I reported the occurrence to
+headquarters that night.
+
+In the morning of the 22nd of April Lieutenant Drummond of the Royal
+Highlanders came to see me and told me he had attended the funeral of
+Captain Warren.
+
+The Germans were shelling our billets and dugouts in St. Julien pretty
+heavily, and I was asked to look up some places outside of the town
+into which I could put some of the men and build new dugouts. I
+selected several places along the banks of Hennebeke brook where the
+ground was soft, and the shells would bury themselves and not explode,
+and started the men digging the dugouts. The particular spot which the
+Germans had chosen to shell that day was the "Cross Roads" and church
+of St. Julien. All of the church was gone but a piece of the spire.
+The graveyard in the rear of the church was torn all to pieces with
+"coal-boxes," and the coffins and remains of dead civilians and
+soldiers had been unearthed. These graves had already been carefully
+repaired by our men under Pioneer Sergeant Lewis under heavy shell
+fire. Some distance east of the church a line of fire trenches had
+been cut. These were to be occupied in case of an attack. The shelling
+continued all day. In the afternoon about four o'clock my adjutant
+and I visited the supporting trenches and dugouts at the forward
+lines. We had a chat with Major Marshall and some of the officers over
+the telephone, and repeated the orders given to me, that if we were
+attacked we were to hold the trenches till support came, for if we
+gave any portion of them up we would have to take them back ourselves
+with the bayonet.
+
+Lieutenant Dansereau was returning with me about five o'clock to St.
+Julien to see what progress had been made on our new dugouts, when a
+very heavy cannonade and rifle fire broke out along the northeastern
+face of the salient along the section held by the French troops. The
+rifle fire seemed to grow heavier every minute and a strange yellow
+haze grew over the distant line of the French trenches. I remarked
+about the haze to the adjutant, and we both concluded that either the
+French or Germans were using some new form of gunpowder that caused
+the greenish haze.
+
+For weeks we had become accustomed to heavy bursts of infantry fire,
+but these bursts had usually died away. This seemed to continue longer
+than usual. As we neared St. Julien I met Captain Alexander, and
+ordered him to tell his men to get their rifles and ammunition and
+"stand to." The Germans immediately began shelling our dugouts near
+the church with "coal-boxes," and in a minute they had put a shell
+into one of them and four men were killed. As I passed up the main
+street I warned the men and told them to be in readiness to take their
+places in the trenches in front of and at the northeast corner of the
+village.
+
+I went to the battalion headquarters and ordered out the orderlies,
+and in a few minutes the French troops began streaming back without
+arms or accoutrements. To my horror I found that they were Turcos and
+not the regular French troops which we had thought were holding that
+part of the line. Lieutenant Dansereau spoke French to them, but many
+pretended they did not understand.
+
+Almost immediately the bombardment of St. Julien became fiercer and
+the number of Turcos coming back greater. We hurriedly gathered as
+many as were armed of them together and sent them up to assist our
+companies in the St. Julien trenches. By this time the rifle fire was
+very intense and the gas so thick that it choked us, so I ordered
+every man to go to the trenches. I sent messengers to General Turner,
+V.C., to inform him of conditions and where we were.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE BATTLE OF ST. JULIEN
+
+
+It did not take us very long to realize that a great disaster had
+befallen our gallant Allies who held the northern face of the salient.
+The Turcos in broken French explained that the Germans had sent
+asphyxiating gas from their trenches, and that the gas had killed one
+quarter of their men. For weeks we had been warned that the Germans
+were going to use asphyxiating gasses against us, but no one had ever
+dreamed that they would be so inhuman as to use gas that would kill,
+but they had done so, for the Turcos told us that many of their men
+had fallen dead where they stood.
+
+The gas used was chlorine gas which is one of the by-products of the
+process whereby common salt is turned into soda, salt being a
+combination of soda and chlorine. When the salt is heated along with
+an acid the chlorine gas is liberated, the soda remaining. This soda
+is used in manufacturing soap. The chlorine is generally combined with
+lime to make chloride of lime or bleaching powder. In the chemical
+works of Germany the amalgamation of chlorine and lime was omitted,
+the chlorine being liquified under pressure in tanks. This liquid
+chlorine was a cheap preparation used largely for bleaching linens and
+cloth of various kinds manufactured in the districts in which we were
+fighting. The bleacheries were silent and there was no longer any use
+in the cloth industry for the German chlorine gas, so the Germans
+having plenty of it on hand no doubt decided to use it against the
+Allies.
+
+We had staid a trifle too long in the village of St. Julien while the
+streets were filled with this deadly gas. Some of our orderlies could
+hardly escape and several of the headquarters staff had to be sent to
+the hospital. I had taken on a pretty stiff cargo of it myself. When
+it is first breathed it is not unpleasant, smelling not unlike
+chloroform, but very soon it stings the mucous membrane of the mouth,
+the eyes, and the nose. The lungs feel as if they were filled with
+rheumatism. The tissues of the lungs are scalded and broken down, and
+it takes a man a long time to recover, if he ever does fully recover
+after having some of the "upholstering" of his lungs destroyed. We did
+not then quite realize the horror of this new form of cowardly and
+inhuman warfare, but we should have known that the Germans consider
+war a game without an umpire or a referee.
+
+    [Illustration: SNIPING THROUGH A PORT HOLE]
+
+Messages came promptly from General Turner, V.C., of the Third Brigade
+to hang on, that the Canadians were going to try and hold the Germans
+back until help came. We all knew we could depend on General Turner,
+V.C., and his Brigade-Major, Lt.-Colonel Garnet Hughes. We knew that
+we were fighting a rear guard action and that this was no time to
+think of running away. We hardly realized, however, that the Battle of
+St. Julien which had just commenced was to be one of the greatest
+battles in the history of the world, that the Canadian casualties were
+to be as great as the casualties of the British at Waterloo, that the
+total casualties of the combatants before the fight was ended were to
+number close to seventy thousand men, and that the Canadians, by brave
+fighting and losing sixty per cent. of their men for three days, were
+to hold in check five German army corps, or a total of close to a
+quarter of a million men.
+
+The brunt of the fighting fell to the lot of the Third Canadian
+(Highland Brigade). Through their lines ran the frightened and
+disorganized Turcos, groaning and shrieking in agony and fright. The
+French artillery men, finding their lines broken and confronted with
+the deadly wall of chlorine gas which rolled slowly over the ground
+turning the budding leaves of the trees, the spring flowers and the
+grass a sickly white, destroying every living creature in its path,
+blasting and shrivelling everything over which it swept, cut their
+horses loose and fled, in many cases two of them clinging to one
+horse. Ten batteries, it is said, were lost in this way, a gap of
+nearly six miles was made in the French line through which the Germans
+poured firing rifles, machine guns and cannon at the fugitives. A
+Turco Division, and part of a French Division had fled. A remnant of
+French troops belonging to the "Iron Divisions" held on next the
+canal.
+
+To meet this situation, the most alarming which had confronted a
+British General for centuries, there was for the moment only the
+reserve troops of one Canadian Division. These consisted of the 7th
+Battalion of British Columbia under Colonel Hart McHarg, which was in
+billets between Fortuin and Ypres, the 10th Battalion Calgary and
+Brandon under Colonel Boyle in billets in Ypres, and the 16th Canadian
+Scottish under Lt.-Col. Leckie billeted in Ypres and the farm cottages
+towards La Bryke to the north.
+
+General Turner, V.C., of the Third Canadian Brigade, took prompt
+measures to ensure the safety of the line and the fighting part of the
+action was in sure hands. Not a moment was lost. Orders were sent down
+to the commanders in the trenches to hang on, and the 16th Battalion,
+Canadian Scottish, was ordered to "stand to" its arms on the outskirts
+of Ypres. Aid was asked from the 2nd Brigade, and the 7th and 8th
+Battalions were placed at the disposal of the Third Brigade Commander.
+
+As there was only a very gentle breeze the gas did not clear out of
+the way very quickly, so that the victorious march of the Germans on
+Ypres was considerably checked. The Huns had a wholesome dread of the
+Canadian rifles and they advanced cautiously, firing "flares" in the
+air to mark their advance to their artillery. The flares flamed white
+in the dying sunlight.
+
+The situation, as far as the Canadians were concerned, was that upon
+us there devolved the necessity of fighting a rear guard action. The
+word was passed from officer to officer. We knew we had to fight to
+the last. In a rear guard action every man has to be sacrificed.
+Behind us holding the other sector of the salient was the 27th and
+28th British Divisions. If we gave way they would be slaughtered
+almost to a man, and the German road to Calais, forty odd miles away,
+only two short marches, would be open.
+
+The Germans were spending millions of rounds of ammunition. The
+streets of St. Julien were covered with a curtain of shell fire,
+whilst the air was filled with the weird sound of the rifle bullets as
+they rattled a deadly tatoo on the few tiles that remained clinging to
+the charred and battered roofs. The air was thick with spent particles
+of steel and lead that rattled on the pavement and tiles as my
+Adjutant, Sergeant Miller and I made our way out of the burning
+shattered buildings through dense clouds of asphyxiating gasses that
+blinded us to the trenches at the east side of the village where
+Captains Alexander and Cory held their ground.
+
+So far, so good. The fleeing Turcos had not spread panic in the ranks
+of the Canadians. Every man was prepared to die rather than give up
+the trenches. As we made our way to Captain Alexander in the gathering
+dusk we passed through a company of the 7th Battalion going into
+reserve behind St. Julien. As we reached the trenches we learned that
+the 7th Battalion had received orders, and were going to fill the gap
+between the defenders of St. Julien and the trenches held by the Royal
+Highlanders of Montreal and the 48th Highlanders of Toronto at the toe
+of the salient.
+
+One of the first men to greet me when we got to the trenches was
+Captain Alexander, cool and imperturbable. He always had a pleasant
+word for everybody and a kind heart for his men. During the small
+hours of the morning the 7th Battalion slipped quietly past us, also a
+company of the Buffs. They quickly lined the St. Julien, Poelcapelle
+road and began to dig themselves in.
+
+All through this trying time I was accompanied by my adjutant, Lieut.
+Dansereau, and Sergeant Miller. We all realized that the situation was
+very serious, but they were both very cheerful and Miller was in the
+best of spirits, cracking jokes with the men.
+
+When the shelling of the village began, my men showed me a bomb proof
+cellar which they suggested that I should occupy. I examined it, but
+something compelled me not to stay in it. Inside of ten minutes it was
+destroyed by a couple of "coal boxes."
+
+One of our signallers, Bell, tried to hang on to the telephone at our
+centre in St. Julien village, although two shells burst in the
+building and he narrowly escaped death. The signalling section under
+Sergeant Calder soon had the line connected up with our trenches, and
+Bell was ordered to leave St. Julien, which he did reluctantly
+although he had suffered a lot from the gas and had been slightly
+deafened by the explosions.
+
+The chirpiest soldier in the whole outfit was Signalling Sergeant
+Calder, who was one of the shortest men in the regiment. The breadth
+of his shoulders and the burr on his tongue got him enlisted in the
+first instance. As he was stringing the wires to the trench he had to
+duck several times. "Here is where I shine by being a 'sawed-off,'" he
+informed me. We were soon in touch with commandant headquarters, and
+from Major Marshall I learned that our forward trenches were still
+untouched. As the night closed in the Germans redoubled their shelling
+of St. Julien. The charred church spire was lit up with the high
+explosive shells, and several fires broke out in the village and made
+the night hideous. Shrapnel broke constantly overhead spraying our
+trenches and several men were wounded. Several poor wounded Turcos had
+taken refuge in our trench. One of them, an under officer, informed
+Lieutenant Dansereau that the Turcos would stick with the British till
+the last. He added as an aside that he wished Algiers was as
+prosperous as Egypt. So much for this son of the desert who in this
+terrible hour envied the Fellah of Egypt who was permitted to follow
+his ordinary avocation as farmer, in the midst of all these warlike
+times, undisturbed by conscription or his British rulers.
+
+As dawn came the German fire increased and my adjutant pulled a note
+book out of his pocket and began writing in it with a big blue
+pencil. I asked him if he was going to try and send a message through
+to headquarters. "No, sir," he said. "I am afraid I will not come out
+of this alive, so I am writing a message to my friends, I have
+reconciled myself to death."
+
+I told him I felt sure that we were going to come out all right, that
+I had a "hunch" that we were, and that some time we would read that
+memo together under happier circumstances, and it would bring back
+memories of the Valley of the Shadow of Death through which we were
+passing together.
+
+He shook his head doubtfully, and when I laughingly showed him a
+German horseshoe which I had picked up on the field when we first saw
+the gas and which I still carried in my overcoat pocket, he smiled but
+was not reassured.
+
+However, the fact that he felt that we were both going to be wiped out
+did not dampen his courage. Strange to say my prophecy about his last
+message came true, for we read it together and laughed over it in
+Montreal, Canada, months later as I had predicted.
+
+Before dawn several of my runners or signallers returned from brigade
+headquarters with the story of the fight around the farm house where
+General Turner, V.C., and Major Wright of the engineers had rallied
+the cooks and orderlies to the defence of the place. They told us how
+the 16th Battalion, the Canadian Scottish under Lieut.-Colonel Leckie
+and the gallant 10th Battalion under Lieut.-Colonel Boyle, had hurried
+from Ypres to the aid of their comrades. These two battalions reached
+the reserve trenches in front of Wieltje about eight o'clock, when
+they were ordered on to 3rd Brigade Headquarters and preparations made
+for them to counter attack the advancing Germans who had seized the
+wood northwest of St. Julien.
+
+The counter attack was launched at midnight, the 10th on the right in
+two lines, and the 16th on the left. Major Lightfoot led the front
+line of his battalion, the 10th.
+
+"Come on, boys," he said, "remember you are Canadians." The line
+advanced with great spirit, less than two thousand Canadians against
+a hundred thousand Germans. It was the biggest bluff in history but it
+won. On and on went the Canadians, 10th and Highlanders, one moment
+with the bayonet the next moment firing. The Germans, who were busy
+digging in south of the wood, saw the Canadians coming in the
+twilight, and only waited to fire a few shots and then they started to
+run. Lightfoot was down, but the line went on. Major McLaren fell, but
+the lines never wavered. They drove the Germans into the wood and
+clear through it on the other side. If there had only been plenty of
+supporting troops the German victory would not only have been stayed
+but the charging Canadians would have gone through the German army
+that night.
+
+The British howitzer battery which had been lost was retaken, the
+French guns were recaptured and a great victory was in sight.
+
+When the Germans were caught they began to throw down their arms and
+cry for mercy. The gallant Canadians gave it, but in the hot rush of
+the charge they did not wait to disarm their foe. The second lines
+merged into the first and the fight in the dim forest became Homeric.
+Then the cowardly Germans whose lives had been spared, plucked up
+their courage. They picked up their rifles and began like the Arabs in
+the desert to shoot the men in the back who had spared their lives.
+Colonel Boyle went down, killed almost immediately. He had led his
+troops on through the forest by voice and example, armed only with a
+riding crop. The Germans were driven beyond the northern edge of the
+forest. The charge by this time had spent a good deal of its force,
+and as the flanks of the charging lines were not protected, and men
+were falling on every side, it was deemed advisable to withdraw to the
+southern edge of the wood and occupy the line of shelter trenches
+which the Germans had begun to dig. This was one of the most gallant
+charges in the annals of the Empire. The fame of the gallant charges
+of the Canadians in St. Julien Wood will live forever in history,
+engraved in letters of gold.
+
+Considering that the brave Canadians met a foe that outnumbered them
+over twenty to one, that they drove the enemy ahead of them, foot by
+foot, exacting fearful toll, their success was phenomenal and had a
+tremendous effect upon the conquering Huns, who had fancied Ypres was
+within their grasp. The German Emperor, it was said, had come
+especially to the western front so as to be able to make a triumphal
+entry into the last city left to the King of Belgium, Ypres, and to be
+on hand when his guards and marines from the Kiel Canal, who were
+present in large numbers, did the goose-step down the Rue Royale to
+Calais. The courage of the Canadians proved his undoing.
+
+The struggle in the Wood at St. Julien will go down to history side by
+side with the fight at Albuera and the hand-to-hand struggle at
+Inkerman. It was a soldier's battle, and many brave men fell. When
+roll call was held in the morning only five officers and 188 men of
+the 10th responded, whilst the 16th Canadian Scottish could only
+muster five officers and 260 men unhurt. The command of the 10th,
+owing to the death of Colonel Boyle, devolved upon Major Ormond, who
+gallantly held the position gained during the next day and until
+Saturday morning, when he was relieved and sent as support to the 8th
+on Gravenstafel Ridge where I met him and his remnant at Enfiladed
+crossroads, the hottest part of the line.
+
+The brigade bomb throwing unit assisted in the charge on the St.
+Julien Wood, and few of them lived to tell the tale. One of them
+belonging to the Red Watch returned, Pte. Adkins, a boy of nineteen,
+and from him I learned many of the facts I have recounted.
+
+In the meantime what steps were being taken to succor the hard pressed
+3rd Brigade? A portion of the 45th French Division was still hanging
+on to the extreme left of the French line. They had fallen back to try
+and conform with the general retirement on their right, but they
+pluckily determined to try and extend their ground by a counter charge
+near Pilken and regained some ground.
+
+West of the Yperlee Canal at Vlamertinghe the 1st Canadian Brigade was
+in billets. Two of the battalions, the 2nd and 3rd, were sent to aid
+the stricken front. The 1st and 4th were kept in divisional reserve
+west of the canal. The 2nd and 3rd marched through Ypres and up the
+St. Julien road. It was there they got their first real baptism of
+fire. They advanced in open order and the German guns gave them "the
+curtain of fire." The 1st and 4th were later sent, first to the banks
+of the Yperlee Canal and subsequently to take part in the counter
+attack along with the rest of the Canadian Division. By three o'clock
+in the morning all the Canadian troops that were in reserve were up
+and at it, "hammer and tongs," driving back the Germans and trying
+hard to reconstitute the broken line from St. Julien to Pilken.
