CD
CO
Lewis, R
Over the top with the
25th
LIEUT. R. LEWIS, M. M.
1
OVER THE TOP
WITH THE 25TH
CHRONICLE OF EVENTS
AT VIMY RIDGE AND
COURCELLETTE
BY
LIEUT R. LEWIS, M. M.
1918
H. H. MARSHALL, LIMITED
HALIFAX, CANADA
D
640
L38
Chapter One
HE end of August, 1914,
found me following my
usual employment as
second mate on a small
steamboat plying be-
tween St. John's, New-
foundland, and various
stations on the coast of
Labrador. The news
from the front aroused
my patriotism, and
though my captain, who was a Britisher through and
through, strongly urged me to remain with him be-
cause of the great difficulty of securing another man,
I was fully made up in my mind that my clear, plain
duty was to enlist. On my return trip to St. John's
I found, greatly to my disappointment, that it was
all too late to enroll my name in the already organi-
zed Newfoundland regiment. There was nothing
for it but to cross to Canada and try my luck at
enlisting there. Arriving at Sydney, and making
enquiries, I discovered that the second division was
not going to be formed up for some little time, and
I therefore enlisted in the 94th Argyle and Suther-
land Highlanders. With them I remained in Syd-
ney until October of the same year when the 25th
Battalion was organized a battalion which has
since covered itself with glory and earned the legi-
timately proud title of "The Fighting Twenty-
Fifth."
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Although I was one of them myself, I do not hesi-
tate to assert that a finer bunch of men never left
the shores of Nova Scotia to take up arms for
Britain in the fields of France and Flanders than the
gallant boys of the splendid Twenty-fifth. The
general public does not. appear to know very much
of the achievements of this battalion and this per-
haps may be due to the fact that we left Canada in
May of 1915, and that we had been in France some
nineteen months before any other Nova Scotia Batta-
lion went into action as a unit. This story is not
being penned with the slightest idea of seeking in any
way to disparage the Nova Scotia Highlanders; that
intrepid body of superb fighters have fought splen-
didly and well and their glorious record is fresh in
the minds of all.
It has been my privilege to be with the Twenty-
Fifth right from the day of its organization until
the 23rd of April, 1917, and now, from records and
diaries which I have kept from the beginning, I am
attempting to relate the true story of the wonderful
work accomplished by this battalion.
As previously intimated, we organized in the
October of 1914, and at that time I was a private
under Major MacRae. Since then, to quote the
words of Kipling,
"Things 'ave transpired which made me learn
The size and meanin' of the game.
I did no more than others did,
I don't know where the change began;
I started as an average kid,
I finished as a thinkin' man."
In those early days following upon enlistment we
enjoyed some real good times in Halifax and the
old boys will always recall with genuine apprecia-
WITH THE 2 5 T H
tion the many kindnesses shown us by the citizens.
Taking all the various circumstances into consider-
ation we were well looked after by the military au-
thorities; of course, our one burning eagerness was
to get over to France and plunge into the thick of
things as speedily as possible, and when it was ru-
mored that we were going to be put on home duty
feeling ran pretty high among the men and some
quite lively times were experienced! The rumor,
however, came to nothing and we settled down to
the routine of our daily drill. By this time I had
transferred to the Machine Gun Section and became
linked up with "B" Co. with Lieutenant Medcalfe
second in command. I shall not waste space in
telling you about the time we strutted about, proud
of our khaki uniforms, hugging the fond thought that
we were real soldiers, even as not a few who today,
still at home, wearing the uniform, are victims of
the same absurd delusion. At last the great day
came the day of our embarkation; we were going
to say our farewell to the land of our birth, sail away
over the ocean and begin our great adventure, tak-
ing our place among the soldiers of the King and
Empire in the greatest fight for liberty and right
which the world has ever witnessed.
Eager and keen, and with spirits high, we stepped
aboard the old "Saxonia" along with the 22nd
French-Canadian regiment, and sailed on the 20th
of May, 1915, arriving in England after a pleasant
but uneventful voyage. We found the training in
England far more thorough than anything we had
before experienced. We had to work, and real
hard, too, but undoubtedly the process made us
better men and tended to increase our confidence as
soldiers.
Pa S e7
OVER THE TOP
Chapter Two
T is obvious that to relate
to my readers the truth
concerning the Twenty-
Fifth it is necessary to be
somewhat critical, and
I shall endeavor to be
absolutely impartial.
To begin with, let
it be said, and said
with perfect candor,
that the credit of hand-
ling our battalion in England which eventually
helped us to go across to France must be given to
our own officers.
For the most part we greatly enjoyed our stay in
England. We had a splendid time in Folkestone,
a beautiful sea-side place; and for company we had
about 50,000 Canadians in addition to some English
cavalry. After a little more than three months'
training the welcome news arrived that the next
item on the program was France and the firing line.
This information was received with the utmost
enthusiasm, for the boys were getting somewhat
"fed up" with training and were anxious for a crack
at the Hun. On going over, we had to leave some
of our officers behind, as they were "extra" to the
establishment. Among them were Will Cameron,
Charlie MacAloney and others. They came out
later and proved their worth as fighters. Arthur
Weston, who was second in command, refused to
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WITH THE 2 5 T H
stay behind and accompanied us to France as
quartermaster, thus setting a fine example to a good
many majors and captains who would rather hang
on to a job in England than cross to France and
fight. Weston was not of this type. He was a
soldier and a man.
We landed in France on the 15th of September,
1915, and I will never forget that first march, heavily
accoutred, over a big hill to our first camp. You
could easily have picked out our train by reason of
the boots etc., strewn along the line of march, and
followed us without difficulty from the day we left
Boulogne till we finally arrived at a little village in
Flanders called . Here, within sound of
,.j the guns, we bivouacked for the night, some of the
officers going ahead to look over the trenches we
were so soon to occupy. The next night, under
cover of darkness, two platoons from each company
went up to the trenches. I well remember that
night, the long march up the rough shell-torn road,
and then along the communication trenches where
. we were received by the Imperial troops who, dur-
ing the next few days, showed us all around and
taught us what to do. Two nights later the remaind-
er of our own boys came in, and the English soldiers
went south to take part in the battle of Loos. It
was about this time that Major Jones, as fine a
soldier as ever went overseas, suffered a break-
down in his health. The heavy responsibilities
thrown upon him proved too much.
t After spending eight days in the trenches we came
out for a well-earned rest. My particular company
* was stationed at a farmhouse which was situated
quite close to the firing line. The owner was gen-
erally considered to be pro-German, his father,,
according to rumor, having previously been shot as a
1
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OVER THE TOP
spy. The fanner had a dog which had been tied
up for about nine months, and our sentries had
strict orders that if any of the civilians left the house
we were to halt them, and if they did not halt on
the word of command we were to shoot. But I
think at that time it would have been a case of
"shoot first," for we were imagining all sorts of
things. As it happened somebody let the dog
loose, and as the sentries felt sure he was going over
to the German lines with despatches, they just shot
him dead. Major MacKenzie had to pay 30 francs
for him to satisfy the farmer and to prevent head-
quarters hearing of the matter.
At the termination of our six days' rest we went
back to the trenches and relieved the 24th Bat-
talion. "B" Company, to which I belonged, occupied
H 3, J 3, 4, 5 and H 4. Every little while Fritz
would "strafe" us with rifle grenades, and there was
some mining reported in H 4. This was a small
salient; and was held by about forty men under Capt.
Medcalfe.
On the evening of October 8th about six p. m.
we were all chatting together, some papers from
home had been received by some of the boys and
we were discussing the names of the newly formed
36th Battery, when all of a sudden there was quite
an explosion on our right, The Germans had blown
up several small mines. Capt. Medcalfe at once
gave the order to "stand to," but before I had time
to get my rifle and equipment, the ground trembled
and rocked beneath us and everything went up
into the air. The explosion took away fully half
of H 4 trench, and left a crater about 10 feet deep.
Those of us who were lucky enough to escape with-
out being wounded managed, I don't know how, to
make our way into H 3 trench. Fortunately for
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us the enemy was very erratic in his artillery fire.
It was all going between our second and third line
trenches and consequently did no damage. This
was our first real bombardment, and quite naturally
we all felt more or less "shaky" I know I said my
prayers that night as I never said them before!
The papers had it that the Germans got into our
trenches and that we drove them out again. Such
a thing never happened. They made an attack on
us, but our artillery, rifle and machine gun fire
caught them in "No Man's Land." By a happy coin-
cidence the West Lancashire Artillery was just reliev-
ing the 7th Battery of Artillery and we had the sup-
port of both of them, and, believe me, they sure did
some wonderful work.
Our front line officers, such as MacRae, Logan,
MacKenzie, Tupper, Roberts, Johnson and others,
were all out on the job; unfortunately the same can-
not be said of headquarters. As I was merely a
private at the time I do not know just what really
transpired; but we never saw the colonel at all that
night. About four the next morning the major
came and paid us a visit when we had a new parapet
built. The Germans, however, failed to get into
our trenches; and up to this day the 25th can with
perfect truth declare that they never failed in the
critical hour, for if we did not always have competent
officers at the head of the battalion we certainly
had them in our companies. Following this action
we were marched out of the trenches for a rest, and
prior to going back again, we were visited by Gen-
eral Alderson, who gave us a pretty severe lecture.
He said he had every confidence in the men A few
days later Colonel Hilliam took over the command,
and Major Stan Bauld was appointed second in com-
mand.
