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COLONEL GEORGE DEVEY FARMER, CB.E., M.D.,CM.
Twice Memioned in D...sp.uches. OJl1cer Coml11.1nding Fifrh Field AmbuLtI1C1':
from Mobiliz.uion [0 Novembcr Srh, 1916.
O. C. No 2 C.m.ldi.m S[.lrion.lry Hospi[.ll, Bou!ogne, 1916 191 Î.
O.C No.5 C.u1.ldÍ.1n Geneu! H,)spi[.l!, Liverpool. 1918-1919.
Born Anc.lsrer. Om.Hlo. .Iu!\' 6rh, 1866, DiLd An.:.l<;rcr. Onurio, M.1Y Îrh, 1925.

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by Frederick W, Noyes

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History of the Fifth Canadian Field Ambulance which
Served Overseas during the Great War of 1914-1918

CONTENTS

Chapter
ONE -THE BEGINNING . . . . . . .
November 11, 1914, to April 29, 1915

Page

1

TWO -ENGLAND . . . . . . . . . .
April 29, 1915, to September 15, 19 1 5

23

THREE-"SUNNY" FRANCE . . . . . .
September 16, 1915, to August 25, 1916

55

FOUR -To THE SOMME, E7 BACK
August 26, 1916, to January 20, 1917

119

FIVE -VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE . . 145
January 21, 1917, to November 17, 1917

SIX -BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS 183
November 18, 1917, to August 22, 1918

SEVEN -THE LAST PHASE. . . . . . .
August 23, 1918, to November 11, 1918

219

EIGHT -GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME .
November 1.2, 1918, to May 19. 1919

. 239

NINE -POST-WAR ACTIVITIES
.May 20, 1919, to January 1, 1936

. . 275

TEN -ROLL OF HONOR E7 NOMINAL ROLL . . 313
November 11, 1914, to January 1, 1936

MAPS

Facing
Page
1. Folkestone District. . . 32
2. St, Orner and The Salient 64
3, TheSornrne . 128
4. Virny Ridge. . . . 144

5. Lens
6. Passchendacle .
7. Arniens. . .
8, Arras - Carnbrai

Facing
Page
.32
160
192
224

For the privilege of using original sketches, special
acknowledgement is made to the following artists.
JIMMY FRISE K. R. MACKENZIE
ALEX. E. WAITE HAROLD F. BRETT

PRINTED AND BOUND BY
THE HUNTER-ROSE COMPANY. LIMITED
TORONTO. CANADA

INTRODUCTION

THIS is not a strictly formal or statistical history. It is, rather,
a candid presentation of the human side of our experiences-
highlighting the humorous incidents and skipping over, for the
most part, the darker side of the war.
Much of the book is written - as nearly as memory has pre-
served it - unvarnished and without heroics. Considerable space
is being purposely given to more or less trivial incidents, in the
hope that their recital may restore sharpness and fresh apprecia-
tion to the readers' personal memories of "those days." We hope
that those who read the book may recapture some of that
wonderful spirit which then existed among us; and we use soldier
language in order to stimulate the rousing of that spirit.
In some instances - and for obvious reasons - personal
names have been omitted. "No names, no packdrill!" Many
incidents, tOO, are merely hinted at for fear that a more detailed
explanation of them might cause embarrassment; but all incid-
ents here recorded are included for no other purpose than that of
giving a true picture of how our men thought, felt, played,
"carried on," lived and died during the fifty-five months of our
unit's existence. Therefore, we hope that those whose names we
ha ve mentioned won't mind - and we hope that those whose
names ha ve not been mentioned won't consider themselves
slighted.
Every effort has been made to give correct dates and locations,
but, in France, all the Sections were very seldom in one place at
the same time. Bearer squads were attached to various regimental
aid-posts, and Nursing Section details more than once were sent
to help other units. However, all dates and locations have been
checked very carefully and will be found approximately correct.
We have not forgotten to mention our grousing about rations,
fatigues, brass-shining and working parties. Heaven only knows

how much of the grumbling was warranted and how much
uncalled-for! Napoleon said he couldn't get along without his
grognards. Like our grumblers, they groused - but carried on.
A Fifth history which ignored our grousing would be incomplete.
Grateful acknowledgement is due all those who, with suggest-
ions, or by the loan of letters, diaries, photos, newspaper clip-
pings, sketches and other data, have helped in the production of
our book. Here, again, we must not mention names, for fear of
betraying the confidential sources of much of our information.
It must be added, too, that nobody dictated what should go
in the book or what should be left out. Up to the time of going
to press, no ex-member of the unit, outside the editorial com-
mittee, read the manuscript. Therefore, whatever criticisms may
be forthcoming should be directed toward the committee only.
B. S. Case
F. W. Noyes
A. F. Patterson
H."1\., 1\.utherford.

THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
TO THE SACRED MEMORY
OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE FIFTH FIELD AMBULANCE
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE GREAT WAR
OR HAVE SINCE PASSED ON

+

"They shall grow not old, as
we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor
the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.
-Lawrence Binyon.

CHAPTER ONE

You're in the army now, you're not behind a plow,
You'll never get rich, you son-of-a-gun -
You're in the army now.

THE BEGINNING
(Nov. 11, 1914, to April 29, 1915)

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had been chosen to
- command a Field
Ambulance for overseas service with the Second Canadian Con..
tingent. He was informed that Hamilton was to contribute 106
men towards the unit's complement and that the remainder were
to be recruited in Toronto and Owen Sound.
Within three days of receipt of the mobilization order the com..
plete Hamilton quota was obtained and, on November 19th,
that detachment took up its quarters in Exhibition Camp, Tor..
onto, where it was immediately joined by the two other quotas,
bringing the unit to a total strength of 268 officers and men.
The Hamilton men were chosen from No. 12 and No. 19
Field Ambulances of that city. Both of these militia units had
been recruiting men for an expected Second Contingent ever
since the First Division had been called up.
Sergeant Jack Williams and Corporal Max Kelso were the
two noncoms. responsible for whipping the Mountain City men
1

2

THE BEGINNING

into shape, Colonel Farmer having given them full control of
this work. Williams and Kelso had had previous military ex peri -
ence in the Yeomanry and Territorials "over 'orne" and were
ideally suited for their jobs, although Max Kelso sometimes did
forget himself in those early days and occasionally mixed army
commands with some of his beloved farm expressions. One
night, for instance, Max's rookie squad was marching blithely
down the armories when suddenly Max noticed that it was
within about six feet of the end wall. Prompt action was neces-
sary. "\Vhoa, there! Whoa! Back up!" was the only command
Max could think of, but he bellowed it down the armories and it
had the desired effect.
The officers at mobilization were: Lieutenant-Colonel G. D.
Farmer, Comn1anding Officer; Major D. P. Kappele, Captains
H. Jones, W. C. Silcox, W. F. Nicholson, H. Buck, F. Clark;
and Lieutenants N. J. Barton, J. F. Burgess and R. Y. Kenney; and
Hon. Lieutenant O. A. Elliott. All these officers were n1edical
men, with the exception of Captain Clark, who was Quarter-
master, and Lieutenant Elliott, who was a dental surgeon. All
but Captain Clark had given up private practices at home in
order to place their medical and surgical skill at the service of
their country; and in every case the doing so involved heavy
financial and personal sacrifice.
Without casting any reflections on the officers with whom our
unit eventually left Canada - for they, too, were merely the
helpless pawns and victims of the powers behind the scene - we.
must mention that, right from the start, politics had a lot to do
with officer appointments in the Fifth. It was almost impossible
to get anywhere unless one was a bigoted adherent of the ruling
"party machine." Ability and general fitness for the job were not
primary considerations and it was a well-known fact that, right
up to the end of the war, our unit was well nigh ripped asunder
by back-home political intrigues and manipulations. Perhaps we
didn't suffer any more in this respe.ct than some other units, but
it is doubtful if in any other unit the political machinations of
arm-chair critics, stay-at-homers and other higher-ups were as
glaringly evident, and worked to the disadvantage of the men
generally, as they did in the Fifth.
Many times, during the first few weeks of the unit's existence,
it was touch-and-go whethcr or not Colonel Farmer would be

THE BEGINNING

3

pern1itted to continue in co
mand. Much political pressure was
brought to bear, both for and against him. He was juggled about
by the powers that were until he didn't know whether he was
going or staying. Ottawa wire-pullers came to Toronto and
Toronto boot-lickers went to Ottawa, trying to dislodge him.
Eventually, however, Colonel Farmer quietly made a flying trip
to the Capital City - and returned with final confirmation of his
command. How the unit's affairs suffered during all this disgust-
ing indecision and bickering may easily be imagined, and it was
almost a miracle that the Fifth finally evolved with as good an
officer personnel as it did.

Whom the Gods Would Destroy, etc.

We never could discover who was responsible for the appoint-
ment of our original noncoms. All we knew was that, with
about three or four exceptions, all were from "over the pond."
Many of them were Old Soldiers and most of them dropped
their aitches with carefree abandon. Army commands were
strange enough to most of us, but when we heard them voiced
by these noncoms. we had additional trouble in recognizing
them. There was Sergeant Wager, always "a-seekin' of somebody
whose nyme weren't in the booook.'" And Staff Leleu, with his
"Steady theyah, that chap ovah theyah." Sergeant Williams, with
his information that "If the man '00 left 'is poipe and bala-
claver 'at over by the stybles wants the syme, 'ee mye 'ave 'em
by gowing to the hordley room; but, if sow, 'ee will 'a ve to
hidenterfy 'em." Then there was Sergeant Gardner, with a
Scotch burrr that stretched right back to the hills of his native
land. Remember that verse we used to recite within John's
hearing?
The Scots they'rrre surrre a harrrdy rrrace:
They wearrr no brrreeks norrr brrreeches.
They grrroom theirrr locks wi' splinterrred rrrocks --
They'rrre hairrry sons 0' witches!
And Staff Smith - can't you still hear him, with his excep-
tionally proper vocabulary, speaking very deliberately and enun-
ciating every syllable of those multiple-syllabled words, with
meticulous precision and extraordinary facility ? We were simp I y
flabbergasted when we heard so many big tongue-twisters coming

4

THE BEGINNING

from such a diminutive man. This same Reggie Smith, though,
had more character, courage and real ability than many men
twice his size.
Then there were the Old Soldiers: Quartermaster-Sergeant
Busst, Lance-Corporal Tom Morgan, Sergeant Turner, Harry
Cunningham, Corporal Gilpin and others - always explaining
how it was done "over 'orne" and in Africa. Good fellows, most
of then1, when they got the corners rubbed off them and settled
down to their jobs in earnest. They were no worse and no better,
perhaps, than the noncoms. of any other unit.
Of the original unit, seventy per cent. of the officers and fifty-
five per cent. of the men hailed from the Hamilton area. Approx-
imately ten per cent. of the unit's personnel had had previous
medical training before enlistment, either as doctors or as medical
students; and about half of the remaining men had received
previous training in first-aid work.
The tallest man in the Fifth at mobilization was John Merri-
dew, 6 feet 4 inches. The shortest was 5 feet 3 inches - we had
a half-dozen that height. The average height of our personnel
was about 5 feet 872 inches which, considering that scores of
our lads had not yet ceased growing, shows a very creditable
stature standard.
Establishment

A Field Ambulance was made up of three medical sections,
each of which was equipped to act independently of the others,
if necessary. The three original sections of the Fifth had as
section commanders: A. Section, Captain Jones; B. Section,
Major Kappele; C. Section, Captain Silcox.
A Transport Section of fifty-seven men was formed shortly
after our arrival at Exhibition Camp. These men were in charge
of fifty-five horses, seven horse-drawn ambulances, general-
service wagons, and whatnot, for the conveyance of patients,
medical supplies, ete. Each horse ambulance was capable of
carrying four stretcher cases or twelve sitting cases. The trans-
port men were equipped with rifles, for the purpose of protecting
the unit and its patients, supplies, ete., from looters and camp
followers. We might as well admit right now, however, that
these rifles were seldom clean enough to be fired in safety. They
helped us to look like soldiers, though!

THE BEGINNING

5

Three motor ambulances were also added while at Exhibition
Camp. These were to form the nucleus of what was later to
become a completely mechanized fleet of conveyances for sick
and wounded. Eventually almost all transportation of wounded,
from advanced dressing stations to clearing stations, was by
means of motor ambulance, and a rather extensive Motor T rans-
port Section ultimately evolved.
For the first few days at Exhibition Camp the time was taken
up with preparation of billets, medical inspections, measurement
for uniforms, attestations - and all those innumerable fatigues
which go into the embryonic stage of the soldier. For about ten
days the men continued to wear their cívvy clothing but, at last,
the long-looked-for day came for the issuance of uniforms and
kit. The men lined up in alphabetical order and, under the eagle
eyes of Quartermaster-Sergeant Busst and his ex-policeman
understudy, Corporal Udell, all the impedimenta of an active-
serviceman's equipment were handed out. From early morning
until late at night a magic transformation then took place and
the men blossomed forth in all the glory of their new regalia.
It is just possible that 44-inch tunics were issued to men with
36-inch chests; and that several somewhat smallish fellows were
seen floundering around in size eleven shoes, while some six-
footers were struggling to squeeze their size twelve feet into size
seven boots. Size eight caps came down over the ears of size
seven heads, and size six caps perched on top of size eight-and-a-
half skulls. But all the mixups were taken in the proper spirit and
tolerable fittings were finally obtained - by the men exchanging
their misfit articles with one another and by spending much of
their hard-earned dollar-ten army pay on alterations.
Of course, the bulk of the equipment had been produced under
time pressure and, in consequence, had suffered considerably in
quality and design. The red army-boot was a cross between a
moccasin and a sponge. It had blotting-paper outer soles and
insoles of spikes, whose business ends pointed invitingly up-
ward - earning for the Minister of Militia the sobriquet "Gen-
eral Sham Shoes." After two minutes on damp ground a man's
feet were as wet as if he were barefoot. Tunics, breeches and
greatcoats fitted perfectly - only where they touched! It was
solely by a liberal expenditure of the men's own money that a
creditable appearance was at all obtainable. Heavy woollen

6

THE BEGINNING

underwear, about .!i-inch thick, gave more than one man the
scratching practice that was to come in handy later on in France.
It has been well said that "soldiers were made to hang things on,"
for what with balaclava caps, fingerless wool wristlets, fever
bands, high overshoes - and all the other things we didn't
ha ve later on in France where we really needed them! - a man
had a load not fit for a pack-mule.
Staff-Sergeant Smith brought to camp a very comfortable in-
flatable sleeping-bag and when Colonel Farmer learned of its
presence he raged about "feather-bed soldiers" and ordered
Reggie to get rid of the bag immediately. However, the Staff
managed to retain his bed and eventually used it in England and
at the Front - in spite of definite orders from every successive
Officer Commanding. He also clung to his original Canadian
tunic. The other senior noncoms. loved to twit Smith about his
sleeping-bag and some of them may recall the battle he fought
with Staff Mott when Jake passed an unflattering remark about
the bag. The scrap was a torrid affair and ended with honors even.
The old soldiers initiated the rookies into the mysteries of
puttee-rolling, blanket-folding, kit-packing, button-cleaning
greatcoat-rolling, belt-shining and bunk-making, and it wasn't
long before a rather nondescript collection of civilians had
attained the appearance of smartly-accoutred army men.

Training 1{outíne

During the five months in Exhibition Camp our men were
trained in infantry drill, stretcher drill, and first-aid treatments,
such as bandaging, putting on splints, stopping hemorrhages, etc.
Three lectures a day were given by the officers. Riding instruction
was given to the men of the Horse Transport, and the secrets of
motor mechanism and upkeep were imparted to the members of
the Motor Section. Also, a signalling squad of six men was
formed and every day these dot-and-dash addicts took their
places, along with the other camp signallers, for instruction
and practice.
Colonel Farmer, although a staunch fraternal man himself,
would never stand for any "Lodge stuff" from those under his
command. One day a man paraded into the Orderly Room and
asked for permission to go to Montreal to visit his brother, a

THE BEGINNING

7

very prominent officer in the Old Man's fraternal organization.
When he attempted to take advantage of his lodge affiliations
the colonel gave him particular hell in the form of a severe
dressing down and extra duties during the ensuing few days.
Our original sergeant-major was Robert Franklin, or "Bob,"
as he was later to become known. Franklin had been a petry
officer in "the King's Na-vee" - so his story went - and, right
from the day he "took over," the men received a taste of salt-
water discipline. Who can ever forget Bob, standing out in front
of the unit when it fell in between cowstables Nos. 33 and 34?
There he would be, striding impatiently back and forth, barking
at this man, scowling at that, questioning a noncom., or criti-
cising some poor flustered junior officer. Franklin had a great
command of marine-depot English. One of his first warnings
was: "When I say 'Double' I don't mean just 'Double' - I mean
for you to bloodywell fly." However, if the buck privates stood
or "doubled" in awe of him, the officers were even more in fear
of his lashing tongue. It is part of a sergeant-major's job to
train his officers, and Bob undertook that duty with all the zest
and aplomb which he, and he only, could command. Even Col-
onel Farmer, with his twenty-three years of previous military
experience, was more than once "told off." As for the junior
officers, it is safe to say that they feared Franklin's withering
ridicule far more than did the men.
Those early days in the old frame cowsheds shall always
linger in our memories. The barrel stoves, straw palliasses,
wooden-slatted double-tiered bunks, tin wash basins and crude
tub showers all helped to convince us that we were "in the
, ,
army now,
It is impossible, too, to forget that bitterly cold winter's night
when the whole unit was taken violently ill with stomach cramps
and acute dysentery, and dozens of our men collapsed in their
bunks or outside in the raging blizzard. For many hours all the
available doctors in or near the camp worked frantically over the
poisoned men, and it was only because of this prompt attention
the attacks didn't prove fatal. Staff-Sergeants Overend and
Deadman, Sergeant Overholt and several other experienced
"rankers" also rendered invaluable assistance. The cause of the
trouble was traced to the use of unclean kitchen utensils, and the
sergeant-cook (j ames Sharkey), who was responsible for the

8

THE BEGINNING

whole painful and near-tragic affair, was summarily discharged.
The order of discharge was read to him in front of a muster
parade of the unit. The cook-sergeant was then hustled out of
camp by automobile, otherwise the men would have given him
a very bad half-hour.
To cap the affair, George Grindley wrote a letter to one of the
Toronto newspapers, complaining about the poor food and the
filthy conditions under which it was prepared. General Lessard
had the letter traced to the Fifth. George was hailed before
Colonel Farmer and, in the presence of General Lessard, promptly
acknowledged his authorship and stated that his action was
entirely justified - that he had taken it only as a last recourse
and when all the customary complaints to Orderly Officers, ete.,
had failed to rectify matters. Needless to say, George received a
very severe reprimand. Another muster parade was immediately
called and General Lessard scathingly rebuked the whole unit for
what he called "a childish breach of military etiquette." How-
ever, George's complaint had the desired effect, and, from then
on, there was a marked improvement in the quality and quantity
of the men's rations. Of course, there never was an army in which
rations were up to the men's expectations. We groused about our
fo od until the end of the war.
It was about this time that an order was posted, offering any
man his discharge for the sum of ten dollars. How many of us
regretted in after days that we had not availed ourselves of that
opportunity! Later on, at Hill 70 and Passchendaele, for instance,
some of us would have tried mighty hard to raise the necessary
ten-spot - if the offer had remained open!
More than one man got his discharge in Toronto because he
persisted in returning to camp "lickered-up." Monday morning
Orderly Room was the scene of trials and tribulations. The
Saturday night culprits were brought before the colonel and
some few of them were given very pointed temperance lectures
and their discharges. It was considered that they were "unlikely
to become efficient soldiers!" It must be added, though, that
some of the men so discharged from our unit joined other units
later on and distinguished themselves by their all-round efficiency,
and by earning decorations for bra very under fire - which is
further evidence that good parade-ground soldiers were not
always the best men in actual battle.