+
+In the counter attack some very brave deeds were performed by the
+Toronto Regiment. As they marched down the stone road to St. Julien
+they came under the intense shell fire, "the curtain of fire," which
+the Germans were directing against all the approaches to our position
+along which reinforcements might come. Here and there a shell would
+fall in the ranks, but the regiment would only pull itself together
+and keep on. East of Wiltje a big shell fell and when the smoke
+cleared away Macdonald of the machine gun section, Ross Binkley,
+Broughall and Bickerstaff, four of the most popular young men in the
+battalion, great athletes and football players, had paid the price. As
+they neared the 3rd Brigade Headquarters they were put into the
+headquarters trenches. Later on two companies were sent to fill in the
+vacant space between the right flank of the 10th and the corps that
+held the village of St. Julien. The companies that advanced were the
+Body Guards, the Mississauga Horse and the Royal Grenadiers, and they
+behaved splendidly.
+
+As morning dawned the situation as far as we could learn was as
+follows: The British section of the salient had not been attacked
+beyond some desultory shelling. The section held by the Second
+Canadian Brigade had remained untouched also. This section ran from
+Gravenstafel northerly. First, the 5th Battalion on the right, the 8th
+battalion on the left. Then the 15th Battalion (the Red Watch) less
+one company, held the line along Strombeek creek as far as the
+Poelcapelle road. The 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada)
+carried on till their line almost reached Langemarck. Their left was
+very much in the air. The line then bent back towards the
+Poelcapelle-St. Julien road, and in the gap there was a company of
+Buffs sent to try and fill in the opening. They stood almost back to
+back with the 13th. Then came three companies of the 7th Battalion. A
+company each of the 14th, "The Red Watch," and the 13th with some
+Turcos were holding the trenches in front of the village of St.
+Julien. The Third battalion had succeeded in getting into touch at St.
+Julien and continued the line to the 10th south of St. Julien Wood.
+The 16th Canadian Scottish continued the line with some supporting
+companies of the 14th on their left. Here a gap occurred, defended by
+a few groups from the 2nd, and further along astride the Ypres Pilken
+road the 1st and 4th Canadians were fighting like heroes. The
+Canadians during the night had reconstituted the line, but at great
+cost. The troops in this front line all came under the command of
+General Turner, V.C., of the 3rd Canadian Brigade, as senior officer
+present. His experienced eye recognized the weak places, and his
+staff, headed by Lt. Colonel Hughes, was there ready to lead the units
+to their proper places. Each Canadian unit as it came opposite its
+place had been ordered to attack, and after advancing some distance
+they were ordered to dig in, which they did.
+
+The irresistible bayonet charges of the Canadians had misled the
+Germans, for their advance was paralysed and they had for the moment
+lost the initiative.
+
+Here is where a great military mistake was made but not by the
+Canadians. The German staff came to the conclusion that there must be
+thousands of supporting troops behind the charging Canadians and made
+the biggest mistake of the war. But the Canadians had not
+accomplished this bluff without much loss of life.
+
+One of the first officers of my acquaintance to fall on the evening of
+the 22nd was Lieutenant Drummond of the 13th Battalion. I had spoken
+to him in the morning. When the Turcos had come streaming across the
+field, tearing through his company of Montreal Highlanders, he,
+together with Major Norsworthy, gallantly tried to rally these men,
+along with my adjutant. Drummond fell, together with his comrade, each
+a victim to a German bullet. No braver lad, no more ardent Highlander
+ever donned the tartan of the Black Watch than Lieutenant Guy
+Drummond. When he fell Canada lost a valuable and useful citizen. His
+training, education and charm of manner, coupled with his intense
+patriotism, marked him for a great career. Major Norsworthy, his
+friend and comrade, fell by his side.
+
+Further along the line held by the Toronto Regiment, Captain George
+Ryerson fell at the head of his company. "Happy" George, his comrades
+all called him, for he was worshipped by his men as he always wore a
+smile. No man ever saw a frown on the captain's face. Lieut.-Colonel
+Boyle had made the supreme sacrifice at the head of the 10th. Major
+Maclaren of the same battalion had been wounded in the charge at St.
+Julien Wood and was killed outright by a shell in the ambulance on the
+way to Poperinghe.
+
+Word drifted through to me that our transport billets at Ypres had
+been shelled and that Sergeant-Major Grant, "Soldier Bill," as he was
+called by our men, had been dangerously wounded on the way down to the
+trenches with ammunition. Macdonald, a gallant corporal of the
+quartermaster's department, had also been badly wounded and much
+regimental property destroyed and lost.
+
+We passed a very disagreeable night. The trenches were wet and
+unpleasant and the incessant shelling made it impossible to move.
+Several wounded Turcos in the trenches kept moaning like fretful
+children. Every time a shell burst there was a hideous chorus of
+groans and wails from them. Finally an exasperated Highlander shoved a
+rifle butt threateningly in front of the groaning figures and the
+noise was stopped. It is a strange thing, but I have never heard a
+Canadian groan when wounded.
+
+As the east reddened the sentries called out to the troops to "stand
+to," and I watched the men as each one stood up in the trench and
+watched the sun rise. Many of them saw it that morning for the last
+time. Shortly after the order came to "stand down."
+
+The quartermaster succeeded in getting some rations through to us.
+Captain Duguid and Capt. Jago never failed. During the remainder of
+the fight they fed the whole brigade.
+
+My forward line reported "all well," and we were cheered by the
+knowledge that the advance of the Hun had been checked, and regardless
+of numbers we felt we could hold them.
+
+As the men were ordered to "stand down" I watched them one by one
+start cleaning their rifles, getting ready for the stern business
+ahead the coming day. Their conduct so far had been splendid, and as I
+thought of them in this critical hour standing in the gap for the
+Empire, I realized that a new figure had risen in the lurid
+battle-swept horizon of Europe, that of the Canadian soldier, young,
+athletic, tense, alert and indomitable, a figure that will now live as
+long as history and song is written. Unconsciously there rose that
+morning in my mind the majestic words of the great Milton:
+
+"Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissent nation rousing herself
+like a strong man after his sleep and shaking her invincible locks."
+
+Those soldiers of ours that had barred the Hun were well worthy of the
+Homeric age fit to follow old Cromwell and his Ironsides. That night
+had witnessed thousands of gallant deeds that pen may never tell and
+to which neither crosses or medals could begin to do honor.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+HANGING ON
+
+
+"Stretcher for Captain Cory."
+
+A cry went along the line of the trenches, and two stretcher bearers
+jumped up on the parapet and ran towards the Poelcapelle Road, along
+which Captain Cory's platoon held the trench.
+
+A groan went up from the whole line. We all thought Cory had been hit.
+He was a universal favorite.
+
+Only a few minutes before as dawn broke my officers in the front
+trenches came to me to report and have a cheery word. Captain "Bob"
+Cory, Captain Alexander, Lieutenant Barwick and Lieutenant Jones all
+reported and stopped for a moment's chat.
+
+While we were at Cassel, Captain Cory had obtained leave of the
+general officer commanding, the blessing of his own commanding officer
+and the good wishes of his brother officers, and had gone to London
+for two short weeks and there married Miss Telfer of Collingwood,
+Canada. She reached England with her sister, Mrs. (Major) Porter, too
+late to become a bride before the regiment started for France. Captain
+Cory would not transfer and stay in England, so the first opportunity
+that came he was granted leave. Marriage had quieted him down a lot
+and I kept cautioning him, for the sake of the wife he had left
+behind, to be careful.
+
+Barwick and Jones wanted leave to take their platoons down to the
+forward trenches to assist Major Osborne. Cory said that with the
+Turcos, and the other two platoons of the company, he could hold the
+trenches at the northeast angle of the village, so I consented to
+their leaving. It was a very brave offer, and it showed excellent
+spirit on their part to wish to go and participate in the defence of
+the peak of the salient which was considered the most dangerous part
+of the whole line.
+
+As Captain Cory was on his way back to his position one of his men was
+hit with a machine gun bullet and they called for a stretcher. I
+started to go down the line to where he was, but was told he was all
+right, that it was one of his men that had been wounded.
+
+My signallers reported to me that all night long the fighting had
+continued in front of St. Julien, the Germans trying to force an
+entrance at the northwesterly side between the village and the wood.
+The village had been shelled continually. During the night several
+limbers of artillery came clattering down the road, dodging shell
+holes, dead horses and men, followed by the wakeful German guns, as
+the gunners knew that these limbers held ammunition for the Canadian
+artillery in the first line. The Germans seemed to have a weird sense
+of what was going on on our roads. The 10th Battery under Major King
+was at the cross roads at Kersselaere. During the night Major King
+gallantly ran one gun by hand well forward on the left of the Royal
+Highlanders to try and stop the advance of the victorious Huns. It was
+Major King's ammunition that came rattling down the ruined streets of
+St. Julien during the night, and when the "coal boxes" fell at the
+concrete bridge over the Hannebeek creek where it crossed the road not
+far from the ruined St. Julien church, the horses and several of the
+riders fell to rise no more. Nothing daunted, the non-commissioned
+officer in charge returned for help to man-handle his precious load
+down to the guns at the trenches. Captain D.S. Gardner of the 7th took
+a squad of about thirty men and they manned the limbers, and amidst a
+perfect hail of shells and bullets drew the ammunition down to Major
+King, who lost no time in firing it point blank into the Germans that
+were advancing on Kersselaere cross roads. They were mowed down in
+heaps by the shrapnel. The German advance was stopped at this point
+and the gun was later taken out safely.
+
+Throughout the battle no Canadian guns were lost.
+
+As usual with the morning sun, there came from the east two large
+German aeroplanes with the ominous black crosses on their stiff
+outspread wings. They flew low and seemed particularly interested in
+our breakfast bill of fare. The warning whistle was blown as they
+approached and everyone lay down in the trenches as still as death.
+The Germans seemed to satisfy themselves that there was nothing in our
+trenches, for after they returned to their own lines they stopped
+shelling the church and graveyard close by which up till then had been
+their favorite target. When they stopped shelling the church and
+graveyard the scene was dreadful. The walls of the church and rafters
+were torn to pieces. But it was the cemetery that presented the most
+grewsome sight. Graves, ancient and modern, were torn open and coffins
+and corpses were strewn in all directions. Our dead had been
+disinterred a second time. I set a party to work under Sergt. Lewis to
+repair this damage.
+
+We learned in the morning that some British troops had been sent to
+the assistance of our severely pressed left flank. This detachment was
+under the command of Colonel Geddes and consisted of the remnants of
+seven mixed battalions from the 27th and 28th divisions that had held
+the southern face of the salient. They were detachments of the 3rd
+Middlesex, the 2nd East Kents, the 1st South Lancasters, the 2nd East
+Yorks, the 9th Royal Scots, the 5th R. Lancasters, the 2nd D. of C.
+Light Infantry. The 5th Lancasters and Royal Scots were Territorials,
+the rest of the detachment were regulars. This brigade went to the
+assistance of the French remnant left at Pilken, and they helped to
+reconstitute the line after a gallant charge in which the French and
+Canadians joined, closing up a gap at this point.
+
+Along towards noon, Colonel Loomis, who had his headquarters west of
+the village of St. Julien, sent for Captain Alexander. I told
+Alexander to take a couple of men with him in case anything happened
+to him as the shelling in the village was very heavy. He did so, and
+was gone about an hour. He returned alone looking very grave, and I
+asked him what was the matter. He told me that on the way out his men
+had fallen at his side, killed by a shell.
+
+About eleven o'clock we noticed very heavy shelling and gas fumes
+rising in the direction of our front trenches east of Kersselaere.
+There was a pretty stiff breeze blowing, and shortly after we saw the
+gas our guns began firing and there was a terrific burst of rifle
+fire. We recognized the "chop" of the Ross rifle and knew that our men
+were in action at the extreme angle of the salient. Major Marshall
+telephoned me from his headquarters that the Germans were gassing and
+that they were following up the gas with an attack.
+
+I was very anxious but soon learned that the German attack had been
+beaten off, for their artillery as usual began working off their spite
+on the farm houses in our rear. I also learned that although the
+shelling was very heavy we had escaped so far with very few
+casualties. About noon I began to realize that I had not eaten
+anything since breakfast the previous morning, when my meal had been
+disturbed by the German shells and the tragic death of the sentry at
+our headquarters. Some one handed me a tin of "bully beef," and I
+ripped the top off with the trusty hunting knife which had been my
+faithful companion on every expedition I had made into the unknown
+wilds of Canada for the past twenty years, and I finished that tin of
+beef with apologies to "Fray Bentos."
+
+In the afternoon I started down for the front line of trenches to see
+how they were getting along there. Capt. Dansereau accompanied me. At
+first he insisted that I should not go down into the "devil's corner,"
+as they called it, and said he would go down and look it over and come
+back and report to me. However, when he saw I was determined to go he
+got his revolver and insisted on coming along. I bade good-bye to
+Capt. Alexander and the brave lads that were holding the St. Julien
+village trenches. Many of them would "return to Lochaber no more."
+
+We made our way down to commandant headquarters. On our way we passed
+in the rear of the 7th Battalion and noted that the British Columbians
+knew how to use their shovels and grubbers. They were busy in spite of
+sniping and shell fire fortifying the line of the Poelcapelle Road for
+some distance east of the St. Julien and in rear of Kersselaere
+village. Colonel Hart McHarg was there directing the men. When we got
+to headquarters we found Major Marshall quite cheerful. Lieutenant
+Shoenberger wore his customary grim smile as he told me how our men
+had driven back the attacking Germans a few hours before. The Germans
+had "gassed" them twice, but the wind was too high and it blew the
+deadly fumes over the parapets. The men waited till the Germans
+emerged from their trenches three or four deep to charge. Then our
+whistles blew, and hundreds of them were cut down and piled on top of
+each other before they broke and ran back to their trenches. One
+machine gun got about 200 of them.
+
+They told me that Major Kirkcaldy of the 8th Winnipeg Rifles had come
+over from their headquarters on the Gravenstafel Ridge to reconnoitre.
+Orders had come through that after dark the 13th Battalion, whose left
+flank was much exposed to enfilade fire from some machine guns, were
+to retire, pivoting on our left flank at the Poelcapelle Road and
+linking up with the 7th and Buffs. They were to dig in, trenching the
+line in rear of Kersselaere. Part of the 7th Battalion, which was
+virtually in support of them, were to hook up with our supporting
+trenches, thus forming two lines. The orders were that the 48th
+Highlanders were to hold their original trenches and protect, and the
+7th were to conform. We were all warned to hold our trenches at all
+costs.
+
+The order to conform and to consolidate, which reached the 7th, sent
+Lieutenant-Colonel McHarg out to reconnoitre his front about five
+o'clock in the afternoon to find out the most favorable place to build
+the parapets. Lieutenant Matheson of the engineers had arrived and
+Lt.-Colonel McHarg, Lieutenant Matheson and Major Odlum proceeded
+down the slope from their lines towards some ruined houses in their
+front, which they entered, and from the back windows of which they
+immediately saw the enemy lining the hedges not one hundred yards
+away. When they started back uphill the Germans opened fire on them
+and Colonel McHarg was instantly shot through the stomach. Major Odlum
+made his way out and sent Captain Gibson, the battalion surgeon, down
+to attend to the wounds of their commanding officer. Gibson stalked
+fearlessly down to where his colonel lay, picked him up, got him under
+better cover and dressed his wounds, and that night after dark they
+got him out. There was much gloom and sorrow among the British
+Columbians that night for they all loved their colonel and they knew
+that there was very little hope for him. He died the following day at
+Poperinghe. Thus died one of the bravest of the Canadians, a splendid
+soldier, the champion sharpshooter of America, for that matter of the
+world. He had always displayed great coolness and daring, and British
+Columbia will always cherish and revere his name.
+
+    [Illustration: A NARROW ESCAPE
+    A shell entered the tree above these officers' heads, but
+    failed to explode.]
+
+The command devolved for the time being upon a worthy successor, Major
+Odlum.
+
+At dusk I checked up the casualties over the telephone and I learned
+that we had only a total of forty-seven for the strenuous twenty-four
+hours, and that most of these were in the trenches of St. Julien.
+Lieutenant Vernon Jones and Lieutenant Barwick came along with their
+men, and they helped to take double rations and ammunition to the left
+flank company commanded by Major Osborne. They were ordered to close
+the rear of the redoubts with sandbags so as to save their men from
+enfilade fire which they were sure to get in the morning, as soon as
+the enemy had discovered that the 13th had retired to take up a new
+line. During the attack at noon the 13th had their line pierced at one
+point and a machine gun belonging to the Germans was brought through
+and put into position in a farm house surrounded by a moat in the rear
+of their lines. From this farmhouse the Germans were giving them all
+kinds of trouble, and it was to relieve this pressure chiefly that
+they were ordered to retire. The suggestion to bomb the Germans out
+was not practicable. Our guns were too few to cope with the powerful
+German artillery, although well served.
+
+Company Sergeant-Major De Harte came up from the trenches along with
+the ration party at eight o'clock and told me the story of the gassing
+and bombing in the morning. When the Germans sent their gas over the
+wind was too high and it blew over the top of the trenches. The 48th
+waited until it passed over, then as soon as the gas and shelling
+ceased they manned the parapets knowing that an attack was coming. The
+whistle blew and the Ross rifle rang out a deadly hail that tumbled
+the Germans in heaps and sent them scurrying like rabbits for shelter.
+
+The Huns gave us no more trouble during the afternoon and the men were
+confident of their ability to cope with any force that might come
+against them. Word came through to be sure and hold our trenches at
+all costs as help was coming. This message was sent direct to the
+trench line. Major Osborne asked me what would happen if the
+ammunition ran out. I told him the standing orders of the trenches
+were that we must use our side arms. Our standing orders read as
+follows:
+
+"All ranks must realize the exact nature of the duty they are called
+upon to perform for the moment and must not exceed this duty. This
+duty is to hold the trenches at present handed over to their care at
+all costs against all comers, and on no account to give up the line.