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THE
TOP
Chapter Three
HEN officers arrive
in England they are
given the option of
going to France as
lieutenants or going
back home. That is
the reason you see so
many bold footed offi-
cers holding down
staff jobs in England
and Canada. Colonel
Hilliam who was now our commanding officer,
says that the 25th battalion made his name;
but the 25th boys are equally positive that
he made the battalion. It was truly wonderful
the confidence we placed in him and he never
disappointed us. He was very strong on discipline,
and when all is said and done that is most essential
in the army. Without it a battalion simply . be-
comes a mob. During the winter we were on the
Kimmell front. It was a bad year in the trenches,
for the rain and mud were something awful. The
mud was waist deep and of such a nature that once
a fellow got stuck it took another chap to get him
out. For about two months they were trenches
in name only; they were caved right in and the boys
that were doing front line work would go in at 8
o'clock one night and would not be relieved until
8 o'clock the next night twenty-four hours without
any hot food. I must say that we found the hot rum
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WITH THE 2 5 T H
ration that winter to be a most desirable thing.
Our colonel was a regular fire eater, and wanted to
be at it all the time. He organized a raiding party
in charge of Capt. Tupper along with Brooks, Cam-
eron and Roberts. All four of them proved to be
great fighters. They were the pick of the battalion.
And now enters that great hero Toby Jones
"the Man who came back!" He was machine gun
officer, and the Colonel also put him in charge of a
wire cutting party, and thus he was carrying the
responsibility of both jobs. He would be around his
guns all day and at night he would be scouting all
over "No Man's land" and in December, 1915 it
was no joke crawling around in the mud. He never
got any rest. He would not eat, and the day of the
raid Fritz had straffed us quite a lot. I was in
trench S. P. 12 along with Toby when a message
came to tell us that a shell had knocked in one of the
dugouts and had killed one of our N. C. O's, Cor-
poral Ferguson, a chap who was well liked by every-
body. A road named the "V. C. Road" separated
us from J 4. The Germans were shelling this road
pretty bad; but as soon as Toby got the message he
did not hesitate one minute but went across to J 4.
He seemed to have had a charmed life. Shells
were bursting all around him but he never got a
scratch. That night Corporal Ingraham and the
McNeil brothers, the three biggest dare devils that
were in our battalion left our dugout on a wire
cutting expedition. Imagine, three or four men
lying on their backs in mud and water cutting at
Fritz's wire just a few feet away from his trench!
Jones would go around his gun teams to make sure
that everything was all right and then he would visit
his wire cutting party.
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Night after night Toby would be engaged in this
dangerous and telling work. It proved too much
for flesh and blood, and one night just as a visit
was planned he broke right down and was carried
to our lines on a stretcher. Well, Toby got the
blame for the failure of that evening and left our
battalion; but as the old adage puts it "You can't
keep a good man down" and Toby Jones enlisted
again as a private in the 42nd Battalion won back
his commission with the D. C. M. and a bar. Every
man in the "Fighting Twenty-Fifth" lifts his hat
to Toby Jones the greatest hero of them all!
We carried out several raids the next few weeks on
the Kimmil front, and, as a matter of fact, it is no
exaggeration to say that trench-raiding which has
since been carried out so extensively was really
initiated by the "Fighting Twenty-Fifth/ Be-
fore proceeding further, let me describe a trench.
They are all transversed, becaue if a shell or bomb
should burst in one part of the trench the transverse
prevents the spread of the shrapnel. A communi-
cation trench is usually to connect the trenches to-
gether, and sometimes these trenches are a mile
long reaching from the front line to some part be
hind the line where it is comparatively safe to walk
around. They are very deep and zig-zag in shape
so that they cannot be enfiladed.
On the Belgian front we could not have deep dug-
outs for the soil was so soft. To dig down a few
feet was to strike water. At first we only had sand
bags shelters, then we had the corrugated iron ones
which were shrapnel and bomb proof.
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WITH THE 2 5 T H
Chapter Four
*E stayed on the Kim-
mel front from Sep-
tember 15th until
sometime i n Febru-
ary. We were never
in anything big here
for it was winter time
and we had all our
work cut out in re-
pairing and rebuilding
trenches. Now I have
made mention of the fact that we came out for a
rest, but that does not mean to say that we didn't
work, for whilst we were resting we figured in many
working parties. We all learned to believe that
Our section was the best in the Platoon
Our Platoon the best in the Company,
Our Company the best in the Battalion,
Our Battalion the best in the Brigade,
Our Brigade the best in the Division,
Our Division the best in the Corps,
Our Corps the best in the Army,
And that the British were the best in the world.
Our old Colonel would have concerts and lectures
arranged for us when we went to rest, and on Christ-
man day we had quite a big dinner, thanks to the
people at home who helped by sending us quite a
lot of nice things.
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As you might know we had quite a lot of Cape
Breton boys. They were needed to do some mining
and they were splendid at that work. The miners
work is as follows; first they sink a shaft so many
feet down, and then when they get down deep
enough they start sapping forward, putting up tim-
bers as they go. They have to work very quietly
as Fritz also does some sapping and if too much noise
is made the miners themselves are liable to go up
in the air and come down in pieces, and I do not
think that anybody would relish that idea. Mining
is done now on a very large scale. So you see this
war is carried on underneath the earth as well as
underneath the water.
I will remember a certain officer who got the creeps
after the October affair and would always go around
wearing armored body plates, and every time he
heard a rat scratch he thought it was a mine.
He heard a noise in his dugout and he cleared all
the men out of his trench and had the miners up.
They dug down and found that his place must have
been over an old dugout and that there were quite
a number of rats running around having a good time
all to themselves. Certainly, I must admit that
I was no hero myself. When our front trenches
started to cave in we had to get out in front into No
Man's Land and dig a new trench and what earth we
excavated we had to throw up against our own front
line trench, and although at the present time I
would think nothing of it I was sure some scared.
But after you are there awhile you do not mind it
at all. The first winter Bill Cameron, along with
his scouts used to live in No Man's Land. They
thought nothing of doing that. They used to be
planning to do all sorts of things, but the oppor-
tunity only seldom came for them to do anything
Page 16
LIEUT. CANNING, M. M,
MAJOR MACRAE
OFFICER COMMANDING "A" CO., 25th BATT.
WITH THE 2 5 T H
out of the way, except it was to go over No Man's
Land searching for dead bodies and curios, and those
chaps were game enough for anything.
The whole time we were on this front everything
went very smoothly, for we had one great man at
the head of our Battalion. We were great friends
with the French-Canadian Battalion, but there was
another Battalion in our Brigade with whom we
did not pull at all, and there was always a certain
amount of jealousy between us, which was a good
thing as we were always trying to outdo the other.
Their Commanding Officer thought that they were
the best battalion that ever left Canada, and Hilli-
am, the bulldog that he was, would not stand for
that; so there was always a certain amount of rival-
ry between us.
On one occasion there were a few Canadians
guarding a road where people were not supposed to
travel by night unless they had a pass, and a "Twenty-
fifth" man who had been having a good time was
coming home. "Halt," cried the sentry, "who goes
there?" Answer "25th," "Pass 25th all is well,"
so the 25th man went on his way home. Along
came another belated traveller. The same perfor-
mance was gone thru and he gave the number of his
battalion which was not the 25th. The answer came
back from the sentry, "Turn out the guard," and
they put this poor soldier into the guard room. It
was all due to their petty notions as to what they
should not do. But still it always works out well;
a little jealousy between the battalions always
makes one try to outdo the other. But thanks to
our Commanding Officer we never took second place
to any battalion in France.
Shortly after we were ordered to move up to the
M. and N. trenches where we relieved some of the
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4th Brigade for a time. There was a trench in this
locality named the "International" because of it's
changing hands so often. Well, about a month
before this the Germans had made an attack on the
Scotties and they were just relieving and were not
prepared for the Huns. But they fought until
they saw that they would have to plan a surprise
attack to get it back. The Scottish Division then
went out for a rest and left Fritz master of the trench.
But the canny Scot was not giving in so easily.
When they had been reorganized they came back
with one intention and that was to take back the
"International" trench and they did.
Well here we were in the Vierstrutt trench, and
we held it for a week. Our artillery would open up
every couple of hours and we could look over our
parapets and watch them pounding Cain out of
Fritz's trench it was wonderful. We kept this
up for about four or five days so that Fritz could not
have much of a trench left. The idea of the heavy
bombardment was to give him the notion that we
were going to make an attack at this point. On the
morning that the Scotties were to take back the
trench Bill Cameron, George Roberts, together with
Canning, and some of the other boys, played quite
a trick on Fritz. They got a couple of very long
steam pipes and filled them up with explosives;
carried them across and put them underneath Fritz's
barb wire. There was a long fuse attached.
Now to describe it: The hour is 4 a. m. Every-
body is anxiously waiting for the bombardment to
take place. We never gave a thought to the possi-
bility of Fritz bombarding us. The attack starts,
but we do not leave our trench, but set fire to the
fuse. That fuse did all sorts of fancy turns and twists
travelling across No iMan's Land, and then the
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WITH THE 2 5 T H
explosion! Fritz's wires are all blown to pieces.
He was sure then that we are making the attack and
sends up all sorts of S. O. S. signals that look very
pretty. His artillery opens up, but it seems there
is something the matter with his range for he cannot
reach us at all. But what is taking place on the
right of us? The Scotties, without firing a shot,
walk over No Man's Land, jump into Fritz's trench
and bomb the dugouts, capturing quite a few prison-
ers, and once more the "International" is ours and
has not changed hands since.