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THE BEGINNING

9

The ((Lion Tamers"

To whip the men into first-class physical condition, two
Imperial P.T. instructors were attached to the Fifth. "Lion
Tamers" is the army name for these worthies, but it was a mis-
nomer, so far as we were concerned. We were anything but lions
and they never tamed us! These noncoms. were accustomed to
training peace-time soldiers or "regulars," and not cítizen-
soldiers, such as we. It is not surprising, therefore, that we just
about broke their dear kind hearts. One instructor completely lost
his voice, yelling futile orders at us and gargling Scotch in his
spare time; while the other one mysteriously dropped out of the
picture, after a few weeks' attempt to make soldiers out of us
"blawsted Can-eye-dian b - ds," as he called us. Perhaps
their departure was hastened by their faux pas in giving us
"aeroplane drill," one day while we were waiting to have a unit
photograph taken. In this drill the command "Take cover" was
given and the men were expected to throw themselves flat on
the ground, or take cover in any hole or ditch that might be
nearby . We were all shined up like guardsmen before the aero-
plane drill, but, after it was over, our uniforms, puttees and
shoes were terribly awry and simply plastered with mud. We
would hate to repeat the language Colonel Farmer used on In-
structor Fegg when our explosive Commanding Officer arrived
to parade us before the waiting photographer.
Nor can we forget that it was while at Exhibition Camp that
our good friend Tommy Hawkey won fame through being
linked with the unit's battle-cry anent the receptive coalbin.
From Exhibition Camp to Otterpool, and right through to the
end of the war - yes, and even after the war - the challenging
cry, "Who spit in the coalbin?" was answered by the spon-
taneous and unanimous chorus - "HAWKEY!" Tommy, too,
had the happy faculty of always getting into Staff Leleu's bad
books. Who cannot recall the Staff's eternal yelling at the lad:
"Pri vate Hawkey! What a w you doing theyah? Get a wa y from
that hawsse's head, Private Hawkey! Stawnd steady, th
yah,
Hawkey!" It is little wonder that T otTImy became one of our
best-liked lads, and remained popular long after Staff Leleu
transferred to the 2nd C.C.S. Tommy wasn't a giant, at all, but
he will always be a character dear to the Fifth.

10

THE BEGINNING

Evenings in camp were spent in letter-writing, studying, card-
playing, or in attending concerts in the old Dairy Building. Very
often we nearly smoked out the concert troupes and, more than
once, performances were halted because of the terrible coughing
of the men. The winter of 1914-1915 was very severe and
scarcely a man escaped having a cold or a cough. Some of the
Y.M.C.A. officials were of the opinion that much of the cough-
ing was caused by the sinful cigarette; but it was suspected that
much of the coughing was done to curb some of the so-called
stage stars who so generously came to entertain us.
The boys of the Horse Transport - and many of the unit
generally - got considerable entertainment in unloading horses
off trains, doing stable duty, horse-line picquets, ete. And who
can ever forget the transport men, when they first got their issues
of riding-breeches, bandoliers, spurs, ete., and went "square-
pushing" up and down Y onge Street, wrecking the hearts of
Toronto's susceptible young women? Those were the days!
Then there were inoculations, vaccinations, physical inspec-
tions, throat swabbings, ete. Spinal meningitis broke out in camp
and many throat swabs were taken in order to prevent the spread
of the dread disease. Luckily the Fifth escaped this scourge.
When we first arrived in camp a cookhouse fatigue was con-
sidered something to be a voided, but the wise among us soon
learned that such a fatigue meant relief from drill, a warm inside
job, and the best of the rations to eat. The only days on which
cookhouse duty was not popular were Saturdays and Sundays, for
those were our big days. All drill ceased at noon on Saturday and
out-of-camp passes were obtainable. On Sunday all-day passes
were issued and it was then that married men went home to
their wives (or said they did!), single men courted their girls, and
the Y onge Street roughriders strutted their stuff.
Three times daily the men fell in and marched to the main
grandstand, under which we took our meals. Breakfast consisted
of a blob of jam, two slices of bread, an almost invisible strip of
bacon and a mug of what cook Sharkey was pleased to call
"tea. " Dinner was composed of bread, either beans or meat stew,
potatoes, jam or rice pudding, and more "tea." Supper was two
slIces of bread, a hunk of cheese, some jam, and still more "tea. "
Sunday was Visitors' Day. Crowds of relatives, sweethearts
and friends thronged the camp grounds and buildings, to see

THE BEGINNING

11

when, how and where the men ate, drilled and played. Even our
sleeping quarters weren't sacred to some of these visitors. One
Sabbath a certain Hamilton sergeant's family visited the camp
and, by the time they reached the sergeants' billet, the noncom's.
little daughter had fallen asleep. The wee tot was placed on
George Sayer's bed and left there while her admiring dad guided
the party of visitors elsewhere. Upon returning after a few min-
utes the sergeant was chagrined to find that his little angel had
sprung a leak all over Sayer's blankets. The resourceful noncom.
picked up his youngster and, taking George's water bottle, he
pulled out the cork and placed the nearly empty botde on its flat
side and on top of the sodden blankets. That night George Sayer
complained bit'terly about somebody's carelessness in laying the
uncorked water bottle on his bed - but he failed to notice that
it would have taken two or three water bottles to contain all the
moisture those blankets held. Verily that youngster had more
capacity than control.

The ((Latrine Gazette"

After about four months of camp life the men naturally
thought they were sufficiently trained to be sent overseas. The
novelty of army life had somewhat worn off and it was feared
that the war would be over before we even got to England. Day
after day there were rumors (credited mostly to the latrine
Gazette) that we were to break camp the following week. Con-
sequently' when time after time these rumors proved groundless,
the men relieved their feelings in song:
(T une--My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean)
They say we're going over the ocean;
They say we're going over the sea;
They say we're going over the ocean --
But it sounds just lifte B. S. to me!
-R....e/rain-
B. S" B. S" It sounds just like B. S. to me, to me;
B. S., B. S" It sounds just lifte B. S. to me!
This, by the way, was the one song to which Colonel Farmer
strenuously objected. More than once, while on route marches,
we were told we could "March Easy" - providing we didn't
sing "that damned B.S. song!" All the colonel's hopes were

12

THE BEGINNING

vain, however, for that song continued to be our best-liked
marching chorus all the time we were in Toronto Another
favorIte was sung to that beautiful old hymn tune, "The
Church's One Foundation."

We are Sam Hughes-es' army --
We are his ar--am--ee.
We cannot fight, we cannot shoot --
What bleeding good are we?
And when we get to Berlin,
The kaiser he will say:
Hock, hock, Von Kluck, what a blinkin' fine lot --
Sam Hughes-es' ar--am--ee!

And, whenever a show in the old Dairy Hall didn't please us-
and the usual coughing cure didn't stop it - we were always
able to bring it to an abrupt halt with
(T une-- Tipperary)
It's a long time to wait for breakfast,
It's a long time to wait.
It's a long time to wait for breakfast,
When there's nothing on your plate.
Goodbye, eggs and bacon; Farewell, Irish stew --
It's a long long time to wait for breakJast,
And the Lord knows that's true!
Eventually, it became evident that we were drawing to the
end of our stay in Toronto. Route marches had become longer,
and, more than once, we raced other units the six miles back to
camp from Long Branch. Along with the other camp units the
Fifth took part in battle manoeuvres in the Don Valley d
strict,
just north of Toronto, Soon after came the joyous word that we
were actually to depart within a week or two.
On March 20th, all the camp units participated in a last big
dress parade through the streets of Toronto. The saluting base
was in front of the legislative buildings in Queen's Park; and
ours was a fit and proud unit indeed when it paraded past the
staff officers and civic dignitaries assembled to inspect, honor and
bid farewell to Central Ontario's portion of Canada's Second
Contingent. The citizens turned out en masse to greet and cheer
us on our way. How little they (or we!) dreamed of what was in
store for us !

THE BEGINNING

13

The Hungry Major

The evening of the \Villowdale sham-battle (April 1st), just
as we were making ready to return to camp, one of our horse
ambulances became badly mired in a Don Valley bog. Colonel
Farmer was at the head of our marching unit and Major Kappele
was bringing up the rear. Darkness had already set in and the
colonel was well out of sight when the ambulance became
mired, so the major, being ravenously hungry and not wishing
to be kept from his waiting dinner, left Corporal Udell and a
squad of men to get the bogged vehicle back to camp. Then,
galloping his horse, the major caught up with the unit, thinking
all the time that Colonel Farmer was totally unaware of the
mishap to the ambulance. Kappele thought no more about the
occurrence, until after the unit had arrived back at camp and he
had hurried off to the officers' mess for dinner. There he found the
other officers already seated around the mess table, and he himself
was about to sit down when Colonel Farmer's voice stopped him.
"Did the men get back to camp all right, Major Kappele?" he
was asked. "Yes, Colonel," came the answer, "And all the ambu-
lances, Major?" "Yes, Colonel," replied the major, without even
blushing. "What about Corporal Udell's ambulance?" snapped
colonel, and there was no mistaking the full meaning of his
question. "Oh . . . why . . . it's back all right!" asserted the
unabashed major. "It is not," corrected the Commanding Officer,
"It's stuck in the mud, up in Willowdale, and I want you to get
on your horse and go right up there and look after it." The
major looked at the colonel, then he cast a longing look at the
savory food on the table. "May I have n1Y dinner first, Colonel
Farmer?" he asked. "NO!" barked the Commanding Officer,
"Leave at once ! Your dinner can wait till you get back!"
Major Kappele gave a final despairing glance at the anticipated
dinner, then went to the stable for his horse. There he found that
Udell and the ambulance had been back in camp a full half-hour
- and that the colonel had been notified as soon as they had
returned! As the major made his way back to the mess it dawned
upon him that the colonel had been about to send him all the
way up to Leaside on a wild-goose chase - just to impress on
him the importance of paying meticulous attention to the execu-
tion of his colonel's orders and the inadvisability of withholding

14

THE BEGINNING

important information from his Commanding Officer. On his
return to the mess he was greeted by the very guarded smiles of
his fellow-officers, and the fatherly complacence of the colonel.
On April 10th, the Fifth visited Hamilton, in order that the
Ambitious City, too, might give it a public greeting and pay it
a last farewell. There the men were dined, wined and otherwise
feted; and it is just possible that this final celebration in Hamilton
was the more-or-Iess direct cause of a change in sergeant-majors.
At any rate, on April 14th, Sergeant Jack Williams was made
Warrant Officer, First-Class, and took over the sergeant-major
duties fronl Bob Franklin. Our two Italian comrades, Covelli and
Restivo had considerable to do with this change in sergeant-
majors.
Finally, Colonel Farmer informed his men that they were
shortly to leave for abroad and that week-end passes would be
given to all those off duty in order that they might have a fare-
well visit with their families and loved ones. Full advantage of
the privilege was taken. From the following Monday on, there
was great commotion in camp. It seemed to many of us that
never would we get packed up and away. But, there is an end to
almost everything. About 5 p.m., April 15, 1915, the unit
paraded to the camp railway siding and boarded the train.

On Our Way at Last!

And so, after months of impatient expectancy and false alarms
as to the date on which we were to start on our Great Adventure,
we were about to begin the first leg of our journey to our hearts'
desire - the war. Our mothers, wives, sweethearts and families
came down to see us off. They viewed our departure in a vastly
different light from which we did. To them it was farewell -
to us it meant nothing more than au revoir. We were experi-
encing the accomplishment of our utmost desire - a longing
that had waxed and grown through five months of arduous
training. We were young and full of impatience to be "over
there." To most of us it was a joyous rather than a sad occasion.
At six o'clock the train pulled slowly away from the siding.
The lights of Exhibition Camp and Parkdale faded into the dis-
tance. Slowly we passed through Toronto, then quickly picked
up speed on our journey eastward and into the cool spring night.

THE BEGINNING

15

Guards were mounted at the coach doors to see that nobody fell
off the train, Some of the men settled themselves down to get
whatever sleep they could. Others sang or played cards. Most of
us, however, missed the straw-filled palliasses or were too excited
to sleep, and it was a rather weary-eyed lot which looked out at
Montreal, where we arrived at 8.25 next morning. We changed
engines and were away again at 10.30. Many of the men suc-
ceeded in visiting nearby filling stations during the interval.
Laughter and song prevailed as we continued east. We waved
cheerfully to the farmers in the fields and to the waiting passen-
gers at the stations past which we thundered. After Montreal
came the Quebec bridge, Campbellton, Newcastle - then Monc-
ton, where we were given a hearty welcome by what appeared to
be the whole town, \vhen we stopped for twenty minutes and
were marched around a few blocks to limber up. At Truro, too,
we detrained and did our routine of physical jerks for the edifica-
tion of the townsfolk.

Practising for Paris

On our way through Quebec, when we were delayed at some
small station, a few of the boys made their first attempts at
learning to parZez-vous with the attractive Canadiennes who
were on hand to see Zes soZdats pass through, and to offer us pro-
tective amulets in the form of strings of beads, crucifixes and
other sacred tokens. Even at this early stage of affairs, Frank
O'Leary, Fred Noyes and Joe Irwin proved their acquaintance
with the French language by being able to make their wishes
known to the friendly mesdemoiselles - a trait which, later on,
they assiduously developed in Mont Noir, Fosse Ten, and other
places.
On arriving in Halifax (Saturday at 7.45 p.m.) we were per-
mitted to leave our coaches and go up town to buy whatever
we needed and send word back hon1e that, so far, all was well.
The only place we were ordered not to go was to Water Street.
So, like good soldiers and inquisitive children - we went (0 the
forbidden street to see for ourselves why it was proscribed to the
troops! It didn't take long for even the most unsophisticated of
us to draw the correct conclusions and strike out for more inno-
cent diversions.

16

THE BEGINNING

Some of the purchases made that evening - our last in Canada
for many years - proved rather unfortunate. For instance, Ben
Case, who up to that time had been only an occasional smoker,
decided that, if he were fortified with a tin of tobacco and a pipe,
he would be certain not to become seasick. To make sure that
his innards would have the full benefit of the tobacco, he com-
menced smoking Saturday night and kept at it religiously all day
Sunday till we went aboard ship. The result, however, was cer-
tainly not in line with Ben's expectations! The first morning out
he was very, very sick - and not onl y that, but he had such an
a version for the pipe and tobacco he consigned them both to
Da vy Jones' Locker.
Quartermaster-Sergeant Busst proved his familiarity with sea-
fish when he brought back to the train an abundant supply of
fresh lobster. It was the first time many of his noncom. cronies
tasted this delicacy, and the fact that it was washed down with
copious drafts of liquid refreshment didn't lessen their enjoyment
of the succulent dish.
On Sunday morning a church parade was held, to St. George's
Church, one of the oldest and most historic churches in the
Dominion. The popular name for this edifice is "The Round
Church," so called because of its shape. It was built in 1758 by
German Lutherans, then newly-arrived from their Fatherland,
and the first service was preached in the German language. One
tradition has it that, when the church was finally built of stone,
the then Duke of Kent liked circular buildings so much he stipu-
lated that the church should be built round. Another tradition
suggests that as "the devil lurks in corners," the old Germans
resolved to give His Nibs no hiding place. Shortly after it was
built, a sailor remarked that "it must have been built by a cooper
- it's round as a blinkin' barrel!" It was odd that we who were
on our way to war with Germany should ask for Divine pro-
tection in a church built by Germans! Which reminds us of how
we used to squirm inwardly when we heard so-called Christian
ministers pharisaically praying for victory for our side and
disaster for the enemy.
The rest of the day was spent in and around the railway yards,
waiting impatiently for the order to embark. Finally it came,
and up the gang-plank of the old Northland we went. We had
supper aboard and sailed at 6 p.m.

THE BEGINNING 17
Aboard the ((Northland"

The Northland (formerly the Zeeland) of the White Star Line,
was a 12,000-ton ship, 567 feet long, and had a normal speed of
fifteen knots. In addition to the Fifth she carried on this trip the
4th and 6th Field Ambulances; the 4th, 5th and 6th Companies,
Canadian Engineers; the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, and the
3rd Stationary Hospital. The total number aboard, 1,700 troops,
78 officers.
According to orders posted throughout the ship, our days'
activities were to be regulated as follows:
6 a.m. -Reveille.
7 a.m.-Men's breakfast.
8.30 a.m. -Sergeants' and officers' breakfast.
11.30 a.m.-Men's dinner.
1 p.m. -Sergeants' and officers' lunch.
5 p.m.-Men's supper.
6.15 p.m.-Retreat.
7 p.m.-Sergeants' and officers' dinner.
8.30 p.m. -First Post.
9 p.m.-Last Post.
10.00 p.m.-Lights Out.
No mention was made in these orders of the hundred-and-one
other duties, parades, fatigues, ete., that were to be crammed in
between times. The men were to have the freedom of the top
deck and their time was their own - between Lights Out and
Reveille! The Fifth also provided men to help in the ship galley
or kitchen, and it was aboard the Northland we adopted our
permanent cookhouse call "Galley Up," which call was to remain
unique with our unit.
Orders were also posted, within the first two or three days at
sea, informing us that all senior officers' ranks had been confinned
and our lieutenants promoted to the rank of captain.
The method of filling the ship was that the upper decks (cab1.n
accommodation) were occupied by the first units to en1bark. The
lower portions were occupied by the units following. Several
other units had already gone on board before us and we were
assigned some cabins above the "glory hole," and also some
bunks in the "glory hole" and steerage quarters. In the cabins the

18

THE BEGINNING

accommodation was all that anyone could ask - good bunks and
ample room for four persons.
We had just settled down in our quarters when the rumor
spread that we were to be shifted to the lower "glory hole" -
to make way for the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station, the members
of which were largely medical students, some of whom had
their commission papers, although nominally only privates or
noncoms. The 2nd Casualty Clearing Station was th
last unit to
come aboard and, following the plan adhered to by the other
units, should have occupied the "glory hole." These meticulous
wearers of the khaki, however, were able to convince those in
charge that they should not be expected to put up with the foul
air and dismal gloom of the "glory hole." And so, before the
Canadian shore had faded into the distance, the "Fifth Field
Animals" were ordered to vacate their quarters and move down
into the "glory hole. "
And what a hole it was! Can you ever forget the stench of the
bilge in that awful place? Just enough water, vile-smelling stuff,
lay in it to keep swishing back and forth with each roll of the
ship. No fresh air found its way into the place and, what with
men getting sick and the odor of the refuse that was, apparently,
never cleaned out, it actually merited the well-known army
expression of "bloody awful!"
Despite this glaring instance of favoritism for those who con-
sidered themselves above the ordinary rank-and-file, we endeav-
ored to make the best of our lot. Slipping out of Halifax in a
low-hanging fog, along with our sister ship the "Grampian," we
said our farewells to Canada in those songs that so many times
after were to grip our heartstrings and bring back sweet memor-
ies of home; "I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home," "Old
Pal of Mine, " "Loch Lomond, " and other melodies that bespoke
the fact which we would not give expression to in so many
words - that we were leaving behind all that was dear to us,
for what - we knew not.
Then occurred a regrettable episode: The officer in charge of
troops aboard ship had allotted a certain number of vacant
berths to the Fifth Field Ambulance. For some reason it had been
decided that these berths should be given to the medical students
of the unit, the great majority of whom had joined just prior to
our departure from Exhibition Camp. This in itself was enough

THE BEGINNING

19

to cause dissatisfaction on the part of those who had been with
the unit from the start. Complaint was accordingly laid - a sol-
dier's privilege - and the explanation given was that "these
boys came from good homes." That was heaping insult on
injury! From that time on, the college students or "Rah Rah
Boys" were dubbed "the boys who had a home." The old song,
"They Say We're Going Over the Ocean," gave place to a
new song:

They say that they're medical students -
From great university schools;
They call themselves medical students-
But we call them medical fools.
No one - least of all the officer who made the remark - will
deny that the aspersion on the home life of the majority of the
men was entirely uncalled for. Certainly the students themselves
never gave any ground for the belief that they considered them-
selves superior to the rest of us; but that tactless blunder resulted
in their being tagged with a title that stuck with them through-
out the war. As is so often the case, the innocent had to pay the
penalty for someone else's error.
Mention of the students reminds us of the da y big Red
McKenzie came before Colonel Farmer, seeking to enlist. In tell-
ing the Old Man he had already had considerable military train-
ing Red leaned over the colonel's desk, resting his giant bulk on
two massive fists. "How long have you been training did you
say?" queried the Commanding Officer. "Three months!" an-
swered Red. "Three months!" snapped the Old Man, "then,
blankety-blank it to hell, you ought to know enough to say
'sir' and stand to attention when addressing a colonel!"