+If attacked the men must continue firing and remain at their posts. If
+the enemy endeavors to rush the parapets the men will use their
+bayonets. Any of the enemy who make their way into the trenches must
+be bayonetted. The regiment is provided with ample supports in the
+rear. Any of the enemy who gets beyond our trenches will be taken care
+of by the supports. Each man must fire low and steadily."
+
+As the night closed down the heavens were lit with the German flares
+and the lurid flashes from their guns. I took a long look over the
+battle line and I confess I thought our chances of ever getting out
+were very slim. The German flares crossed each other in the heavens
+behind us. In our left rear, and all around to the right rear, I could
+see the angry red flashes of the thousands of guns they were directing
+against our devoted defenders. I began counting the batteries, but
+after I had reached a hundred I concluded they had enough. Almost
+every calibre of gun was being used against us, from the great
+seventeen inch Austrian siege mortars they were firing at Ypres and
+Poperinghe behind us, to the nine, seven, six, five, four and
+three-inch high explosive shells that were filling the air with their
+fiendish notes.
+
+Bayonets, brawn and bull-dog courage were all we had to match against
+all the resources of chemistry and mechanics of our enemies. They
+might poison us, destroy us or take a bit of the line here and there,
+but take the city of Ypres--not that summer, not so long as a Canadian
+arm was left to defend the stricken salient.
+
+At twelve o'clock that night I checked up my sketch of our position
+after having a bowl of soup in Major Marshall's dugout. The second
+brigade line was untouched. So was the 48th. The 13th were withdrawn
+from their trenches and were digging in along the slope on our left
+flank. One company of the Buffs, one of the 5th and two companies of
+the 14th were mixed up in the line here, along with the three
+companies of the 7th that were consolidating their trenches along the
+Poelcapelle Road towards St. Julien where they linked up with the
+48th, 13th and 14th Companies of the garrison. From the left flank of
+St. Julien, the 3rd Toronto Regiment, two companies, joined up with
+the 10th and 16th at St. Julien Wood. Then came Geddes' British
+Brigade, and on their left the 13th British Brigade under
+Brigadier-General R. Wanless O'Gowan. This brigade arrived in the
+afternoon from Hill 60. It was made up of what was left of the tired
+1st West Kents, 2nd King's Own Borderers, 2nd York Light Infantry, 2nd
+West Riding, 9th London, all from the 5th Division that had lost half
+their officers at the crater blown up by Captain Perry. Next came the
+1st and 4th Canadians, and then the French troops held as far as the
+canal.
+
+There had been little or no change during the day. The honor of
+holding the dangerous angle of the great salient at Ypres had fallen
+to the lot of the Canadians. The Red Watch held the danger point, the
+toe. It was our duty to hang on and die to the last man until help
+came and the French line was reconstituted as it was when the French
+Turcos broke before the deadly gas. Like typical Highlanders we were
+the "Forlorn Hopes" of the Empire.
+
+It was away after two o'clock in the morning when the shelling died
+down a bit in our front. I threw myself down in the dugout and fell
+asleep. I slept with revolver ready and boots on and got in a few
+winks. I was awakened at about a quarter to four by loud talking and
+the roar of guns. I jumped up and turned out to get a glimpse of what
+was going on in the trenches in front. I met Capt. Dansereau, who told
+me the Germans were again trying to gas the 48th. True enough, in the
+grey dawn a heavy yellow pall hung over our trenches and there was a
+sweet pungent smell of chlorine in the air. The two platoons that were
+in dugouts were at once sent to their stations in the supporting
+trenches. Major Marshall and Capt. Dansereau went into the trenches
+with them, while Lieutenant Shoenberger and I remained at the dugout
+trench at the telephone. There was a slight lull in the cannonading
+for a few minutes, then the German guns began to speak in louder and
+more insistent tones. I looked around the salient, shaped like a man's
+right foot, of which we were the toe, and hundreds of batteries seemed
+to be turned on our trenches, both front and supporting. Again and
+again salvos of "coal boxes" fell in succession along the parapet.
+Talk about Neuve Chapelle, we were getting our own back with
+interest. All the German batteries were concentrated on our parapets
+and the trenches held by our regiment. Pandemonium reigned along the
+front line of trenches. The Germans followed up their gasses again
+with intense rifle and machine gun fire. Up and down along the
+parapets of the redoubts the shells kept dropping, throwing up huge
+pyramids of black smoke fifty feet in the air. These blasts resembled
+rows of black trees or fountains. How anything could live in that
+seething vortex, created by the bursting high explosive shells, is a
+mystery. Many a brave Highlander would see the lone shielings and the
+misty mountains of Canada no more. All this time the Germans were
+industriously shelling the dugouts and supporting trenches where our
+supports were located and along the Gravenstafel Ridge. Huge shells
+fell like hail. Those that failed to burst in the air exploded the
+minute they struck the hard untilled clay of the fallow fields and
+fragments flew in every direction. One fell on the roadway about
+twenty feet away from me. Two men who were standing under cover of the
+broken wall of the windmill crumpled up like green leaves in a forest
+fire. They were done for. They were giving us a double "curtain of
+fire" as well as the death dealing gasses.
+
+A piece of the same shell struck Lieutenant Shoenberger, my signalling
+officer, who stood close beside me, and he fell. He said never a word,
+but in a trice had his knife out, cut off his puttee and looked at his
+ankle. The bone was broken. Before I could give him a hand he had his
+first aid bandage out and tied up the wound himself. I offered to send
+a man with him to the dressing station a quarter of a mile back, but
+he said he would crawl down on his hands and knees all right and that
+every man would be needed in the trenches. He was quite cool and
+collected and did not show any sign of fear. I felt very sorry for
+him.
+
+Nearly a century ago Admiral Lord Cochrane, a man of wonderful
+scientific knowledge, advanced a project to the British Government for
+a terrible and unseen agent which could be used against an enemy, and
+which was so destructive and powerful it would render their armies
+helpless. That secret was asphyxiating gas. His plan was on the field
+of battle when the wind was favorable to build large fires with tar
+and damp straw behind which an attack could be prepared. Then sulphur
+was to be thrown on these burning piles so as to produce gas, which
+blowing over the enemy would render them helpless. This would not
+produce a poisonous gas. It would only be an asphyxiating gas that
+would knock a man out for a while. Still the British had refused to
+use this secret.
+
+In 1913 German scientists at the German Headquarters Staff had
+experimented with sulphur, chlorine and bromine fumes. They reported
+on sulphur gas: "This gas thus produced acts as an irritant on the
+lungs and eyes, and thence it is adapted to render the enemy incapable
+of resistance, but is not poisonous, and in that way its use in war is
+not contrary to international right." They had in view Article 23 of
+the rules of conducting hostilities promulgated by the second Hague
+Conference to which they had subscribed, which specifically prohibits
+"the use of poisons and poisonous arms" and "the use of arms,
+projectiles and material destined to produce useless suffering." The
+Germans could have used sulphur gas just as well as chlorine gas, but
+sulphur was not poisonous, and would not kill; chlorine and bromine
+would.
+
+We had just learned that they were using red phosphorus in their
+shells, and that any particle of that chemical that got into a wound
+would set up gangrene from which hundreds of soldiers died in terrible
+agony. We had surmised that they were in the habit of dipping their
+rifle bullets in red phosphorus solution because where they struck the
+men's clothing they invariably started even the wool clothing burning.
+That was the case at St. Julien Wood where, according to the stories
+brought back by the men, they had foully crucified a sergeant
+belonging to our brigade on a barn door. He belonged to our bombing
+section.
+
+The sun was shining a red rim on the horizon in the east. The sickly
+green clouds of the gas appeared denser in some places than others.
+The wind was just right for the infernal curtain that gradually drew
+over the trenches. The thickest pall was blown against the right of
+our line between McGregor's company and the left of the 8th Battalion,
+where there was an open space protected only by a small trench and
+barbed wire. Of those on our right hardly a man was left to tell the
+tale.
+
+All those who stuck to the trench and did not use wet bandoliers or
+handkerchiefs died. Some tried to get out, only to fall stricken with
+the deadly vapor before they had gone many yards. Among these was
+Lieut. Taylor, an Oxford scholar, one of the best athletes in the
+First Division. He won out of the trench only to die on the
+Gravenstafel Ridge. Company Sergeant-Major Hermitage and his brother
+Sergeant Hermitage were stricken down also but managed to crawl out.
+The latter lost the use of his vocal chords for some time. They were
+burned with the fatal gas. Lieutenant Mavor, who was in this section,
+fell, but they managed to get him out before he succumbed. Some of the
+men fell back to the left to a communicating trench which they held
+till the German infantry attack came when they rallied to the parapets
+and drove the Germans out with their bayonets.
+
+A very dense cloud of gas was directed against the centre of our line
+and Captain McLaren was one of the first to fall. Some of his men
+succeeded in getting him out. For days his life was despaired of, and
+his lungs were scarred for ever. Lieutenant Maxwell Scott, of
+Abbotsford, kindred of the great Sir Walter, author of Waverley, one
+of the finest officers in our battalion, fell from the effects of the
+fumes. They succeeded in getting him out also. His life was dispaired
+of.
+
+The only thing the soldiers had to stave off the poisonous gas were
+their wet handkerchiefs or wet bandoliers where they happened to have
+them. Pads and masks were not then known or issued.
+
+My lungs were sore for months from the gas we got at the village of
+St. Julien and here, which was a second dose.
+
+When the German attack came many of the men had fallen. Others were
+too weak to fight, but there were still some left and they counter
+attacked and drove the Germans out of the trenches with the bayonet.
+The fighting was very strenuous while it lasted. It was a case of butt
+or point whichever came handiest. I noticed a number of men straggling
+back through on our right and went over to see what was the trouble,
+thinking that they were retiring without orders. I found, however,
+they were all badly gassed and wounded so they could be of no further
+help. Those who were able to shoot were halted and put into the
+supporting trenches, over which the Germans were putting a curtain of
+fire filled with asphyxiating gasses which smelled like ten thousand
+"camphor balls turned loose," as one man said, as he turned sick with
+the gas and smell.
+
+When the Germans were driven off they again turned their guns and
+rifles on the brave few who were hanging on. Captain McGregor went
+down with a wound in the head, but he still kept on using his rifle
+till a second bullet laid him low. Lieutenant Langmuir, revolver in
+hand, fell after he had killed eight of the foe. He had more than
+evened the score at the head of his platoon. Smith and Macdonald
+fought like lions. Again and again they charged the Germans with the
+bayonet. Lieutenant Bath, a quiet and mild mannered youth, greatly
+distinguished himself. Captain McKessock was operating his machine
+guns like mad. One of the guns he turned over to "Rolly" Carmichael,
+the tallest man in the regiment, a daredevil who did not know the
+meaning of fear. With a wound in his shoulder McKessock took one gun
+out of the forward line, mounted it in rear of a ruin about two
+hundred feet behind its original position and began ripping holes
+through the German ranks that were appalling. He was finally overcome
+from loss of blood. Major Osborne, badly gassed, fought on with a
+wound in the shoulder till a bullet caught him in the face. He was put
+into a communication trench from which he directed his men.
+
+The line held against the first attack. Although the Germans broke
+through in several places they were driven back and paid a fearful
+price for their daring.
+
+The gasses rolled to the supporting trenches and made life unbearable.
+The pungent smell was awful. Shells and rifle fire were forgotten in
+the scorching livid breath of the chlorine. Scores of men died where
+they stood. Some tried to crawl away. The bearers brought some out
+from the front line, but when I examined their pulses I found them
+dead. Poor fellows, their features were distorted and their faces
+livid. Blood-tainted froth clung to their lips. Their skins were
+mottled blue and white. They were a heartbreaking sight to behold.
+
+Chlorine gas killed! No wonder the poor ignorant Turcos fled. But the
+indomitable "Red Watch" held on.
+
+The sun rose from a lurid red sea in the east. It was now daylight and
+five German aeroplanes of the Albatross pattern rose in the German
+lines and started boldly across our territory. Our machine guns spoke
+against the flying observer, and I knew that Captain McKessock's guns
+had still a few kicks left. The stream of wounded and gassed men
+continued. Many of them could hardly make their way along on their
+hands and knees. The gas affected some of them so they did not
+recognize anyone. They afterwards fancied they had been in the front
+line for days.
+
+The poisonous gasses affected the brain as well as the lungs. Then we
+realized the full enormity of the gas attack of the enemy. It was not
+a gas that would knock a man out that they were giving us, but a
+poisonous gas that would kill.
+
+It was half past six o'clock before the German infantry again tried to
+force our redoubts.
+
+The gas, shell fire, enfilading fire and machine gun fire they fancied
+had again done their work, and they ventured out of their trenches and
+charged against the centre of our line. They broke through between
+some redoubts in Captain McLaren's line, but the men rallied and drove
+them out again with the bayonet. The "chop chop" of the Ross rifle
+told us that there was still plenty of fight in the front line.
+
+The Royal Highlanders on our left and the "Buffs" were attacked at the
+same time. The German machine guns in the farmhouse were playing havoc
+with the men in the shallow "dig ins" which they had made the previous
+night, but the Highlanders held on like grim death. Shells filled with
+asphyxiating gas were fired at us, and whole squads of men in the
+supporting trenches were wiped out at each salvo, which consisted
+usually of four huge shells.
+
+A message from Major Osborne stated that there was a possibility of a
+shortage of ammunition and he asked for orders and supports. I was
+sorry to have to tell him that the 48th were to "hold on to the last,
+and if ammunition gave out to use the bayonet, to hold the redoubts to
+the end. If the Germans broke through to drive them out with the
+bayonet."
+
+Orders were issued that the wounded were to get first aid, but were
+not to be carried out. We needed every rifle and man, and could no
+longer spare stretcher bearers.
+
+Help was expected, but it was just as dangerous to retire as to hold
+the forts. We were holding the enemy back and any minute the British
+might come.
+
+I do not know whether my message got through to him, but I do know
+that he and his fellow officers carried out the orders.
+
+The Automatic Colt 45, which all the Canadian officers carried, is a
+good weapon at close quarters. Its bullet would stop an ox, but there
+is a limit to the rounds that can be fired. In a hard close scuffle,
+there is nothing like a stout rifle and a long sharp bayonet. I picked
+one up that had been dropped by a wounded man. It was an excellent
+weapon, better at close quarters than my claymore. The knowledge
+learned in the old Toronto Fencing Club of how to lunge and parry was
+to stand me in good stead during that awful morning. The _arme
+blanche_ is not to be despised, and when you are at it hand to hand
+you are relieved from shell fire.
+
+I afterwards gave the rifle to Sergeant Coe, the bravest of many
+brave men, who carried it when he fell at the head of his platoon in
+the immortal charge on the orchard at Festubert.
+
+About nine o 'clock the German aeroplanes again came along and took
+another good look at our position. A white flare was dropped over the
+bit of trench held by Major Marshall, a platoon of forty odd men with
+a machine gun and crew, that had again and again raked the German
+trenches. About twenty howitzers immediately opened fire on that
+unfortunate trench, and how any of them escaped was a mystery, for
+they seemed to get the range to a dot. Company Sergeant-Major Vernon,
+one of my best non-commissioned officers, had his head completely
+blown off with a piece of shell. Sergeant Angus Ferguson, veteran of
+India, Egypt and Africa, was shot in the arm and leg. He was left for
+dead. Later the diabolical Huns captured him, and on his raising an
+objection to having his leg amputated gave him his choice of that or
+being shot. They amputated his leg above the knee without even
+administering an anaesthetic, but he lived to return to Toronto and
+tell the tale.
+
+A number of the machine gunners were killed and wounded. Lieutenant
+Dansereau, my adjutant, was struck in the head with a piece of shell
+and everyone thought he was finished. Word was brought to me to that
+effect, and I felt as if I had lost my own son. Sergeant Flood of the
+machine gun section stood by his piece as long as possible, but
+finally a shell smashed the mount and this piece of trench became
+untenable. The pitiful remnant of the platoon, now consisting of seven
+men with Major Marshall, had to find a place to the right of the
+supporting trenches where they kept on fighting. The Germans had
+broken through on our left and were trying to force our supporting
+trenches.
+
+Major Marshall and the few that were left with him spotted a platoon
+of the enemy advancing in their front about one hundred feet away, led
+by a man who they thought carried a white flag. He wore a blue coat
+and looked like a French soldier. They thought at first that it was a
+bunch of Turcos or of Germans wanting to surrender. They opened fire,
+and the man with the white disk turned and started running back and
+they saw that the other side of the disk bore the ominous black cross.
+He was a marker for their artillery. He did not run far. Marshall had
+a rifle and bayonet and knew how to use them. On our left Lieutenant
+Colonel Burland of Montreal took charge of the 14th and fought rifle
+in hand. He greatly distinguished himself.
+
+All this time a miserable Hun was playing on our trenches from the
+left rear with a machine gun.
+
+Between our forward position and St. Julien, a short distance
+northwest of the Poelcapelle Road, a number of farm buildings had been
+seized by the Germans when the Turcos fled the first night, and they
+had placed their Maxims in the upper windows and were trying their
+level best all the time to get us in the back.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+ALL THAT WAS LEFT OF THEM
+
+
+"Look out!" called Lt.-Colonel Burland of Montreal to me.
+
+"You make the hair stand up on my head. That 'blighter' has followed
+you up and down with his machine gun all morning, and it is a mystery
+to me how he manages to miss you."
+
+"Well, you're a machine gunner too, and you know he traverses the
+Maxim after me by patting it on the cheek. I just step short two paces
+and he goes on."