Page 19
OVER
THE
TOP
Chapter Five
UR Battalion did not
remain long on the
Kimmel front, but on
being relieved by some
English troops, we
were sent for a rest to
a little village called
Berthem. We were
situated in a French
farm house and re-
ceived splendid treat-
ment from the occupants. Here it was that
we met the Anzacs, fresh from their terrible
fighting at Gallipoli; and there was quite a little
friendly rivalry between them and our Canadian
boys.
Contrary to our expectations we did not remain
for any length of time at Berthem. Some big
fighting was in progress at St. Eloi, and the Imperials
had planned a strong offensive movement. Several
mines were exploded, and an attack was launched
the objective of which, in the first instance, was to
gain part of the Messines Ridge. The attack was a
considerable success but not wholly so, because the
Germans were able to get in some pretty effective
artillery work; the Fourth Brigade was thereupon
sent to their assistance and managed to drive Fritz
back for quite a distance.
For the next three days there was some very hard
fighting in this St. Eloi district in which our men
participated with great valor. Some of our boys
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WITH THE 2 5 T H
were obliged to remain in those mine craters for
twenty-four hours with no chance of communica-
tion with the rear. Howard Johnstone beat off no
less than five attacks in four hours. Guy Matheson,
who had crossed over as a sergeant won the M. M.
in this action, and here it was that Corporal Ingram
gained the D. C. M. They really deserved the V. C.
Captain Brooks did wonderful work, but I cannot
continue to mention individuals or I should have to
mention every name in the entire Battalion. After
some days the intensity of the fighting died down and
the ordinary trench warfare was resumed. We had
hard work rebuilding our badly shattered trenches
and were very glad of the opportunity to enjoy our
divisional rest. While out on rest on one occasion
we were visited by the King and Queen. Their
Majesties, accompanied by Colonel Hilliam, walked
through our lines and appeared much interested
in our welfare.
It was in St. Eloi that we captured some prisoners
who gave us the information that there was going to
be a gas attack on the Kimmel Front. We warned
the Imperials who were at that point, so they were
quite prepared. The Germans sent over the gas,
and then came over themselves Our fellows fell
back in the centre and thus surrounded them,
capturing or killing every one that came over.
It was while in those trenches that we first started
to use the Lewis gun and the Stokes trench mortar.
The Lewis machine gun is a wonderful weapon.
Like a rifle it can be fired from the shoulder and
the discharge is at the rate of about 500 rounds a
minute. The Stokes gun is much like a stove pipe;
and as fast as the shells, which weigh 13 Ibs., are
dropped into it, they go flying through the air right
to their object, and then burst and create an awful
havoc. The Germans have invented quite a num-
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OVER THE TOP
ber of trench mortars, but nothing to come up to this.
One night whilst we were in those trenches a
few Germans managed to get into a part of our trench
which we were not occupying, as we knew that
they had a mine there ready to blow up at any
minute. As we discovered, by the bombs and other
stuff that they had left behind, that they had been in
our trench we decided to go and look for them,
so Lieut. Dennis Stairs took a party out. He had
with him Sergt. Canning, who has since won the
M. M. and his commission. They wandered about
No Man's Land for awhile when they suddenly
came upon a supply of Fritz's bombs. There were a
few hundred of them, so it was quite plain that they
intended to make a big raid on us. But when he
had the "25th" to contend with he had the wrong
crowd. The next night the same party went out,
prepared for anything that might happen and they
waited by that supply of bombs, and sure enough,
quite a few Huns appeared. Our fellows then threw
the bombs, and I can assure you there were many
Huns who never got back home again. We got a
little information from the prisoners taken and that
was most important.
Another night, as usual, we had our listening posts
out in some of the shell holes, when one of the men
of the "A" Company posts saw a couple of Huns
quite close and immediately opened fire on them,
killing one and wounding the other. It was by
means such as these that we were able to gather very
desirable information regarding the enemy, his
strength, probable intentions, and sometimes the
effect of our artillery fire. In fact one of the main
reasons for making these raids was for the very pur-
pose of getting information and also to weaken the
morale of the Germans opposite to us.
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While we were here at this section of the front,
about June 9th, the Third Division had to with-
stand a very heavy bombardment, followed by a
terrible barrage fire, and subsequently a fierce at-
tack. The Germans managed to get into the tren-
ches but not without paying a dreadful price.
It was found necessary to send for reinforcements
if the trench was to be re-captured. Imperials re-
lieved us on the St. Eloi front, and we were speedily
conveyed by motor lorries and rushed up to the
Ypres section. Our boys all knew they were in for
a hot time but we were keen to be at it for we were
"just spoiling for a fight." We got it all right, and
though we were only here for two days, such was
the severe nature of the fighting, that our casualty
list was very heavy. Incessant rain added to
our discomfiture; but the spirit of the boys was some-
thing wonderful to behold.
After a twenty-four hour rest in the huts at
Ypres we went to the now famous "Hill 60" where
we remained for seven days. It was while we were
here at "Hill 60" that Sergt. Duffet got the D. C. M.,
though he afterwards died of the wounds which he
had received.
After leaving "Hill 60" we went back to the St.
Eloi front again, and had the usual routine of work
to perform trench warfare and plenty of working
parties. Just imagine a party of about a hundred
men carrying wire trench mats across the open in
full view of Fritz. A flare goes up; everybody
stands still; a machine gun opens fire; everybody
goes down so that they will not be hit; and then every
thing is still again. All of a sudden somebody swears
as he trips over a shell hole, but the oath is made in
such a reverent way that it is more of a prayer than
a curse word. Thus it continues night after night.
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Chapter Six
S I have previously
said, there is always a
certain amount of ri-
valry between the Bat-
talions. In illustration
of this we got word that
a Battalion on our right
was going to pull off a
raid. Our Colonel imme-
diately ordered Lieut.
Wise (he went over
with the 25th as a Sergt. and is now a Major and
second in command of the Battalion) to take a
party of men and make a raid into Fritz's trench.
They set off and after wandering around "No Man's
Land" for a while found an opening in his wire.
They got into his trench and bombarded him right
and left, killing quite a few and bringing back val-
uable information. Unluckily we had a few wound-
ed, and Sergt. Anderson got no further back than
Fritz's wire when he was hit. Lieut. W se made
three or four gallant attempts to get him out, but,
owing to the machine gun and rifle fire, it was im-
possible. Lieut. Wise, who was badly wounded
got the Military Cross and Cross de Guerre, and
several of the boys got the Military Medal, so the
Battalion on our right had to postpone their raid.
A few nights later we planned another. There
were three parties, one under Lieut. Matheson, one
under Lieut. Daley, and one under Lieut. Hiltz,
Page 24
WITH THE 2 5 T H
the whole being under the command of Major Grant.
Lieut. Dennis Stairs also took part in this. We
were all ready to raid the trench when we got orders
that the Battalion on our right was going to pull
off a raid and that we must postpone ours. The
same night that Lieut. Wise pulled off his raid so
successfully, the Fourth Brigade "put one over"
on the Hun. They raided his trench, bringing back
some prisoners and doing quite a lot of damage to
his trench.
But one of their men had been missing and had
been given up for lost. Two days later one of the
Artillery officers, while observing our fire, noticed
a chap wandering around No Man's Land, and he
would have fired at him only the man turned round
and the observer saw his black face and knew right
away that it was the missing man. A couple of
boys crawled out and brought him in. He was
quite delirious. It seemed that he had been woun-
ded and bled quite a lot and became unconscious.
The sun dried the wound, but left him insane and
he had started wandering around No Man's Land.
Just before we left the St. Eloi front we had some
of the Fourth Division in with us, and we showed
them what they had to do and left them to play
their part and show the Huns that they were Can-
adians and this they have undoubtedly done.
The Somme fighting was on about this time. I
well remember the 1st of July. Our aeroplanes
went over the German lines and brought down about
six or seven of their observation balloons before
you could say "Jack Robinson." It was pretty slick
work, with some new explosive that our fellows had
kept very secret.
In leaving the St. Eloi front we marched for three
days to a little town quite close to St. Omer called
, where we drilled from five in the
Page 25
OVER A THE TOP
morning till seven or eight at night, doing the usual
training so as to get us fit for the fray. By this
time I was a full fledged Lance Corporal in charge
of "C" Company's Lewis guns. We had a great
time here. A couple of days in the week we would
have sports and then we would play games of base-
ball. Some of the boys would help the French girls
make up their crops. Another thing that helped
to make us so comfortable here was the difference
in the people. They were most hospitable and
could not do enough for us. We would scatter our
straw on the floor, spread our blanket and go to sleep
as happy and contented as possible. I tell you when
you have a tiled floor for a mattress, your pack for a
pillow and your overcoat for a blanket you can ap-
preciate such a comfort as straw and blankets.
We all knew that we were going to the Somme to
take part in that big show and we were very anxious
to get down upon them. The First Division had
gone down a little ahead of us, but we were going
to show them that the 25th could play its part as
well as any of the Battalions and we did so.