A ((Log" of the Trip Over

Days passed rather uneventfully as we steamed toward Eng-
land. Hospital duty, stewed rabbit, crown-and-anchor, and
housie- house - between the times we weren't seasick or on some
of the numerous fatigues - occupied the hours aboard.
On the second day out from Halifax, Sergeant-Major Williams
entered a cabin in which Carl Hill was experiencing the pleasures
of a severe attack of seasickness. "Private Hill, have you seen any
of the batmen in one of these cabins?" Carl had joined the unit

20

THE BEGINNING

just before it left Exhibition Camp and was not yet conversant
with army terminology. "No, sir, I haven't," he answered. "Are
you going to have a ball game?" Jack Williams glared at him.
"Don't try to get fresh with me, my lad, or I'll give you 'ball
gyme' !"
Which reminds us of the manner in which Carl joined the
army: He was attending University. Exams. were upon him and
Carl wasn't very confident of passing in Anatomy. He decided
to visit Exhibition Camp and see his pal, Mike Bicknell, who
had already joined up. Carl met Captain Barton in one of the
huts. ' 'Take off your clothes, " ordered Barton. Carl disrobed and
the captain examined him. "Sign here," ordered Barton. Carl
signed a paper. "You'll draw a uniform at the Stores and report
to the B. section staff-sergeant," Barton informed him. "But I'm
not so sure I want to join up, " protested Carl. The captain smiled.
"Is that so! Well, you signed that attestation paper, so you're in
the army now!"
Lifeboat drills were frequent and every man was supposed to
have his lifebelt near him at all hours, day and night. A brief
"log" of the ocean trip follows:
Sunday, April 18th -Sailed from Halifax at 6 p.m. Cold,
foggy weather. A few become seasick.
Monday, April 19th - Made fair headway. Cold. Foggy.
Raining. Rough sea. Many more become seasick.
Tuesday, April 20th - Sea rough. Weather cold. Grampian
disappears from our view. Most of us are now seasick.
Wednesday, April 2 1st - Fog. Rain. Cold. Ship barely mov-
ing. Foghorn blowing and engines stopped for eight
hours. Sea rough. Somewhere off coast of Newfoundland.
Nearly everybody seasick.
Thursday, April 22nd - Fog gone. Good headway. Beautiful
sunshine. Sea sonlewhat calmer.
By this time even many of the ship's crew were seasick. But,
best of all, those laddybucks who had dragged chunks of fat meat
before the eyes of their sick comrades, the first few days out,
were now seasick themselves. And many of those who had
already recovered from their mal de mer took sweet revenge by
displaying nauseating pork and other unmentionable delicacies
before the bile-green eyes of their erstwhile tormentors.

THE BEGINNING

21

Friday, April 23rd - Clear weather. Calm sea. Grampian
sighted at 11.30 a.m.; comes alongside at 12.30 p.m.
Westbound tramp steamer passes between us and Gram-
pian at 3 p.m. We hear band playing on Grampian.
Saturday, April 24th - Warm, clear day. Canvas bath rigged
on deck. Men enjoyed open-air plunge in the sea-water.
In the evening the senior noncoms. entertained the troops with
a Grand Concert, "in aid of the Mine Sweepers' Fund." Sergeant-
Major Leleu of No.2 Casualty Clearing Station, an original
Fifth man, officiated as Chairman; and Staff Overend was a
member of the Committee in charge. The Fifth's contribution to
the program consisted of a song by George Brookes, and recita-
tions by Irvine Dyment and Frank Fletcher. Among the enter-
tainers were Sergeants Clapham and McKee, who later became
star comedians with the C-2 Concert Party. There were over
twenty numbers on the program and to say that "a good time
was had by all" is putting it very mildly.
Sunday, April 25th - Fair weather. Church parade on deck,
when Cruiser Cumberland appears. Church parade dis-
misses itself, as men rush to side and greet cruiser boat-
party which comes aboard. One of boat-party said to be
a prince, but we can't find out which prince.
Monday, April 26th - Weather clear. Good headway. Cum-
berland in lead, then Northland, with Grampian astern.
Tuesday, April 27th -Same as previous day. Communica-
tion (intership) has been kept up by visual signalling. In
this manner we were informed on Sunday, by the Cum-
berland, of the First Division's great stand at Ypres, dur-
ing the first gas attack. Are now in submarine zone and all
lifeboats swing outboard. Great excitel11enr caused this
a.m. when some loud gun reports were heard. All rushed
on deck expecting to see German Grand Fleet - but it
was only the Cumberland laying some test shots.
It so happened that, when the Cumberland's guns fired, Staff
Alden was lying sound asleep in his cabin bunk. He leaped out of
his berth, wrapped himself in what he thought was a life pre-
server, and rushed on deck. There was considerable laughter when
everybody saw Frank with a pair of boxing gloves wrapped
around his middle. They were tied together by their laces and had

22

THE BEGINNING

been hanging alongside Frank's life preserver. In his precipitate
rush towards safety the Staff had grabbed the wrong protectors.
Wednesday, April 28th - Beautiful weather. Cumberland
lea yes us in charge of Destroyers Boyne and Foyle which
ha ve come rushing up from the northeast. Lundy Island
sighted 6 p.m. Are entering Bristol Channel. Pilot comes
aboard about midnight. Ship anchors shortly after.
Thursday, April 29th - Anchor weighed about 4 a.m. Dock
at Avonmouth at 6.30 a.m.
Throughout the voyage Major Kappele had been greatly inter-
ested in a Belgian civilian who mixed rather freely with our
officers and showed an undue interest in the ship's course and
things military. The Major gradually became convinced that the
man was a spy. In a Folkestone hotel, a few weeks later, Kappele
again met the mysterious civilian and reported his suspicions to
the proper authorities. The man was arrested and flung into jail.
He proved to be a Belgian Count engaged in espionage for the
Allies - was, in fact, considered one of our most valuable intel-
ligence agents! However, Major Kappele was thanked by our
Headquarters Staff and complimented on his alertness and powers
of observation.

9

CHAPTER TWO

Keep rhe home fires burning, while our hearrs are yearning;
Though we're far away from home we dream of you,
There's a silver lining, rhrough rhe dark clouds shining - -
Turn rhe black clouds inside our, rill rhe boys come home.
(Col. Farmer's favonte chorus)

ENGLAND
(April 29, 1915, [0 Seprember 15, 1915)

.. The Kmg was pleased
but I wasn't!"

WHAT a
beautiful sightwas
our first glimpse of
England! The en-
trance to the Port
of A vonmouth is
one of the most
magnificent in the
whole world. After passing Lundy Isle on our port side, the troops
were treated to a picture that still lives in their memories. Enter-
ing Bristol Channel and passing in turn the Counties of Devon
and Somerset, each new mile seemed more beautiful than the
last. On our left were the rugged cliffs of South Wales, with the
outer harbors of Cardiff and the famous resort town of Newport
gradually becoming visible. On our right and considerably closer
to us was the expansive stretch of Barnstaple Bay; then the town
of Ilfracombe, perched on the hills and with a natural harbor at
its base; Combe Martin, Lynnmouth, Weston-Super-Mare,
Clevedon, L yndney, the Flatholm lighthouse, the Severn Bridge
- the whole hundred-mile trip from the sea had been a dazzling
panorama of breath-taking scenery. We were seeing, with our
own eyes, those dream-places of which many of us had often read,
but had never expected actually to see.
We had left behind the ice and snows of Canada and, after
eleven somewhat dreary days at sea, had now found a land of
deep green fields and hills. As far as the eye could reach, deep, rest-
ful green was the dominating color. Then, as we drew closer, the
gayly-colored bloom of Spring flowers, the shapely hedges and
23

24

ENGLAND

the quaintly-beautiful architecture of Old England's buildings
fascinated not only the Canucks but returning Britishers as well.
Then came the hustle and bustle of disembarkation. Hardly
had we stepped ashore when relatives of many of the English-
born men rushed up to greet them. The Canucles, too, were not
without their share of attention, and many a tunic-button and
cap-badge fell into feminine hands - in exchange for a kiss, an
address, and in some cases an invitation to spend leave at the
home of the recipient.
Great Western trains were ready and waiting to carry us farther
on our journey. These trains seemed very small in comparison
with the coaches we had known in Canada and the Canucks
didn't forget to twit the Old Country lads about them. A supply
of chalk was mysteriously conjured up from somewhere and we
soon had the coaches covered with great big scrawls that told all
and sundry we were from the Land of the Maple Leaf and on our
way to Berlin - or bust!
Would we go through London - "London, 'arf the bleedin'
world, not London in the blewdy bush" - and get a glimpse of
the "Big Smoke," the "Place where the King worked"? That
question was excitedly discussed. No! We were going to skirt
London, we learned, and go south to some part of Kent. Conse-
quently, the looks of rapture on the faces of the Old Country
fellows gave place to looks of disappointment and dismay. We
did, however, pass through the outskirts of the City of Fog and
experienced something of the "sights and sounds and smells of
mighty Lunnon."
Just outside of London our train stopped on a siding to let
some west- bound trains go by. They turned out to be hospital
trains, and, upon our enquiring of a railway worker why there
were so many, his answer was that the trains were full of "Can-
eye-dian wounded, what 'ad mide such a gordawmighty mess of
Jerry, about a week before at Wipers."
If we were somewhat amused at the small size of the English
trains, we marveled at the ease and absolute absence of jerking
with which they started and stopped. One great fault with the
coaches we occupied was that they possessed no latrine accommo-
dation. It was, therefore, a rather embarrassing journey for many
of the lads. All doors were kept locked, so that it was impossible
to descend at the few wayside stations where we halted. Conse-

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3, Draft from No, 2 Casualty Clearing Station, Toronto.
4. The Lads from Bolton,

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1. Andy Patterson, our War Correspondent, 2, Landing at Avonmouth
3, Art Husband, died t 920, 4, Irwin, Elliott and O'Leary at OUerpool Dental Tent.
5. Part of the "White Army." at the Battle of Leaside April I, 1915,

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1. En route to Halifax we stOD at Moncton and Truro and parade for exercise.
2, Captain Nicholson. Captam Silcox. Colonel Farmer and Major Jones,
3, Captain Barton. Major Jones. Captain Buck an1 Captain Clark,

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ENGLAND

25

quendy, the men were forced to take advantage of opened win-
dows, and, with their natural modesty, they chose times when
they thought no town or village was near. Unfortunately, they
very often failed to allow for the speed of the rapidly-moving
train, and it is feared that more than one town and village saw
some queer sights and received some strange presents as our
crowded train flashed through them. We even saw Colonel
Farmer throwing one or two suspicious-looking newspaper pack-
ages out the window of his coach, and we were rather astonished
that a full lieutenant-colonel in His Majesty's Forces was not
immune to the calls that were just then bothering the other
ranks of the unit.
Happy Carlisle noticed that considerable moisture had col-
lected on the window near where he was sitting. Someone ex-
plained that this was caused by the English train custom of
ha ving engines take on water while they were in motion. To
better see how this was accomplished, Happy raised the window
and stuck out his head. The lads in the compartments just
ahead must have been tipped off that Carlisle had his head out
the window, for the drenching he received dampened more than
his curiosity, and Happy was only too well aware that the
engine was not to blame.
It was on this first train trip in England that many of the lads
discovered what excellent razor strops could be made from those
leather straps which were inserted in the coach doors for raising
and lowering the door-glass. There was not one strap remaining
in its rightful place after we were two hours on that train. We
had been taught to improvise!
Money was rather scarce as we had not been paid since leaving
Halifax. But, at that, Canadian money .W'as valueless. The result
was that, although we tried to purchase food at Reading and
other stopping places, Canadian money was of no use to those who
had any. Jimmy Henderson, with his usual Scotch foresighted-
ness, had a shilling and a thri'penny bit; and the fellows in his
cOll1partment were about the only ones able to get anything to
eat throughout the long and wearisome day. But, Jim always did
ha ve more foresight than forethought!
Finally, after about twelve hours' journey, we detrained at
W estenhanger, in Kent, and set out on the march to Sandling
where comfortable huts were said to be awaiting us. This march

26

ENGLAND

while' only about two miles in length, was the worst the men
had made up to this time. They had had nothing to eat since
about 4.30 that morning. They had been sitting cramped in
crowded compartments all day, and this, added to their rough
sea voyage and in many cases acute seasickness, had left many of
them frightfully weak. It was not to be wondered at, therefore,
that the march to Sandling was a slow and painful affair, and
that many dropped exhausted and had to be carried by ambulance.

Sandling Camp

At last, however, we reached camp. The huts were all that
could be desired, but something had gone wrong with the com-
missary department and there was not a thing for us to eat when
we arrived. Many of the fellows broke camp and made their way
to nearby villages and inns, where they satisfied their hunger and
slaked their thirst. About three hours later those who stayed hope-
fully and faithfully in camp received an issue of tea, bread and
jam. \Ve learned afterward, that the fault lay not with our own
unit's commissariat but with some Imperial Service Corps which
had been instructed to have food ready for us when we
reached camp.
Who doesn't remember our first morning in Sandling Camp?
Just back of the huts was a small wood to which many of the men
made their way immediately after the morning roll-call. There
they wrote letters, lounged about among the trees, and enjoyed
the luxury of the rich green grass and the beauty of the many
wild flowers. Here were violets, primroses, cowslips and wood-
anemones - all in full bloom. It was hard to realize that back
in Ca
ada there still were snow, ice and cold weather. It was in
this little wood, too, that the Canucks made their first acquaint-
ance with many of the sweet-throated songbirds of Old England.
Next day saw the beginning of an intensive period of training
- in forming fours, route marching, applying bandages, physical
jerks, carrying stretchers (by numbers), polishing buttons, and kit
inspections, ete., ete., that was to continue till we left for France.
Memory recalls only a few of the highlights of our stay at
Sandling; but who will ever forget the first time he heard the
dirty unkempt urchins in Folkestone harbor, yelling "Can-eye-
dian Eye-penny!" as they dived into the stinking mud and slime

ENGLAND

27

for the coins tossed down to them? Or the fun - short-lived-
that we had for the first few days when Maestrone's Restaurant
and the Queen's Bar were open to the troops?

Foolish Questions

Were you at the Y.M.C.A. hut the night Dyment was hypno-
tized and ate the raw potatoes and tried to shave himself with a
piece of charcoal - and afterwards claimed he knew what he
was doing all the time he was supposed to be hypnotized?
Do you remember when the uRah Rah Boys" got the after-
noon off, to hear Hilaire Belloc in Folkestone town hall - and
how their hut mates had prepared things for them when they
got back?
Do you recall the trenches we dug and the pipes we laid on the
big hill behind the camp?
Were you one of the "awkward squad" that was Staff Alden's
particular delight?
Did you get change for a florin when you had given a half-
crown piece in payment at a Hythe shop?
Were you one of those in that long line-up that used to wait
for the wet canteen to open?
Did you smoke cigars, to the astonishment of the civvies who
gaped at the sight of a fullbuck private with such a lot of money
to burn?
Did you get fooled by the potency of Bass's Ale, or those
thri'penny pints of old English ale to which Jack Allen introduced
some of the Canucks at the camp canteen?
Did you tell those_ English girls that you had a ranch at Han-
lan's Point, or that your dad owned a silver mine at Parkdale?
Were you one of those who used to ride back to camp on that
last train from Folkestone, without ever paying your fare?
Did you try to dodge Nobby Clark's sanitary fatigues - only
to run slam-bang into worse fatigues with Sergeants Camps
and Wager?
Were you one of those who used to envy Tommy Windsor's
unique ability to look busy as he walked around camp, hammer
in hand, dodging all parades, route marches and drills?
Do you remember our first issue of heavy, black army boots -
"Kitchener Kicks" we called them - with the hobnailed soles

28

ENGLAND

and the crescent-shaped steel plates on the toes, and the heavy
steel horseshoe-shaped plates on the heels? And the blistered heels
and chafed insteps which resulted from wearing them the first
few times?
Were you one of the B. Section lads who used to watch Alf.
Pountney energetically shining his shoes and buttons, while he
sang at the top of his voice:
When the fields are white with d)'sies,
And the rowses bloom agyne,
Let the lovelight in your eyes more brightly burn;
For I love you sweetheart ownly,
So remember when you're lownely -
When the fields are white with dysies I'll return.
Do you remember the nightly arguments in C. Section hut,
between the two Jocks, McLaren and McFarlane - about the
relative merits (if any!) of "Glesca" and Edinburrrgh?
Did you see that famous battle between Reginald Seneca
Smith and his fellow flyweight, Nobby Clark? If you didn't you
missed something! It happened one hot, sultry night about twenty
minutes after Lights Out had blown. Staff Smith was sitting
writing letters in the sergeants' hut. Because of the heat, he was
clad only in an undershirt. The hut lights were still burning, for
although Reggie had heard Lights Out, he considered that order
applied only to privates and lower ranks than staff-sergeants.
Besides, he had some long letters to write to some people a long
wa y off, and he had some long words to put in those letters.
He was just in the middle of an eight-syllabled word when
Orderly Sergeant Clark entered the hut. "You'll 'ave to put owt
them there loights roight awiye, Smith!" called out Nobby;
"Loights owt blowed nearly an 'arf hour agow." Reggie glared
at the orderly sergeant. "I shall do no such absurd thing!" he
asserted; "and, on future occasions, Sergeant Clark, you will
please address me properly as Staff Sergeant Smith!" he added.
Meanwhile Nobby undressed. He peeled off down to his under-
shirt and was about to flop onto his bunk when he noticed that
the staff was unconcernedly going on with his writing, without
any apparent intention of turning off the lights. "Hey, Smith!
Turn owt them bloody lights and get to bed. Us other blowkes
'as to bleedin' well sleep, if you 'aven't!"

ENGLAND

29

This was too much for Reggie. After forcefully admonishing
Nobby to be "decidedly more circumspect in his language and to
refrain from such uncouth, rude and futile vulgarisms of speech,
and to betake himself to the uttermost depths of Hades," he
resumed his writing.
"To hell with them harguments!" retorted Nobby; "Them
loights is gowin' owt, no matter if you're a bloody general-
and I'm a-gowin' to put 'em out!" he declared. With that he
switched off the lights and turned in. Reggie was up like a shot
and switched the lights on again. No sooner was Smith back at
his letter-writing than Clarke was off his bunk and over to the
light switch. As fast as he could turn off the lights, Reggie would
switch them on.
Goodness only knows how many times they were switched on
and off; and far be it from us to repeat the torrid epithets that
were hurled back and forth during the alternating periods of
light and gloom. Eventually, Reggie decided that enough was
enough, so, just as Nobby was about to turn the lights off for the
umpteenth time, Reggie dropped him with a flying tackle he had
learned in his Pharmacy School days.
And there in their shirt-tails they wrestled and fought and
rolled, all over the slivery hut floor. Chunks of skin were knocked
off their knees, elbows and other places; splinters entered their
anatomies where the flesh was softest and their bodies most vul-
nerable. There is no telling who would have won, for, after
about twenty minutes, the other sergeants ended hostilities by
throwing pail after pail of dirty stagnant water over the two
battlers. Goodness only knows how long the water had been
standing in those fire buckets, but it must have been a long time,
judging by the aroma of the two scrappers when they rose
drenched and steaming from the floor. Next morning the two
gladiators limped painfully about their duties and there was con-
siderable adhesive tape and court-plaster missing from the first-
aid panniers.
Otterpool Camp

On the 24th of May we moved from Sandling to Otterpool
where we were to remain under canvas during the rest of our
training days in England. The routine of training was similar to
that at Sandling.

30

ENGLAND

Our Otterpool Camp location was almost ideal. The tents
were pitched in a practically treeless, level, grassy field, bordered
at the back and on both sides by thick green hedges. Fronting us
was a wide shallow valley, which gradually rose and blended
into low graceful hills. Entrance to camp was off the main Ash-
ford road and, with the exception of the Sixth Field Ambulance
which was in a field immediately west of ours, and the Second
Heavy Battery which was near a small woods about five hundred
yards back of us, no other troops were in our immediate neigh-
bor
hood. Consequently, we never experienced any of the inter-
unit rivalries so prevalent where several units were close to one
another.
The Horse Transport lines were in an adjoining field, just back
of the main camp. Only a thick hedge separated the two fields
and this made an excellent wind-break for the horses. Shortly
after we arrived here we received our allotment of horses, ambu-
lances, general service wagons and other transport equipment;
and our horsemen had a very busy time from then on, training
the new animals and getting acquainted with the unfamiliar
equipment.
It was shortly after our arrival at this camp that Charley
Scowcroft won his lance-corporal's stripe for hanging on to a
runaway team; and that Irvine Dyment, his wagon orderly, was
severely injured and got a few days in hospital as his reward for
the same mad ride through the town of Sellindge.
Here it was, too, that we celebrated Dominion Day, in races,
games and other sports - when Frank Beattie and Bill Finn ran
their never-to-be-forgotten Marathon race. It was about this time
that Finn lost "three bloody quid," as he so vividly put it. He
was referring to the fact that he had left his wide leather money-
belt, containing three golden sovereigns, hanging in the camp
comfort station, and when he went to look for them they had
disappeared. From that moment any reference to Finn's loss
could always produce from him a most blood-curdling flow of
invectives. Bill left us a few weeks later, to go to a sports meet
at Stamford Bridge, and he maybe running yet, for we never saw
him again. Never can we forget him and his cusswords - and
the way in which the Three Bills (Finn, Howell and Marsh) used
to lament the way in which the capitalists bled the country.
Verily were those three lads about twenty years ahead of the times!