+
+This answer brought a roar of laughter from the grim warriors in the
+trenches. The sorry part of it was that that "blighter" in trying to
+get me had shot several other men.
+
+All morning long the Germans had been trying to take St. Julien. The
+German artillery south of Zonnebeke sent a storm of shell, raking the
+rear of the trenches held by our troops from end to end with high
+explosives. In front of the trenches machine guns hidden in barns and
+houses ripped the top of the parapets of the hastily-formed trenches
+held by the Toronto Regiment.
+
+Here Lieutenant "Bill" Jarvis of Toronto died the death of a hero.
+Medland, another of the Toronto boys much loved by his men, was hit.
+They were in a trench that was very much exposed which formed the
+connecting link between the battalion which held the wood north of
+brigade headquarters and the line of the 3rd Brigade before St.
+Julien.
+
+"Bill" Jarvis, as he was affectionately known by all ranks in his
+battalion, had been struck the day before with splinters of shrapnel
+in the ankle. He was not disabled, and instead of going to the
+hospital he tied his emergency bandage over his wounds and "carried
+on." With a half dozen men he was ordered to clear a bunch of German
+snipers out of a house. When he got there he had only one man left,
+but the job was done and thoroughly done at that. Fearless to a fault,
+up and down the line he went during the night of Friday and Saturday
+morning. He was cut across the chest with a fragment of shell and had
+a bullet wound through his shoulder, still he refused to leave.
+Finally he sat down in his trench never to rise again. During the
+night he had carried a number of wounded to the dressing station but
+neglected to have his own wounds dressed. He fought as gallantly as
+his ancestors fought at Chippewa and Lundy's lane. A stern sense of
+duty kept him in the trenches when he should have been in the
+hospital. He gave his life for others. There was mourning among the
+sailing fraternity in Toronto, and Ridley College, Canada, half masted
+its flag in memory of the famous Cadet Captain who gave his life so
+freely on the Plains of Flanders.
+
+All day long the tide of battle surged back and forward along the
+front line of trenches. Dearly the Germans were made to pay for every
+foot of frontage. Again and again they charged and were driven back.
+Then the hell of shell fire would be redoubled and preparation made
+for a fresh attack. With only a few guns in support it was very
+difficult to hold our own. When would the supporting troops and
+artillery come? For two days and two nights we had fought against odds
+of at least ten to one in men and fifty to one in artillery. The
+tragic monotony of it all was awful, but the honor of the Empire
+rested in our hands and it was our duty to play the game to the last
+man. Every few moments the shell fire and machine guns of the enemy
+would claim a victim.
+
+Two brave men, Sergeant Coe and Private M.J. O'Connor, signallers,
+went into the machine gun trench, which was on our extreme left behind
+a hedge, to bring out Captain Dansereau's body. I also told them to
+bring back any papers which were left in the shelled and ruined
+dugout. Through the hurricane of shot and shell that tore the earth up
+in all directions they made their way. When they returned they told
+me that the bit of trench was almost filled with dead but they could
+not find my adjutant. When they went to the dugout to get my papers
+they found it wrecked and the maps and papers gone. Then I knew that
+my adjutant must have recovered consciousness sufficiently to get my
+papers, among them some maps, and that he must have got out, badly
+wounded as he was. He was the fourth officer of my staff to be
+wounded, and Major Marshall and Dr. MacKenzie were the only two left
+of our headquarters staff.
+
+Early that morning while we were in the midst of some very strenuous
+fighting a message came down from headquarters to the effect that it
+had been reported that the "48th Battalion had been gassed and
+compelled to retire." The "fusser" and liar lives even on the
+battlefield. This story had been told by some runaway to give an
+excuse for his own cowardice.
+
+I sent a message back that this report was untrue. Our telephone lines
+and telephone station had been blown up by a "coal box," so we had to
+depend upon runners to get messages through. One of these, Pte. M.R.
+Kerr, later on sent me a message from the hospital to the effect that
+he had taken a message through for me but had been struck by a shell
+on his way back with the receipt and had to be taken to the hospital.
+He apologised for not returning to report the message delivered. I
+recommend him for the D.C.M.
+
+The left flank sections of the 8th had been gassed when the Germans
+tried to get through between that battalion and ours. Some of their
+supports had come to their assistance and had driven the enemy back
+and reconstituted the line. They were supported by a remnant of the
+gallant 10th. In the early morning of Saturday this undaunted
+battalion had been withdrawn from St. Julien Wood where they had
+earned undying glory. After rallying about two hundred and seventy men
+they marched down to our assistance but were diverted to our right. We
+heard shortly after noon through runners that two battalions of
+British troops, the Yorks and Durhams, were on their way down to
+assist us in a counter attack, but these corps did not arrive until
+later in the afternoon. They were raw troops only out that day from
+England. In coming down to Fortuyn they came in open order and the
+German "curtain of fire" took heavy toll.
+
+    [Illustration: Map of the BATTLE OF ST JULIAN April 22nd May
+    4th 1915. Position April 30th 7 A.M.
+    THE SALIENT FLATTENED]
+
+After the first attack the Germans settled down to a steady diet of
+shelling and machine gun fire. I noticed men coming back to both
+flanks of our supporting trenches, so I went over to rally them and
+put those that were not incapacitated in with the few of our platoons
+that were left. In the rear of the right flank of the 7th I saw some
+men gathered behind a ruined house at a place we called Enfiladed
+crossroads and went over to see who they were. The moment I stepped
+out of my trench a German machine gunner got after me and I could hear
+the "swish swish" of the bullets a few feet in front of me. I realized
+that death was very near, so I stepped short and let him get his range
+a little ahead of me. His gun followed me for a hundred yards. I found
+Captain Victor Currie there trying to get the wounded away from the
+dressing station. Major Odlum, with a few of the remnant of the brave
+7th, came along. Some of his men who were gassed were coming back and
+he was getting a trifle alarmed about his front companies as the enemy
+were launching attack after attack on St. Julien on his left. I told
+him to tell his companies to hang on till the last on the left and at
+the same time to take all the stragglers and put them into the
+trenches in rear of his left company as support. The ground on his
+right which I had crossed was badly enfiladed. Lieut.-Colonel Burland
+came along, having put all the men he could muster into our supporting
+trenches. He had been struck on the chest with a spent fragment of a
+"coal box" which had bowled him over, but he was still full of fight.
+When I started back across the Kerrserlaere Zonnebeke road for our
+trenches a short distance east, a devilish machine gun again got after
+me and followed me to the shelter of the dugout in which a number of
+the wounded had been placed. As I entered the door of the dugout half
+a dozen bullets pattered on the timber prop of the low doorway not a
+foot from my head. After seeing to the comfort of the wounded I
+started back along the trench, and my old friend the "German gunner"
+again took a crack at me. He certainly had it in for me that day. He
+caught a sergeant of the Royal Montreals a few feet away from me and
+he fell, shot in the spine. But a Merciful hand protected me. My hour
+had not come.
+
+The companies of the 13th, 14th and 7th on our left were hanging on
+to their trenches like demons. The men in our forward trenches,
+subjected to a torrent of shot and shell after driving the enemy back
+and losing half their number, were still fighting valiantly. From a
+sap at the rim of the ridge I could see our torn trenches still
+occupied by a few intrepid men. I could hear the "chop chop" of the
+rifles as they drove off the Germans, who had now resorted to open
+formation to try and win our forward trench. Six ranks deep the German
+marines had come on to take our trenches. We did not know at first
+that we were opposed to the German Navy but we were. The marines had
+been brought down from the fleet to take our trenches and see some
+fighting. They paid a good price for their curiosity. One of our
+machine guns is credited with putting over four hundred of them out of
+business.
+
+Behind the German position I could see the fields filled with great
+masses of troops formed up ready to be launched against us. God help
+the heroes that day in the forward lines! Few of them would return to
+Toronto or the green plains of Canada. I did not know then that the
+German Emperor was standing on the slope behind Poelcapelle watching
+his hosts trying to break through the thin Canadian line. Every time
+the foe fell back discomfited they turned the full fury of their
+thousands of guns on our front line. Volleys of shells fell in rapid
+succession along the thin French parapets. One would think that no
+human creature could live in the tremendous blasts and the showers of
+steel fragments from the high explosive shells that flew screaming
+through the air in every direction like mad things.
+
+But the bond of an iron discipline still held the Canadians, not a
+sound came from the tortured trenches. When the guns were turned upon
+the parapets and a perfect deluge of bullets would rip through the
+sandbags and send the clay clattering down the osiers of the hurdles
+and willow gabions, there would come no response from the Canadian
+trenches, not a shot would be fired. Plucking up courage the Huns,
+with much hesitation, would emerge from their "funk holes," as our
+men called their trenches, port arms and start across the "devil's
+strip," hoping that the whirlwind of shells had despatched the last of
+the "white devils" from Canada. But no! They would only make about ten
+yards when the "warning whistles" of the dauntless Canadians would
+sound, and then the roar of rapid fire would rise. It was not for idle
+pastime our men had practised night and day with dummy cartridges
+going through the motions of loading and firing. The attacking lines
+would fall in whole sections, in many cases one bullet killing two or
+three men. The rifle fire of the Canadian marksmen was exceedingly
+deadly. Every bullet found a billet. Groans and cries from the dying
+and wounded Germans would reach us. We could hear distinctly the
+hoarse shouts of their officers as they ordered "Vorwarts, Vorwarts,
+Schneller," while the poor unfortunate privates dismayed by the deadly
+blast would groan "nein, nein." Then we would hear "Wir sollen Ihr
+lehren Ihre Canadian Schwein! Uns Neuve Chapelle, zu sagen." "We'll
+teach you Canadian swine to boast about Neuve Chapelle."
+
+Then like one man they would turn and dash madly back to their
+parapets, leaving the trampled clay of the devil's strip heaped with
+writhing figures of wounded and dead.
+
+Again and again we scanned the fields in the direction of Fortuyn to
+see if help was coming. If this process of attrition continued much
+longer there would be no front line. Meanwhile the German guns
+searched every foot of ground behind the crest of the Gravenstafel
+ridge. Every inch of ground that could afford a particle of
+protection, or was not quite visible, was torn to pieces with their
+"hi-ex" shells.
+
+"Why are they throwing away so much good ammunition?" my men would ask
+me.
+
+I knew but did not say anything. On account of the brave way in which
+our forward lines were fighting, the Germans fancied we had thousands
+of men in support. If they only knew they could have steam-rollered
+us. It is part of the game of war to impose on the enemy and we were
+carrying out that tradition. It was the biggest bluff Canada ever
+played.
+
+About noon the Germans began blowing the troops out of the trenches on
+the right of our supports. I went down again with Lieut. Colonel
+Burland to the enfiladed crossroads to see what troops were there, and
+to learn if any word had come through from headquarters. I stopped at
+the field dressing station and ordered them to get the wounded away as
+quickly as possible as the enemy were shelling their quarters,
+evidently with the intention of destroying them. I met Major D.M.
+Ormond of the 10th who had retired some of the men on his left. He was
+asked to put his men back into the trenches below the crest of the
+ridge and hang on. He wanted us to go back with him but that was
+impossible. He was under the orders of the 2nd Brigade. I told him to
+direct any of his men who were slightly wounded, but still able to
+fight, to a line of trenches east of Hennebeke Creek, my idea being
+that the Germans were having such a tough time with the forward lines
+that as long as they suspected the crest was held they would not come
+on. Any troops seen going back to the crest would be taken for
+reinforcements. I knew that there must be an observation station not
+far from the German "machine gunner" that was following me and that
+this station would warn the enemy in our front that we still held the
+ridge in considerable strength.
+
+This theory proved to be correct, for the supporting trenches then
+held by us on the ridge were taken over and held by the British troops
+for days afterwards.
+
+It was late in the afternoon when the din and rifle fire in our front
+trenches ceased. Not a man came back, so I knew that every one had
+stood to his post until overwhelmed. About the same time, five
+o'clock, a blood-stained order reached me to retire the remnant to the
+Divisional Reserve trenches. By this time the relieving troops could
+be seen advancing in open order a short distance away. The Germans
+were still attacking the line held by the Seventh on our left along
+the Poelcapelle road. I watched them attack in open order at about
+three paces interval through a turnip field, the officer following
+behind with a drawn sword. Every time they reached the margin of the
+turnip patch, which had not been dug up and which was producing a
+perfect miniature forest of seed shoots, our guns and the 7th rifles
+would open on them and they would run back for cover. Again and again
+they persisted until finally the artillery ceased to fire.
+
+As ordered I sent Major Marshall back to the headquarters trenches
+with what was left of the supporting platoons, some seventy men, and
+taking several scouts with me we endeavored to convey the order to
+retire along the line of front trenches. We were fired on and three of
+my scouts were hit. It will be remembered that the forward line
+extended about a thousand yards and consisted of a series of redoubts.
+
+A wounded man told us that the redoubts at the east of the line, which
+had been surrounded by hordes of Saxons and marines for a long time,
+had been rushed when the ammunition ran out. Our men fought to the end
+with their bayonets.
+
+The scouts sent down to the right were fired upon and only one of them
+returned. The Germans fired on Sergeant Coe and myself and tried to
+intercept us, but some of them would not intercept anybody any more.
+We got away with whole skins. Not a man or an officer in the redoubts
+remained unwounded when they were taken prisoner. Those who were not
+hit had been weakened with gas. It is no disgrace to be wounded and
+taken prisoner in a rear guard action.
+
+Help was now coming in some strength and the situation was saved. I
+could see battalion after battalion coming down the Fortuyn road in
+extended order, and I knew that in a short time there would be an
+advance of these troops north-easterly towards the Poelcapelle road,
+closing the dangerous space held by the remnant of the 7th Battalion
+and taking over our supporting trenches and the crest of the gap along
+the Gravenstafel ridge to the 8th Batt.
+
+The first troops to arrive were the Suffolks and the 12th London
+Regiment. A few German sharpshooters had crawled through the forward
+lines and were firing from the crest in two places. On our left the
+valiant 13th fought in their shallow fire trenches to the last man.
+Two companies of the 7th hung on to their trenches at the Poelcapelle
+road until they were overwhelmed by the onrush of Prussians, Saxons
+and Marine battalions that surrounded them on all sides. The company
+of "Buffs" that was in support behind the extreme right of the 13th
+was wiped out. I sent runner after runner along the front trenches but
+they were fired on and two of them failed to return. I could still
+hear the row and fighting in front of St. Julien, and the machine guns
+were going fiercely. I was the last man back. I had borne a charmed
+life all day, and certainly had a lot to be thankful for.
+
+As we started out for St. Julien I sent some runners ahead of me to
+notify Captains Alexander and Cory to break off and retire to general
+headquarters line of trenches as soon as the British troops took over
+from them. The messengers came back and reported that the village was
+in the possession of the enemy and that they had been fired upon. Only
+an hour before I had received a message from Captain Alexander telling
+me that they were having a pretty tough time, that they were glad to
+know that I was still safe and that help would be very welcome.
+
+We made several attempts to get into St. Julien but found the Germans
+held it in considerable force. It was some days later that we learned
+that Alexander and Cory and a devoted few had held on to the trenches
+at the northeast angle of the village, although surrounded all that
+night and part of the next day, Sunday.
+
+On Sunday morning the British troops about daylight launched an attack
+to recover St. Julien. Four battalions, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, the
+Dublin Fusiliers, the Seaforth Highlanders and the Warwicks, with the
+Northumberland brigade in support, tried to retake the village. They
+found the remnant of the garrison very much alive in the northwest
+corner although surrounded by the Germans. They, however, failed to
+carry the village and save the Canadian garrison.
+
+The 48th had suffered terrible losses along with the other battalions
+of the 3rd Brigade. The question may be asked why did we hang on. Why
+did not the Canadians retire when they found the Germans were in such
+force and determined to take their trenches? Instead they stuck to
+their redoubts and did not budge. They fought back to back when
+surrounded and refused to give up, driving the enemy back scores of
+times, until only about 100 of the 800 in our forward trenches were
+able to raise a rifle. They had lived up to the best traditions of a
+Highland Regiment. Had we retired, or had the corps at the angle which
+connected us retired, Canada would have been disgraced forever.
+
+General Alderson, a couple of weeks later, after he had reviewed the
+whole situation answered all critics by issuing a general order to all
+the Canadians from which I quote.
+
+"I think it is possible that you do not, all of you, quite realize
+that if we had retired on the evening of the 22nd April, when our
+Allies fell back before the gas and left our left flank quite open,
+the whole of the 27th and 28th Divisions would probably have been cut
+off, certainly they would not have got away a gun or a vehicle of any
+kind and probably not more than half the infantry. This is what our
+Commander-in-Chief meant when he telegraphed as he did that 'The
+Canadians had saved the situation.' My lads, if ever men had a right
+to be proud in this world you have.
+
+"I know my military history pretty well, and I cannot think of an
+instance, especially when the cleverness and determination of the
+enemy is taken into account, in which troops were placed in such a
+difficult position. Nor can I think of an instance in which so much
+depended on the standing fast of one division.
+
+"You will remember the last time I spoke to you, just before you went
+into the trenches at Sailly, now over two months ago, I told you about
+my old regiment, the E. West Kents, having gained a reputation for
+not budging from their trenches, no matter how heavily they were
+attacked. I said I was quite sure that in a short time the Army out
+here would be saying the same of you. I little thought, we none of us
+thought, how soon those words would come true. But now here, to-day,
+not only the Army here, but all Canada, all England and all the Empire
+are saying it of you."
+
+The Canadians held their trenches like the West Kents. The German
+papers subsequently said that they (the Canadians) fought till their
+ammunition was gone, then they fought with their bayonets, and still
+unconquerable they died in the trenches they had dug. Every writer on
+this battle has given them unstinted praise.
+
+The manner in which they held their trenches fighting to the last with
+small groups of men, taught a new lesson in tactics to the Allies
+which later on bore fruit at Verdun.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+DIGGING IN WITH GENERAL SNOW
+
+
+"Kar-r-umph!!! Bang!! Puff!!