We stayed a while here in training and then we
started on our journey. We would march about
fifteen miles each day and would camp or bivouac
for the night. Before turning in to sleep we would
have a sing-song, all the men being in the best of
spirits for at last we knew we were going to have a
real scrap with the Hun, and although we had been
in France twelve months, we had always been on the
defensive and that is always the hardest kind of
fighting. As we had quite a lot of old scores to
pay off, we were just eager to get at the foe. After
a long march we finally arrived at the brickfield
in Albert, and there we saw for our first time the
brass statute on the Church of Albert which was
Page 26
WITH THE 2 5 T H
hanging head down. You would think that it
would fall at any moment, but it was well secured so
that the person who made the prophecy that when
the statute on the church at Albert fell, the war
would end, must have known that the war would
last a long time.
Well here we were. Thousands of troops ready
for a big attack. One day we saw some queer look-
ing objects coming along the road. We were all
wondering what sort of war machines they were.
There were all sorts of rumors as to what they were
and what they could do. We did not find out what
they were until the 15th of September and then we
knew that they were the much- talked of "tanks."
Fritz also found that out much to his loss. We did
several working parties here, going up through
Contalmaison, Pozieres and other villages. We
should not have known that they had been villages
only that there were signs there to inform us to that
effect.
Anybody who has seen the German trenches here,
and the deep dugouts and steep ridges which the
British troops had to swarm over could scarcely
believe it possible to take any of their positions;
but we had a leader in General Haig and he knew
what he was doing. The Artillery pounded the
Hun with such vigor that if any were left they were
properly demoralized, and then the infantry went
over and caught the Germans down in their dugouts.
By the night of Sept. 14th we were ready to launch
our attack. The great Somme fight was on!
Page 27
OVER THE TOP
Chapter Seven
N the way up to the
trenches and on see-
ing the guns, practi-
cally speaking, wheel to
wheel, we thought it
would be mpossible to
use more artillery at one
time. But I know we
have four or five times
the number of heavy
guns in use on the
western front now than we had on the Somme, and
that is one of the reasons that the morale of the
men in the western area is so good.
On the night of September 14th we moved up to
a position of reserve, and we were all issued our
fighting material which consisted of ammunition,
rifles, bombs, with haversack on our backs, rations
enough for two days and water bottle filled. We
also made sure that we had our field dressing with
us. There was also another little thing which we
were given and that was our aeroplane signal.
As soon as the advance starts our aeroplanes are
ready to co-operate with us in all possible ways, and
I can tell from what I have seen that Fritz's planes
stand a very poor chance against ours.
Now to describe our action. As soon as we start
to dig in we light some of those flares; our planes see
them and they signal back with the Klaxon horns,
Page 28
WITH THE 2 5 T H
then they drop some signal and do a little fancy fly-
ing, and by that means, sometimes combined with
wireless, our artillery know just exactly where we
are. Some of the men also carry wire cutters, others,
shovels and picks. I can assure you that it is no
light load but the queer thing is that nobody seems
to mind it, until everything is all over.
On the morning of the 15th the 4th and 6th
Brigades made the attack for our Division. It was
a pretty big affair on about a three mile front.
We were back in reserve and we were pretty sore
because we were not taking a part in it, when we
saw the "Irish Navy," we we called the tank,
come puffing up. Little did we think that many
who were there talking would be killed or wounded
before the day was over. Then all of a sudden the
artillery with a mighty roar opened up the most
terriffc fire.
It was a wonderful sight. Nothing could be
seen all along the horizon in the rear but one mass
of flame, where our guns were sending out shell
after shell. They were there in all sizes from the
eighteen pounders up to the fifteen inch guns.
Now, our boys are over with all their objectives
well defined. The principal one for our division,
at the time, was the Sugar Refinery, and in a very
short while the prisoners started to come in. Some
of them carrying our wounded with them, others
carrying some of their own wounded. They were
a demoralized crowd and after the artillery barrage
which was put up it is not to be wondered at.
Brigade headquarters were very close to us and they
were taken there where they were asked all sorts of
questions by our intelligence officers. Some would
speak, others would not; but our intelligence corps
generally got all the information that was needed.
Page 29
OVER THE TOP
Our troops advanced so much that day that some of
the artillery had to shift their guns up closer as
they were out of range.
That movement was a very pretty sight the
gun limbers being galloped across the shell torn
ground, wheeling their guns around and getting
into action in very short while. If I were a pro-
fessional writer, I could describe a lot of things that
happened that morning which would be very in-
teresting to the reader but there are a number of
incidents which I shall have to omit thru lack of
memory.
Now and again, Fritz would throw a shell over at
us, but it would do no more harm than fling up dirt
over us and we were so used to this that we did not
mind it at all.
The tanks did wonderful work puffing along to the
German strong points and using their guns. I guess
the moral effect was just as terrible as the real.
No wonder that the German prisoners were so scar-
ed. Anyway, the main thing was the British got
all of their objectives and quite a few were stilll
pushing further ahead. We did not think that we
would have a chance to take part in the show but
at the same time we were prepared for anything that
might happen.
At 3 p. m. that same afternoon the Scottish Divis-
ion on our right took Martinupuch, so General
Byng decided that the Canadians should make
another drive and take Courcelette, and, as it was,
the 4th and 6th Brigades that went over that
morning it was our turn for Courcelette.
There was a conference of the four colonels com-
manding the four battalions in our Brigade and it
was decided that the 25th were to go thru the left
Page 30
WITH THE 2 5 T H
half of the village, the 22nd thru the right half,
the 26th in close support and the 24th in reserve,
and altho there have been not a few rumors as to
who really took Courcelette all I can say is that the
whole Canadian corps played a part one way or
another, even to the Army Service Corps who sup-
plied our ammunition. But anyway that is how
our brigades went over on the 15th of September.
When the colonel came back he held a consulta-
tion with his company commanders who were Major
Tupper "A" Co., Lieut. Col. Flowers, "B" Co.,
Capt. Stairs, "C" Co., Major Brooks "D" Co.,
and the entire scheme was explained to them. I
was in the Lewis Gun Corps of "C" Co., so when
Captain Stairs called together his platoon offic rs,
I had to be there too, and the scheme was that "A"
and "D" companies were to form the first wave.
There was a railroad the other side of Courcelette,
there they were to dig in, in the most suitable
place in front of that "C"and "B" formed the second
wave and were to dig in, just in front of the village.
My instructions as to my guns were that I was to
plant one gun on the left flank of the company and
one on the right. When I saw that D. Co., had con-
solidated their position I was to start and take the
right flank gun up and put it out in a shell hole about
20 yards in front of D. Co. My left flank gun I
was to leave as it was guarding a sunken road. It
was also an understood thing that we were to leave
so many Lewis gunners behind, so when we started
over we had but two trained men per gun, and four
others, untrained, to carry ammunition.
We started to get into position. The glorious
22nd were on our right, and the 3rd Division on our
left, and tho this was our first time "over" every-
body was laughing and eager to get at it. There
Page 31
OVER THE TOP
was that grand old colonel of ours with a foot rule
held in one hand and a map in the other. We were
all lined up in extended order about P/j miles from
our objective and we had to advance over ground
that had been ploughed up pretty badly by our own
artillery that morning. Shortly, our colonel gave
the order to advance. Almost at the same time our
artillery opened up. We advanced in one long exten-
ded line. (I must say that we use a different for-
mation today). We were all joking with one an-
other. We had fixed bayonets and as we passed a
trench I heard one artillery observing officer say:
"By the Gods of War, isn't it fine " One of my
gunners asked me for a chew of tobacco. We passed
some of the trenches which our boys had taken that
morning. I saw a big German lying on his face
dead, and a few of our own lying around. Then
again we came across a few more dead Huns. Here
were a couple of skulls which had been thrown up
by our artillery. One of our boys passed the re-
mark that they would not even let the dead rest.
People talk about Fear; I must admit there is
such a thing before you start over, but once you
get started you are callous to everything. You see
you own best friend killed alongside of you, but
that does not stop you for you keep right on, never
thinking that you may be the next, and even if you
did you would say to yourself that you have got to
go sooner or later, so what's the odds?
We were getting near to the Sugar Refinery that
Fritz had put a barrage across. No matter, we
kept on. We got to the trenches held by one of
our other brigades. The second wave is supposed
to stop here for a few minutes whilst the first wave
keeps on. One of the boys who were holding the
trench said "Keep on lads, don't be frightened. We
Page 32
Aeroplane map of the sector in which the "Fighting 25th"
were engaged at " Vimy Ridge."
Aeroplane map of the sector in which the " Fighting 25th "
were engaged at "Vimy Ridge."
WITH THE 2 5 T H
gave them hell this morning. You ought to be
able to do the same now." I got mad at him for
thinking that we were not "playing the game,"
so I gave my gun team the order to advance. As
we passed the Sugar Refinery, Fritz's shells were
bursting everywhere shells bursting in the air,
shrapnel coming down on us white hot like snow,
One of my men was hit. I took his ammunition
and left him to get out the, best way he could.
Fritz's machine guns were now playing on us.
We saw some of the boys turn around and then
drop dead. It must be a great death, for in the
excitement one would never know what struck him.
We opened up our machine guns on the Huns who
were hiding in a bit of a wood. My team is up with
the first wave by now. Then we all made a dash
and arrived at the Convent wall in Courcelette.
There were lots there before us. The most promi-
nent of all was Colonel Hilliam, with a cigar in his
mouth, stick in one hand and watch in the other.
He says, "Now boys, the barrage will play there for
five minutes and then we will go right thru the
village." He was wounded in the hand, but he only
smiled at that. I went and found out that both my
guns were O. K. and that I was lucky enough to
get over with my full amount of ammunition,
which was very fortunate considering that we came
thru quite an artillery barrage.