ENGLAND

31

Perhaps some of the men ma r remember the obstacle race in
which contestants had to craw unde.r a tarpaulin which was
staked tightly to the ground, squeeze through some small barrels
and squirm their way through other obstacles. Bob Hare won
this race. The hundred-yard dash was won by Red McKenzie.
There was a sack race, too, but we can not recall the winner's
name.
Considerable documentation was carried out while we were at
Otterpool. Part of this consisted of the making of a Short Form
of Will by every officer and man. A copy of this Will was in
every man's paybook. In the course of tin1e many of the Wills
were acted upon and found fully legal. As late as 1932 one of OUI
Otterpool staff-sergeants was called into court to identify the
signature he had placed on one fellow's Will seventeen years
before.
Some of the lads got down to actual fighting at Otterpool, in
preparation for active service. Art Tucker and Carl Hill had a
little difference which, to the amusement of all the boys, they
setrIed fòr all time with the gloves. Heavy Cardwell and Fred
Wardell also resorted to fisticuffs. It is doubtful if any of these
lads could now tell you what their private wars were about.
Gordon Rosser, with his powers of observation keenly devel-
oped through years of Boy Scout training and frequent references
to Baden-Powell's official manual, called out the guard one night,
to warn the sleeping troops of an approaching Zeppelin - only
to have them discover for him that it was merely the rising
full moon!
It wàs at Otterpool, too, that Art. Husband, returning from
leave one midnight, brought back such glowing tales of Dublin
and the Irish people: "Biggest brewery in the world - finest
library in Europe - largest park in the Empire - and the most
hospitable people in the whole universe." Hubbie didn't quit his
descriptions until just before Reveille, and then only because his
stock of superlatives had run out.
Jim McGillivray, who later went to the 28th Battalion and
won one of the Second Division's first Military Medals, retained
his Western-Canadian ideas, to which he gave voice one night
he was able to come by train from Folkestone and hop the
Westenhanger fence, without paying his fare: "It's no harm to
cheat the C.P.R.," Jim would say, Uthey took plenty from us!"

32

ENGLAND

Mac had better luck than Baldr Rutherford who, when trying
to get back to camp from Westenhanger before Lights Out, took
a short cut across the fields. He missed the right path and blun-
dered on to the dumping grounds for the honeydew wagons.
When he finally reached camp the other inmates of his tent needed
no second sniff to detect his presence, and his mistake !---and he
succeeded in getting inside the tent only after removing every
stitch of his clothing and giving his body a thorough scrubbing
with the ice-cold water at the ablution tables.

War's Alarms!

One morning Colonel Farmer had occasion to visit the officers'
latrine. A few minutes after he entered the sacred precincts of
that canvas enclosure he was heard cursing and shouting at the
top of his voice. He was yelling for the sanitary sergeant - but
no sanitary sergeant came. So the colonel shouted for the orderly
sergeant - and no orderly sergeant showed up. Then the Old
Man roared for the sergeant-major. He was now almost inco-
herent with rage and his bellowing fairly shook the tents - but
no sergeant-major answered his summons. So the colonel called
for the bugler, and the bugler came! "Blow the Alarm," ordered
the frenzied Commanding Officer. The bugler blew, and blew,
and blew, but only a few grinning privates came on to the
parade ground, "Blow it again!" fumed the colonel. The bugler
blew - and there came running up, Sanitary Sergeant Clark,
Orderly Sergeant Wager and Sergeant-Major Williams, the
latter breathlessly demanding to know what all the excitement
was about. . . . A few minutes later one of the sanitary squad
was hailed into the order! y room where he recd ved a severe
reprimand - for failing to put a supply of khaki paper where
he had been instructed to place it by the sanitary sergeant, and
where it wasn't to be found just a few minutes before, when the
colonel needed it most.
Leonardo CovelIi and Francesco Restivo were twO to whom
Otterpool brought good luck. One day Italy formally declared
war on Germany, so the colonel had the two swarthy sons of
Sunny Italy paraded before him. He complimented them on be-
longing to such an heroic nation and gave them twenty-four
hours' leave to celebrate the occasion. They did!

KENT

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ENGLAND

33

While we are writing about these two Italians we must men-
tion that, in our training days, these fellows were kept on an
almost permanent sanitary fatigue. If our camp held the record
for being the cleanest in the Kentish district, much of the credit
is due Covelli and Restivo. Who doesn't remember the thought-
less way in which we used to dump our mess tins and clean
them with the sandy soil from under the big tree over by the
cookhouse? When Covelli or Restivo would find the mess we
had made, it was always: "Who eata here? Who eata here?
Santissima Madonna, mia! I make-a report to Sarja-Maij.!"
And, remember when they were on guard one night, with
orders to place under arrest some absentees whenever they showed
up? Morning came and the missing men were found in their
tents, having dodged the guard tent and come in through the
hedge. When Jack Williams asked the two Italians why the
missing men had not been arrested, the reply he got was: "Please-
a Sarja-Maij, the damma men come-a by backside of campa -
alIa time-a go through the haige !"
The two sons of Sunny Italy proved themselves first-class com-
rades and, later on, they were not called upon to do more than
their share of the dirty work. Naturally, they had to put up with
considerable teasing, but the fellows soon found out that the two
Italians could hand out as much as they received. Here is a song
the lads used to sing about them:
(Tune - We're Marching to Zion)
Covelli - R..estivo -
Alla time plenty fatigue-of
Sarja-de-Maij, the men go through the haige-
Sonama beecha nooon!

The Y.M.C.A. tent and the wet canteen were located in a
field just across the road from camp. These two large marquees
were the goals of many of the men, between parades and when
off duty. A few of our boys helped the Y.M. manager during
rush hours, and it was noticed that these men had an abundant
supply of chocolate-bars, cigarettes and malted milk tablets,
ete., every time they returned to their tents. The wet canteen
was open only one half-hour at noon, and about three hours in
the evening. Consequently, it was a matter of rapid absorption,
but some of the boys were there for the opening of the canteen

34

ENGLAND

and remained until the last minute of its closing. Many's the
time Alec Donaldson and Bert Dyke were late falling in for
parade - friend Dyke wiping foam from his mustache with
the back of his hand, as he ran up to take his place in the ranks
of his section.
We have often wondered if Captain Nicholson ever found out
the truth about that wonderful night when the Fifth was out on
manoeuvres and he was officer commanding camp, with just a
handful of men. In some strange manner a young and very
pretty girl, dressed attractively in blue, arrived at the guard tent
shortly after midnight. She had had a little too much of the cup
that cheers and she was looking for Private Roy Flynn. Somehow
or other she had heard that he was the handsomest man in the
unit and she had come all the way from London to meet him.
Flynn wasn't available so, to soothe and rest the amorous lady,
the corporal of the guard took her into the pack-store marquee
where the quartermaster-sergeant was lying flat on his back,
asleep and snoring. Right alongside the quartermaster-sergeant
a bed was made for the attractive miss and the corporal left the
tent, with the feeling of a good deed well done. At Reveille
the quartermaster-sergeant wakened to find the scantily robed girl
lying beside him, but before any explanations could be made, the
corporal of the guard arrived on the scene, bustled the now sober
young lady into her suit of blue, and led her to the cookhouse.
There she was given some breakfast and ushered out of camp.
She had no sooner gone than Captain N ïcholson appeared on the
scene. He said he had heard strange sounds during the night, but
all his questioning elicited no information about the midnight
visit and the all-night billeting of the beautiful girl in blue. And
the quartermaster-sergeant left the rum alone for fully two days
after the affair!
Perhaps a short (but true) story will serve to revive memories
of the meals we got at Otterpool. The time is noon. The men
have just been issued their dinners. Along comes Orderly Officer
Barton, followed by Orderly Sergeant Camps, followed by
Camps' little yellow dog. "Any complaints?" asks C
tain Bar-
" y ." P . FI " Th ' I"
ton. es, Sir, says nvate ynn. e meat s not t to eat.
Barton looked at the food, sniffed at it - but was careful not to
taste it. "What's the matter with the meat?" he demanded. "I
don't know," answered Flynn. "But I saw Camps' dog taste

ENGLAND

35

some of it and then turn around and lick its own hindquarters to
get the bad taste out of its mouth!"
Speaking of Cook Gilpin reminds us that it was a favorite
remark of the quartermaster-sergeant's staff that "You'll have to
improvise." As an improviser John Gilpin deserves special men-
tion. One day he used Red Sowden's undershirt for a sack in
which to steam a plum-duff pudding - an improvisation that
his mind alone could think of. Apropos of the same chap we must
give some verse that was current at that time:

JOHN GILPIN
John Gilpin was a citizen
Of old Toronto town
And when the present war broke out
His was the first name down.
They signed him on, they made him cook,
And cook is he today,
His stews are noted far and wide
As " Gilpin's Consomme."
Week in, week. out, from dawn till dark,
Old John stews o'er his stew.
Week in, week out, the men all gag
And grumble at his brew.
It isn't all poor Gilpin's fault
The stew gives such a shock-
He cannot make de luxe bouillon
With bully beef for stock.,

His "mystery" is not wasted though,
For, just to k
ep the peace,
It's used for "dubbin" on our shoes.-
Also for axle grease,
And when Jack gets to heaven (?)
If he'll heed our advice,
He'll take some of his stew along
For the gates of Paradise.
He could put some on the hinges;
He could II grease" Saint Peter's hand
And thus the stew (and Jack) might get
Into the Promised Land.

36

ENGLAND

If Gilpin wasn't the cleanest cook in the army, he was, beyond
the shadow of a doubt, the most resourceful. Time after time we
saw him take cooking shortcuts that were marvels of ingenuity.
One day he boiled a mess of rice in one of the tea dixies-
without stopping to rinse out the dregs of tea that nestled at the
bottom of the pot. When the rice came to a boil and was stirred,
the tea-leaves mixed with the rice - but that didn't disturb
Jack Gilpin! He simply reached for a couple of handfuls of
currants and threw them into the dixie. "That fixes it!" he ex-
plained. "They'll think the tea-leaves are currants, too. They
, II ' "
can t te em apart.
Surely it must have been Gilpin who inspired the author who
wrote the words for that famous soldier's song, "Oh it's a
Lovely War." We give one verse and chorus of this heart-felt
ditty:
Come to the cookhouse door, boys; sniff at the lovely stew!
Who is it says the colonel gets better grub than you?
Any complaints this morning? Any complaints - not me!
What's the matter with lumps of onions floating about your tea?
(Chorus)
Oh, oh, oh, it's a lovely war!
Who wouldn't be a soldier, eh?
Oh, it's a shame to take the pay!
As soon as Reveille is blown,
though we're feeling as heavy as lead,
Oh, we never get up till the sergeant brings
our breakfasts up to bed!
Oh, oh, oh, it's a lovely war!
What do we want with eggs and ham
When we've got stew, hardtack and jam?
Form fours, right turn,
What do we do with the money we earn?
Oh, oh, oh, it's a lovely war.
One character who was always popular was Jimmy Driscoll,
the mail man. " 'Usband, not Osborne; Waite, not White; T.
High 'All," for T. I. Hall! - Jirnmy dropped his aitches rather
promiscuously, and added them on with equal abandon, but
"Come and get your mail,boys" was always a welcome bugle
call. Another favorite 'call was "No parade today," but it had to
be a very, very wet day before the men were given an opportunity
to hear that call! Remember how, at the least sign of rain during

ENGLAND

37

a drill period, we used to look skyward and utter one of our most
sincere prayers: "Send her down, Davie, send her down?"
And, speaking of bugles, do you remember when the colond
ordered Horace McKillop to practise Last Post for a whole week,
at the end of which the Commanding Officer was to hear it and
decide whether McKillop could play it satisfactorily or not?
Well, friend Mac practised day after day, until we all thought
the bugle and Mac, too, must burst! Finally, the seventh day
arrived. Mac had learned to blow the call perfectly, but, as the
fateful evening drew near, he became frightfu11 y nervous. To
brace his nerves and fortify his wind supply he visited the wet
canteen somewhat frequently, and it so happened that, as 9.30
approached, Mac's legs were somewhat unsteady and he couldn't
blow a note of Last Post. Colonel Farmer stood by the orderly
room tent waiting for the call. Mac took up his position just
outside a bell tent in which Bugler Frank T emperton was wait

íng with another bugle. Sharp at 9.30 McKillop raised his bugle
to his lips, puffed out his cheeks, and went through all the
motions of blowing, while, inside the tent, Temperton actually
blew the all-important call. Colonel Farmer looked, listened -
and then complimented McKillop on the great improvement a
week's practice had made in his bugling!
All will recall, too, the armed guards we were called upon to
do at Otterpool. There we were, with red-cross brassards on one
arm - and a rifle over the other! - giving the lie to Geneva
and the sanctioned usages of war. If anyone of us ever took this
guard seriously that one was not Happy Carlisle. Happy used to
march up and down his beat, rifle over his shoulder, singing at
the top of his voice that old favorite of his:

THE NIGHT I FOUGHT JACK JOHNSON
I never shall forget the night - the night I fought Jack Johnson!
The house was packed, it was a sight, the night I fought Jack Johnson
The light was so bad, I could scarce see a pin,
I couldn't see Johnson when Johnson walked in;
I turned to my second; "Look, Happy!" I tried,
And to get out of it, loudly I cried:
II R...eferee, listen to me, I cannot see his face in the dark.
He's as black. as our chimney stack.., his features are much too dark.;
So, please, referee, 'tis essential to me, that on him you place a mark.;
Whitewash his face, please, 'cause I cannot see his jaw in the dark.'"

38

ENGLAND

Well, they took. me out into the ring and 1 made one rush at Johnson;
In about two seconds 'you couldn't tell which was me and which was
Johnson!
1 made him run all round the ring tiddley
o-dee,
He ran like a deer, but he couldn't catch me;
1100k..ed at my second there, standing in white,
Then 1 suddenly saw Johnson start swinging his right -
Then 1 saw the old homestead and faces 1 loved
1 saw England's valleys and dells,
On the night 1 fought Jack Johnson.
My second took me to my chair on the night 1 fought Jack Johnson,
And wasn't 1 glad to get out there, away from Mr. Johnson!
The bell for the second went ring-ting-a-ling;
They said "The bell's ringing!" 1 said "Let it ring!"
1 trod up to Johnson the way I'd been taught,
And I'll give you my word - in a moment 1 thought
I was fighting with the Seventh l{oyal Fusiliers,
Not the Grenadiers, nor the chandeliers!
1 thought 1 was fighting with the Seventh l{oyal Fusiliers,
On the night 1 fought Jack Johnson.

Well, in the seventh round I was going strong, but 1 didn' want to
hurt Mr. Johnson.
1 said to him, "So help my hand, you'd better give in, Mr. Johnson."
He didn't give in but he gave me a whelt
Just near where the buckle's attached to my belt,
In about an hour after, 1 woke up half dead,
There were forty-nine doctors repairing my head;
And there was 1, lying on the floor,
How they made me roar, they gave me "what for,"
When they got me up for one round more,
Lord, how it did upset me!
Someone said, "Ain't he looking white!
Isn't he a fright! Who said he could fight?"
My second shouted, "Hit him with your right!"
1 said, "Johnson won't let me!"

More Foolish Quest
ons

We had been in England long enough now to sort of "fit in"
- and it is easy to recall how exceptionally apt some of our lads
became. There was rarely an instance when they were not equal to
the demands placed on their "Can-eye-dian ingenuity."

ENGLAND 39
Were you one of those Hamilton lads who, when Charley
Camps, the ex-street-car conductor, thumped his Reveille on the
tents in the early morning, used to greet him with "Fares, please!
Move up to the front, there. Lots of room up front !"?
W ère you there, that dark night when Captain Clark turned
over the joy-riding horse and gig to Ernie Gilmer and Ben Case,
with instructions to take them to the transport lines? Instead of
obeying the captain's orders the two full-bucks drove around to
Harold Skilling's tent where Gilmer, mimicking Clark's voice,
shouted out: "Hey, you inside there! Come out here and take
this horse." Skilly, who had been sound asleep, thought it was
Clark's voice, so he tumbled, half-dressed, out of his tent and
grabbed the horse's bridle. "Take this outfit to the transport
lines," ordered an authoritative voice from behind the gig.
"Yes, sir," answered Skilly. And, as two shadowy figures slipped
away in the inky darkness, Private Skilling took the horse and gig
to the horse-lines. What he said next morning when Ben and Ernie
confessed their part in the affair is best left to the imagination.
Were you one of the fellows who used to help the hop-picking
girls who came down from "Lunnon" for the Kentish hop
season? And did you return to camp from some of those hop-
picking expeditions with a balmy breath that redolently adver-
tised that you appreciated to the full what hops were for?
Do you remember the day the news from France was some-
what dismaying and one of our lads said, with a sigh of relief,
"Well, the Army might be catching hell, but thank Heaven,
we've still got the super-macy of the seas !"?
Were you on that route march one exceptionally hot and trying
day, when the Fifth was marched down a shady lane and halted
near an isolated farmhouse - where the farmer was discovered
in the act of broaching a large cask of ice-cold ale? The colonel
paid the farmer for the ale and ordered it rationed out to his
men - pretending that the unit's opportune arrival was entirely
accidental, and hiding the fact that the whole thing had been
carefully prearranged by himself?
Were you the sort of Canuck who searched in vain all over
Hythe and Folkstone for chewing tobacco, apple pie with ice
cream, chewing gum, and a cup of decent coffee?
Many original Fifth men will remember at least one or twO
of the several aeroplanes which nlade forced landings in the

40

ENGLAND

level field just west of our camp. Whenever a plane was seen
about to land, Colonel Farmer would hurry off, either by car or
horseback, and invariably bring the airmen back to our officers'
mess for refreshments and questioning. It was the Old Man's
fond hope that some day he would thus capture a German spy
masquerading in the uniform of our Air Force.
Perhaps you'll recall how Carl Hill and Mike Bicknell went
up to London with their expenses budgeted down to the last
farthing - and how they had a whale of a time experiencing
London's sights, sounds and smells? And Pier Morgan's trip to
&lArf the Bleedin' World," when he visited the \Var Office-
and later on was pinched and thrown into clink for being with-
out a pass. \Vhen word came back to Otterpool about Pier's
arrest the other ex-Boy Scouts thought it was terrible and that
they were disgraced beyond redemption!
\Vere you there the day Harry Fryday was boasting about his
strength and one of the lads bet him he couldn't even lift hÜn-
self off the ground. Harry accepted the challenge. Two buckets
were brought and with a foot in each Harry tried desperately to
lift himself. The laughter of the onlookers only served to spur
him on to greater efforts but he was finally forced to give in
when the bucket handles had almost cut their way through his
tugging fists.
Were you in Tent Number Nine, playing poker, the day
Orderly Officer Barton happened along and caught the fellows
with a blanket spread on the floor-boards and a tell-tale "pot"
of Utanners," thri'penny bits," and "ha'pennies" awaiting a
winner? &II hope you men aren't gambling?" said Barton, passing
on after a brief glance at the sinful layout. uNo, sir, we're all
lviethodists in here!" came the answer from one of the scared
players, and the game went on, thanks to the captain's tolerance.
Perhaps you know something of that weird night when non-
coms. Williams, Gardner and Busst played Don Quixote to a
bibulous damsel in distress - and the ultimate denouement when
the irate husband of the more-or-Iess virtuous young lady ap-
peared unexpectedly upon the scene. All we know is that the
three chivalrous noncoms. retreated rather timidly and precipi-
tately and didn't wait for the thanks of the grateful husband-
who happened to be a Guardsman, about six-feet-four in height
and a yard across the shoulders!