+
+"Kar-r-umph!!! Bang!! Puff!!
+
+"Kar-r-umph!!! Bang!! Puff!!
+
+"Guess the Germans are handing us the wrong bill of fare this morning.
+Coffee and iron rations," said Sergeant Coe as he bent over and took a
+look into the tin basin on the Flemish stove in the kitchen of one of
+our billets, where we were both striving to get hot water for some
+tea.
+
+Three "coal boxes" had landed in succession in the upper storey of the
+house with a great rattle of tile, and as each one exploded huge puffs
+of black smoke and cinders flew out of the cracks in the stove,
+turning the water in the basin into a black decoction not unlike
+coffee.
+
+We started a fresh fire. Sergeant Coe calmly remarked that lightning
+never struck twice in the same place. He was right.
+
+Major Marshall had met me at dusk, in the rear of St. Julien village
+to tell me that he had sent the men into headquarter trenches at
+Wiltje under Sergeant "Jock" Thomson, and that he could not find out
+anything about Captains Alexander and Cory.
+
+No officer in the division was more conscientious in his work and duty
+than Captain Alexander. Every man in his company worshipped him. He
+was absolutely fearless and always wore a pleasant smile when the
+danger was greatest. For his gallant defence of St. Julien, on my
+recommendation he was subsequently decorated with the Military Cross,
+although he had been made a prisoner of war. Capt. Cory, also on my
+recommendation, got his promotion to major.
+
+On the way out I had passed a number of British regiments in extended
+order advancing to try to restore the lines for which we had fought
+so dearly. Seeing them going forward under shell fire in extended
+order told me at once they were green troops. When I reached Fortuyn I
+saw a battery of our artillery loaded and hooked up in the shelter of
+some farm buildings ready to withdraw.
+
+I was then sent for to report to a British Aide-de-Camp in a "dugout"
+what the situation at Gravenstafel Ridge was. I told him briefly that
+my front trenches had been blown up, that I had retired all that was
+left of my supports,--some seventy all told,--on orders from Canadian
+Headquarters,--and that the British troops could easily make good our
+supporting trenches below the crest of the ridge without any
+difficulty.
+
+After this I left the "report centre" and was passing through a
+territorial regiment which was advancing in open order when a man
+called out from the ranks, "Is that you, Colonel Currie?" I recognized
+him at once, and he asked me how his brother was. I knew them both
+well in Canada. I was sorry to have to tell him that his brother, who
+was with my regiment, was missing, either dead, wounded or a prisoner.
+He told me he had been rejected in Canada for being undersized and
+that he had gone to England and joined a territorial regiment. Their
+battalion had only just arrived from England and they were getting
+their baptism of fire. Truly the world is very small.
+
+It was dusk when Major Marshall and I got back and we could not locate
+our contingent among the mixed units that were snatching a wink of
+sleep in the reserve trenches. We had partaken of very little food
+ourselves for about forty-eight hours, so we found our way back to our
+old billets in the outskirts of Ypres to get some bully beef and
+biscuits.
+
+The shelling still continued. Every minute a shell would break close
+by and pieces would rattle against the wall of the house. I arranged
+that Major Marshall was to go in the morning and gather up the men in
+the reserve trenches and get them together, while I went to look up
+any stragglers in the city and send them forward. I was also to find
+the transport, which had been shelled out of their quarters at Ypres,
+and arranged with them to send food to us that evening. I then wrapped
+myself in my cloak and fell asleep on the floor to the weird sound of
+the German shells passing overhead.
+
+The next day was Sunday, but no peal of bells was heard that morning
+calling the worshippers to early mass in the churches at Ypres. The
+civil population had fled. If there were bells ringing their notes
+were drowned by the fierce explosives that were following each other
+through the crooked streets in rapid succession. When old Vauban
+fashioned the moats and ramparts he never imagined they would be
+bombarded with seventeen inch shells from guns that had a range of
+twenty-four miles.
+
+I was up by four o'clock. Major Marshall snatched a hasty breakfast
+and started so as to be in the trenches when the men "stood to." Coe,
+my signallers, and runners, all that were left of them, tried to get
+some breakfast when we were interrupted by the "coal boxes" just
+referred to. We persisted, however, and finally got the tea. Then we
+sallied out to see if any of our strays or wounded had reached Ypres.
+
+We found that our transports and quartermaster stores had been pretty
+badly smashed up, and that what was left of them had been moved back
+about a quarter of a mile from the canal. It was absolutely necessary
+that they should refit at once and get rations down to us that night,
+so we went up to the stone bridge on the canal which we had crossed so
+gaily a few days before with ribbons and tartans flying.
+
+From a couple of sentries that had been left at the lock by their
+regiments when they marched into action, we were informed that a few
+of our men who were slightly "gassed" had gone back to the transports.
+I made my way back, leaving the guard on the bridge. At the transport
+headquarters I found some thirty-five men who had been partially
+gassed. They were sent back to the headquarters trenches.
+
+I learned that our division had been badly cut up, but that the
+Canadians were given credit for having saved the situation.
+
+Our transport and quartermaster stores and baggage had been terribly
+shelled in their quarters at Ypres. On the way out a shell had
+exploded in front of our mess-cart occupied by Captain Mabee, the
+paymaster, and had killed the horse and smashed the rig. The gas fumes
+had overcome the plucky paymaster and he had to be sent to the
+hospital.
+
+What had happened to Major MacKenzie, our surgeon, no one seemed to
+know. The last seen of him he was giving aid to stricken men in a
+house in the outskirts of St. Julien. We afterwards learned that for
+twelve days and nights he had served in the forward dressing station.
+Three times he had been shelled at the dressing station. The annals of
+the British medical service can show no better service, heroism or
+devotion to duty. He was the soul of honor and efficiency.
+
+As soon as I had finished reorganizing what was left of the transport
+and given instructions about rationing I went down to the headquarters
+line of trenches. The arrangements made for the rationing of our
+remnant kept the brigade from starving. Capt. Duguid drew double
+rations for 1,000 men every day and sent them in to us every night by
+by-paths and by mule pack.
+
+My battalion got these rations. Sergeant-Major "Soldier Grant" had
+been badly wounded in the leg, and Quartermaster Sergeant Keith, a
+very brave and well-trained soldier, took his place. Keith had left an
+excellent position in Canada and a wife and several small children to
+follow the pipes. He had fought in the Camerons in Egypt and South
+Africa and was a splendid soldier.
+
+Lieutenant Frank Gibson, son of Sir John Gibson of Hamilton, Canada,
+was in the clearing hospital at Poperinghe suffering from a wound in
+his leg, which it will be remembered he received at Ypres, when he
+heard from some of our wounded men that the battalion had been badly
+cut up and the officers gone. He left his cot, evaded the surgeons
+and came down five miles to the transports. Nothing would do but he
+must accompany me back to the trenches. Never did a young man show
+greater devotion to duty and forgetfulness of self than did Lieut.
+Frank Gibson. I asked him if he felt able to take over the duties of
+adjutant and signalling officer and he immediately consented to do so.
+He was one of six graduates of the Royal Military College that held
+commands in our battalion. He later lost his life at Givenchy. Captain
+Perry, although badly shaken with the gas and the terrific explosions
+and fighting at Hill 60, insisted also on accompanying me. We
+proceeded to the trenches which ran in front of the headquarters of
+the 3rd Brigade, but owing to the fact that this line was subject to
+the most intense rifle and cannon fire all day it was very difficult
+for us to assemble the scattered Highlanders.
+
+During the day the Germans bombarded the headquarters of General
+Turner, V.C., of our brigade close by. Huge shells fell in the house,
+and the shock from the explosion and the effects of the gas had
+knocked out Staff Captain Pope. The gasses acted on him, and many
+others, like chloroform, so that for a time he lost his reasoning
+power and appeared to be delirious. He had to be carried away. Captain
+Harold Macdonald, one of the staff captains of our brigade, was struck
+with pieces of shell and narrowly escaped with his life. He was
+literally filled with splinters. One in the cheek, one in the eye, one
+in the shoulder, the right lung and in the neck. His wounds were
+dressed by Captain Scrimger of the 14th Battalion. They managed with
+considerable difficulty to get him out of the burning building, and
+for this action Scrimger won his V.C.
+
+General Turner, V.C., and Lt.-Colonel Garnet Hughes had to move their
+headquarters to a dugout close to the burning building. They had clung
+tenaciously to this building which was in the fighting area and only
+about six hundred yards south of St. Julien Wood. General Turner had
+borne the brunt of the fighting from the evening of the 22nd. He had
+not had a moment's rest night or day, all the troops along the broken
+section having been placed under his command.
+
+On Sunday evening General Alderson was superseded by General Plumer.
+
+At dusk we succeeded in gathering together most of our men that were
+about brigade headquarters. Major Marshall had a detachment in the
+trenches south of the storm-swept St. Julien Wood at Wiltje. When we
+reached the much-shelled village we found General Hull in charge and
+Colonel Burland and Colonel Loomis in a house on the north side of the
+road waiting for orders. The Third Brigade Sergeant-Major soon brought
+orders to the effect that the remnant of the 3rd Brigade was to march
+out by way of La Bryke.
+
+During the morning and afternoon a number of attacks had been launched
+by the British against the village of St. Julien. The stalwart Irish
+and Highland Regiments had forced their way a number of times into the
+blood-soaked streets of the village, only to be driven out again with
+a murderous machine gun and howitzer fire. There was not much of the
+place left. Every house had been set on fire and the pavements were a
+shambles. Highlanders, Irish Fusiliers, Canadians and Huns had fought
+it out in the crooked streets hand to hand. As the shades of evening
+fell over the scene the German still held his ground, but our
+artillery had come up in increasing numbers and were raining deadly
+gusts of shrapnel over the tile and pavements, making it impossible
+for any creature to live in the place.
+
+We learned that fragments of the 2nd Canadian Brigade still held their
+trenches near Gravenstafel Ridge, that the valiant Suffolks were still
+in part of our supporting trenches, and that the Hun had made no
+progress along the line of the Poelcapelle Road east of St. Julien.
+The Red Watch had not held in vain. The Hun was just as far away from
+Ypres and Calais as ever.
+
+We waited until long after midnight for General Turner, V.C., and his
+staff, and when they did not appear we decided something must have
+happened to them. Silently in Indian file the brigade slipped quietly
+through Wieltje, led by one of my signallers, Sergeant Calder, who
+knew every hedge, ditch and by-way in the Ypres salient. It had been
+the custom, and a good one, with our signallers, as soon as we got
+into a new area to bicycle and walk all over it so that they could
+readily find their way about in the dark. Sergeant Calder took us as
+straight as a gunbarrel across fields and ditches to the stone road
+that ran from the unfortunate headquarters of the 3rd Brigade which we
+could still see was a lurid mass of flames in the distance. We gave
+General Turner and Col. Hughes up for lost.
+
+Along each hedge we passed we were halted by English "Tommies" who,
+busy as moles, were digging in. The Germans would find that a tough
+crop had grown up during the night in the shell-stricken field of the
+Ypres salient.
+
+Every minute or so there would be a burst of rifle fire along the
+German lines. They were beginning to show "nerves" and signs of
+exhaustion. They had paid a terrific price so far for the few
+blood-soaked acres they had won.
+
+As we reached La Bryke we met at the crossroads two British staff
+officers on horseback who wanted to know the way to Wieltje and
+General Hull's Headquarters there. One of them was Brigadier-General
+Riddell, who was killed a few hours later not far from St. Julien at
+the head of the brave Northumberland Brigade. He was shot through the
+head while personally conducting an attack to recover St. Julien.
+
+When we reached La Bryke we found that Captain Duguid, our
+quartermaster, had fortunately brought down double rations for a
+complete battalion. This enabled us to ration the whole brigade. He
+had done the same thing on the Friday night previous. The transports
+of the other battalions had been all shot up, but Captain Duguid had
+used mules as pack animals. We waited for several hours for orders and
+the General did not turn up. The Brigade Sergeant-Major, who had
+brought us his orders, said he would remain at La Bryke and notify the
+General if he should come while we went back to the transport to spend
+the few hours of darkness left. It was necessary for us to go through
+and past the bridges over the canal before daylight, otherwise we
+would be spotted by aeroplanes and shelled.
+
+It was dawn when the tired battalions made their way into the field in
+which all that was left of the transports of the four battalions was
+packed. They had hot soup ready and it was a case of bivouac on the
+green grass with the heavens as a blanket.
+
+Very soon afterwards General Turner, V.C., and Lt.-Colonel Hughes, his
+staff officer, arrived. They both warmly congratulated me on sticking
+it out at the hot corner. General Turner, V.C., told me that the
+Canadians had been given credit for saving the situation, and that my
+battalion, though it had been almost wiped out, had not died in vain.
+He was completely worn out, so I gave him and his officers a place
+under a piece of tarpaulin after they had had something to eat. They
+had not had any rest or sleep since Thursday morning, and in a few
+minutes everyone was fast asleep except the transport men.
+
+I had not been in the Land of Nod half an hour when I was roused by
+the trample of a horse and the voice of a horseman enquiring for me. I
+was up in an instant and found a staff officer looking for General
+Turner. I refused at first to awaken him unless the matter was urgent,
+but when I was assured that it was, I roused him and he opened his
+message. It was an order to take the brigade back immediately to La
+Bryke to go into support of the Lahore division under General Snow,
+which was to attack that afternoon together with some French troops.
+
+The men were all dead tired and sound asleep on the ground. They had
+not had any sleep since the previous Thursday night, and now they were
+to be roused to go at it again, digging in with General Snow.
+
+    [Illustration: THE MUSTER OF THE 48TH HIGHLANDERS AFTER BATTLE
+    OF ST. JULIEN--212 OUT OF 1,034]
+
+Rations and ammunitions were issued and off we started. We crossed the
+Yperlee Canal by a foot bridge and climbed the steep slope once more
+into the deadly salient. As we passed down to the bridges in Indian
+file several of our men were struck by shrapnel bullets. When we
+crossed over the canal we were led to the west of La Brique and halted
+in a ditch, where we promptly dug in. The Indian guns were in front of
+us. About an hour after, just as we were well dug in, we were again
+moved further east and put in behind some hedges and some more Indian
+batteries. Again we dug in, making a good job of it. The troops in
+front of us were apparently attacking and the din of the shell and
+rifle fire became terrific. We all thought we would be at it again in
+a few minutes, and the men began tightening up their puttees and
+looking to their rifles and ammunition. Some began eating their
+rations, for as one poor fellow said they might as well enjoy them
+because they might not need any more after a few minutes.
+
+The attack in our front died away and pretty soon another order came
+and we started down behind hedges and ditches back to Wiltje. The
+Germans were shelling the village for all they were worth and the
+church was burning, so we gave it a wide berth and slipped in behind
+the village and proceeded to dig in again. Every few minutes the Huns
+would start shelling Wiltje and we would come into their "Zone of
+influence." The shells that missed the roofs of the houses from the
+north would pitch over into our lines and we had to duck and count ten
+when we heard them coming.
+
+While we were being jolly well shelled in these trenches an incident
+occurred which was of extraordinary interest. I remember reading when
+I was a boy how at the siege of Toulon, while Napoleon was dictating a
+message to a young soldier named Lannes a British shell struck the
+parapet and threw sand all over them and also on the written message.
+The writer coolly shook the sand off the paper, remarking that they
+would not need any sand to blot the ink. This soldier showed such
+bravery that he subsequently became a Marshal of the Empire. That
+afternoon after we were dug in I was dictating a message to Sergeant
+Venner of my signalling staff who had his telephone in a "dig in"
+alongside of mine. He was half way through when a big "coal box" shell
+exploded a few feet away emitting a terrible stench, a cross between
+marsh gas and camphor balls.
+
+The smell was overpowering. Venner dropped his pencil and clapped his
+hands to his face saying, "Wait a minute, Colonel, the smell of that
+shell makes my head ache." I looked at him and saw he had turned very
+pale. Looking more closely I noticed blood trickling down the side of
+his face between his fingers. I snatched his Glengarry off his head
+and sure enough a jagged piece of shell had cut through the Glengarry
+and ripped a gash in his scalp about two inches long.
+
+I pulled the piece of steel out and said, "No wonder the shell makes
+your head ache! You are wounded."
+
+In a trice I had my scissors out, and cutting the hair away from the
+wound I put some iodine into the cut, Corporal Pyke, his assistant,
+helped to bind Sergeant Venner's wound with his first aid bandage.
+After he was fixed up he pulled out his book to finish the message,
+but I ordered him to clear out and go back to the dressing station. To
+my amazement he dissented.
+
+"Not a bit of it, sir," he boldly replied, for the first time in his
+life disobeying my orders.
+
+"Go on, sir, please, and finish the message." "I am all right."
+
+I was so surprised that I finished the message and he stoutly refused
+to go to the hospital and worked on the signal wires till the
+battalion was permanently relieved a week or so later. I recommended
+him for a decoration, also a few other brave officers and men who did
+not get them.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+TWELVE GLORIOUS DAYS
+
+
+"They've got me in the back, Colonel! My poor wife and children!"
+
+This was the startled exclamation of one of my men who occupied a
+"digin" about ten feet from mine. He turned pale.
+
+The Germans were shelling us with high explosive shells from the north
+rim of the salient. Huge "coal boxes," coming from the direction of
+Pilken, were falling in the village of Wiltje on our front. With a
+twang like a giant steel bow a shrapnel shell had burst overhead. They
+had commenced to spray us in the back with shrapnel from the direction
+of Hill 60, and one of the bullets that pattered like hail on our clay
+parapets had struck him.
+
+I had ordered all the men to keep on their overcoats, as the stout
+woollen cloth of the Canadian great coats will stop the German
+shrapnel bullets and a lot of high explosive splinters, American
+experts to the contrary. The thick overcoat and the pack is the next
+best thing to a coat of mail.