Our shells were bursting just in front of the village.
You could see nothing but one mass of flame and
smoke. Our colonel looked up and said "Now Boys
get ready," and then the artillery lifts and we go
thru the village. What was once a peaceful village
is now nothing but a mass of burning ruins. We got
thru, but some of our boys had to bayonet a few,
Germans to make them be good.
Page 33
OVER THE TOP
The first wave was now well in front, and I was
with my right flank team in the second wave. We
came up on the right of "C" Co., just as they were
preparing to dig in.
Lieut. Dalley was about ten yards in front of
his platoon giving orders to his men to dig in,
when I saw him take a turn round and drop. I
rushed out and picked him up. He told me to go
on and never mind him. It was a dry day and there
were quite a few bullets striking close to us, but
at the time I did not seem to know, what they were
so I got hold of Dalley and brought him back to a
shell hole where our boys were digging in, and turn-
ed him over to their care. By this time I saw
that "D" Co., had started to dig in, so I took my
guns along and placed them in a shell hole about 20
yards in front of where our boys were digging. It
was now about six p. m. The aeroplanes were over
our heads sounding their horns and we were burning
our signals.
After placing my team I came back and found that
Lieut. Dennis Stairs was wounded on the arm and
leg. I bandaged him up, but he persisted in stay-
ing in and "carrying on" with his work altho the
colonel wanted him to go out. He has the Mili-
tary Cross and I must say he deserved it. I also
found that Major Brooks had been killed and that
Major Nutter was acting O. C. of "D" Co. I re-
ported to the colonel who was in the front line, and
he asked me to take out the prisoners. There were
about thirty-five of them, and I was to turn them
over to the 26th Battalion, which was supposed to
be in close support. There were a couple of chaps
who were slightly wounded, going out as escort.
We went out right thru the village but no sign of the
26th.
Page 34
WITH THE 2 5 T H
We saw a couple of their scouts who told us that
the battalion was a little in the rear of us, but as
it was getting dark we decided to send them out
in charge of the wounded runners. The Huns
were so demoralized that they really did not need
any escort. Just before they left I saw Lieut. Wet-
more stick his head out of a shell hole. He had been
badly wounded in the head, so he also went out
with the prisoners. I then starred on my way back
to the front line. Going thru the village we came
across two Huns carrying a wounded Hun. We
took them prisoners and turned them over to Sergt.
Anderson of "C" Co. I then saw Sergt. Laird of
"B" Co. and got about 30 bombs from him and
took them up to my front line gun and came back
to visit my left flank gun, which was still with "C"
Co. While I was talking to Sergt. Weir there was
a message came to me from Major Nutter to get
my left gun up and place it out in front. I went to
the left flank to carry out my order, and found my
gun and ammunition scattered around the sunken
road not damaged. But my team was gone, so
I hunted around and got another team together and
placed them out in "No Man's Land." If Fritz
had to counter attack us that night he would have
got an awful reception, for we had quite a few ma-
chine guns out in front and everybody was in good
spirits and keeping a good look out.
We found out by this time we had lost quite a
few of our best officers; out of our company we had
lost one of the finest men that ever went over.
He was a man that no matter how hard the bombard-
ment, he was always normal and would never get
excited that was John Stairs. The O. C. of "B"
Company, Colonel Flowers was also misl&ng. He
was not with us very long, but everybody thought
Page 35
OVER THE TOP
a lot of him. It was splendid for a man of his age
to come out and volunteer as a platoon commander
as he did, and he deserves all the credit that can be
given to him. We had a few others killed and miss-
ing, but taking everything into consideration and
the objective that we had taken, we had come out
very lucky.
Our boys were pretty well dug in by 12 that night'
It was hard digging, about a foot of earth, then
flint and underneath the flint was chalk.
Page 36
WITH
THE
2 5 T H
Chapter Eight
HE reaction had started
to set in by this t'me.
I cannot describe it to
you properly, but there
are a lot of people under
the impression that a
soldier gets a glass
of rum before he
"goes over." The rea-
son I write about this
is because people have
often said the same thing about me. I'll
tell you, the British soldier does not need rum to
buck his courage up. I believe that it was given to
the men before they went over in the beginning,
and that after the effect wore off it left the man drow-
sy. Once you start "over," you do not give a curse
for anything. All you think about is that there is
an objective, and that there is nothing in this world
to stop you and you keep that spirit up until you
have everything securely in your hands, and then
perhaps a couple of hours after a certain amount of
reaction sets in. Then is the time for the rum.
In France it is used, "never abused." The reaction
generally works off after a few hours and then you
are fit for anything.
During the night Fritz made several counter
attacks on the 22nd. We were not quite sure how
they were making out, but a runner came up and
told us that everything was O. K.
Page 37
OVER THE TOP
I do not remember anything eventful happening
that night. We had a couple killed, and Sergeant
Tickle of the Machine Gun Section, whilst reconnoi-
tering, ran into a German strong point. He
bombed them and got back safely. But when day-
light came there was quite a few of our chaps getting
nipped off from the right, so a message was sent out
to Major MacAvity, who was brigade major.
He came up, and that afternoon the Third Division
made an attack and took the trench from which
they were sniping, and also 1 00 prisoners. We knew
that there were papers of importance in a house in
the village which had been used as headquarters
and Fritz was quite determined that we should not
get them, for he put shell after shell into the village.
But whenever there is information to be had, there is
somebody who will get it and we got those papers
and believe me they proved to be of great significance.
We had everything consolidated and the artillery
had wires right up to our front line for observation
purposes. To make matters worse we had a little
drizzly rain. The next afternoon Major Tupper
was killed, and as "A" company was to make a
small attack Major Nutter took over "A" comp-
any, and Lieutenant Matheson, who was now act-
ing officer commanding "C" company took charge
of operations. I am sorry to say we had many
casualties that day in "A" company. We were re-
lieved on the coming morning by the First Division.
There were some machine gun crews to be relieved
and as all the other companies and details were re-
lieved the colonel wanted to stay and see them re-
lieved, but he finally decided to let me stay behind
and take this matter in hand
On the 9th of April, in my rank as officer, I report-
ed for duty to Colonel Bauld and was glad to be
Page 38
WITH THE 2 5 T H
once more with the glorious fighting boys of the
grand old Twenty-Fifth. Some few days later we
took part in the Arleux fighting; my company, "D,"
formed the flank. We were able to take all our
objectives and consolidate them. It was in this
scrap that I "got mine/' for I was hit in the arm,
leg, back and behind the ear. After twenty and
a half months in France to have escaped death and
even a serious injury, I consider it to have been
most fortunate, and feel persuaded that someone
at home must have been remembering me in their
prayers. After my wound, I managed to crawl
out and was then sent to a clearing station, subse-
quently to England, and them home to Nova Scotia.
Here I am at the present and to be candid I am not
over anxious to return, but if I should be wanted
well, I am ready to go and strike another blow for
King and Empire, Liberty and God.
After holding these trenches we were glad to get
out and get a rest. The first day we got as far as
The Reserve trenches. There we had plenty of
rations issued to us and we rested here where there
were some very large and comfortable dugouts
which our most amiable friend Fritz had built for
us. We enjoyed them and although we had lost
quite a few of our best pals we knew that we all had
gone through that same ordeal and those of us who
were lucky enough to come out of the scrap never
gave a thought to what we had gone through. A
good thing, for if we did a few of us would be good
patients for a lunatic asylum. We stayed here for
the night and the next morning we got as far as the
Brickfields near Albert where there were a lot of
the old London Motor Buses waiting to take us
back to a little village clear of the shell fire so that
we could reorganize and get another go at Fritz.
Page 39
OVER THE TOP
We were all as happy as larks, singing "Are we down-
hearted," "The Canadians took Courcelette, they
can fight you just bet" and other trench songs.
Some of the boys had on Fritz helmets and others
had Fritzs' revolvers; we all had souvenirs of some
description. We arrived at this town after a
couple of hours ride. There was our Pipe Band
with the Battalion Mascot, the goat, which we got
in 1915. It is still with the battalion and always
leads the band. When we reached this village the
very first thing we had to do was to shave and
clean up, for were we not the best unit in France?
We always thought so and we used always to show
an example to the others. That is "esprit de corp."
We had a pretty good time in this village. Some of
the boys sold their souvenirs as they said we were
going back and could get lots more. Our old Colonel
was still with us but his hand was now bandaged up.
I forgot to tell you when he was coming through
Albert the 22nd gave three cheers for "Col. Hilli-
am." He turned around and said, "If there is any
credit give it to the boys, they deserve it." He
quite forgot that we looked upon him as something
more than a man, the way he would go around
through a bombardment. Out here we had the
usual parades and reorganization, but we only had
the old battalion to reorganize as we got no rein-
forcements. However, we were still the "25th" and
could show the Germans what we could do. It
soon got spread around that we were going back to
have another go at Fritz. So we got our guns fixed
up and the afternoon before we went in Col. Hilliam
made an inspection of the battalion. I had my Lewis
Gun team formed up in rear of "C" Co. When the
C. O. came around I called them to attention and
saluted. He said "What is your name my lad?"