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,

ENGLAND 41
A Gig and Some Giggles
But let's get back to that joy-riding dog-cart. It was in this
very same gig that the daughter of the Otterpool Manor House
was being taken for a ride, one Saturday afternoon, by Captain
Barton. Major Kappele and Captain Burgess, intent on having a
game of billiards at the Hythe Club, elected to drive to town
with them and, being tres gentils, sat in the front seat with
Kappele doing the driving. It was a lovely midsummer's day.
The sun shone brightly, the birds sang sweetly, the breezes blew
gently and, except for a rather back-firing horse, nothing marred
the day until the party were about half-way down that steep hill
just west of Hythe. There they met one of those smoke-belching
steam tractors hauling a train of wagons up the hill. Their horse
shied, the maiden cried, and the driver tried (in vain) to control
the frightened animal. The terrified steed veered over to the side
of the road; one wheel of the gig ran up the bank, and the gallant
major was dumped ingloriously out on the dusty road, where he
was dragged along for some distance, damaging considerably his
knees, his elbows and his dignity. Burgess gathered in the reins
with the crook of his cane and stopped the runa wa y horse. The
major pulled himself together and remounted the dog-cart,
leaving the driving to Captain Burgess. As was usual on Saturday
afternoons, hundreds of foot-slogging soldiers were on their- way
to Hythe and enjoyed immensely the major's temporary down-
fall. However, the laughable upset failed to spoil the afternoon's
fun for the two billiard addicts. They had their game and in due
time returned to camp.
On the following Sunday morning, the church parade was
called a half-hour earlier than usual, and Major Kappele, not
having sufficiently perused the orders, found himself in the
latrine when the officers' call was sounded. Not desiring to appear
late on parade and receive from the irate colonel a public casti-
gation, he decided to lie low, and totally disregarded several
frantic bugle calls. Captain Burgess suddenly appeared at the
latrine entrance: "For heaven's sake, major, the colonel has had
the officers' call blown five times especially for you, and he him-
self is going to blow up if you don't appear on parade!" But the
major decided to stay where he was. "It's tOO late, now. I'm
going to remain here until the unit moves off. " In due time the

42 ENGLAND
parade moved off, whereupon the major emerged from the
redolent retreat and retired to his tent to fortify himself agains t
the return of the unit from church parade.
About an hour later the unit returned. Colonel Farmer strode
straight to Kappele's tent. "Major Kappele!" he demanded
hotly, "why were you absent from church parade this morning?"
The major appeared very contrite. "I am very sorry, sir," he
answered apologetically, "I intended to ask you to excuse me
from parade on account of injury to my knees and elbows."
Colonel Farmer fairly snorted. "It's a damned queer thing," he
barked, "that you are quite able to go down to Hythe every
afternoon, after parade, and yet are physically incapable of
attending church service!" Major Kapelle was again saying how
sorry he was, when the colonel turned abruptly away and went
to his tent. A few minutes latet, having meanwhile divested
himself of boots, belt and tunic, the Old Man returned in his
slippers to the major's tent. "I'd like to see you in my tent for a
moment, Dan," he announced. Over refreshments, they laughed
about the whole matter and re-established the accord which had
always obtained between them. The colonel never did explain,
however, the source of his information about the major's fre-
quent pilgrimages to Hythe - nor his conviction that billiards
didn't constitute the total of the town's attractions. Verily,
'twas hard to fool the Old Man!
Another time the foot-sloggers had a good laugh was one day
when we were out on one of our first route marches from Otter-
pool Camp. We were proceeding blithely along - on the right-
hand side of the road! - when an Imperial unit came marching
toward us. They were, as is the English custom, marching on
their left-hand side of the road and, consequently, that brought
them on the same side as ourselves. The twO units were about
twenty paces apart when both commanding officers halted their
men. Colonel Farmer sat his horse, glaring defiantly at the
English colonel. The English colonel walked his mount towards
our Commanding Officer and, bidding him a polite "Good
Morning, " suggested that our unit was on the wrong side of the
road. "They are, like hell!" roared the Old Man, at the aston-
ished Imperial, "I know damned well that you people over here
keep to the left, but we're Canadians, thank Heaven, and we
keep to the right - and we won't budge one damned inch !"

ENGLAND

43

The English Comnlanding Officer smiled. ' , Very well, colonel,"
he agreed. Then, bringing his hand up in a courteous salute, he
wheeled his horse and went back to the head of his own unit.
Calmly he gave his men the order to march, right-inclined them
to the other side of the road and led them past us. It was some
moments before Colonel Farmer had recovered sufficiently to
enable him to give the necessary orders to start us on our way
again - still on the right-hand side of the road! As soon as a
bend in the road hid us from the Imperials, however, we moved
over to the left-hand side. From that day on, certain officious
noncoms. kept up an almost continuous warning of "Keep to
the left!" whenever we were on the march.
From the aforementioned incident it might be inferred (and
quite correcrly!) that the colonel hadn't very much respect for
some of the English customs and traditions. Perhaps, like many
other Canadians, he had been brought up to believe that British
fair-play, and everything else that was British, was absolutely
the best in the world - and had been rather astounded and dis-
appointed to find that many of their habits, methods and customs
were a trifle below par, when judged by Canadian standards.

Orderly l\oom Episodes

The fa wning, sycophantic, non-thinking type of Imperial
noncom. and Tommy was, in the eyes of our colonel, an abom-
ination and a fraud. Whatever may have been our Commanding
Officer's own faults and shortcomings - and he had many,
indeed! - he never failed to put interfering Imperials in what
he considered their proper places. For instance, one of our men
had been arrested in London - for failing to salute an English
officer, for unbuttoning his own tunic collar, for entering an
out-of-bounds officers' hotel, or some such heinous offence-
and when brought back to Otterpool for trial, Colonel Farmer
read the charge-sheet, then turned to the sergeant-major. "Bring
in the witnesses against this man?" Sergeant-Major Williams
paraded into the orderly room twO Imperial military police
corporals. As soon as Colonel Farn1er saw that the witnesses
were English noncoms. he flew into a rage. "Are these the only
witnesses?" he demanded. " Yes, sir," answered the sergeant-
111ajor. "Discharge the prisoner!" spluttered the colonel. "I

44

ENGLAND

wouldn't take the words of a dozen of these blankety-blank Im-
perial policemen against the word of one of my own men! The
case is dismissed!" Thereupon the two dumbfounded and dis-
comfited English military policemen were ushered out of the
colonel's presence, and started on their journey back to London.
But, just as the erstwhile prisoner was going out the tent door,
Colonel Farmer called him back. "Damn you, Private Blank,
you're lucky those witnesses weren't Canadians. I'd have given
you twenty-eight days Number One. And you'll get it, too, if
you ever come before me again. Now get out !" Needless to add,
Private Blank got out - before the colonel changed his mind.
Another prisoner who came before the Commanding Officer
that very same morning was also lucky - but not quite so
fortunate AS the previous one. This culprit was given the full
twenty-eight days Number One. After he had been marched out
of the orderly room, Sergeant-Major Williams spoke up: "Beg
pardon, Colonel Farmer, but 'ow are we to tyke this man down
to Shorncliffe?" The colonel favored the sergeant-major with a
mystified Stare. "What do you mean - Shorncliffe?" he de-
manded. "Well, sir, it's loike this : You've given this man
twenty-eight dyes Number One, and that means that he must be
turned over to the A.P.M. for punishment. Them's our orders,
sir !" Colonel Farmer tapped a violent pencil-tattoo on the
orderly room table, and cussed a few of those cusses that went so
appropriately with his initials - G. D. At last he looked up.
"Bring the prisoner back here at once, sergeant-major. No
blankety-blank-blank A.P.M. is going to have the satisfaction
of punishing one of my men!" So the prisoner was brought back,
and the colonel told him that he had been thinking the case
over and had decided to reduce the sentence - in the hope that
the offender might appreciate the leniency and turn out to be a
better soldier! The man was then given a sentence that would
not necessitate his removal from our own unit - twenty-one
days Number One!
One morning Staff Deadman was sitting a't his desk in the
orderly room marquee, after the rest of the unit had marched
away on manoeuvres. Shortly after leaving camp, Colonel
Farmer galloped back to give Deadman some final instructions.
In his typically impetuous manner he galloped his horse right
into the orderly tent, where the animal reared up on its hind-

ENGLAND

45

quarters in a sudden halt. Deadman was so startled at seeing the
horse's fore-legs pawing the air just above his head, he tipped
over backwards and fell right out of the tent. The colonel
shouted out the nearly forgotten instructions, wheeled the badly
frightened and windy horse and galloped away -leaving a pile
of fertilizer on the marquee floor-boards as a souvenir of the
hectic visit. It was only by the presence of the evidence, steaming up
from the floor, that Deadman could con vince himself that the
whole episode was not a matter of imagination.
The men used to get a great kick in listening to the reading of
daily orders on the morning roll-call parades. One orderly ser-
geant read out, "The unit will parade at 8.30 for tactical exer-
cises, " but he confused the word tactical with a similar word of
the same number of letters but with an "s" for its third letter.
The same noncom. informed the men that when they reached
France they would not be allowed to send home the name of
their corpse in a letter - and he never could understand why the
lads laughed at him! Later on, in France, he read out that, "In
the forward areas all gas helmets must be worn at the Albert
(Alert) position." To the end of the war that position for the gas
mask was the Albert position to us. It was the custom of this
same sergeant to order the men not to wash their mess-tins on
the "absolution tybles. "
After a few weeks at Otterpool the men received word that
Princess Mary had made a gift of chocolate to the unit, but no
chocolate ever reached us; and, from then until the end of the
war, there were expressions of disgust about the manner in which
we were deprived of this gift.
Sergeant-Major Williams had his troubles with the signallers.
These six wigwaggers would leave camp early every week-day
morning and go away off, and out of sight, into the fields near
the old race-track. There they would practise with flags, telegraph
keys and buzzers. Back in camp the unit would fall in for a route
march. The bugler would blow "Signallers Fall In" - but never
a signaller showed up. The call would be repeated a half-dozen
times, but only after the unit had marched off without them and
was well out of sight would the signallers come from behind
trees and hedges and proceed, in their own leisurely way, to pass
the hours until the return of the unit. The colonel promised pain-
ful treatment for their deafness but never cured them.

46

ENGLAND

Mention of the signallers reminds us that it was the corporal-
signaller who came back from London with such interesting
yarns about Jermyn Street, the Leicester Lounge, Píccadilly
Circus and Effing Forest. How the Rah Rah Boys used to gather
round when the blonde heart-wrecker told about the mysteries of
the "Big Smoke" and the famous bush just outside the city! And
Old Simmy Simpson, tOO, never tired asking to hear the cor-
poral's adventures. Evidently old Simmy had been young him-
self, one long-ago day! And, by the way, this old lad had the
heart of a lion. We do not know what his real age was, but he
must easily have been the oldest man in the unit. And, right
from the day he enlisted to the day he was finally sent back from
France, Simmy was never heard to grumble about the hard-
ships, and was never known to shirk even the toughest duty
assignments.
During our stay in Otterpool we marched over almost every
road within a radius of twenty-five miles of camp. Ashford,
Canterbury, Smeeth, Lympne, Hatch Park, Saltwood, Bonning-
ton, the Romney Marshes, Newchurch, Priory Wood, Alding-
ton, Brabourne, Waltham, Posrling, the Royal Military Road
and Canal, Sandgate, Hythe, Sellindge, Monks Horton - route
marches, manoeuvres and pleasure trips acquainted us with these
and manv more places in the area.
From Reveille, at 5 a.m., until Lights Out, at 10 p.m., we
were going all the time. We made at least one route march each
day, and those route marches weren't pleasure jaunts. They were
made on very meagre breakfasts and taxed our endurance to the
utmost. To make us more uncomfortable, our water-bottles were
always sealed before we left camp and any man caught resorting
to his bottle before permission was given to the whole unit-
well, he was placed under arrest, punished, and stood an excellent
chance of being left in England when the unit went to France.
Two or three times each week we donned fatigue shirts and
slacks and marched to Dymchurch for a sea bath. Generally the
sea was so rough it was impossible to enter the water, without
being dashed violently against the breakwater. One day Staff
Smith and Tommy Poole, both excellent swimmers, were caught
in the strong undertow and only prompt help from Private
Arthur Barker and others saved them from death. Barker junlped
in, fully clothed, and rescued Poole. Those who didn't swim, or

ENGLAND

47

found the water too rough, used to strip and sit on the rocks,
where they passed the time in horse-play and throwing jellyfish
and other flotsam at each other's naked pelts. After the bath we
marched the long uphill eight miles back to camp - and invari-
ablÿ- arrived there fagged out, white with road-dust and far
dirtier than when we left.
It was while we were on a bathing parade we first got to
know - and love - "Mother," that kindly, smiling, white-
haired, old lady who lived at the tOp of the hill on the Dym-
church road, She was always on hand to greet us, and who can
ever forget her, waving a Canadian flag at us the last day we
marched past her home?
Various forms of diversion were introduced into camp, in an
effort to obtain relief from the monotonous training routine. Ben
Sharpe gathered together all the singers (and would-be singers!)
and many happy hours were passed trying over the old songs:
"By the Banks of Allan Water," "Poor Old Jeff," and many
others. What those choristers lacked in harmony they more than
made up for in volume, and "Sharpe's Canaries," as the lads
dubbed them, provided considerable entertainment.
There was a chess-players' league, presided over by Bunny
Brown, Alex. Waite and Sammy Jacobs. One evening, while
Rosser and Hare were playing, "Josser" went to sleep for a full
half-hour, while Bob Hare, unaware that his opponent was in
dreamland, continued to study the chess-board, waiting for him
to move. Cribbage tournaments were also organized by Johnny
Nichols, little Andy Nicholson and droll "Dkk" Whittingham.
There were, too, the usual games of Five Hundred, Poker, Rum,
my, Whist, Pitch-and- Toss, and the "Galloping Dominoes."
Captain Elliott presented the unit with a set of horizontal bars,
and organized and trained a class of budding Sandows. We also
had football, baseball and cricket teams. There was, too, plenty
of boxing equipment, and many of the lads put on friendly bouts
- which usually ended up with friendships strained, perhaps, but
seldom broken.
The ex-Boy Scout fellows ganged togethcr on jaunts to near-
by historical places, and semaphore signalling was taught to
the three unit sections by the members of the signalling squad.
Pick Bridges was the signaller detailed to teach semaphorc to
B. Section, and some of thc lads may still recall how he used to

48

ENGLAND

explain one of the half-circles: "This is 'ow you myke this circle.
You commence at Eyetch, gow to Hye, then on to Kye - ow-
mitting J ye. " The fellows used to ask Pick, over and over again,
to explain that H. to I. to K. detail- just to hear him say it!
Horseback-riding parties, poker games, whist, and charabanc
jaunts to London, Canterbury and Dover were the diversions our
officers seemed to enjoy most. Those riding jaunts with the
robust young lady from a nearby estate seemed to head their list
of attractions, though, and we would not like to repeat the
language our Horse Transport lads used when, midnight after
midnight, they were called upon to rub down two tired and
lathery horses and polish two sweat-soaked saddles.
The songs most popular among us during our stay in England
were "Thora," "I Hear You Calling," "When We've Wound
Up the Watch on the Rhine," and "Keep the Home Fires Burn-
ing. " The last-named song was the most popular of all. Most of
the regimental bands played it and it was the one song that
struck a responsive chord in Colonel Farmer's heart, and would
invariably bring tears into his eyes. It was, as a matter of fact,
often referred to as "the Old Man's tune."
Those who boasted Irish blood - Frank O'Leary, Dean Wil-
kins, Husband, Cascaden, and others - went on leave to ire-
land. The Scots - Jimmy Henderson, the Lickley boys, Jimmy
and Jock McLean, Jock McLaren, and others who were Scotch by
contamination or by absorption, went to Scotland. We don't
know what they did there, besides drinking heather -dew, eating
haggis and swallowing bagpipes, but we do know that Hender-
son's trip, at least, was an unqualified success; for he n1et, wooed,
won, and ultimately married the talented young lady who
attracted customers to the Blairgowrie chemist's shop.
The Lancashire lads, Jimmy Shorrocks, Billy Moore, Arthur
Wood, Dudley, and all the rest of those sturdy Lancastrians, took
their seven days of leave to Bolton, Wigan, Manchester and other
places in the Lancashire and Yorkshire counties.

On Leave in London

The Canucks, with the exception of a few who went to Ire-
land, Scotland, Wales or other parts of England, spent their
leaves in London. The old Leicester Lounge, Piccadilly, the

ENGLA.ND

49

Tower, Horse Guards, \Vestminster, St. Paul's, British Museum,
Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Petticoat Lane, Dirty Dick's,
and other famous places, saw plenty of them. A fellow would go
up to the "Big Smoke," his pockets full of money. On his first
night there he would register at the Cecil, the Savoy, the Regis
or the Strand-Palace - and dine on Filet-Mignons, T-Bone
steaks, lobster, caviar, ete. About two days later he would move
to a cheaper hotel, near Oxford Square, perhaps - and would
get his meals (if he took time to eat!) at one of Lyons' restaurants.
The last few days of leave would find him registered at the Union
Jack Club or sleeping in one of the church huts - and getting
about one meal a day at the Beaver Hut or some similar place.
It was no use asking him what he did with his money, for he
couldn't tell you. It just used to disappear, that's all! He may
have spent some of it unwisely but it is a safe bet that, shilling
for shilling, no man ever got more fun for his money than did
the average Canadian soldier on leave in London. Generally
speaking, he knew his way about town, and, if he didn't, there
were always close at hand plenty of ingratiating folk very willing
to show him where the "pye office" and other places were located.
Of course, the current shows took some of his banknotes. "The
Maid of the Mountains," "Chu Chin Chow," "Zig Zag,"
"Going Up," "The Bing Boys" and "Tonight's the Night"
were a few of his favorites. George Robey, Little T ich, Harry
T ate and the Lloyd Sisters were some of the artists he liked best.
His chief theatrical desire was comedy - to laugh and forget the
war and whatever fate might be awaiting him. To drive from
his mind the stark realities of army life - that was the upper-
most wish of his heare, even at that early stage of the war.
On Saturday, July 17th, the unit paraded to Beachboro Park
for an inspection by General Sam Hughes and Sir Robert Borden.
The complete Second Division was on parade. Many of the
nurses and wounded from the nearby Queen's Canadian Hospital
were out to see the show. Everything went off splendidly, except-
ing that it rained most of the day. We arrived back in camp
shortly after noon and were given the rest of the day off - but
were obliged to spend it drying our sodden uniforms, cleaning
equipment, ete.
About this time Staff Deadman, Staff Overend, Sergeant Over-
holt and Corporal Courtíce left the Fifth to take comn1issions

50

ENGLAND

with Imperial outfits. We were sorry to lose them for all were
general favorites. Jim McGillivray, too, went to the 28th Bat-
talion, trading places with Pete Howard.
On August 4th we were once again marched to Beachboro
Park and inspected by General Sam Hughes and Bonar Law, ex-
Canadian and at that time head of the Colonial Office. The
weather man must have disapproved of such inspections for
again it poured rain and the men arrived back in camp drenched
to their skins.

The King's Inspection

Outstanding among our experiences was the King's review
which also took place at Beachboro, on September 2nd, when
His Majesty, Kitchener, Bonar Law, Sam Hughes and other
celebrities gave us a final inspection. Preceding this event we
were trained in "Battalion-Right- Wheel" and other intricate
movements which were not in the ordinary medical officer's drill
routine. For this reason the handling of the unit became some-
what involved on these occasions and, although there was much
perusing of "Infantry Training Regulations" by our officers, our
attempts to follow the confusing orders were rather amusing.
The King's inspection itself was marred by a misunderstanding
that, unimportant as it seems now, after a lapse of so many
years, at the time was the cause of considerable grousing - and
well nigh a mutiny.
Following the inspection we were given pern1Íssion to "stand
easy" and eat our lunches. Packs were thereupon undone and
ha versacks opened, Fellows from the same tent got together, for
each had brought his share of the common lunch. Little groups
formed here and there and the serious business of eating was
tackled with great gusto. No attempt was made to keep any
semblance of line. Men from A. Section were mingling with men
from B. and C. The officers were chatting together in front of
the foremost Section (A.), when General Sam Hughes appeared,
apparently from nowhere! The colonel thereupon leaped onto
his horse and, in a voice that was heard by only the few l11en
nearest to him, shouted II Attention !" The men who heard the
con1mand jumped to their feet and hurriedly stood to attention.
Those who had not heard the order - at least seventy-five per

ENGLAND

51

cent. of the unit - on seeing the others standing up took the
order to be "Fall In," and proceeded to regain their proper places
in the line. Packs were hurriedly put on again, haversacks and
rolled coats were put into place and, quite una ware that they had
been gUilty of a breach of military discipline, three of the four
sections stood at ease, waiting for further orders.
Moving off a few minutes later the unit marched back to
Otterpool. On the way back it rained hard - not a passing
shower, but a steady heavy downpour. At the suggestion of some
of the men, the commander of B. Section was asked by a staff-
sergeant if the men could unroll their greatcoats and wear them.
The answer was an emphatic "NO!" This decision was made
when there was still a mile to go to camp; so the trOOps took the
law into their own hands, unrolled their greatcoats and wore
them - all but one man!
Arri ving at the Otterpool parade ground the unit was treated
to a lecture by the colonel: "The King was pleased with you-
but I wasn't!" Then, in his own inimitable manner, our Com-
manding Officer told us what he thought of a lot of "so-called
soldiers who didn't know what 'Attention' meant, after being
ten months in the army." In the middle of his exposition of our
manifold and glaring deficiencies his eagle eye detected Private
Case chewing gum - as nonchalantly as only Ben could chew it!
With a particularly lurid outburst the colonel yelled: "Sergeant-
major! sergeant-major! Look at that man chewing gum! take his
number!" Sergeant-Major Williams searched in vain for -[he cul-
prit, and the lecture proceeded. It was intimated that, although it
was the custom to declare a holiday after a King's inspection, the
Fifth Field Ambulance had so disgraced itself that, not only
would a holiday not be granted, but the sergeant-major would
fall in the trOOps in an hour's time and drill them three hours, in
marching and standing to attention. This system of training was
to be kept up for several days, instead of the usual P.T, exercises.
The troops were then dismissed - and a loud and unanimous
chorus of boos and hisses ensued.
A number of the men talked of refusing to go on parade, but it
was decided that this would gain nothing, and might lead to the
intervention of higher powers who would deal summarily with
the offenders. We were due to go to France in a short time, we
believed, and to mutiny might mean that we wouldn't get there.