+
+Sergeant Lewis and I jumped out and pulled him out on to the banquette
+of his trench and in a minute had the overcoat and jacket off him. His
+shirt followed and there, sunk into the flesh of his back about half
+an inch from his spine and almost half an inch deep, was the black
+shrapnel bullet. I picked it out with my pen-knife and handed it to
+him with a silent prayer of thanksgiving.
+
+"There's the bullet. You're worth a dozen dead men yet," I said.
+
+The look of relief on his face was worth seeing.
+
+"Will you let me have the bullet as a souvenir?" I asked.
+
+"Yes, Colonel."
+
+He was not the only man relieved.
+
+We dressed the wound with iodine and put a pad and a piece of plaster
+over it. He put on his clothes and I told him to go back to the
+dressing station, but he refused and kept on fighting.
+
+We held the narrow trenches all afternoon and evening. Fierce fighting
+was going on all around us and we spent a very disagreeable night dug
+in in Mother earth.
+
+My men endeavored in every way possible to make me comfortable. Sergt.
+Coe requisitioned a long bolster pillow from a ruined estament in
+Wiltje for me to sleep on. Another man brought in a few fresh eggs
+that some Flemish hens had laid in a henhouse in the outskirts of the
+village. The occupants of Wiltje had all disappeared. Some of them
+were dead in their cellars, which were not proof against the high
+explosive shells.
+
+Towards dawn in spite of the lurid glare of bursting shells and the
+roaring of the flames in the burning houses, the Flemish roosters
+crowed lustily, typifying the Belgian as well as the French nation.
+
+Dawn came at last but it brought no cessation of the terrible
+artillery fire. The fighting along the line to the north still
+continued. The British troops were holding their own and dealing lusty
+blows at the enemy.
+
+This was the situation as outlined by Corporal Pyke, one of my
+signalling staff who had gone away to the right to see what was going
+on in the old "hot corner." A British Division had taken up the
+supporting trenches of the 2nd Canadian Brigade along the crest of the
+Gravenstafel Ridge. They had our supporting trenches east of Hennebeke
+Creek along the Kerrselaer Zonnebeke highway to the ruined houses at
+Enfiladed crossroads where I had met Captain Victor Currie and the
+officers of the 7th and 8th Battalions.
+
+The 2nd Brigade, all that was left of them, had been kept hard at it
+in this section and were still in reserve behind the 28th Division.
+The line of the 28th Division ran thus from Gravenstafel to Fortuyn,
+which was still held by us, and along west to where the headquarters
+trenches crossed the St. Julien-Ypres Road at Vanenberghem, from
+thence almost due west to a part of the Yperlee Canal near Zwaante.
+The east bank of the canal was held by the French and Belgians. The
+Germans had crossed the canal the night of the 22nd at Lizerne and had
+been driven back at the point of the bayonet by our allies.
+
+Strung along from Gravenstafel Ridge in the following order were the
+following British Battalions: The Hants, the Rifle Brigade, the 12th
+London, the Suffolks, the Northumberland Fusiliers, five battalions,
+the 5th Durhams, the Somersets, the E. Yorks, the Yorkshire, two
+battalions, two battalions of Yorks and Durhams, the 5th S.
+Lancasters, the 1st R. Lancasters, the Lancaster Fusiliers, the Essex,
+the 1st Irish, the Monmouths, the 2nd West Riding, the London, the
+Royal Kents.
+
+General Hull commanded the 1st R. Warwicks, the 2nd Seaforth
+Highlanders, the 1st and 2nd Fusiliers, the 2nd Dublin Fusiliers, the
+7th Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders.
+
+Colonel Geddes' detachment held the line from our old general
+headquarters to where they linked up with the French troops who were
+coming up in some strength. The 1st Canadian Brigade was back west of
+the canal, protecting Brielen, while our brigade was again south of
+Wieltje.
+
+All the Canadian troops had fought with great valor and had lost over
+half the effectives of each battalion. It was my misfortune that I
+could not chronicle the many deeds of individual bravery performed by
+my countrymen. I could only describe what was taking place in my own
+vicinity and in my own corps.
+
+The shelling continued all day of the 27th. There was a chilly wind
+blowing but the sun shone very brightly. I had a fairly comfortable
+section of trench and tried to snatch a wink of sleep in the bottom of
+it during the afternoon. I had not been sleeping long when General
+Turner, V.C., our brigadier, came up and I made room for him
+alongside of me. His dugout a couple of hundred yards in the rear of
+us had been hit several times by German shells and he had a very
+narrow escape. When he jumped in alongside of me he picked up several
+spent splinters of shell that had fallen on my greatcoat as I slept.
+He laughingly remarked that everybody said I bore a charmed life and
+the shells never bothered me, so as his dugout had become untenable he
+had come up where he could find a quiet "restful" place.
+
+He informed me that since the battle began on the 22nd he had seen and
+sustained more rifle and shell fire than had been his lot during the
+whole South African campaign. He and his hardworking chief,
+Lt.-Colonel Hughes, had not had any rest since the previous Thursday.
+
+Sergt. Coe made the General comfortable in the bottom of the trench
+beside me, and in a few minutes he was sound asleep with the shells
+still beating their infernal tatoo in the heavens over us.
+
+A number of French troops had come up and so had the gallant Lahore
+Division consisting of Indian troops, and they had attacked the
+Germans and driven them back some distance towards Pilken.
+
+No jauntier soldier ever trode the plains of Flanders than the brave
+Ghurkas. Short and swarthy with that peculiar elastic step and well
+set-up figure which can only be obtained by a rigorous course of
+physical setting up drill of the old style with "thumbs behind the
+seams of the trousers," the Ghurkas are in a class by themselves.
+Their battalions are led by pipe bands. The weird music of the
+Highland Glens seems to have the same potency with the Indian
+Highlanders that it has with the Scottish and Canadian. In a charge at
+close quarters the Ghurka uses a peculiar shaped knife with a blade as
+heavy as a butcher's cleaver and keen as a razor. Like the Highland
+Pipers who play
+
+    "Mo dhith mo dhith gun tri lamhan
+    Da laimh 'sa phiob 's laimh 'sa chlaidheamh."
+
+    "My loss, my loss, without three hands
+    Two for my pipes and one for my sword,"
+
+the Ghurka bewails his great loss, also that he has not three hands,
+two for the pipes and one for his "crookie."
+
+That evening orders came through that we were to march out again and
+we followed the old line along the hedges and ditches back to our
+transport. We found that our transport had been moved further back to
+a field on the Ypres Poperinghe Road to avoid shelling. We were all
+thoroughly done out when we arrived and we had a good sleep.
+
+Next morning we had roll call and counted our losses. It was the
+saddest moment in the history of our regiment.
+
+The "roll call" showed killed, wounded and missing, seventeen officers
+and six hundred and seventy-four men, a fearful total of six hundred
+and ninety-one out of a battalion of nine hundred and twelve
+effectives. Seven officers and one hundred and fifty-seven men, all of
+them gassed and wounded, were taken prisoners. The rest had paid the
+price of Empire. As the wounded I had sometimes pitied had always
+said, "That is what we came here for," but it was very hard to be
+reconciled to the loss of the flower of the regiment. Of all our
+officers only Major Marshall and myself were left unhurt. How we
+escaped the Lord alone knows. His mercy was very great. How jealous we
+had all been of the lives of the men. What care we had all bestowed on
+their drill, their discipline, their health and equipment. We were all
+a happy family, no quarrelling, no disputes either among the officers
+or men. Everyone tried to live up to the best traditions of the old
+Highland Regiments that oftentimes went through campaigns without a
+crime. When we reached France not a dozen men in the battalion had
+entries on their conduct sheets. We all fondly hoped that our
+efficiency, our courage and power would be reserved for some great day
+when we would march triumphantly through the German trenches, charging
+with our bayonets and clearing the road to Brussels, the Rhine, and
+Berlin.
+
+But our day came differently to what we expected. Still we did our
+duty. Had we come to grief through any blunder or fault of mine or any
+of our officers there might have been cause for regret and
+heartburnings. Our orders were very simple--to hold the trenches at
+all costs until relieved. We carried out these orders and held the
+line. When finally ordered out we left nearly four hundred dead in the
+trenches.
+
+Often during our days and marches in Flanders, in admiration of the
+men of my regiment and the other gallant men of the First Canadian
+Division, there would recur to me the words spoken at St. Helene by
+Napoleon of the men of the Army of Italy:
+
+"Another libeller says that I conquered Italy with a few thousand
+galley slaves. Now the fact is that probably so fine an army never had
+existed before. More than half of them were men of education, the sons
+of merchants, of lawyers, of physicians, of the better order of farmer
+and _bourgeoise_. Two thirds of them knew how to write and were
+capable of being made officers. Indeed in the regiment it would have
+puzzled me to decide who were the most deserving subjects, or who best
+merited promotion, as they were all so good. Oh! that all my armies
+had been the same."
+
+A new form of "casualty" had been written into the records of the
+hospitals and dressing stations, "suffering from" and "died of gas
+poisoning."
+
+If there is a law of compensation which evens up injustice, if there
+is an avenging Deity, then the German nation is doomed to die and be
+forgotten. Cowardly methods of attack will ultimately sap the vigor
+and courage of their men, and they will curse the day when their ruler
+wrote them into the history of the ages as a race of cowardly
+poisoners, unfit even to stand alongside of the Red Indians or the
+savages of the Soudan.
+
+The tortures inflicted by savages of burning and flaying alive are not
+comparable to the torture of burning lungs with tissues seared as with
+a red hot iron. The agony which often ended in gangrene of the lungs
+was worse than a thousand deaths from pneumonia and the suffering is
+very long drawn out.
+
+I know whereof I speak as to the torture of scorched lungs, and my
+case, I am thankful to say, was not as severe as many of them.
+
+On the 28th all the Canadians were west of the canal having a little
+rest which was enlivened constantly by salvos of high explosive shells
+sent by the Germans into our vicinity. Every village and farm building
+for miles back were being shelled.
+
+In the evening we were ordered to prepare to go back into action
+again. We started out at dusk and followed the familiar paths back
+down to the engineers' pontoon bridge and then along up the highway in
+the rear of La Bryke. We were shelled and several men hit with
+shrapnel while we waited for some transports to get out of our way on
+the west side of the canal.
+
+When we got to the east and began climbing the slope we were halted
+again while a battery passed us on the way out. The battery looked
+very weird against the skyline as they came down the roadway and
+passed us. The feet of their horses and the waggon wheels were
+muffled, and they appeared for all the world like the ghostly horsemen
+out of some old world tale.
+
+We met some English soldiers who told us that the gallant Col. Geddes,
+who had taken charge of this section and whose corps was the first to
+come to our aid as we were trying to stop the first mad onrush of the
+Germans, had been killed in the morning by a shell that entered his
+headquarters.
+
+We turned to the left and steered straight north to a point in support
+of the French troops who were in position on the east bank of the
+Canal opposite Brielen. Further along the road we found some
+transports and a French Battery stuck. A huge German shell had fallen
+in the road at this point and blown a crater in which a good sized
+house could easily have hidden. The hedge had to be cut to allow of a
+passage, and it took some engineering to get this tangle straightened
+out. After a little manoeuvring we found our trenches, and as the
+Germans began shelling the highway immediately in our rear, following
+the transport waggons along the road, it did not take us long to dig
+in. Some one remarked that the Germans have underground telephones
+along the roadways.
+
+That morning our base company, under Captain Musgrove and Lieutenant
+Muir, reached us. A few days later at Festubert Musgrove was to lose
+an arm and Lieutenant Muir was to be killed. They were full of ginger
+and cheered us up considerably.
+
+During the night we consolidated our trenches. The shelling continued
+all the next day. Thousands of French troops continued to arrive and
+it looked very much as if a general offensive was going to be
+organized against the Germans on our front.
+
+On the evening of the 29th we moved into trenches at Number Four
+Pontoon Bridge and remained there until the 4th of May. Day and night
+the shelling continued. Many stirring and some even humorous incidents
+occurred during these twelve glorious days of fighting.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVIII
+
+WINNING ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP
+
+
+"Jump down into the trench quick, Colonel! That shell may explode,"
+called Captain Musgrove.
+
+"What shell?" I enquired, as I had not heard any "whispering Willy"
+arriving, but something seemed to have covered my clothes suddenly
+with mud and splinters of wood and bark.
+
+"Look up over your head. It is a wonder it did not stun you. And
+please do move out of there for a while at least, for fear it may be
+still alive."
+
+I glanced up at the pollard willow over head, against which I had been
+leaning to steady my field glasses as I watched our artillery "strafe"
+the Germans who were attacking the Ghurkas. Captain Musgrove stood by
+my side when the shell arrived. It struck the hard red clay about
+twelve feet directly in front of me, plowed up the earth about three
+feet and turning upwards entered the tree directly over my head. The
+shell, which was a large one from a four-inch howitzer, entered the
+willow bole, burying itself in the soft wood all but about half an
+inch of the base.
+
+These shells are fused with what are called detonating fuses that
+burst when the shell touches anything. It should have exploded when it
+struck the ground in front of us. If it had we would have had about
+one chance in a thousand. Again, when it struck the tree it should
+have blown up. The "kickback" would have certainly killed or wounded
+us both. But a Merciful Providence caused that shell not to function.
+
+I climbed down into the trench. Next day when the Germans were
+quieter, Colonel Leckie photographed us. It was a marvellous escape.
+
+On the evening of the 29th we had moved a short distance to our left
+and again dug in in four lines in rear of the French and as guard over
+Pontoon Bridge No. 4. The canal here passed north between high banks
+and a schooner, that had doubtless plied between the North Sea ports
+and Ypres, had been sunk in the middle of the canal and furnished a
+pier for the bridge which the engineers had perfected.
+
+Along the banks of the canal were shelters and places where previous
+troops had "dug in" and the place looked like a huge rabbit warren.
+
+Our batteries were in action along the banks and they were very
+skilfully hidden. I looked them up and found some old friends from
+Ottawa, Lieut. Colonel Morrison, the commandant, amongst them.
+
+We had tried to preserve the Belgian buildings in the same condition
+as we found them as much as possible, but since the Germans were
+setting fire to all the barns with thatched roofs we decided to annex
+some straw from the roofs to put in the bottom of our trenches.
+
+The trenches in our front were being unmercifully shelled by the
+Germans all the time, and about three times a day the Germans and the
+French would exchange front trenches. Divisions of French troops kept
+coming up. They carried on in the most casual way. The cooks took soup
+down to the front line trenches in broad day. They did not seem to
+care for shot or shell.
+
+The French always moved in single file with men about three yards
+distance. We learned to like and admire them. They are great soldiers.
+
+The Germans would shell the French troops out of their trenches and
+then charge and take the low parapets which the French built. After a
+short rest the French would fix their terrible long four-cornered
+bayonets which they call there knitting needles, charge the enemy and
+recover their parapets again. This game of see-saw went on for several
+days.
+
+The second morning we were at the bridge a handsome well set-up
+French officer came past our lines and stopped to chat. He wore the
+gold medal of honor given by the Czar which he had won a few weeks
+previously for conspicuous bravery. He was very proud of it. We all
+envied him his good luck. He went on up to the front line. About an
+hour later he passed us again, lying in an ambulance hand cart very
+severely wounded. Poor fellow, he was in a bad way but still cheerful.
+
+When the Germans got tired shelling the French they would start in and
+give it to us. Three and four shells would follow in close succession.
+They would search up and down the fields and hedges with their guns
+showering shells on everything within their range.
+
+The gallant 16th Canadian Scottish were dug in about fifty yards in
+front of us. Colonel Leckie was in a dugout at the extreme left, and
+alongside of him was another dugout in which were some of his staff. A
+large German shell fell in the staff dugout during the night,
+completely obliterating all traces of four men who were sleeping in it
+at the time. A part of Lt.-Colonel Leckie's dugout was torn off at the
+same time and he had a very narrow escape.
+
+The same night while I was dozing in my "digin" I was awakened by
+heavy breathing on my right as if a man was dying. It was pitch dark,
+so I called the sentry and told him some one was hurt.
+
+Sergeant Miller, who was close at hand, jumped up and with an electric
+torch we started to search the line to find out who was wounded. In
+the second digin on my right we found Corporal Kells very nearly gone.
+A large five-inch shell had fallen in his "digin," slicing a large
+piece of flesh off the calf of his leg and stunning him. Fortunately
+the shell had not exploded. He had almost bled to death when the
+peculiar heavy breathing of a man suffering from bleeding attracted my
+attention. We bound him up and had him taken back to the dressing
+station. He subsequently died from the shock.
+
+One morning about daylight I was wakened in my narrow cell by a lot
+of earth tumbling down on my face. I fancied a shell had fallen on my
+parapet, and after clearing the dirt out of my eyes and ears I lay
+awake listening to the seventeen-inch Austrian batteries which were
+shelling some place very heavily. The guns were apparently in a
+position not far from Pilken. I could hear the "Kerr-Rump" of four
+guns of a battery firing in rapid succession, then a pause, and I
+could hear the huge projectiles go roaring on their deadly mission
+till the sound ceased. I waited for the report so I could count the
+time to find out how far away they were ranging, but I noticed a very
+strange thing. I could hear no report from the explosion of the shell.
+Evidently it was falling too far away for me to hear it. A few days
+later we learned that they had been shelling Dunkirk, some twenty-odd
+miles away.
+
+The second day we were at the bridge, the Germans were searching
+diligently for us with their shells when I was called to the telephone
+which was located in the next hole in the ground to mine. I found
+Corporal Pyke in charge of my wire. Pyke was a brave cheerful lad, a
+splendid operator and telephone expert. He was thoroughly posted in
+wireless work and used to rig up an attachment to our telephone by
+means of which he could read all the wireless messages that came over
+the wires from the ships of the Navy in the Channel to the naval
+batteries that were working behind our lines which were called the
+Admiral Churchill batteries. If there were any German wireless men in
+the neighborhood they could also get these messages. Pyke could hear
+the Germans working on their lines but could not get their code.