I replied "Lewis, Sir." "Oh, a very appropriate
WITH THE 2 5 T H
name to have charge of the Lewis Guns." I said,
"Sir, I try to do my best." He says, "You have
done wonderfully, my lad." I thought it the grea-
test honor that I have ever got. We started for the
Brickfields next morning, Col. Bauld in com-
mand of the Battalion. Col. Hilliam had to
go to hospital for a few days. We arrived at the
Brickfields and there we were given our full instruc-
tions as to what we had to do and went through
the usual performance of being fully equipped with
all the necessary equipments of war before we went
in. Capt. John D. MacNeil was now O. C. of "C"
Co., and one night we got the order to move up to
the reserve trenches. All this time the troops who
were occupying the trenches were steadily advanc-
ing. We had taken quite a lot of their strong-
points, including and other vil-
lages. After a long tedious march we arrived at
our reserve trenches and made ourselves as comfor-
table as possible, such as digging a hole in the side
of a trench and perhaps a couple of sheets of cor-
rugated iron, and finally we got settled away and
went to sleep. It was very comfortable when you
consider the circumstances. Certainly now and
again one of Fritz large shells would burst
somewhere near you but that was all in the game.
If it was going to get you it would. But keeping
awake would not save us. So Fritz's shells had no
more effect than the vermin which we had got quite
used to. The next night at 7 o'clock, runners came
down from the 14th Battalion to guide us to the
front line. We were very inquisitive and began
asking those chaps about where they were, what
sort of fighting they had and other questions too
numerous to mention, for strange to say, no matter
how long you are there, when you got into a new
Page 41
OVER THE TOP
position you always want to know what it is like
before you go in it, and if you are told that it is a
lovely place and that you can have a good time you
can depend that it is going to be worse than hell.
That is what happened in this case. The guide
told us that it was a nice, quiet little spot. We found
out the difference before we got out. We toiled
through the shell-torn ground for about six hours
before we got to where Battalion Headquarters were.
Sometimes, our guides lost themselves. At other
times Fritz would put a barrage across. We would
lie down then in a shell hole and start talking about
old times, never giving a thought to the shells which
would burst quite close to us. In fact they got a
few of our boys on the way up. But one has to be
there to realize how callous a person appears to
shell fire. By that I do not mean to say that he
holds it in contempt for he doesn't He has a
mighty regard for it. But you always want to
show that you are as brave as your next door neigh-
bour. Sometimes they came a little too close and
one of the boys would sing out "Say let's make a
move, for I don't mind getting Blightie but the way
that one burst it will be France" or some other such
remark. When we arrived at Headquarters it was
in a large sunken road which our boys had captured
a few days before. We hear quite a lot of
and here were quite a lot of wounded Germans who
had been taken prisoners that day calling out for
water, and although we were going in and we did
not know when we were coming out, some of the
boys gave them some of theirs. I hope they will
do the same. We waited here for a while and then
we started out for the trench. We had some night.
We would go to one trench and then to another;
our guides did not know where to take us. About
4 o'clock in the morning we started wandering around
Page 42
WITH THE 2 5 T H
No Man's Land. At 7 o'clock, broad daylight,
(we were laying down in the grass at the time),
some of the boys saw somebody moving and as we
saw that they were our own boys we made a rush
and got into what was known as the Subsidiary
trench. That is how "C" Co. relieved the 14th
Battalion on the Somme. There was quite a chain-
work of trenches here. What we held was named
"Subsidiary Line." It really was not a trench but a
system of outposts. In front of us were the famed
"Kenora" and "Regina." Their names will always lin-
ger in the memory of the Canadians, for we did some
very hard fighting around here. There were also a
lot of trenches in rear of us held by some of our other
companies. On our left were the 24th and C. M. R.
I really do not know who were on our right. As I
said what we were holding was only a system of
strongpoints. There were five of them altogether
and as I had three Lewis guns I put one on each flank
and one in the centre. About 9 o'clock the same
morning we saw somebody waving to us from out of
No Man's Land. When we saw that he was one
of our own lads, Lieut. Alexander, Corp. Mc-
Earley, (these two were both killed four days later)
and myself, took a rubber sheet and doubled out and
got him, expecting to be fired on at any time by
Fritz. But he could not have seen us or else he did
not want to give his position away. Anyway we
got the chap in. He belonged to the 14th Battal-
ion and had been out there for three days. His
wounds had stiffened up so that he could not move.
Poor chap, he said that he would have gone crazy
that day if we had not brought him in.
Some very hard fighting took place here
for there was an awful lot of dead Huns
lying around. All that morning we made our posi-
Pase 43
OVER THE TOP
tions as secure as possible. At about two that after-
noon word came from Col. Bauld that we were to
attack and that the Co. Commanders were all
wanted at Battalion Headquarters. When Capt.
MacNeil came back he gave us the outline of the
scheme and told me that I was to stay in the Sub-
sidiary trench until they they had things consoli-
dated, or if they had to fall back under a heavy
counter attack I was to cover the retirement and
hold the trench at all costs. All right! Our bar-
rage opens up; our fellows go over; up goes Fritz's
S. O. S. signals, his artillery starts. It is maddening
where we are. His artillery is playing all round us,
knocking in our trenches in places but never get-
ting any of my guns or men. Then there is a tre-
mendous fire of machine guns from Fritz's trench
no man could live through. The bullets are just
singing through the air. But our men are quick to
grasp the game and get into some shell holes and
wait until it gets a little dark and then crawl back
to our own line. We have quite a few wounded and
some killed. Nothing though when you look at
the resistance. One chap by the name of Porter
came crawling into the trench with an ugly head
wound and blood pouring all over his face. He
started swearing at Fritz and ended up by asking
for a chew of tobacco before he went out to the
dressing station. We got settled away once more all
prepared for the wily Hun if he should come over.
There were several of attacks on our left that night.
It sort of got our wind up a little. Outside of that
everything went well and we passed a very comfor-
table night, smoking and tell stories, for there was
no such thing as sleep in the outposts. The next
morning at daylight we took a good observation
and everything seemed normal, so after giving out
Page 44
WITH THE 2 5 T H
the rations of food, water and rum, we took turns
and had a sleep until about 1 1 o'clock when for some
reason Capt. MacNeil was ordered to take his
company back to the sunken road in rear of the
trenches so they could have a sleep I had to
stay there with my three gun teams and hold the
trench against all attacks. About 2 o'clock that
afternoon when everything seemed very quiet and
normal, Fritz started up with a bit of a bombard-
ment and they were all landing around our trench.
At times they would just cover us with mud. Luck-
ily for us it never got anybody. He was also land-
ing them between us and "A" Co., so I began to
get a bit worried and decided that I should send a
message back to Headquarters as they were shelling
pretty bad. I did not think it fair to send one of
my men so took a message across to "A" Co., and
had them send it back to H. Q. I then went back
to my own men, arrived there safely and cuddled
up against the side of the trench expecting any
minute to go up in the air, but we still kept on jok-
ing each other. Neither one of us would let on
that we were scared. About 5 o'clock that after-
noon I saw about twenty men leave "A" Co.
trench and make a dash across No Man's Land.
They were a reconnoitring patrol in charge of Lieut.
Canning and they were going to find out if the Ken-
ora trench was occupied. Well they did. Fritz
stopped shelling us and turned his machine guns and
artillery on to this small party. They had to fall
back and I believe they had four or five killed,
including Lieut. Houston. Shortly after that our
own Company came back and I can tell you I
was not sorry to see them for it was no enviable
position having responsibility for a couple of hun-
dred yards of your front line. We got an issue of
rum from the Captain when he came and we needed
Page 45
OVER THE TOP
it bad. About eight that night a ration party came
up with our rations and water. Say, you should
have tasted it; full right up with the taste of petrol,
but still it was good to us. You know we lose all
fancy ideas about taste in the trenches.
Everything passed off as usual. Now and
again we would think that the German was coming
over so would have an extra good watch. He is
such an uncanny devil he is always sending up
fancy signals. The next morning as usual I visited
my teams, issued their rations and rum. I had just
finished doing this with my middle team and was
sitting down talking to them. The little trench
was more like a grave that could just hold us com-
fortable. All of a sudden there was an explosion
overhead. I heard somebody singing out "stretch-
er-bearer" and I thought something had struck me
in the back and had gone though me, but I looked
around for my men. As far as I could see they had
all been wounded and they were trying to get as
fast as they could to the dressing station. Then I
looked behind me and there was one of my team with
his leg right off; three of his fingers were also off
but as he was bleeding so much from his leg there
was not a bit of blood left in his hand. I bandaged
him up the best way I could and then we got a
stretcher and carried him out. The wound that I
had was only a little scratch and I found out later
the shell that burst overhead was what we call a
"wooly bear," instead of the shrapnel bursting for-
ward it shot downwards. My gun was disabled
so I thought I should have another. I went back
to Howard Johnson who was Acting O. C. of opera-
tions in the front line. He was always optimistic
(a good way to be) so told me about all the artillery
that we had behind us and that we should not worry.
Page 46
WITH THE 2 5 T H
Well, I did, and finally I got that gun fixed so that
it worked alright. Everybody was telling me how
lucky I was to escape when everybody else got hit.
but I had a more miraculous one that afternoon.
About three Fritz started to shell us badly again.
The shells were coming quite thick and as we could
see that he did not intend coming over it was de-
cided to evacuate the outposts and go back to the
Sunken Road. The most of the Company had
gone back and as I was all ready to leave with my
team a big fellow burst. It got one of the men who
was just behind me, tore off his leg and a big chunk
went into his back, missed me, and the concussion
took the chap that was in front of me and landed
him about 5 yeards away dead. I cannot explain
it but there are several of the boys back here who
saw it. We got back to the sunken road, stayed
there about an hour and then we manned our
trenches again. About nine o'clock that night
rations were brought up to us as usual, and they also
sent the few men that they had left at the horse-
line, for we were beginning to get them out a little.