52

ENGLAND

So it was decided that we should go on parade and then lodge
our complaint.
An attempt was made to register a complaint through the
correct channels. Certain men asked their staff-sergeants to parade
them before their section commanders. It was found that the
section commanders had left Otterpool. The sergeant-major was
then asked to parade the men to the colonel- but the colonel
had left camp and would not be back for two days. The parade
was accordingly held and 250 n1en spent three hours marching
up and down, back and forth, standing to attention, then at ease,
and then to attention again.
A consultation of certain leaders - one from each section -
was held after the parade, and plans were laid for bringing the
matter before Second Division Headquarters. One of the men
knew intimately in civil life certain headquarters officers with
whom he volunteered to visit and discuss the situation. This was
done over the week-end.
On Monda y morning the (( punishment parade" was again
held. With the return of the colonel, the sergeant-major was
again told that four men (Jack Lumsden, Charlie Scott, Baldy
Rutherford and Jimmy Líckley) wished to be paraded to their
Commanding Officer. When the colonel was informed that the
men wanted to lodge a complaint about the punishment inflicted
upon them, he went into a tantrum and vented his ire on the
sergeant-major in no uncertain terms, and ended with the inti-
mation that the four would be put in irons for questioning orders.
Whereupon there was much rejoicing among the four, for it was
believed that Army Regulations ensured every man the right to
be paraded before his Commanding Officer.
The maintenance of such an attitude on the part of the colonel
was but strengthening the case for the men. That night there were
a number of conferences between a member of the Fifth and a
certain senior officer of Second Division Headquarters.
Next day the "punishment parade" was again held and, fol-
lowing it, the four men already mentioned again asked to be
paraded to the colonel - this time to ask him to parade them to
the A.D. M.S. Jack Lumsden was the first to enter the orderly
room. In language that permitted of no misinterpretation he was
told that to question an order was an offence of the gravest kind,
and that to persist in such questioning was liable to result serí-

ENGLAND

53

ously for him. When Jack came out, Charlie Scott was paraded
and he was told the same thing, as were Rutherford and Lickley
when they went in. The four men were then paraded in a group
and informed that their action could easily result in their being
given No.1 Field Punishment, and in their being put.in irons!
The next afternoon, however, General Jones drove up to the
camp and, after the general had left, Jack Lumsden was called to
the colonel's tent and told that there had been a misunderstanding
and that no more "punishment parades" would be held.

Geneva Crosses - and Bayonets !

One interesting phase of the affair concerned the employment,
by the colonel, of a number of men who were sent to Folkestone
as piquets, to arrest members of the Ambulance who had taken
French leave following the first" Attention" parade. Several men,
feeling that they had been unjustly treated, left the camp and did
not show up for several days. To round then1 up, piquets, carry-
ing side-arms! were ordered to Folkestone, with instructions to
arrest any of the delinquents that might be found. The regular
military police, on meeting these Red Cross men with side-arms,
hailed them before the A. P. M. who promptly sent them back
to their unit -with the information that he was fully competent
to police Folkestone, without the aid of the Fifth Field Ambulance.
Shortl y after the King's inspection we were instructed to make
preparations for going across the Channel. Tales of the hordes of
lice that abounded in France led many of the boys to have their
hair cropped prison-style. Blankets were sewn together - the
limit per person being two, although some slipped in an extra
one. Fond farewells were taken of friends we had made while in
England, and we awaited with eagerness the final orders for
departure.
For a long time now we had again been singing that old "B.S.
song" we had sung so often back in Canada - but with the word
"Channel" instead of "Ocean." During the long months at
Otterpool we had heard the same old rumors about an early
move, and there was no faith in us. The revived and revised song
expressed our sentiments perfectly.
But finally the order came. On September 14th we were ordered
to pack up. There was a delay of several hours while the unit

54

ENGLAND

waited around camp with full packs and complete paraphernalia,
ready to move off. At last, about midnight, we marched away to
Westenhanger. There we entrained and about four o'clock pulled
out for Southampton. We arrived at that port about 10 a.m.,
September 15th, and there had an hour's freedom, during which
time the men shopped, rested or despatched mail to the folks
back home.
While we were entraining at Westenhanger the night before,
two men had watched us from behind some bushes. They were
Taxi Yates and Lew McAllister, a couple of Fifth fellows who
had gone on six day's leave about a month before, and had just
detrained at Westenhanger on their way back to our unit. They
kept out of our officers' sight, however, for their places were now
filled by other men and there was no chance for them to go with
us. They remained behind the bushes until our train pulled out of
the station and thus passed out of our ken.
At 11.15 a.l11., September 15th, we boarded the Transport
ulndian" (No. 6012), a former cattle boat. The cattle stalls
served men and horses alike, and reminded us of our old stable-
homes in Exhibition Camp. We remained on board and stayed
in dock all that afternoon. At 6 p.m. we slipped away from the
shores of England and headed for the open Channel. Every man
was ordered to don a life-belt. All lights, excepting the port and
starboard signals, were extinguished. Guarded by several fast-
rushing destroyers with flashing searchlights we made the cross-
ing to France. Again, this night, our signallers were kept busy
reading navigation instructions from the escorting naval craft.
At 5 a,m. we docked at Le Havre. Rations of bully and biscuits
were issued and the men breakfasted aboard ship.

CHAPTER THREE

Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
And smile, smile, smile.
While you've a lucifer to light your fag,
Smile boys, that's the style,
What's the use of worrying?
It never was worth while,
SO! Pack up your troubles in your old kir bag
And smile, smile, smile.

"SUNNY" FRANCE
(September 16, 1915, to August 25, 1916)

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y -:- - fell in on the main
deck of the "Indian, JJ every man carrying his full equipment.
Roll was called and we then stood at ease, waiting our turn to
march ashore.
Before us was the picturesque port of Le Havre, with its fas-
cinating vista of sailing ships, naval craft, transport steamers,
docks, warehouses and, in the distance, the city itself, backed by
mist-blown slowly-rising hills. Directly below us was the clam-
orous bustle of a heterogeneous war-time activity. Wherever we
looked there was some sort of war material- guns, shells, lor-
ries, airplane parts, mules, horses, wagons, and equipment of all
kinds. Queerly-garbed French dockworkers worked alongside
khaki-clad British longshoremen, while on a nearby quay were
some gray-coated German prisoners, working under the watchful
eyes and bayonetted rifles of a squad of French soldiers.
As we stood waiting for the order to disembark, one of the
khaki-clad dockmen looked up and waved a welcome to us.
While we were waving in return, he shouted at us that war-time
morale-builder: "Are we downhearted?" Our answering "NO!"
had barely died away when back came his prophetic rejoinder:
"WeU, you bloody soon wiU be!"

55

56 "SUNNY" FRANCE
At eight o'clock the unit disembarked. All but those who had
been on night duty during the trip across the Channel were then
set to work getting horses, wagons, ambulances and other equip-
ment off the boat. It was well into the afternoon before this work
was completed and the unit marched off to a camp at the top of
a long, winding hill about four miles from the docks. Here we
found bell tents had been hurriedly pitched, but before we could
occupy them we had to dig drainage ditches around them and
carry floor-boards from a half-mile away.
About ten noncoms. and men who had been on duty during
the previous night and, consequently, did not have to help un..
load the transport, strolled away to inspect uptown Le Havre.
A friendly French officer showed them through a German pris-
oner camp, and during this trip the gallant son of Gaul treated
the boys to cognac, wine and beer. Hours went like minutes.
Finally the party started back to the docks - and arrived there
just in time to have one of those jack-knife bridges open up be-
tween them and the main body of the unit. Across the canal the
colonel was sitting astride his horse, shaking his fist in temporary
impotence at the party of stragglers on the city side of the water.
The bridge remained up for about two hours; and when the lag-
gards finally got across they found that the unit had departed and
left Captain Nicholson with an escort to place them under arrest.
About three days later the offenders appeared before their irate ..
colonel. The privates were let off with admonishments. The non-
coms. were severely reprimanded for "desertion in the face of the
enemy," as the Commanding Officer put it. "Y ou're in France
now and could be shot for this offence," he bellowed. "I made
you men noncoms. because I thought you had more than com-
mon sense - but I see I've made a big mistake, " he added, Later
on we were informed that, immediately after the noncoms. had
been marched òut of his presence, the Old Man had a hearty
laugh - and tore up all the crime sheets.

A la 40 Hommes - 8 Chevaux

Next morning Reveille was at three 0' clock. We breakfasted
and then marched to Le Havre station and climbed aboard one of
those famous French "Pullmans" whose capacity was 40 Hom-
mes - 8 Chevaux. We were never able to discover why the three

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1. Jimmy Wilson Bnd his 4'] ð-Ib, Boots, 2, Wilkins, Husband and O'Leary kiss the Blarney Stone.
3. Adshead cuts Whittingham's Hair, 4, Interior of Tent No, 9,
5, Sellindge Church. to which we paraded for Sunday Services.

"SUNNY" FRANCE

57

o'clock Reveille was necessary, for it wasn't until about eight-
thirty o'clock that we pulled out on our way to the Front. Evi-
dently it was just the usual army stuff of letting the troops do all
the waiting.
We passed through Brexute-Beuzeville, Yvetot (remember
Thackeray's song about "Le Roi d'Yvetot?"), Motheville, Baren-
tin, and stopped just outside Charlemagne's town, Rouen, for
dinner. From the train the famous three-towered cathedral of
Notre Dame was visible, and some of us recalled that Joan of
Arc was also burned there. At one-thirty o'clock we were on our
wa y again - through Lerquex, Abancourt, and on (0 Amiens.
Outside Amiens, where we stopped for supper, another famous
cathedral was within view. At 6.30 p.m. we were away once
more - through Pont Remy and on to St. Orner, where we
arrived about three o'clock next morning.
It had been a long, tiresome journey. Those French box-cars
were conducive to neither ease nor slumber, and we were packed
in so tightly no man had room to spread himself out on the few
wisps of dirty straw that littered the quivering floors. The night
was bitterly cold and the air in the cars so bad that more than one
wall-board was knocked off for ventilation purposes.
Until darkness set in, the trip had not been quite so bad. We
were able to open the sliding side doors and as many as could find
space sat in the doorways, their feet dangling down and the for-
tunate men enjoying the ever -changing scenery. This also made
more room for those unable to get near the opened doors. To
most of us the surrounding country was a very interesting and
novel sight. Hungry French youngsters accosted us at every
siding, with calls for "Beeskwee, beeskwee, seel-voo-play! Booly
beef, cigarette, seel-voo-play !" To these queer-looking urchins
we tossed biscuits and cigarettes, and the odd half-penny. From a
field one old Frenchman, probably a veteran of 1870, rested his
scyéhe and waved a greeting to us. He then drew his hand sug-
gestively across his throat, intimating in unmistakable panto-
mime what he hoped we would do to the hated Boche when we
reached the Front.
In Le Havre one of the fellows had got hold of a French book
on "How to Make Love." This book was rather hot stuff and
was in such denland it was found necessary to divide it into as
many parts as there were box-cars; and one man in each car was

58

"SUNNY" FRANCE

delegated to read aloud that car's portion of the book. At each
stop there was a hurried interchange of the various parts and,
while daylight lasted, the reading went on. That volume may
not have been high-class literature but it helped considerably to
relieve the tediousness of that long train trip. We afterwards
learned that we owed our entertainment to a rather over -sized
staff-sergeant who had bought the book while on a surreptitious
visit to Le Havre's business district the previous day, and that
the first few pages had been read aloud by him the night before
we entrained.
Once during the cold night the train was stopped on a siding
while the men were given hot coffee and cognac. Here, too, a
long plank was removed from rhe floor of the depot platform,
and officers and men needed no explanation of the timely impro-
visation. Somehow or other, Colonel Farmer's suspenders dan-
gled into the hole and, when his batman indignantly refused to
clean the soiled gallusses, the Old Man was obliged to leave
thcm there.
At St. Orner we expected to have a few hours' rest. The men
detrained, unloaded horses, wagons and other equipment and
then fell in. Roll was called - then Colonel Farmer mounted the
station platform and informed us that he had orders "to march
immediately to the firíng line!" A big battle (Loos) was about
to begin and every man was needed at the Front!* So, tired,
disappointed and hungry we set out. It was about 4.30 a.m.
and very dark. We marched on for about one hour, slipping
and stumbling over the unfamiliar footing of the strangely-
cobbled road.
About a mile out of St. Orner we heard someone approaching
us, loudly whistling "Tipperary." The sun was not yet up and
there was not sufficient light for us to discern the whistler. We
thought, of course, that he was an Imperial or one of the First
Division men. Imagine our surprise when we finally saw before
us a small French lad, about t'welve years of age. He was herding
before him a half-dozen cows, evidently taking them for the
morning milking at some nearby farm. He stoppcd whistling
long enough to shout "Vive les Canadíens ' " and then resumed
his tune, proudly whistling louder than ever. This was our first
civilian gree ting in the battle zone.
*The actual battle did not begin until the early morning of September 25th.

"SUNNY" FRANCE

59

Gradually appeared the first sign of approaching dawn-
a diffused and fascinating glow of color, tinting the eastern
clouds and landscape. The crimson glory of the distant horizon
impressed us as being a beautiful yet portentous symbol, not only
of a new day but of a new and tempestuous existence for the
unit now marching eastward. There lay the answer to questions
we would never voice and to vague premonitions each and
everyone of u
would have refused to admit ever having experi-
enced. From the same direction came a heavy rumbling of gun-
fire - the morning hymn of hate.
Tall graceful elms and poplars lined both sides of the hard
convex road. Odd-looking farmyards met our eye, and their
cesspools assaulted our nostrils. The new steel-shod Kitchener
boots chafed our heels.
Shortly after daylight came the welcome halt for breakfast. We
were marched into a field just outside the small town of Arques.
Here were some newly-made haystacks and over the field lay
considerable hay that had not yet been gathered. Some of the
men made themselves comfortable on this straw bedding, while
others hurried off to the town for supplies of food and drink.

Messrs. Vin Blanc and Vin l{ouge

In Arques the lads had their first experiences of buying in French
shops. Most of the bargaining was done in the sign language,
for, in those early days, epicerie, boulanger and forgeron all meant
about the same to us. Here, too, some of fellows made their first
acquaintance with those two future standbys, Vin Blanc and
Vin R..ouge. A few may remember the violent headaches the stuff
gave them before the day's march was finished.
Breakfast was over about 8 a.m. and we moved off again,
arriving at Hazebrouck (Pop. 13,000) about 1 p.m. Here we
had dinner and rested until three o'clock. The day had become
oppressively hot, so as soon as we halted, off came kits, rolled
coats, tunics, puttees, blankets and Kitchener boots. Feet were
bathed and blisters attended to. Here, too, we saw our first evi-
dence of shell-fire. A German Taube flew high over our heads
and all round it were the fluff-like puffs of bursting anti-aircraft
shells. The German flew on his way unharmed, however, in spite
of the shells and our fervid prayers that he would be hit. As a

60

"SUNNY" FRANCE

matter of fact, during our whole stay in France we never saw one
enemy plane hit by our ground batteries. Range-finding devices
seemed unable to keep up with aviation development.
At 5 p.m. we arrived at a farm between Caestre (Pop. 1,200)
and Eecke (Pop. 1,200), where we were to stay for the night.
Some of the men bunked in the stables and lofts but most of us
slept outside in a beautiful green meadow. All night long the
guns up front kept rumbling like a distant storm.
It may have been the long march or it may have been the
soporific effect of the rumbling of the distant guns, but, what-
ever the reason, Private Piccadilly Bridges was reported absent
from his guard-post during the night. Some claimed that Pick
was making a chambre de nuit reconnaissance (whatever that is !)
while others were mean enough to hint that the boy had merely
enrolled for a closer study of the French language - or some-
thing! Pick never did explain.
Colonel Farmer realized that the men were dog-tired, so Re-
veille next morning was not until eight o'clock. We breakfasted
on tea, biscuits, bully and jam, then the colonel informed us that
because all the roads to the Front were congested with traffic we
were to remain where we were for at least one more day and
night. Permission was given to those not on duty to visit the
town of Caestre; and one officer and a noncom. were sent up the
Line by motor ambulance, to reconnoitre that part of the Front
which was to be taken over by our Brigade.
Perhaps this is as good a place as any to explain to the unini-
tiated that by "bully" we mean canned corned beef. It invariably
came in one-pound tins and we received dozens of different
brands. The best known were Fray Bentos', Armour's, Swift's,
Cudahay's, and William Davies'. There were several South
American brands but the best of all was Fray Bentos; and the
worst, we are sorry to admit, was the William Davies' brand.
When the first Davies' stuff reached us there was a frantic rush
for it. We all thought we were going to have a treat -"some-
thing right from home, some good, wholesome Canadian meat !"
But alack and alas! The Davies' stuff we sampled, proved to be
practically uneatable - a sort of jellified blob of gristle, fat and
skin. We had fairly strong stomachs, but simply could not
swallow it. We actually saw hundreds of tins of it being used for
pa ving dugout entrances.

"SUNNY" FRANCE 61
All the following day those free from duty lounged about the
farm and rested their chafed and blistered feet. This day will long
remain in our memories. The weather was clear and mild. The
rations for the day were good and we received our first issue of
pipe tobacco (Paisley Flake) and cigarettes - Ruby Queens, Red
Hussars, X-Rays, Flags, Arf-a-Mo's, and Trumpeters. We re-
ceived, too, our first pay in France - twenty francs. And to fill
our cup to overflowing, several bags of Canadian mail arrived.
Andy Parker was very anxious to learn French, so at the first
opportunity he indulged in a talk-fest with a French farmer.
After struggling for a while to make himself understood, Andy
apologetically confessed to the Frenchman, "Je ne sprachin ce
Francais verra weel!"

How They Farmed in Flanders

From this time on, the average Flemish farm was a never-
failing source of interest to many of us. One farm was not fenced
off from another and the crops of adjoining farms met. Even
between main highways and farms there was neither fence nor
hedge - no split-rail, tree-root, wire or "snake" fences such as
we had known back in Canada. WherevelJ:' a tiny creek or "beek"
divided a field, there were dwarfed, fat-trunked willows, stand-
ing like stunted sentinels on both sides of the flowing water, each
tree reaching out its switch-like branches in a grotesquely futile
effort to touch the waving fingers of its neighbor.
Not a foot of arable land went uncultivated. Seeds were sown
by hand and scattered broadcast out of giant-pocketed aprons.
Fields were plowed with wooden plows, and crops were culti-
vated with wooden rakes and harrows. Ancient scythes and
sickles were used to cut the flax, wheat and maize; and hand-
made two-pronged wooden forks were used to stack the hay and
straw. Old-fashioned wooden flails were used to thresh the
grain, and clumsy hand-made rotary fanning mills cleaned away
the chaff.
When the crop was sugar-beets, turnips, mango Ids or potatoes,
a field pit was dug, large enough to hold the crop. This trench
was thickly lined with straw and the crop dumped in, care being
taken that the soil was thoroughly dry. A thick layer of straw
was put over the crop and the excavated earth heaped high on

62

"SUNNY" FRANCE

top, making a sort of weather-proof mound, around which a
drainage ditch was dug. Time after time we saw such storage
places opened in early spring, and in every instance the crops
were in excellent condition - in spite of the fact that they had
lain there through three or four months of wet, snowy, near-
zero weather.
Though the farming methods were crude, the crops obtained
were simply astonishing, both in quantity and quality. Of course,
the fertilizing methods had much to do with this - but enough
said
Those methods could speak for themselves! Sometimes
even now we imagine we can smell those great, leaking, barrel-
like wagons in which the crop-producing fluid was transported
to the fields. No wonder that open wounds, coming in contact
with soil so intensely fertilized, quickly became infected and
brought gangrenous deaths to many men.
At 8 a.m., Tuesday, September 21st, we started off on the last
leg of our march to the forward area. We passed through Fletre
(Pop. 950), Meteren (Pop. 2,400), and Bailleul (Pop. 14,000).
We crossed the Belgian border around noon, and at 12.35 p.m.
arrived at Dranoutre (Pop. 1,100).
Of the march through Bailleul we shall ever have some very
vivid memories. The day was beautifully mild and the Bailleul
housewives were flushing down the streets fronting their dwell-
ings. The red-tiled roads were spotless as we marched over them.
Just behind us some Second Division band struck up the Mar-
seillaise. Old French men and women stood to attention and
tears trickled down their wrinkled faces as they listened to their
beloved anthem. Great tubs of soapy water stood in the centre of
the road unheeded. More than one cracked old voice sang out
defiantly: Marchons, marchons! Quaindy-aproned urchins clung
to their parents' hands and peeped shyly at "les braves Canadiens
who had come from far over the sea to save them from the hated
Boche." Young girls threw kisses.
This was the largest town through which we had actually
marched, so, naturally, the men gave it a thorough looking-
over, as they paraded through its streets. Tommy Hawkey, left-
hand man of the first section of fours, was so intent on something
else, he neglected to see one of the broad tubs of soapy water
which was right in his path. Into the foamy liquid Tommy fell
- the first Fifth man to "kick the bucket" in France.