+
+As I hopped over to see who wanted me, and crawled into the telephone
+hole in the ground a shell came whizzing past and ripped the earth
+from the parapet about a foot above Pyke's head. He never even ducked,
+but quite coolly remarked as he shook the dust off, "That sod is
+rather thin, Colonel. I guess it was only about six inches."
+
+The urgent message that I was called to take was something to the
+effect that clean socks, underclothes and a bath would be ready for my
+battalion at a certain date.
+
+I told headquarters to cut out commercial messages for a few days.
+
+Our batteries were earning a great reputation for themselves. They
+were posted on the bank of the canal and alongside of them were some
+of the batteries of the Indian Division. Our guns were in action one
+evening when the major of one of the Indian batteries came along
+inspecting his observation wires. He watched the drivers of one of our
+batteries (Morrison's) take a limber of ammunition up to its guns
+through a perfect hailstorm of shells. He remarked to me that the
+Canadian gunners were magnificent, and that they did not have six
+drivers in the Indian Army that were as well trained and as good at
+their work as the Canadian boys who were driving the limber we were
+looking at. That was a high compliment from a regular officer as the
+Indian army knows its trade.
+
+On the afternoon of the 28th, while the Germans were trying to destroy
+the Canadian batteries with heavy seventeen-inch shells, a German
+aeroplane came along flying low to check up the big gun practise. We
+were getting very tired of these German visitors so I ordered my
+battalion to fire on the flyer, using one thousand elevation and
+leading the birdman about five times his own length. In a few minutes
+we had the satisfaction of seeing him turn back with a tail of fire
+streaming from his gasoline tank. We had got his tank and he was on
+fire and trying hard to make the German lines. He fell in our lines
+and the aviator and observer were made prisoners.
+
+Aeroplane activity in that section ceased for a time. The fighting,
+however, never let up night or day.
+
+On the evening of May 2nd we were ordered to co-operate with British
+troops in our right who were heavily attacked with gas. There was a
+dull, heavy atmosphere and everything seemed favorable for the German
+poison plan. Our guns, however, were ready and they opened a fierce
+bombardment with shrapnel over the German trenches. It was here the
+shell incident described at the beginning of the chapter happened. A
+gentle shower came which dissipated the gas. Three times their
+infantry climbed out of their trenches and started to charge across
+the space intervening between the lines. The iron voices of the
+bursting shells blended into one note as the deadly spray of lead
+swept entire sections of them away. There was little left for the
+rifle fire to do.
+
+The attack was beaten off easily. The German offensive for the moment
+was weakening. They had never fully recovered from the terrible
+punishment they had received during the first three days from the
+Canadians. They realized that a new element was barring the way to
+Calais and victory.
+
+Canada had won many championships on the fields of sport, science, art
+and mechanics, and now another championship had been won on a sterner
+field, the field of battle in historic Flanders.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIX
+
+AN APPRECIATION OF VALOR
+
+
+During the night of the 3rd and 4th of May our brigade was withdrawn
+from the salient and marched to a bivouac west of the Chateau Trois
+Towers in which our Divisional Headquarters were located all through
+the battle.
+
+As we marched through the park the day was breaking and the birds were
+singing more sweetly than I had ever heard them before, even in
+Canada. They did not feel any more pleased than the few that were left
+of the gallant "Red Watch" and the other battalions of the Third
+Canadian Brigade.
+
+The larks were now beginning to build their nests, and strange to say
+they did not pay the slightest attention to the shelling. The lark we
+noticed several times would continue to soar and sing higher and
+higher, intoxicated with the joy of his own song until he came in the
+way of an exploding shell. Then the beautiful song would be cut short
+and all that would be left of the spring-time chorister would be a
+bunch of feathers in the field or on the roadway.
+
+We stayed a day in bivouac and enjoyed a good rest. About noon General
+Plumer, under whose command we had fought the last days of the battle,
+came to see us to console us for our losses and to congratulate us
+upon our stand during the trying hours of the 22nd, 23rd and 24th. His
+sympathy and kindness will never be forgotten by the men who survived
+the terrible struggle that ended the great German drive and spring
+offensive of 1915.
+
+That night we started for Bailleul and made a long, tiresome march
+along the stone roads. The night was dark as pitch, but we made good
+time and got to our billets at daybreak.
+
+That afternoon General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien came to see us at our
+billets. He warmly congratulated me on the action at St. Julien and
+expressed much regret that so many good men were lost. At Cassel he
+had told us that the Canadians had brought him good luck in South
+Africa, and he felt sure they would distinguish themselves again under
+his command. His prophecy had come true. Nothing will destroy the
+confidence of the Canadian troops in the Chief of the Second Army. The
+hope expressed by every Canadian soldier who fought under him was that
+he would be their leader when they won their way across the Rhine.
+
+The people throughout the Empire gave every evidence of their
+appreciation of the conduct of the Canadians. The press was loud in
+our praises and His Majesty the King was graciously pleased to send
+the following message to Field Marshal His Royal Highness the Duke of
+Connaught;
+
+    "Congratulate you most warmly on the splendid and gallant way
+    in which the Canadian Division fought during the last two days
+    north of Ypres. Sir John French says their conduct was
+    magnificent throughout. The Dominion will be justly proud."
+
+                                                         "George"
+
+His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught then sent the following
+message to the Minister of Militia for Canada:
+
+    "Canada has every reason to be proud of the gallantry of her
+    sons who have nobly done their part in this great struggle for
+    the liberties and honor of our Empire against the tyranny and
+    injustice of Germany.
+
+    "As an English officer, I am proud of our Canadian comrades
+    and feel that they have brought honor to the British Army as
+    well as themselves, and that their heroic work will thrill the
+    Dominion from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
+
+    "I deeply lament the long list of casualties and send our
+    profound sympathy to every home which is plunged into sadness
+    and sorrow by the tidings that reach us from hour to hour.
+
+    "Assuring you again of my heartfelt sympathy for the relations
+    of all those Canadian officers, non-commissioned officers and
+    men who fell so nobly on the field of battle. I am,
+
+                                               "(Signed) Arthur."
+
+It has been impossible to describe the part the British troops played
+in this historic action which lasted over twelve days. Their valor was
+beyond question. This story deals with the Canadians and their British
+brothers did not begrudge them any glory which they may have received.
+The story of the British troops and their part in the fight will no
+doubt be written. I can testify to their incomparable valor. Braver
+men than those from London, Durham, Northumberland, and other parts of
+England who fought alongside of us never lived.
+
+With reference to our comrades from the Indian Empire having fought
+alongside of them and seen their wounded and their dead, I can testify
+to their spirit of loyalty, their unquestioned bravery and all the
+qualities that are to be found in great soldiers.
+
+The Empire contains no better men than the men of the Lahore Division
+and more particularly the Sir Hind Brigade, whose deeds have shed
+undying lustre upon the British Army. The lie factories that have been
+established by German gold, even in the heart of the Empire, have
+endeavored to cast doubt upon the relative value of the Indian troops
+and the troops from other parts of the Empire. There was no truth in
+these stories. The army in Flanders was equally good all round.
+
+With a national system of military service, such as they have in
+France, there would be no qualms of patriotic consciences at home, and
+fewer lie factories.
+
+The Canadians can also bear witness to the splendid conduct of the
+French troops and the French nation. Our conception of the French
+people derived from books, chiefly novels of a questionable nature,
+are entirely wrong. The French soldier is cool and intrepid and they
+"carry on" their work without the slightest "fuss." The pose of the
+nation is an inspiration and speaks of solidarity and resolve.
+
+Many of our preconceived notions of them were shattered. The men and
+women in all classes of the French people are kind, industrious, very
+moral and deeply religious. They are not at all like the hysterical
+neurotic creatures of the yellow French novels.
+
+France is the most democratic country in the world. Far more so than
+the United States or Canada where in most cases every family tries to
+establish a peculiar cast, a special creed and a select circle of
+society all its own.
+
+France has a national system of military service and every young man
+when he comes of military age has to learn the trade of soldiering,
+starting in the ranks. He does not begin his soldiering by being an
+honorary general. He reaches the commission rank by study and
+attention to his duties, not by having friends at Court.
+
+Some people foolishly confound National Service with conscription.
+They are not the same at all. Where a country has conscription a
+portion of the population is liable to be drafted compulsorily into
+the army. When men are needed each parish or community is called upon
+to provide so many men, whether they know anything of military duties
+or not. The mayor or head of the community puts all the names of the
+eligibles into a hat. The required number are drawn by ballot and are
+supposed to go to war,--but seldom do. One of the beauties of
+conscription is that if you have the money you can buy a substitute.
+Conscription is the product of a very old form of civilization, for if
+in China, for instance, you are conscripted to be hung or be beheaded,
+you are at liberty to hire a substitute. Conscription thus bears very
+heavily on the poor, while the idle rich can always escape service.
+
+With national service, rich and poor, prince, priest and pauper have
+to serve alike without exemption. When the nation is at war, every
+man, woman and child in it is at war. The males are divided into
+categories, and those who have youth and no responsibility have to
+serve in the first line. The only son of a widow, and the father of a
+numerous small family does not have to leave them to the mercy of
+public charity and "Patriotic Funds" and go into the front line to
+fight. There is a place for everybody.
+
+The nation is mobilized and everybody knows that if a man is left
+behind at the counter, in the mill, or on the farm that it is so
+ordered, and that that is his place in the service of the State. The
+people who have experienced this form of service despise the
+volunteering system, first, because it bears unjustly on the brave and
+patriotic, and, secondly, because a paid soldier they say is a man
+hired to kill.
+
+I asked the mother of a handsome lad of seventeen at one of our
+billets near Cassel when she asked me if the war was likely to
+continue another year, if she regretted if her boy might have to
+serve.
+
+"Oh, no, sir," she said. "I fully realized from the first day that I
+rocked him in his cradle that he would have to fight for France. I am
+resigned and proud to give two sons for France."
+
+That is the spirit of the French people, calm indomitable and
+persevering. The spirit that endures to the end and will prevail.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXX
+
+WANTED. MORE AND MORE OF THEM
+
+
+When General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien came to see me he suggested that
+I should take a few weeks' rest in England. I objected and said I
+wanted to be in the big British spring drive in Belgium. He replied
+that a few days' holidays would not deprive me of that honor, and that
+he considered the Allies might postpone the offensive until the
+autumn.
+
+I accepted his suggestion and crossed to England. I met at Bologne an
+officer of one of the Scottish regiments and he was good enough to get
+me a pass and a military automobile to take me to La Toquet Hospital,
+where I renewed old acquaintances with Dr. Shillington, the clever
+surgeon in charge of the Canadian Hospital there and an old Ottawa
+friend. When I arrived in London I was notified to attend a medical
+board at the war office that insisted on giving me three months' sick
+leave to get my lungs fixed up. I refused to accept more than six
+weeks.
+
+When I was up in Scotland enjoying a holiday and doing the Loch Lomond
+country, I received a telegram from Colonel Carson in London telling
+me that the Minister of Militia would like me to return to Canada for
+a few months to lecture to the officers in training and assist in
+recruiting.
+
+In accordance with these instructions I returned to London where I
+received the following letter from my Brigade Commander, General
+Turner, V.C.:
+
+    DEAR COLONEL,--Leave has been extended for four days
+    as requested.
+
+    The process of reorganizing is a heavy one.
+
+    Your battalion will have lost its identity as the 48th
+    Highlanders.
+
+    In forwarding recommendation for "Mention in Despatches" it
+    has given me great pleasure including your name for the
+    valuable services rendered at St. Julien.
+
+    According to medical officers and my own opinion you are
+    entitled to a good rest or suitable staff employment.
+
+    You have done more than called for as a regimental officer.
+
+    With best wishes, believe me,
+
+                                       Yours Sincerely,
+                                                 R.E.W. TURNER.
+
+The list of honors for the second battle of Ypres was out and my name
+had been omitted. I had, however, received notice at the same time
+that I had been advanced to the rank of full Colonel.
+
+I was pleased, however, to see that Major Marshall, my second in
+command whom I had recommended for "mention in despatches," had
+received a D.S.O. He was a professional soldier and this meant much
+more to him than it did to me. He was later to fall in the front line
+trenches the victim of a German sniper. A great athlete, a splendid
+soldier, a universal favorite, Canada and the Empire could ill spare
+such a man. His solicitude for his men was such that I have known him
+to give his clothing to some ailing private. He was one of the
+bravest, truest and kindest of Canadians.
+
+Only a few of the many deserving ones had received recognition, but
+where there were so many brave men and brave deeds performed it was
+very difficult to give honors and distinction to all. Officers did no
+more than the privates, signallers and bombers in the battle. All did
+their best.
+
+I returned to Canada on board the S.S. Hesperian, which ship had the
+misfortune to be torpedoed next trip.
+
+In Canada I did my best to stimulate recruiting. The "Red Watch"
+recruited two more fully-equipped battalions for the war--the 92nd and
+the 134th.
+
+The story of the brave deeds of the men of 15th Battalion, the Red
+Watch, after I left Flanders will have to be reserved for a further
+volume. They covered themselves again with glory at Givenchy,
+Festubert, Hooge and Sanctuary Wood.
+
+The reader may be inclined to ask the question if through all these
+troublesome times, the Canadian soldier ever lost faith in ultimate
+victory and the Empire?
+
+The answer is that we had so many evidences around us of the
+organizing power of the Empire that it inspired us with faith and
+confidence. We knew what the navy was doing. The splendid manner in
+which we were supplied with food and clothing convinced us that the
+business genius and talent for organization of the Empire would sooner
+or later overcome lack of preparation and "red tape."
+
+The deeds of our gallant Canadian comrades who fell at St. Julien will
+always be an inspiration for Canadians in future wars. They have given
+their lives as hostages for the Empire. They did not die in vain for
+they have given Canada "a place in the sun." The First Division lost
+over nine thousand out of about seventeen thousand effectives, at St.
+Julien.
+
+The men who accomplished this were not "rough-necks" nor swaggering
+bullies, "muttering strange oaths and bearded like pards." They were
+good, quiet, clean-living, God-fearing young men, the athletic product
+of the schools and the Y.M.C.A's. They were typical of the Canadian
+race. With their red blood they etched the figure of the clean-cut
+intrepid athletic-fighting Canadian soldier indelibly into the history
+of this war. It was this noble figure which the officers of the First
+Canadian Division strove to create. It is this figure that will live
+in the battle scrolls of Europe.
+
+It is the duty of Canadians always to cherish this tradition as well
+as to maintain their proper place in the world. It matters not under
+what system their services are required, if duty calls they should be
+prepared to arm and go. They will always be wanted where liberty needs
+defending, yes more and more of them.
+
+
+
+
+INDEX
+
+    NOTE.--In spelling Proper Names, the _Daily
+    Telegraph_ Maps are followed; on the maps in the text, the
+    Belgian spelling is used.
+
+
+A
+
+Abercrombie, General, 11.
+
+Abeele, 185.
+
+Abraham, Plains of, 13.
+
+Adams, Jane, 73.
+
+Aeroplane, 192, 244, 279.
+
+Africa, South, 19.
+
+Aid, First, 149.
+
+Albert, King of the Belgians, 187.
+
+Alderson, General, 64, 78, 255, 262.
+
+Alexander, Captain, 169, 198, 214, 219, 228, 230, 231, 234, 257.
+
+Amesbury, 90.
+
+Amour, Place d', 195.
+
+Anti-Aircraft guns, 162.
+
+Anti-Militarism, 23.
+
+Archery, Flemish, 162.
+
+"Archibald the Archer," 162.
+
+Armada, Spanish, 60.
+
+Armentieres, 117, 122, 124, 182, 189.
+
+Arnold, General, 15.
+
+Artillery, Canadian, 279.
+
+Aubers, 155, 170, 172, 174.
+
+Aviators, 88, 158, 192, 202.
+
+Avonmouth, 103.
+
+
+B
+
+Barham's, Ingoldsby Legend, 75.
+
+Barwick, Lt., 40.
+
+Bath, Lt., 240.
+
+Beauvoorde, 184.
+
+Billets, 144.
+
+Bigot, Intendant, 40.
+
+Bisley, 21.
+
+Bixschoote, 189.
+
+Bombing, 179.
+
+Borden, Sir Robert, 30.
+
+Boyle, Lt.-Col., 218, 221.
+
+Brittany, 114.
+
+British troops, 248.
+
+Brooke, Lord, 21, 116.
+
+Burial plots, 186.
+
+Burland, Lt.-Col., 95, 245, 249, 252, 262.
+
+Burstall, Lt.-Col., 74.
+
+
+C
+
+Caestre, 117, 118, 122.
+
+Calais, Great drive to, 18.
+
+Calder, Sgt., 220, 262.
+
+Camp Fire, 35.
+
+Campbell, Duncan, of Inverawe, 12.
+
+Cameras, (tabooed), 64.
+
+Canada, 11;
+  Capitulation of, 19.
+
+Canadian, Militia, 18, 30;
+  officers, 38;
+  Northern Ry., 40;
+  Scottish, 197, 218, 223, 277.
+
+Canadians, reviewed by Roberts, 74;
+  trains of, 184;
+  wounded, 186;
+  reviewed by the King, 96.
+
+Cardonnerie, La, 138.
+
+Cassel, City of, 182.
+
+Censoring, 177.
+
+Charteris, Major, 14.
+
+Chateauguay, 19.
+
+Chalk Cliffs, 57.
+
+Clausewitz, 147.
+
+Clergyman, 38.
+
+Cloth square, 186.
+
+Colonial Policy, new, 22;
+  old, 23;
+  troops, 23;
+  privateers, 24;
+  government, 23;
+  political thought, 23.