The advance is all right for the morale but it causes
quite a few casualties. This night went past as
the others nothing happened.
The morning was fine and we received word that we
were to make an attack and take the Regina trench
that afternoon at all costs. We got everything pre-
pared for it that morning and that afternoon at
three o'clock we went over again, but it was a
futile attempt for they had all sorts of machine guns
and barbed wire there waiting for us. But we kept
on as far as the Regina, but could not capture it
as our numbers were too depleted by this time.
It was here I got the M. M. This makes a coinci-
dence in our family, two brothers having the M. M.
Page 47
OVER THE TOP
and one the D. C. M. We were relieved late that
night by the 6th Brigade and we were not sorry to
get out. We lost quite a few here, including How-
ard Johnson, who was in charge of operations. If
ever a man deserved a V. C., he did. We marched
from here to the Brickfield and from there back to
a village behind the lines, out of the range of shell
fire. We were still the same old battalion in name
and those of us who were left intended to let the
reinforcements know what sort of a battalion they
had come to.
When our reinforcements at last arrived Col.
Hilliam took them and gave them a good lecture
and then the old boys got after them. It did not
take them long to decide that we were the best bat-
talion in France and that is how we got the "Esprit
deCorp."
We stayed in this little village for about a
week and then started on our march for the Bullez
Grenaz front. After a few days marching, we ar-
rived at our destination, a place where all Canadians
have spent a happy time. The village itself was
right close up to the communication trench and the
French people carried on their work as usual, al-
though now and again Fritz would put over an
occasional shell, but they all seemed to think that
was in the day's work. We went into a reserve
trench called Mechanic's Dump. It is a spot that
will always remain. Here were buried quite a lot
of French and British soldiers who had lost their
lives in the battle of Looz and there were also some
of our own buried here. Amongst them, Sergt. Jim
Harris. He was the greatest all round dare-devil
that we had in the battalion. In fact there
was nothing too daring for him to do if he
could get a joke off. It was he that took the chick-
Page 48
Aeroplane map of the sector in whictfthe "Fighting 25th"
were engaged at " Vimy *Ridge."
Aeroplane map of the sector in which the " Fighting 2 5th "
were engaged at " Vimy Ridge."
WITH THE 2 5 T H
ens, skinned them and threw the skins beneath the
officers' cookhouse so that they would have to pay
for them. Sergt. Harris was appointed Wiring Sergt.
He had charge of all the wiring in front of
our trench and craters. There were two craters
quite close to each other, one occupied by us, the
other by Fritz. The Brigade Major asked Harris
if he could wire this crater as it was a very risky job.
Harris promptly replied that "if Kaizer Bill himself
were there in the crater opposite, he would wire it."
He did and had the job finished when he saw a
couple of Huns stick their heads out of their crater.
With that he threw a couple of bombs at them and
got them, but a couple of their pals got Harris.
We were sorry; for he was really the most talked of
man in the Battalion. Anyway, I had the satis-
faction of fixing his grave up.
When we took over these trenches everything was
quiet in this section, but it was not very long before
the Canadians had livened things up. Some days we
would "strafe" him with trench mortars; on others
we would give him a touch of our artillery. Bill
Cameron was aching to get a go at him so he picked
out eighty men and four officers. It was decided to
use the Bengalore torpedo to blow his wire up.
The time appointed was Xmas morning. When
they went to put the torpedoes underneath the wire
they found it impossible as it was too bright, so
there was a consultation and it was decided to crawl
out, lay alongside of his wire and then make a dash
into his trench as soon as the artillery started which
they did with great success, bringing back about nine
prisoners. Besides what they killed and the dam-
age done, the moral effect on the Hun was good.
That night the battalion on our right were
going to pull off a raid. They started in and Fritz
Page 49
OVER THE TOP
must have thought we were going to pull off another,
so he just started in and shelled us like anything,
He didn't get any of us, but sure kept us ducking.
I would put a chew of tobacco in my mouth and go
round and visit my men, shells landing all around us.
When they were coming through the air you would
swear that they were coming straight for you and
that one had your number engraved on it. Well,
I would be as shaky as anybody could be, but I
would not let the others see it and the men were
the same. We are all alike; we all get a little funky
in a bombardment but we will not admit it.
During our stay here Fritz bombarded the vil-
lage with gas shells, killing four or five civilians.
He did not get one of the military. Well, I suppose
that is his way of waging war.
We were to be relieved by the 1st Division
so that we could go out for a rest and I was advised
that on the 21st of February I was to go to a
cadet school in France to qualify for a commission.
I 1 was also understood that before we went out for
this rest that we were to carry out a large daylight
raid. The 4th Brigade who were on our right were
to do this. A couple of nights before the raid was
planned for, the Battalion Scout officer, with a
couple of men, were scouting around No Man's
Land when they encountered a strong German pa-
trol. Our fellows had to drop back to our trench
but the officer was hit and it was believed taken
prisoner by the Germans. As he had some impor-
tant papers the plans were all changed. So much
in fact that we knew nothing about them ourselves.
We got word at last that the raid was to take place
at 4.30 this certain afternoon. Exactly on the
second our artillery trench mortars and machine
guns opened up. We just showered them with
Page 50
WITH THE 2 5 T H
liquid fire shells and gas shells. Well, it was a won-
derful night. The 26th Battalion on our left went
over, entered his trench and bombed dugouts in
the front line, for we were not taking any chances on
Fritz having a surprise waiting for us. Our men all
returned and we thought everything was over and
that we would be relieved the next day. I guess
Fritz thought the same. At seven the next morn-
ing I had a message handed me telling me that my
men were not to stand down until I was notified
later, as the Brigade on our left were going to carry
out a raid. Again we pounded Cain out of him
Our men went over and our artillery formed a box
barrage so that they could go in the trenches secure
from a German counter attack. They had great
success, brought back 100 prisoners besides what
were killed. We suffered very light.
After our boys came back, Fritz, thinking that
we still held it completed the work of knocking his
trench to pieces which we had started. We were
relieved the next day and marched to a large mining
town called Bruay. I was there only about four
days when I was sent down the line to qualify for
a commission and arrived back on the morning of
the ninth and went up the line to the front trenches
that night, along with Lt. Col. Bauld.
After a month of rest at Bruay, the Battalion
left for a training camp where for over a month the
Battalion, in conjunction with the remainder of the
2nd Division, trained on ground marked out show-
ing the different communication and main line
trenches then held by the Huns and which were to
be our objectives. This is made possible by the
accurate photography from areoplanes used for
that purpose.
At last the time drew near. A week was all that
was left before the great day was to arrive and by
Page 51
OVER THE TOP
that time the Battalion was in a good condition for
anything that might happen. On the night of the
5th Major Delancy, who was going to take the Batt-
alion over the top, held a meeting of all officers and
everything was explained. The officers were made
to understand that even if only one man was left
alive the objective must be taken and held and un-
less the position was serious no calls for help were
to be sent to other units but that the "25th" must
carry out the task alloted to them.
Easter Sunday came and we were ready and an-
xiously waiting to move. At 6.30 a. m., Lieut.
F. G. Lawzanne left with a party of N. C. O's to
take up, what the orders stated, to be a Camp but
what was in reality all that was left of a small forest
known as the Bois-Des Alleux. At 9.30 a. m., the
Battalion, in fighting kit, without great-coats, left
for this camp. After arriving bombs, ground flares,
etc., were issued the Battalion and the remainder of
the day was spent in trying to keep warm. Dur-
ing the course of the afternoon two men appeared in
Camp with sand bags slung over their shoulders.
They turned out to be Piper Brand and Piper Tel-
ford who did not want to be left behind and volun-
teered to play the Battallion "over the top." Per-
mission for this was given by Lt. Col. D. S. Bauld,
who, at that time, was in the Camp with his Bat-
talion and who was feeling downhearted at not being
able to lead his men on the following day.
At last orders were received to move forward to
our jumping off trench. At 8.30 p. m., Easter
Sunday, the 25th left their camp, a camp which,
some of the finest sons of Nova Scotia would never
see again, and moved forward slowly, passing through
Mount St Eloi, where could be noticed a few remain-
ing French families who had stayed by the home all
Page 52
WITH THE 2 5 T H
through the months of war. A few hours march,
and we arrived on the Muvelle St. Vacest Road
where for some reason we stayed for almost two
hours, during which time the Hun started shelling
the road, and here our first casualties occurred.
We were at last able to continue our march and at
3.30 a. m., Easter Monday we marched out to the
jumping off trench which was already being shelled
by the Huns. Zero hour had been set for 5.30 a.
m., so we had two hours to wait, and a long two hours
they were. Nobody can realize except those who
have been through it the thoughts which pass
through mens minds at such a time thoughts
of home and loved ones appear as a vision with a
wonder as to whether you will ever see them again.
Operations orders were that the 24th and 26th
Battalion would attack a trench known as ZWISCHEN
STELLING, while the 25th Battalion with the 22nd
French-Canadians, as "moppers-up," would capture
and consolidate a trench named TURCO GRABEN
which was in advance of ZXISCHEN STELLING.
On the left was a communication trench known as
DUMP AVE which was left to the capable hands of
Major Wise and the remaining companies were
spread to the right. We stayed in those trenches
consolidating, etc., fora few days when two minutes
before the time of advancing the word was passed
from man to man to get ready and every man in
those muddy trenches fixed his equipment, looked
to the bombs and rifles and passed wishes of good
luck to those nearest him, making a toe hold in the
side of the trench to help himself up.