"SUNNY" FRANCE
We "Take Over" at Dranoutre

At Dranoutre we took over billets in some farm buildings and
in a nearby field, On September 22nd we relieved the 84th
R.A,M.C. and took over a main dressing station in the town,
and an advanced dressing station just west of Wulveringhem.
Stretcher squads were sent up the Line (Sergeant Wartman and
Captain Barton in charge) and we settled into the work for
which we had so long and faithfully trained. For the ensuing few
weeks we cleared the wounded from various regimental aid-
posts. At night, parties went on salvaging trips to Neuve Eglise,
Armentieres and Wulveringhem, for material for the horse-lines
and for stoves for officers' billets. The Nursing Sections looked
after the sick and wounded in the main dressing station in
Dranoutre.
From now on, frequent mention will be made of regimental
aid-posts, advanced dressing stations, main dressing stations, rest
camps and casualty clearing stations, so a brief explanation of
evacuation routine is in order:
The infantry regimental aid-posts were aid-posts to which
battalion stretcher-bearers brought their wounded for first-aid
treatment. These posts were invariably located in dugouts or
cellars in the quieter parts of the trenches. Here the wounded
were given emergency treatments by the battalion medical officer
and his staff of assistants. Either in the regimental aid-posts or in
dugouts close by were two or more squads of our bearers (four
men to a squad). Their job was to carry the wounded from regi-
mental aid-posts back to our advanced dressing stations. The
only regimental aid-post to which our motor ambulances went
directly and where our bearers were not always used was the
Brasserie station, near Ridgewood. All clearing from this post
was done at night, however, as explained elsewhere.
More often than not, our advanced dressing stations were a
mile or more behind the Front Line, so relay posts (one or two
squads to each post) were established at suitable intervals in
order to make the "carrys" as easy as possible and hasten the
evacuations. By this Inethod, too, extra bearer squads were
always close to the regimental aid-posts in cases of emergency.
Advanced dressiqg stations were usually established in large
cellars, dugouts or other suitable places in villages to which our

63

64

"SUNNY" FRANCE

ambulances could come at night with a reasonable amount of
safety. Here were located one or more of our ambulance medical
officers and some men from our Nursing Sections. The wounded
were here given secondary treatments; bandages were renewed, if
necessary; hemorrhages stopped; and anti-tetanus, morphine and
other injections were given. Fractures were set temporarily and
minor operations occasionally performed. *
The next step was the transportation of cases back to our
main dressing stations. Generally speaking, this work was done
at night and under cover of darkness. This was the task of our
Motor Ambulance and Horse Ambulance Sections. In some
parts of the Front we were able to use our ambulances for this
work in broad daylight and in perfect safety.
At the main dressing stations, which were usually located in
schoolhouses or similar buildings in villages two or three miles
behind the Front, the wounded were given a very thorough
examination and whatever further treatments were found neces-
sary. Here were our senior medical officers, most of our Nursing
Sections personnel, and the bulk of our medical and surgical
equipment. The colonel, Horse Transport, Motor Transport and
Headquarters Details were almost invariably located at the main
dressing station.
From the main dressing station the wounded were conveyed to
the casualty clearing stations by motor or horse ambulances.
Casualty clearing stations were always a few miles back of the
Line and close to a railroad. It was at the clearing stations that
most of the operations and amputations were done, and during a
big battle, casualty clearing station operating marquees were
gruesome places indeed.
From the C.C.S. the wounded were loaded onto hospital trains
and sent back to base hospitals.
The foregoing routine applies to trench warfare only. From
Amiens on, our bearers were often grouped with infantry bearers,
and our ambulance medical officers frequently worked alongside
battalion medical officers in the regimental aid-posts. Also,
wherever casualties were numerous, we established aid-posts
near artillery gunpits. Around Souchez, for instance, we had
several artill ery posts during the Lens operations.
*We have a haz.y recollection of Major Kappde amputating a man's leg in one
advanced dressing station, and of seeing the severed limb, still encased in a knee-
length boût, standing in a corner of the aid-po'it several hours later.

St.Omer

he S .1ien1:

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6

"SUNNY" FRANCE

65

Rest camps varied in scope. There were brigade rest camps,
divisional rest camps, corps rest camps, officers' rest camps, and
rest camps where scabies treatments were gi ven, and special
delousing baths and ovens were the features. Most of these
camps were anathema to our Fifth men, for the work was
always monotonous, often disgusting and occasionally repulsive.
That word "Rest" was the most misleading word in army
vocabulary.
From the moment of our arrival at Dranoutre Ed. Mahy was
the envy of all the lads - due to the fact that because of his
Channel-Island French he had been appointed official "interrup-
ter," and was installed in the farmhouse with the officers. Con-
sequently Ed's rations - and his close proximity to the rather
attractive daughter of the household - spurred many of the
fellows on to a more diligent study of the Gallic language.
Perhaps some of the oldtimers will recall a rather brief fistic
battle that was fought by one of the Rah Rahs and an Owen
Sounder shortly after we took over at Dranoutre. Nobody ever
learned what the battle was about. So far as we could ever find
out it was simply a hangover from the squabble aboard the
Northland - was, in fact, the last intimation that anyone bore
ill will toward the innocent principals in that awkward affair.
Immediately over our farm billets there floated an observation
balloon, or "sausage" as we called it. About the third day we
were there, Fritz opened fire on the balloon and pieces of high-
explosive shell showered down on the camp. Fortunately, no
person was hit, although more than one set of covetous fingers
was badly burned when some of the lads attempted to retrieve
chunks of searing-hot metal for souvenirs.
Those who could get out of camp availed themselves of the
opportunity to explore the town. The famous "Sutherland Sis-
ters" bakery, behind the church, was soon located and from then
on it was a popular rendezvous for all those who were suscep-
tible to the blonde charms of the seven buxom wenches who
there served "porn detair fritz" and "lay-zoof." This household
was later on under suspicion of being pro-German. The authori-
ties noticed that, although surrounding buildings were hit by
enemy shells, the bakery was never harmed. Spies or not, those
girls certainly had everything it took in those days to attract the
lonesome soldier.

66

"SUNNY" FRl\NCE

Another great attraction was the wheelwright in the shop
down the hill to the south of the town. This craftsman would
carve out a pair of wooden sabots for two or three francs, while
the men looked on and marvelled at his dexterity. He did a
thriving trade while the Fifth was in town and many sent home
sabots for souvenirs.
Who can ever forget our first bathing parade in Oranoutre?
With towels over our shoulders and with our extra underwear
and clean shirts under our arms we were marched to what had
been a communal laundry hut. In this hut were about a dozen
large tubs - really the halves of one-time beer hogsheads. In the
tubs was a small quantity of tepid water, while over them was
suspended a sort of perforated-pipe shower contraption. The men
were marched into an anteroom where they gave up their new
clean clothing to an attendant, and then disrobed. In batches of
thirty -six they were next hustled into the tub-room and three
men were ordered into each tub. They were given two minutes
to soap and scrub their bodies and then, down from the impro-
vised showers, a few pails of ice-cold water were sprayed over
them. Chilled and shivering, they were hurried back into the
anteroom, a supply of supposed-to-be clean underwear, shirts and
socks was issued to them and they dressed.
With the exception of one or two Imperial orderlies, all the
workers at the baths were Frenchwomen, and it was certainly
embarrassing for our men to be compelled to disrobe and bathe
in such close proximity to the dreaded females. It is only fair to
state, however, that those French girls paid not the slightest
attention to the men's nakedness, and that the embarrassment
was all one-sided. The clothing the men received proved to be
anything but clean and it was not very long before furtive and
persistent scratching betrayed the fact that more than one man
now "had company" - company that was to remain faithfully
with him in spite of Keating's powder, cheese-cloth undies and
other "sure" cures.
Mention of the bathing parade reminds us that our favorite
bath-house ditty was:
Whiter than the whitewash on the wall,
Whiter than the whitewash on the wall;
Wash me in the water that you've washed the baby in
And I shall be whtter than the whitewash on the wall

"SUNNY" FRANCE

67

It was at Dranoutre that a mock funeral was held for one of
John Gilpin's so-called dinners. On this day the stew was so
much worse than usual it just couldn't be eaten. So, forming up
in "column-en-route," some with stable brooms carried at the
"reverse arms" position, and to the music of tin pans and a
dirge that was supposed to be the Dead March from "Saul," the
men paraded around the camp and in mock mourning dumped
Gilpin's mysterious concoction into a disused trench.
Sergeant-Major Williams, in his daily rounds of the main
dressing station, made things rather merry for the Rah Rah
Boys, to whom some of his suggested improvisations were a
revelation. One day, for instance, a wounded man was bleeding
from the mouth and the sergeant-major ordered Bill Scott to
put ice on the man's cheeks. "Good heavens!" exclaimed Bill,
"there's no ice around here!" The sergeant-major nearly ex-
ploded. "No hice! Certainly there's no hice," he retorted, "but
we've got hice bags, 'aven't we? Use them!" For another
stretcher case he ordered the "happlication of 'ot formations,
hevery 'arf hour. ' ,
Red Sowden also distinguished himself while here: He was
ordered to give an enema. Red mixed about a quart of soapy
water and insisted on the patient drinking it. However, the cure
worked. The man got rid of whatever was troubling him.
One odd case treated in this dressing station will bear men-
tion. We picked up a man who had been shot in the head by a
sniper. The bullet had entered just in front of the man's left ear.
Here there was a tiny dark hole, and on the other side of the
man's head was a sÍ1llilar hole where it was surmised the bullet
had emerged, after penetrating the skull. Strangely, however, the
man was quite strong and there was neither bleeding from the
wounds nor any other sign of brain penetration. Bandages were
applied and the patient made as comfortable as possible, and we
made arrangements to send him to the casualty clearing station
whenever the ambulances arrived - if he were still alive.
Two hours later he was as spry as ever and complained only
of a headache! The bandage was removed and we found a nar-
row purplish welt stretching around his forehead, from bullet-
hole to bullet-hole. Then it was that we realized that the bullet
had entered in front of the left ear and had not penetrated the
skull at all, but had made its way between the flcsh and the

68

"SUNNY" FRANCE

bone to the opposite side of the head, and emerged in front of
the right ear. The bullet, altogether likely, had come from behind
the man and had hit him at just the right angle and speed to
make such a result possible. The wounded man was sent down
the line and, unless infection set in, it is most probable that he
eventually recovered.
Shortly after our arrival at Dranoutre we were issued our
first gas helmets. These were very crude affairs - simply a hood
made of thick grey flannel and saturated with a solution which
was supposed to neutralise gas. Two celluloid or mica eye-pieces
protected the eyes, while the helmet was slipped down over the
top of the head and the bottom ends of the hood were tucked
under the wearer's tunic and the collar buttoned tightly around
it. There was no mouthpiece. The wearer was expected to
breathe through the chemical-soaked flannel.
So-called "smoke helmets" were also issued. They were similar
to the gas helmets. Every man was required to have these two
masks with him at all times; and they were carried in a special
canvas bag, slung over the shoulder. Until the box respirator
eventually made its appearance, new and improved gas and
smoke helmets were issued every few weeks.
A few of our most venturesome (or foolhardy) fellows went
up to the front line trenches on sight-seeing or souvenir-hunting
trips. Who among them doesn't recall his first initiation into
trench life, with its mud and corruption, píng-ing bullets, whin-
ing ricochets, thudding duds, ear-shattering high-explosives and
whizzbangs, cracking "wooly-bears," blinding night-flares, eye-
torturing charcoal braziers, asthmatic rats, lice-infested dugouts
and staccato machine-gun outbursts? At first there was a temp-
tation to peep over the top and see what the German trenches
really looked like - but after giving first-aid or burial to a few
infantrymen who had tried it, our lads had little trouble in
curbing their clumsy curiosity.
Some of the stretcher-bearers had close calls on their first trip
up but, fortunately, we had no serious casualties. Bill (Red)
Whitmore had an experience that resulted in temporary shell-
shock but, after a few days in hospital, Red was as fit as ever.
The Loos scrap had opened while our men were manning the
forward stations and regimental aid-posts, and Fritz paid con-
siderable attention to our part of the line. There were quite a

"SUNNY" FRANCE

69

number of infantry casualties, but our stay on this front was
more interesting than dangerous. During the time we were at
Dranoutre the weather was very bad. Hardly a day passed with-
out rain, and the nights were raw and cold. "Sunny" France was
a case of reverse English, as far as we could fathom.

We Move to Mont Noir and La Clytte

On Saturday, October 9th, the unit moved. C. Section took
over an officers' rest camp at Mont Noir. A., B., and Head-
quarters Sections went to La Clyne.
Shortly after the unit took over at La Clyne, Irving Dyment
was wounded while returning from a "Cook's tour" to Ypres.
A pellet from an anti-aircraft shell hit him on top of the head,
injuring him painfully but not seriously. He was given an anti-
tetanus inoculation and a few days' rest. For a while he was
Colonel Farmer's especial pride and the envy of us all- our
first casualty.
At Mont Noir the men had good billets in the upper rooms of
an old chateau located on the top of a wooded hill from which
die country-side for many miles about was visible. Here were
many walnut, beechnut and apple trees, so there were some good
"feeds" of nuts and fruit. The "resting" officers were quartered
in the best rooms of the chateau, and the duties of our unit
orderlies mostly consisted of serving food and liquid refresh-
ments, making beds, washing floors, cleaning patients' equip-
ment, etc., etc. Tips were plentiful, though, and if this place was
a rest home for officers it was also a real home for our Nursing
Sections.
In the basement of the chateau there was a well-stocked wine
cellar into which some of the lads more than once forced en-
trance. Consequently, choice champagnes, wines, beers, liqueurs,
cordiales, and otner potent spirits were poured down throats for
which they were never intended. Here, tOO, some of the boys
one day located a large vat of conger eels, and these made a very
welcome addition to the men's rations. No one has ever repeated
Quartermaster-Sergeant Busst's remarks when he discovered that
the jealously-guarded wine cellar had been broken into.
The loft of the chateau stables also provided an excellent billet
for about twenty men. Outside the loft window was a sort of

70

"SUNNY" FRANCE

iron-grilled balcony. On this balcony, Private Husband, after a
visit to some nearby estaminet, was one evening reciting "The
Cremation of Sam McGee" to an applauding gang of his
cronies below, when his too-emphatic gestures caused him to
overbalance and topple head-first down about twenty feet. It
was only a score of upstretched fending arms that saved Hubby
from serious hurt.
It was in this same loft that Harry Cunningham and Bob
Hodgkinson used to put on their bean-shooting contests. We can
still see Bob, sitting there with a handful of beans in one hand
and a bean-flipper in the other, doing his utmost to get greater
elevation and distance. Bob would flip a bean and Harry Cun-
ningham (about twenty feet away!) would clap his hand to his
forehead as if he had been struck by one of the beans. Someone
juSt behind Bob would toss a small pebble to the other side of
the loft, and Bob would think he had flipped a bean the whole
length of the big room. There were never any arguments about
who was the "champeen." Bob beat them all, with almost a
foot to spare.
In the centre of the chateau woods there was a rather expan-
sive cesspool- as stagnant and fetid as any in Flanders. One
night when Bill Scott was making his way down the steep and
winding path that led to the stables he failed to take the correct
turn and nearly drowned in the foul-smelling ooze.
Farther down the hill and past the stables was a shrine or
grotto - a local sacred place and a mecca for worshippers from
the surrounding country-side. Here, in a shallow cave, was a
large and beautifully-carved wooden altar and crucifix, flanked
by lighted candles and artificial-flower wreaths and sprays. One
didn't have to be of any particular religious faith to appreciate
the reverent earnestness with which the French and Belgian
peasants worshipped before this humble shrine. Almost at any
hour of the day and evening, at least one pleading supplicant
could be found kneeling before the grotto crucifix, petitioning
for help and strength to enable the pleader to carryon through
the awful martyrdom of war.
There was, too, the loge near the main gate to the chateau
grounds. Back of this loge and in amongst the trees our guard
tent was pitched. Late one dark night Charlie Scott heard some-
one approaching in the inky blackness. He brought his bayonetted

"SUNNY" FRANCE

71

rifle to the challenge position. "Who goes there?" he demanded.
An indistinct mumble came from the dimly-outlined figure about
a foot from the point of Charlie's bayonet. "Advance and give
the countersign!" roared Charlie, "and that countersign consists
of three rousing British f - ts !" The challenged person proved
to be Major Kapelle and, if he failed to break wind and accom-
modate the discomfited sentry, he did not neglect to give the
enterprising and inventive Charles a severe dressing-down.

St. Jans Cappel

About a mile to the south of Mont Noir was the village of
St. Jans Cappel. Here were a church, and a few shops in which
hand-made lace, shawls, collars, etc., were for sale. On Sundays
our Roman Catholic church parades went to this village. There,
too, at almost any hour of the day les pommes de terres frittes et
les oeufs could be purchased. Another of St. Jans Cappel's
attractions was an open-air comfort station, right on the main
street. Our men were amazed at seeing French men and boys
there obeying calls of nature, while other men, women and
children walked nonchalantly by, paying not the slightest atten-
tion to them. Someone has truly said that "Morals are only a
matter of geography." What was quite decent and customary in
St. J ans Cappel would have brought a long prison term (and
possibly, sterilization!) in Toronto the Good. Yet it is safe to
say that the morals of that little French town were every bit as
high as those of Ontario's Queen City. Incidentally, it was
noticed that within a few days many of our Canadian soldiers
also patronized these wayside shrines to liberty, equality and
fraternity. Similar open-air urinals were invariably to be found
just outside the vestry doors of most Flemish churches and public
buildings, so the troops always knew where to go when occasion
demanded.
The Roman Catholic church parade to St. Jans was always
well attended - for the simple reason that, after church, the
men were dismissed in the village and could enjoy themselves as
they saw fit. Bill Ferris was one who made the most of his time
and opportunities. A very pretty mamselle named Bertha was the
apple of Bill's eye and he "hung around" her every spare minute.
Finally her mother took a hand and asked Bill just what his

72

"SUNNY" FRANCE

intentions were. Of course, Bill convinced her that they were
entirely honorable and, assisted by his pal, Arthur Reeves, told
some very glowing stories about a gold mine in Burlington and
a ranch near Clappison's Corners. He mentioned casually the
magnificent sum the old lady would get in the fonn of a sepa-
ration allowance if the daughter were to marry him, and of the
high pay a married soldier received in our army. The "line"
peddled by these two consummate liars was avidly swallowed
by the greedy mother and lovesick daughter. Bertha's mother
agreed to a wedding and suggested it take place toute de suite.
Bill and Arthur then explained that it was necessary to get the
colonel's permission before a wedding could take place. Bertha
and her Ma agreed that, while Bill was getting his Commanding
Officer's consent, they would have the banns posted in the local
church. Finally, Bill left, to attend to his part of the arrange-
ments - and that was the last little Bertha or her mother ever
saw of William! He gave St. Jans a wide berth ever after. What
had started as a joke on his part had taken a serious turn - and
besides, Bill had a wife and family back home in Canada.
Some of our ex-officers will, no doubt, recall Captain Silcox's
experience when down at St. Jans Cappel one day. The captain
entered a small grocery store - un petit magasin. The rather
presentable young mademoiselle in charge greeted him with the
customary French greeting: "Bon jour, M' sieur, que voulez-
vous?" The captain returned her greeting in his recently acquired
French: "Bon jour, m'mselle. Je desire me peser, s'il vous plait."
The young lady smiled politely. "Ah, oui, M'sieur Ie Capitaine
- Ze cabinet est Ie bas," and she pointed to a toilet in the rear
of the shop. Captain Silcox blushingly stepped to a large set of
scales and with considerable difficulty explained that he merely
wanted to weigh himself. For a few days thereafter his fellow-
officers overheard him practising the pronunciation of the French
d " O h "
wor peser, to wng .
About one hundred yards from the chateau gates, and at the
corner of the road leading to St. Jans Cappel, was the" Pot-au-
Lait" estaminet where lived the famous mesdemoiselles,Suzanne
and Claire - two exceptionally handsome and buxom girls in
their early twenties. During legal hours of opening, the Pot-au-
Lait was the rendezvous of thirsty and ambitious noncoms. and
other ranks. During "closed" hours several officers vied with

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"SUNNY" FRANCE

73

each other for the girls' favors and for the excellent chall1pagne
which was stored in the estaminet cellar. One captain, in par-
ticular, would slip stealthily away to this corner thirst-parlor
and, hour after hour, exert all his well-known and peculiar
powers of persuasion on Claire, the younger and less guileful of
the two sisters. Of course, his intentions were strictly honorable
for he was a married man, an officer and therefore a "Temporary
King's Gentleman." His chief handicap was his inability to
speak French. The girl knew no English at this early stage of the
war, so things were more or less at a standstill when, like a gift
from the gods, a certain French-speaking corporal took a hand
in the affair. Mlle. Claire asked the corporal for something nice
to say in English to the ardent capitaine when next he came to
visit. The blond corporal spent one whole afternoon teaching
the girl to say, "Oh, you are a nice captain. I love you. You are
one son-of-a-something from Omaha!" She had just mastered
the sentences to the corporal's satisfaction and her own delight
when, who should drop in but the phiranderíng captain hÍIl1self!
Fortunately, the corporal was able to slip unseen into an adjoin-
ing room where he could hear all that went on between Claire
and the officer. Hardly had the captain got comfortably seated
alongside his eager idol when the girl proudly spoke the all-
important sentences. The effect, however, was not exactly what
she had anticipated, for the captain jumped angrily to his feet
and demanded to know where she had learned such shocking
language. "Le caporal," answered the startled Claire. "What
corporal?" fumed the officer. "Le blond caporal!" explained the
girl. The corporal thought this an ideal moment to slip out the
back door and away to the chateau. It so happened that there
were three blond corporals in the unit at this time and the captain
never did discover which was the guilty one. Naturally, the luck

less officer was obliged to be very guarded in his enquiries.
Between the chateau and the Pot-au- Lait there was another
favorite spot called the "Soap Box." Why and by whon1 it was
so named we never found out; nor can we remember just what
the lads liked about this place. A barking white terrier, a big
wooden butter-bowl and a crippled Frenchman are all we can re-
call to memory - excepting that the place was eventually closed
to the troops, after some of the Lancashire lads introduced Bob,
the Crown-and-Anchor king, to the boss of the establishment.