+
+Colt, automatic pistol, 49.
+
+Coe, Sgt., 243, 246, 253, 257, 268.
+
+Comet, 55.
+
+Commons, House of, 35.
+
+Competition, signalling, 56.
+
+Connaught, H.R.H. The Duke of, 30, 35, 42, 76, 282.
+
+Contingent, 29, 37.
+
+Cornwallis, Lord, 15.
+
+Cory, Capt., 219, 228, 229, 234, 257.
+
+Cosby, Lt.-Col., 20.
+
+Crozier, General, 43.
+
+Cruisers, British, 52.
+
+Culloden, Battle of, 13.
+
+Culture, German, 147.
+
+Currie, Col. J.A., 20.
+
+Currie, Capt. Victor, 249.
+
+
+D
+
+Daniel, Capt., 209.
+
+Dansereau, Lt., 20, 113, 118, 176, 181, 197, 214, 219, 220, 231, 236,
+  253, 246.
+
+Darling, Capt. Clifford, 33, 81, 102, 174, 201.
+
+Davidson, Lt.-Col. J.I., 20.
+
+"Devil Strip," 138.
+
+Diary, Author's, 9.
+
+Diamond, Cape, 46, 48.
+
+"Digging In," 136, 179.
+
+Discipline, 44.
+
+Donaldson, Capt., 107.
+
+Don Station, 39.
+
+Drake, Sir Francis, 58, 60;
+  His Drum, 60;
+  Island, 60.
+
+Drummond, Lt. Guy, 201, 213, 226.
+
+Dug-outs, 137.
+
+Duguid, Capt., 102, 201, 217, 260, 263, 264.
+
+Du Quesne, Fort, 19;
+  Avenue, 146.
+
+
+E
+
+Emden, 88.
+
+Enfer Rue d', 159, 172, 167, 179.
+
+"Enfiladed Cross Roads," 249, 268.
+
+Engineers, Canadian, 177.
+
+Entrenching tools, 135.
+
+Equipment, Webb and Oliver, 65.
+
+Estament, French, 164.
+
+Estairs, 175.
+
+Exeter, 66.
+
+
+F
+
+Fencibles, Glengarry, 16.
+
+Ferland, Pte., 130.
+
+Fessenden, Lieut, 209.
+
+Fire Trenches, 137.
+
+First Aid, 149.
+
+Fisher-Rowe, Col., 133.
+
+Flanders, 117.
+
+Flares, German, 128, 138.
+
+Flax, Mills, 133.
+
+Flemish, 188;
+  Farm, 152;
+  Horses, 152;
+  Stock, 152;
+  Roads, 164.
+
+Fletre, 123.
+
+Flying Corps, Royal, 88.
+
+France, Leaving for, 100;
+  Voyage to, 104;
+  soldiers of, 110;
+  unconquerable, 186;
+  Flying Corps, 197, 211, 750.
+
+Fraser, Hon. Lt.-Col. P.H.D., 20.
+
+French, General Sir John, 116, 126.
+
+"Frightfulness," 146.
+
+Fromelles, 132; Tower destroyed, 160, 165, 174.
+
+Funk Holes, 128.
+
+
+G
+
+Gas, 214, 215, 216, 237, 240, 241, 273, 280.
+
+Gaspe, 48;
+  transports at, 48, 51.
+
+Geddes, Col., 273.
+
+German, influence, 23;
+  surplus, 163;
+  prisoners, 173;
+  gunners, 180;
+  forced requisitions, 164;
+  snipers, 246;
+  manner, 250.
+
+Germans declare War, 29.
+
+Ghurkas, 270.
+
+Gibson, Sir John, 39.
+
+Gibson, Lt. Frank, 39, 192, 260, 261.
+
+Glasgow, 88.
+
+Grant, Sgt. Major, 44, 67, 79, 81, 226, 260.
+
+Gravenstafel, 189, 202, 207, 212, 237, 239, 258, 268.
+
+Grubber, Entrenching tools, 135.
+
+
+H
+
+Haig, General Sir Douglas, 148, 158.
+
+Halifax, 11.
+
+Hamilton, General Sir Ian, 21.
+
+Hawkins, Sgt. G.M., 21.
+
+Hayling Island, 94.
+
+Hazebrouck, 114.
+
+Hendrie, Lt.-Col. Wm., 20.
+
+Hennebeke brook, 213.
+
+Hiex shells, 126.
+
+Highlanders, (42nd Black Watch), 11, 191, 197, 201.
+  (48th Red Watch); Casualties, 13;
+    volunteers, 30.
+  trench wars, 242, 233, 234, 225, 241.
+  Fraser's, (Lovats), 13.
+  Montgomery's, (Lost Regiment), 15.
+  Royal Emigrants, 14, 15.
+  Virginia, 15.
+  Carolina, 15.
+  Royal Montreal, 206, 242.
+
+Hill 60, 175, 190, 191, 192, 195, 198.
+
+Hoe, The, 60.
+
+Holt, Lt., 200.
+
+Howitzers, 15 in., 161, 222.
+
+Hughes, Maj. General Sir Sam, 37.
+
+Hughes, Lt.-Colonel G., 201, 215, 217, 261, 264.
+
+Hull, General, 269.
+
+Hurdles, 136.
+
+Hythe Course, 94.
+
+
+I
+
+Indian Troops, 283.
+
+Ingoldsby Legends, 75.
+
+Iona, 93.
+
+Irving, Capt. T.C., 177.
+
+Islington, Lord, 96.
+
+
+J
+
+Jago, Capt., 227.
+
+James, Capt., 48, 51.
+
+Jarvis, Lieut. "Bill," 245.
+
+Julien, Battle of, 12 (See St. Julien).
+
+Jones, Lieut. Vernon, 233.
+
+
+K
+
+Keith, Sgt. Major, 260.
+
+Kerrserlaere, 229, 231, 249.
+
+Kilts, 13.
+
+King, His Majesty George V., Review of Canadians, 79;
+  2nd do. 96.
+
+King, Major, 229.
+
+Kipling, Rudyard, 86, 165.
+
+Kitchener, Lord, 77, 78, 96;
+  Army, 80, 177.
+
+
+L
+
+La Bassee, 117, 156.
+
+Lacrosse, 37.
+
+Lancaster, Lt., 174.
+
+Langmuir, Lt., 204, 210, 240.
+
+Langemarck, 189.
+
+Lauder, Sir Thomas Stair Dick, 12.
+
+Laurier, Sir Wilfrid, 30.
+
+Lawrence, Sir Joseph, 80.
+
+Leckie, Col., 199, 221, 275, 277.
+
+Levison-Gower, Col., 124.
+
+Liege, Siege of, 30.
+
+Lille, 156.
+
+Listening Posts, 159.
+
+Lightfoot, Major, 221.
+
+Liquor, French regulations, 72.
+
+Loire, River, 110.
+
+London, 91.
+
+Long Branch, 31, 32, 34, 38.
+
+Loretto Falls, 40.
+
+Longsword, Wm., 60.
+
+Louisburg, 11, 13.
+
+Loomis, Lt.-Col., 230.
+
+Lundy's Lane, 15.
+
+
+M
+
+Marne, The, 109.
+
+Marshall, Major, 20, 66, 67, 104, 107, 108, 122, 125, 191, 197, 200,
+  205, 214, 231, 235, 243, 247, 250, 253, 257, 258, 262, 271, 287.
+
+Mavor, Lieut., 211, 239.
+
+Medland, 245.
+
+Megantic, S.S., 44.
+
+Meighen, 138, 166, 199, 202.
+
+Mercer, General, 74.
+
+Meuse, crossings of, 29.
+
+Miller, Sgt., 219, 277.
+
+Mobilization of Militia, 32.
+
+Moffatt, Capt. Rev., 99.
+
+Monroe, Doctrine, 22.
+
+Montcalm, 12.
+
+Montreal, Royal Rgt. of, 16, 197, 219.
+
+Moore, Sir John, 33.
+
+Morden, Lt.-Col., Grant, 76.
+
+Mount Pleasant Park, 11.
+
+Moussey's Corps, 190.
+
+Mowat, Sir Oliver, 20.
+
+Muir, Lieut. A., 274.
+
+Mull, Island of, 92.
+
+Musgrove, Capt., 274, 275.
+
+
+Mc and MAC
+
+McBride, Sir Richard, 78.
+
+Macdonald, Capt. Harold, 261.
+
+MacDonald, Lieut. Fred, 193, 240.
+
+MacDonald, Sir John A., 20.
+
+MacDonald, Col., 20.
+
+MacDougall, Major, 205.
+
+McGregor, Capt. Archie, 138, 144, 163, 169, 195, 198, 204, 339, 240.
+
+McHarg, Col. Hart, 218, 232.
+
+MacKenzie, Major, 66, 144, 175, 197, 247, 260.
+
+MacKenzie, Dr., 128, 193.
+
+McKessock, Capt., 168, 209, 240.
+
+McLaren, Capt., 108, 193, 198, 199, 222, 239, 242.
+
+
+N
+
+Napoleon, 181, 272.
+
+National Service, 9.
+
+Neuve Chapelle, 155, 165;
+  battle of, 178.
+
+Newfoundland, 52.
+
+Norsworthy, Major, 226.
+
+
+O
+
+Odlum, Major, 233, 249.
+
+Ordnance, Canadian, 107.
+
+Orange, Wm. of, 66.
+
+Ormond, Major, 233, 252.
+
+Osborne, Capt., 169, 198, 206, 208, 228, 233, 240.
+
+
+P
+
+Palliasses, 11.
+
+Parker, Sir Gilbert, 40.
+
+Patney, Station, 66.
+
+Patrolling, 131, 149.
+
+Perley, Sir George, 77, 96.
+
+Pettion, Rue, 159.
+
+Perth, 14.
+
+Pitt, 13, 25.
+
+Plumer, General, 262, 281.
+
+Plymouth, 63.
+
+Poelcapelle, 206, 219, 250.
+
+Pownall, Governor, 24.
+
+Poperinghe, 105.
+
+Princess Pats, C.L.I., 101, 169.
+
+Pultney, General, 119, 123.
+
+Pyke, Corp., 266, 268, 278.
+
+Pyramids, 70.
+
+
+Q
+
+Quebec, Embarkation at, 46;
+  Tercentennial, 46, 47.
+
+
+R
+
+Rationing in Trenches, 144.
+
+Rations, Iron, 144.
+
+Radcliffe, Coy. Sgt. Major, 33, 63.
+
+Rawlinson, General, 161.
+
+Rifle, Ross, 142, 231.
+
+Roberts, Lord, 72, 73, 75, 77, 78, 80.
+
+Robinson, John Ross, 90.
+
+Rouen, 63.
+
+Roulers, 207.
+
+Routine in Trenches, 144.
+
+Ryerson, Lt., 157, 174.
+
+Ryerson, Capt. George, 226.
+
+
+S
+
+Salisbury Plains, 69, 82.
+
+Sap, 150;
+  Sapper, 150.
+
+Sarum, 70.
+
+Scheldt, River, 156.
+
+Scott, Canon, 43, 120, 159, 166, 191.
+
+Scott, H. Maxwell, 239.
+
+Scottish Heather, 11.
+
+Seely, Col., M.P., 98.
+
+Service, National, 147.
+
+Shells, stray, 173.
+
+Sherwood Foresters, 124.
+
+Shoenberger, Lieut., 236, 237.
+
+Sinclair, Lt. Alex., 33, 195.
+
+Sing Song, Long Branch, 38;
+  Abeele, 185.
+
+Smith-Dorrien, General Sir Horace, 116, 123, 182, 183, 282, 286.
+
+Smith, Lieut., 209, 240.
+
+Snipers, 148, 163.
+
+Snow, General, 264, 265.
+
+Soudan, 19.
+
+Standing Orders, tradition, 33, 34.
+
+Stand to, 140.
+
+St. Eloi, 189.
+
+Stevenson, Robt. Louis, 12.
+
+St. Lawrence trip down, 48.
+
+St. Julien, 16, 189, 190, 193, 194, 198, 199, 202, 203, 211, 216, 217,
+  219, 231, 232, 235, 238, 240, 244, 245, 247, 262.
+
+St. Muir Bac., 133.
+
+St. Nazaire, 109.
+
+Stonehouse, 63.
+
+Stonehenge, 69, 70, 96.
+
+Strombeek, 206.
+
+Sweeny, Major, 34.
+
+Sylvester, Rev. Father, 131.
+
+
+T
+
+Tavistock, 60.
+
+Tam-O-Shanters, 143.
+
+Taylor, Lieut., 199, 210, 211, 239.
+
+Taylor, Rev. Bishop, 75.
+
+Tipperary, 64.
+
+Ticonderoga, 19.
+
+Toronto Regiment, 214, 235, 245.
+
+Trenches, 124;
+  Consolidating, 136;
+  description of, 136;
+  Routine, 140;
+  rationing, 141;
+  meals in, 141;
+  Orders, 149;
+  Telephones, 160;
+  Belgium in, 186;
+  Divisional reserve, 253.
+
+Turner, General, V.C., 95, 180, 202, 215, 217, 221, 225, 261, 262, 263,
+  264, 269, 287.
+
+Turgot, 22.
+
+Turcos, march, 214, 215, 216, 218, 219, 220, 226.
+
+
+V
+
+Valcartier Camp, 26.
+
+Venner, Sgt., 266.
+
+
+W
+
+War, Seven Years, 23.
+
+War, The Greatest, 13.
+
+Warren, Capt. Trumbull, 33, 67, 193, 176, 201.
+
+Watch Black, 11, 18.
+
+Watch, Red, (48th Highlanders), casualties, 12, 16, 32, 263, 287.
+
+Webb equipment, 65.
+
+Westminster Abbey, 90.
+
+Williams, Col. Victor, 42.
+
+Williams-Taylor, Lieut., 150, 151.
+
+Winnipeg Batt. (90th), 206.
+
+Wolfe's Victory, 13, 40.
+
+Wood, Col. Burchall, 106.
+
+Wright, Major, 177, 211.
+
+
+Y
+
+Ypres, 85, 117, 177;
+  Cloth Hall, 187;
+  Irish Convent, 187;
+  Salient of, 189;
+  Shelling of, 193, 212, 218, 235, 236, 258, 259, 260, 263, 271, 276.
+
+Yperlee Canal, 189, 214, 269.
+
+Y.M.C.A., 37, 53.
+
+
+Z
+
+Zillebeke, 190.
+
+Zonnebeke, 189, 203, 245, 249.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+    +-----------------------------------------------------------+
+    | Typographical errors corrected in text:                   |
+    |                                                           |
+    | Page  28: Caesar replaced with Caesar                      |
+    | Page  38: Pacificism replaced with Pacifism               |
+    | Page  77: "tribute to the Canadians troops that had       |
+    |           served him in South Africa." replaced with      |
+    |           "tribute to the Canadian troops that had        |
+    |           served him in South Africa."                    |
+    | Page  79: gacious replaced with gracious                  |
+    | Page  81: Sergeat-Major replaced with Sergeant-Major      |
+    | Page  91: "feed him till he almost fainted" replaced with |
+    |           "fed him till he almost fainted"                |
+    | Page  94: quad leaders replaced with squad leaders        |
+    | Page 115: seventeeth replaced with seventeenth            |
+    | Page 137: trenchs replaced with trenches                  |
+    | Page 183: offiers replaced with officers                  |
+    | Page 183: and and replaced with and                       |
+    | Page 184: Caestre replaced with Caestre (2 times)          |
+    | Page 245: Zoonebec replaced with Zonnebeke                |
+    | Page 205: "There efficacy is in their recoil" replaced    |
+    |           with "Their efficacy is in their recoil"        |
+    | Page 233: thir replaced with their                        |
+    | Page 238: specically replaced with specifically           |
+    | Page 239: bondoliers replaced with bandoliers             |
+    | Page 240: asyphyxiating replaced with asphyxiating        |
+    | Page 241: Chorline replaced with Chlorine                 |
+    | Page 245: Zonnebec replaced with Zonnebeke                |
+    | Page 249: Zonnebec replaced with Zonnebeke                |
+    | Page 261: "He later lost his lift at Givenchy." replaced  |
+    |           with "He later lost his life at Givenchy."      |
+    | Page 261: Scrimiger replaced with Scrimger                |
+    | Page 268: Hennebec replaced with Hennebeke                |
+    | Page 268: Zonnebec replaced with Zonnebeke                |
+    | Page 276: fyle replaced with file                         |
+    | Page 278: "for me the hear it" replaced with              |
+    |           "for me to hear it"                             |
+    | Page 279: sox replaced with socks                         |
+    | Page 285: catagories replaced with categories             |
+    | Page 287: Yous replaced with Yours                        |
+    | Page 287: musfortune replaced with misfortune             |
+    | Page 287: "recruited two more fully-equipped battalions   |
+    |           for the wear" replaced with "recruited two more |
+    |           fully-equipped battalions for the war"          |
+    | Page 289: Intendent replaced with Intendant               |
+    | Page 289: Cardonniere replaced with Cardonnerie           |
+    | Page 289: Cassells replaced with Cassel                   |
+    | Page 291: Basse replaced with Bassee                      |
+    | Page 293: Sweeny replaced with Sweny                      |
+    | Page 294: Birchall replaced with Burchall                 |
+    |                                                           |
+    | Notes on unusual words:                                   |
+    |                                                           |
+    | Page 159: Nervli were the people of Hainault and          |
+    |           Cambresis in Gaul. Referenced in                |
+    |           _Plutarch's Lives_.                             |
+    | Page 216: liquified spelled as in image.                  |
+    | Page 250: A sap is a narrow trench, normally for          |
+    |           communication, made by digging at an angle from |
+    |           the existing trench.                            |
+    | Page 289: "Northern Ry." refers to "Northern Railway"     |
+    |                                                           |
+    +-----------------------------------------------------------+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Red Watch, by J. A. Currie
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