Zero hour (5.30 a. m., Easter Monday, 1917)
had come! The VIMY RIDGE attack was on!
Whistles blew and over the top went the Canadians-.
The artillery started their work. Hundreds and
Page 53
OVER THE TOP
hundreds of guns commenced drum fire simultan-
ously. Looking towards the Hun trenches it appear-
ed as if the whole line was afire. 1 1 was a grand and
impressive sight. The gallant pipers leading the
25th could be seen but it was impossible with the
din to hear what they were playing. Gradually
we advanced our ground nothing but holes filled
with mud and water to make the going very diffi-
cult. At last we reached the German line which had
been taken by the 24th and 26th Battalion. We jump-
ed into what was left of the trench and waited until
the set time to move forward. Looking at the Hun
trench one could easily see what good work the
gunners were doing. Everything was smashed in;
dugouts were gone and many of the enemy with
them. Our next objective was the Tu ROP GRABEN
trench. By this time the Boche realized that he
had no small attack to deal with and his artillery,
helped with many machine guns, started, causing us
many casualties. Just about this stage of the ad-
vance Major Delancy was killed and also R. S. M.
Hinchcliffe. We could see our boys for miles ad-
vancing with confidence and determination. The
Hun shells and bullets were coming swift but that
did not stay the Canadians. Parties of the enemy
were trying to put up a fight but they were soon
settled. Major A. O. Blois, though wounded, took
command of the Battalion and for this and other
good work he was awarded the D. S. O.
Finally we reached our last objective and commen-
ced to consolidate. This trench, like the others, was
in an awful condition. We found a large dugout
named CRAEMER HOUSE which was a Battalion
headquarters. By this time we had lost not only
Major Delancy, but Lieuts. Hallesy, Sheriff, Fein-
del, Barber, as well as other officers wounded, and
a gccd number of men both killed and wounded.
Page 54
WITH THE 2 5 T H
Then came the long hours of waiting. It had
rained during the morning and everybody was more
or less wet and as the evening drew on it became very
cold and by the time the morning came again, the
Battalion having no overcoats, or shelter were in a
sorry plight, with but little food or water except
what the Hun had left behind.
On the evening of the attack Col. S. Bauld came
with Lieuts. Lewis and Fisher and Capt. and Q. M.
Ingraham, who having heard of the casualties a-
mongst the officers volunteered to come and help
out The following night water was sent up and
altho it tasted more like petrol we were glad to get it.
That night we moved back to the rear trench and
everyone felt a lot happier when a rumour went
around that the Battalion was going to be relieved.
After holding the position for less than two days
we were sent for two days rest, prior to being re-
lieved, into a larger German tunnel known as
FOLKER TUNNEL.
Lieut. Dryden was detailed to take charge of the
burial party and the sad work it was, collecting friend
and foe from all over the battlefield.
After a night in the tunnel the order came that
instead of going out to be relieved we were again to
go forward. The people at home will never realize
what this order meant to our men. After four days
without sleep, wet clothing and mud right next to the
skin, with very little food or water, our men were not
anxious to move forward, but did they grumble?.
Not they. When the word came to move forward
they were ready once more for another go at the
Hun.
We came out of the trenches for a short rest.
We had to travel about two miles over shell-torn
Page 55
OVER THE TOP
ground and we were about all in having been in the
line for quite a few days doing our duty regardless
of shells, snow and rain. After what seemed to us
to be a long time we arrived out at our resting place
not so very far from the front line. We bivouacked
here in tents and had one beautiful rest. Rain
and mud the entire four days that we were out
here. Col. Bauld was in charge of the Battalion and
Major Blois was acting as second in command.
But we were quite happy despite the rain and mud.
One night the German aeroplanes came overhead.
The order came to put out the lights and just to
show you how little the boys thought of Fritz's
bombs, a crowd of men in a few of the tents who had
just came back from a working party and were turn-
ing in when the signal went to put out lights
ignored it saying: "Just wait a few minutes as
we have to turn in." I wonder if Fritz's planes
would wait? I guess not. Anyway he did not get
us that night. Now and again Fritz would drop an
occasional shell over quite close to us but he never
did us any damage.
We had come through one of the heaviest
engagements that had taken place up until this time
and though very muddy, we were as happy as any-
one could be. Well, as I said, we stayed here for a
few days and then we went up the line and stayed
in supports for a few days. Col. Bauld was in
command and I must say that he has done good work
for the whole time that he was out there. He was
such that no matter who the man was he would do
all in his power to assist him. We stayed in sup-
ports for a few days and then we got the order to
move up into the front line trench trench in name
only as it really could only be called a ditch. On
the way up Fritz shelled us pretty badly. I tell you,
Page 56
WITH THE 2 5 T H
whilst we were up on top of the ridge, Fritz just
peppered us. But strange to say, although he got
our wind up and made us feel a little shaky he never
inflicted any casualties and that is the main thing.
Well, after a long march we arrived at our destina-
tion.
How easy to write this back here, but what a
feeling whilst going up. An pccasional shell burst-
ing close to you. Now and again a machine gun
opening up. You are marching along very quitely
when a battery of our own guns open up alongside
of you and I tell you honestly there are times when
the bravest of us get the creeps. We were in our
new home, and had to see about some shelters. We
would dig into the side of the parapet just enough for
a man to crouch up into. I can tell you that al-
though it was clammy and wet it seemed like heaven
to us at times. Well, there was an attack planned for
the 28th of April. The night of the 28th we dug
a jumping off trench and it was understood that
"D" Co. should form the left flank of the attack.
"C" Co. digging in No Man's Land and connecting
with the 26th Battalion. My platoon of "D" Co.
formed the left flank of the "C" Co. Lieut.
Bell was in charge of "D" Co that day. We
were notified that the hour would be at 4.45 p. m.
All right. Just before the attack Fritz sent a few
shells over on us and we shelled the best way that
we could. It is getting quite close to the appointed
time. I look at my watch. My men are all ready.
I have nothing to worry about. I wonder whether
I have been out here too long and that I am going to
get mine. But I don't worry for we get to be fata-
lists and say if it is going to be well it has to be,
so what's the odds. I look at my watch, it wants,
a minute to go. By the time I put my watch
Page 57
OVER THE TOP
back there is one terrific noise. All around the hori-
zon in the rear there is one mass of flame. You can
hear the shells whizzing over your head. We start
over walking, not running. It is a creeping
barrage. It will play on his wire and front line
trenches for a while and then creep forward. We are
following up close behind it. It is a wonderful
sight and nobody will ever be able to do justice to it.
Shells bursting in front of us. Fritz sending up his
S. O. S. signals; our men with their rifles at the
"High Port," not giving a damn for anybody living,
with one fixed idea that is to get into Fritz' trench and
take all of our objectives and take them prisoner,
but if they show any fight to do them in. We get to
his wire it is not cut as well as it should have been,
but we belong to the "25th." We have to get
through regardless of what happens to ourselves.
We get through the wire but most of the boys are a
little too much to the right. There is a machine gun
playing on us but not doing any damage.
One of Fritz's bombs burst right close by us and
some of it gets me behind the ear. But they are only
flesh wounds and we have got to get to the objective,
which is a sunken road. He is using a trench mortar
on us. But with our usual luck he is firing wild and,
therefore doing no dmage. I jump into the sunken
road. I am too far ahead of my men. The
Fritz's who are firing the Trench Mortar see me and
think that we are all there. So they start to beat it.
I fire at them with my revolver. I hear some squeal-
ing behind me and look around. Three Germans!
What can I do. I cannot take them prisoners nor
can I take any chances. So I have no other alter-
native but to shoot them. It may seem cold blood-
ed to a lot but the only thing I am sorry for is that
I did not kill a few more. About the same time my
Page 58
WITH THE 2 5 T H
men came along and we started bombing the dug-
outs. 1 1 was great sport. You throw a bomb down
then stand clear. A burst of flame comes up and
then you hear a lot of squealing.
At the end of the sunken road Fritz started to
counter-attack us, so there is nothing for me to do
but lead a couple of men over the open to a trench
and place a block in so that Fritz cannot get behind
us. On the way over I get hit in the ankle and the
wrist with a couple of Fritz's bullets. We get into
the trench and start bombing up the trench. There
we have a bit of a fight and I get a bayonet wound in
the back. By this time I had lost a considerable
amount of blood so have to try to get out the best
way I can for at the time we did not know how things
were going to go. But I found out later that we
held on to all of our objectives. I started to crawl
out, but Fritz also started sniping at me. I got
to the wire and it looked as if I would not be able to
get through as Fritz's bullets were flying around.
Anyway I decided to go through the best way I
could even if I did get killed As soon as I started
to walk through the wire Fritz stopped firing, for
why I do not know and another thing I did not care
so long as I got out of the wire and could get into
a shell hole. By this time, through loss of blood I
was feeling pretty weak. Whilst taking a breath
in this shell hole I saw a Boche coming towards me.
I was not taking any chances so covered him with
my revolver. He surrendered and helped me to get
out.
It is impossible in this short space to tell all the
glorious achievements of the Twenty-fifth. Suffice
to say that the empire bore no braver sons and his-
tory will chronicle no greater sacrifices than those of
the men of Nova Scotia.
Page 59
FINIS
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I
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Lewis, R
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