ï-i

"SUNNY" FRANCE

Other meeting places at Mont Noir were the estaminet near
the Frontier cross-roads, the small farmhouse near the grotto,
and the large farmhouse in the woods about four hundred yards
south of the chateau. In the Frontier estaminet lived little / eanne,
a bright and beautiful wee miss of twelve. At the smal farn1-
house was a slovenly old Flemish farm-woman with a heart of
gold. Almost at any hour of the day or night one could get hot
coffee and cognac or a bowl of soup there. A big iron pot always
hung over the hearth-fire; and more than one chunk of mutton,
tin of bully or hunk of bread was contributed to the humble
menage by grateful Fifth boys. At the large farmhouse lived
Mlle. Georgina - one of the best-looking girls we were ever to
see near the Front. An excellent chicken dinner could be had
there for about two francs a plate, and if you were really nice, a
bottle of wonderful champagne could be coaxed from the family
cellar for about five francs.

The Horse-Transport Farm

The Horse Transport were billeted at a farm on the main
Bailleul road and about five hundred yards southeast of Mont
Noir proper. There the horses were comfortably stabled and the
men had good dry billets in a large barn. It was on this farm that
Sergeant Kelso demonstrated his plowing ability. The farmer had
a plow, but no horses to pull it, so Max kindly offered to hitch
two of the transport steeds to the old wooden plow and show the
Flemish sod-buster just how we did things in Canada. Max's
intentions were of the very best but the two transport horses were
rather wild and, when Max chirped "giddap," they gave one
wild plunge forward, the wooden blade of the old plow sank
deeply into the heavy soil, Max was dragged halfway across the
field - and the ancient plow went all to pieces, like Oliver
Wendell Holmes' "One Hoss Shay!"
Max ended up with only a couple of broken plow-handles in
his hands, and about a hundred-weight of smelly soil clinging to
his person. Part of the wooden plow-blade was found buried in
the ground, but of the rest of the ancient implement nary a trace
was ever found. The farmer shed copious tears. The Fifth lads
laughed. Max swore never again to give a similar exhibition or
to attempt to mix Canadian ideas with Flemish farm equipment.

"SUNNY" FRANCE 75
The Fall and Winter of 1915-16 were about the stormiest of
the whole war, and our first taste of nasty weather in Dranoutre
had not quite prepared us for what we were to experience at
Mont Noir and the farm. On looking back at our stay in those
two places we can recall scarcely a day when it didn't rain, snow
or blow - or do all three simultaneously. For once, the supply
people showed good judgment and we were issued leather jerkins
and rubber rain-capes. These two articles of clothing helped a lot
to fend us from the raw climate, but in spite of their help many
of the lads contracted heavy chest colds and coughs, which, be-
cause of the prevailing conditions, they had a hard time getting
rid of.
One of those who took unto himself a very severe cough and
cold was Henderson. Jim's horse-line duties had brought him a
cough that seemed to come from down near his boots, and a
chest cold that promised to get him either a funeral or a long
spell back in some tuberculosis hospital. But he fooled every-
body, and got neither a six-foot plot of ground nor a trip down
the line. He was merely "excused duty" and kept lying around
the farm barn for a few weeks, while he coughed and spat and
shivered and shook till we thought the billet must topple over.
Just to cheer him up and help him on his way, one of the lads
made up a parody to "0 Canada" and everybody got a great
kick out of sitting around the sick man and singing him towards
recovery. Here is what they sang:
Poor Henderson! His race is almost run.
He has the con.- We mean con-sum-shee-un.
For he coughs all night and he spits all day
And his eyes are growing dim.
And just about next Saturday we'll have to bury
poor Jim - (Gor-blimeyf)
Poor Henderson! Poor Henderson! On. his grave
we'll have to put "He died of the Con!"
On his grave we'll have to put "He died of the Con!"
Who can ever forget Louise, the sturdy daughter at this same
farm? There was a girl for you! She was rather pretty in her
rough way: bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked, broad-shouldered, and
with a sitter-down thar would crowd the largest washtub. She
was extremely good-natured and, while she would put up with
an extraordinary amount of teasing, she would not
tand for

76

"SUNNY" FRANCE

any rough stuff. More than one venturesome lad found himself
picked up bodily and heaved into the cesspool that perfumed the
farmyard, when he "tried his luck" with Louise. And we know
a rather amorous lance-corporal who spent a whole afternoon
turning the mangold chopper for her, in the hope that she would
listen to reason when the rest of the unit had left camp. The art-
ful Louise kept him working so hard, though, that by the time
they were alone together his only desire was to lay his weary body
down for a good long rest. We recall, too, one day at the farm
when Louise was holding a litter of young pigs while her dad
performed a sterilizing operation on them. Our men formed a
ring around the two rustic surgeons, laughing and passing broadly
humorous comment. But Louise didn't mind. She merely smiled
and, as each little porcine victim squirmed under her father's
knife, she would look up at the grinnin,g spectators and call out:
"Beaucoup bon for cochon, eh? Plentee bon for Canadian soldats,
aussif" Louise's remarks were typically Flemish - not pretty,
perhaps, but refreshingly blunt.
In comparison with ou r Canadian horses, those of the Flemish
farmers were extremely docile and tractable. Giant Percherons
were the favorites and it was astonishing what complete control
the farmers had over these beautiful animals. Only one rein was
used for driving and that was a mere string. By jerking this string
and by spoken words of command, "Geet Ho!" etc., these huge
entires were easily persuaded to perform the most intricate
movements. Usually they hauled gigantic, creaking, three-wheeled
carts. These carts had two six-foot wheels, revolving on axles
placed slightly behind the centre of the box-body. A small, pivot-
ting wheel was attached well out in front for steering. The wheel
tires were about one-half inch thick and made of hand-wrought
iron. The horse was hitched about ten feet in front of the cart
and the driver invariably walked. In going downhill the heavy
iron-shod whiffle-trees dragged on the ground, while the driver
applied an immense hand-brake to the metal rims of the big
wheels. The whiffle-trees, trace-chains, breast-yoke or collar and
harness were hand-made and they and the empty cart alone would
ha ve been a heavy load for an average-sized Canadian horse; but
one of those magnificent Percherons could pull without apparent
effort one such cart, even when the vehicle was piled high with
sugar-beets or turnips.

"SUNNY" FRANCE

77

La Clytte and the Brasserie

At La Clytte, A. and B. Sections took over a main dressing
station located in a half-ruined brick schoolhouse on the main
street of the village. To this place we cleared wounded from an
advanced dressing station in an old brasserie just east of Ridge
Wood. In the cellar of this old ruined brewery were the regimental
aid-posts of whatever battalions happened to be in the line at
that time.
From the Brasserie the village of St. Eloi was 2,000 yards due
east; V oormezeele was about 1,000 yards northeast; Spoilbank
was 3,000 yards northeast; Bedford House was two miles north-
east; and Vierstraat was 1,200 yards south. The part of the Line
nearest to the Brasserie was that of the "M. &. N." trenches
which lay about 1,000 yards southeast and was reached during
the daytime through long tortuous communication trenches.
After dark, ration parties, reliefs, working parties and infantry
stretcher squads took the overland route, preferring to take their
chances of being killed, rather than endure the slow and weari-
some trench route.
To reach the Brasserie by foot we usually went by way of
Hallebast Corner, across the duck-walk over the lower end of
Oickebusch Lake, past Gordon Farm, through Ridge Wood and
along about 500 yards of a much-shelled road. Every evening,
and as soon as darkness would permit, our ambulances went up
to the Brasserie by way of the Kemmel and V ierstraat roads and
brought back the sick and wounded collected there during the
day. Early each evening a despatch rider would bring down word
as to how many wounded were waiting, and only on two nights
during our long stay in the Salient were there no cases to be
brought out. Usually we sent from two to four motor ambu-
lances up, but many times it was found necessary to send all our
cars and make more than one trip. All cases were brought to the
La Cl ytte schoolhouse, where they were given secondary dress-
ings or emergency treatment and then sent to clearing stations at
Bailleul and Poperinghe.
From October 9th the unit carried on at Mont Noir and La
Clyue. On the 27th of October His Majesty King George and
the Prince of Wales visited the area and inspected the Canadians.
The Prince held the rank of lieutenant. A few days later, a 1S-inch

78

..SUNNY" FRANCE

na val gun was installed near the crossroads at the northern
end of La Clytte village. After it fired a few rounds Fritz retali-
ated, missing the gun but killing a family of civilians. The
young daughter died in our dressing station, after having both
legs and one arm blown off. The suffering of this poor girl con-
vinced many of us that Sherman had the right idea about war.
On October 28th, liThe La Clytte Bladder and Empire" made
its first appearance. Editor, Pete Wise. The career of the news-
sheet as a daily was short-lived. It very soon evolved into a semi-
weekly, then into a bi-we
kly. Later on it appeared IIjust every
so often" - or whenever there was sufficient news material and
the extra duties given to its editor and his assistants permitted
publication. Se
eral of the Rah Rah Boys gave its editor a help-
ing hand and, through their combined efforts, a very interesting
little paper was produced. Their many sly digs at officers, non-
corns., cooks, mail men and quartermaster stores hangers-on did
much to curb abuses and make life a little more worthwhile for
the lowly buck privates.
Perhaps some of the oldtimers will recall the B. Section gang
which was billeted in a half-ruined estaminet near the Kemmel-
Reninghelst crossroads. These fellows formed themselves into a
mock unit. Slim Russell was colonel; Baldy Rutherford, major;
Ben Case, staff-clerk; Bob Hare, staff-sergeant; and Dick Thomas,
sergeant-major. They posted their own Orders of the Day, held
orderly room, sentenced various culprits to weird punishments
and carried on generally in a manner that just about drove
B. Section's official staff-sergeant to distraction. The uBladder
and Empire, " as well as the mock Daily Orders, were written in
longhand. Several copies were made and circulated freely through
the ranks of the various Sections.
On November 13th the Brigade gave a rousing send-off to
Lord Brooke who was leaving to take a Third Division com-
mand. Bands played in the street. Enemy observers noticed the
commotion and shells came over into an infantry billet and there
were about a dozen casualties. On November 17th and 18th the
village was again shelled, but there were many duds (marked
IIMade in U.S.A.") and no casualties.
On November 20th A. Section went to the Mont Noir farm
for a rest. B. Section took over the chateau; and C. Section moved
to La Clytte, where they remained until December 17th, when

"SUNNY" FRANCE

79

A. returned to La Clytte; C. took over the chateau; and B. moved
to Godewaersvelde and opened a rest station.
While B. Section were running the chateau, Captain Barton
was called to attend a maternity case. Sergeant Wartman accom-
panied him to a nearby farmhouse where they found a young
farm wife stretched out on the kitchen floor, with a rather slov-
enly old woman performing the duties of a midwife. Barton and
\Vartman had little to do but watch as the old woman performed
her duties with no other instrument than an old pair of scissors
and some cloths that looked anything but clean. Two days after-
ward the young mother was out working in the fields - much
to the surprise of our medicos and contrary to all the laws of
modern medicine and surgery. Hardy stock, those Flemish farnl
folk!
Perhaps SOine of the B. Section lads will recall the champagne
party they pulled off at Mont Noir - when Tom Morgan man,
aged to hide away a bottle for his own private consumption
next morning?
It was, too, while B. Section was at Mont Noir that the
chateau well became polluted. The Commanding Officer decided
that it should have a thorough cleaning. A long piece of hose was
used for siphoning out the water. Some of the fellows may re,
member the strenuous fatigues they had for a few days, scouring
and scrubbing the well walls.
Early in December Major Kappele left the Fifth, to take com-
lnand of a cavalry field ambulance. While we were glad he was
receiving a well-deserved promotion we were sorry to lose him.
He was our originalillajor, and as such, had every man in the
unit for his friend.

Our First Christmas in Flanders

While the three Sections were carrying on at La Clytte, Gode-
waersvelde and Mont r-
oir respectively, they celebrated their
first Christmas in Flanders. The weather on the 25th was wet,
misty and cold, but in the hearts and minds of the men there
was that glow of happiness which only Christnlas can bring.
For many weeks there had been buying-trips to Bailleul and
other towns and hundreds of presents were sent to loved ones
back home. Hand-nlade lace, aprons, d'Oyleys, table piece
,

80

"SUNNY" FRANCE

hand-carved crucifixes, sabots and similar articles were des-
patched through the Field Post-Office.
What money remained the boys dedicated to Bacchus, in the
form of vin blanc, vin rouge and champagne, so that when the
great day finally arrived, it found everybody ready and prepared
to enjoy themselves. Extra rations had been brought up and all
had a good Christmas dinner.
At Godewaersvelde, Christmas found B. Section with the jute
fabrique well on the way toward being ready for the reception
of patients. Time out was taken for the erection of a stage and
a very creditable affair, complete with drop curtain and wings,
was rigged up. Tables were set in the hall and the men enjoyed
the novelty of seeing real china dishes and home-like cutlery
again.
At 6.30 p.m. the Section sat down to dine, Captain Nicholson
at the head of the table. The menu was as follows:

Godewaersvelde,
France,
Dee. 25, 1915.
B. SECTION CHRISTMAS DINNER

MENU

Tomato Soup
Roast Chicken with French Dressing
Roast Sirloin of Beef
Boiled Potatoes Green Peas
Canadian Cheddar Cheese
Pickled White Onions
College Pudding Mother's Own Pudding
Apples, Oranges, Dates, Figs, Walnuts
Champagne (real pain) Cherry Wine

PROGRAMME

Toasts: The King, . . . . . . . . . , . . . .. .'.. '... Captain Nicholson
The Canadians, . , . , . , . , , , , , . , . . . . . . . Captain Barton
The Commanding Officer and Officers of
the Fifth, . . . . . . . . , . , , . . .. . '" Staff Alden
Loved Ones at Home. . . " ,,'. . . . Staff Patterson
The Boys in the Trenches, , , , , , , . , . , , . Private Rostron

"SUNNY" FRANCE

81

After dinner a special performance was given by an Imperial
Concert Troupe, "The Mudlarks," assisted by some of the lads
froiTI B. Section. The hit of the evening was a song, "My Ain
Folk, " sung by a Scotsman with all the feeling the song and
occasion demanded. It was after midnight when festivities stop-
ped and the men tumbled into their stretcher bunks to sleep.
Considerable difficulty had been encountered in obtaining an
adequate supply of chickens for the dinner, but Jack Lumsden
called for volunteers, went out into the night and returned with
fowl enough for the banquet. Goodness only knows where or how
Jack got them, for he never explained and no person dared ask him.
For the first time our cooks utilized the new cook-kitchen
which had arrived at Godewaersvelde on December 24th. This
kitchen was a gift from the people of Dundas, Ontario. Colonel
Farmer was well known in Dundas and, through the instru-
mentality of his many friends, including the late John S. Fry,
beloved magistrate and former town clerk, a local Ladies' Organ-
ization launched a subscription campaign and bought the cook-
kitchen - after first consulting the colonel as to what would be
the most acceptable gift. Dundas was also a sort of second home-
town to Staff Patterson, so perhaps the citizens' consideration for
Andy's bulky frame and gastronomic capacity had something to
do with the Dundas folks' gift. However, a more acceptable
piece of equipment could not have been chosen. Thousands of
meals were cooked and served by this kitchen and throughout
the war we had excellent reason to be grateful to the kind
folk of Dundas.
At Mont Noir, C. Section, under the command of Major
Jones, enjoyed Christmas by having a Christmas Tree and an
impromptu program of entertainn1ent by members of the Sec-
tion. Bill Ferris was in rare form on this occasion and his Sal-
vation Army skit was a great success. HapfY Carlisle thumped
the piano and sang his Jack Johnson song and several other favor-
ite ditties as only Happy could sing them. Perhaps the lads of
C. Section win remember the surprise they got when Staff-
Sergeant SmIth was called upon for a song and obliged with
"A Perfect Day," in a manner that won the admiration and
unstinted applause of all present. The dinner served C. Section
was along lines similar to those provided at La Clytte and Gode-
waersveldc. The "resting" officer-patients, of course, had a

82

"SUNNY" FRANCE

special menu - but every day was a SOrt of fete day \vith them
while at the chateau.
At La Clytte special food and refreshment was provided for
the few patients who were awaiting disposal. For their an1use-
ment a motion picture machine was borrowed and some humor-
ous films thrown on a sheet hung on the ward wall. Our officers
dined in their own messroom to which the orderlies had given a
very homey atmosphere by hanging bunting, tinsel, evergreens,
holly, ete.
The officers' menu was as follows: Oysters on the half-shell,
roast goose with dressing and applesauce, potatoes, cauliflower,
lobster salad, plum-pudding with brandy sauce, blanc mange,
jelly, apples, oranges, grapes, Scotch shortbread, cheese, raisins,
nuts, stout, tea, coffee and port wine. The men's dinner con-
sisted of a shot of rum, potatoes boiled with the jackets on,
roast beef, plum-pudding, tea, oranges and nuts. The plum-
pudding was a present from Princess Mary, and the oranges and
nuts came from various Canadian Soldiers' Comforts groups.
Not a bad old war, eh?
Almost everybody enjoyed their dinners, with the possible
exception of Dean Wilkins. Dean was at the end of the line-up
at La Clytte, one half of his mess-tin in each hand. John Gilpin
had filled one half of Dean's utensil with meat, vegetables, ete.,
when he noticed that his cookhouse fire needed replenishing.
Stooping down, and with his bare hands, Jack threw a few
chunks of soft coal on the fire. He then wiped his fingers on that
inky-black coal sack he wore for an apron, and stuck his grimy
hand into the pudding pot and brought out a great blobby fistful
of pudding which he dropped into the lid of Wilkie's mess-tin.
Next he poured over the pudding a ladleful of what he said was
butter sauce. Dean's jaw dropped. The corners of his mouth took
on their well-known droop and his face, from the top of his
expansive forehead down to near his Adam's apple, turned a
hectic red. He stood for a moment glaring venomously at the
unconcerned cook - then disgustedly turned his mess-tin upside
down, dumping the whole vile contents on the cookhouse floor.
Corporal Gilpin payed not the slightest attention, but calmly
went ahead stirring a "dixie" of tea with a fast-melting wax
candle! John's South-African experiences had evidently brought
him a resourcefulness we "amateur soldiers" couldn't appreciate.

"SUNNY" FRANCE

83

It was shortly after this that Gilpin began to "work his
ticket," because of failing eyesight. Colonel Farmer had just
about decided to recommend Jack's discharge when one day the
corporal-cook forgot himself. The colonel was standing near the
cookhouse when John pointed a murky finger skywards. "Lor'
lummey!" exclaimed the excited cook, "them blawsted jerries is
gowin' to 'it that bloody bloke if 'ee eye-nt shawp!" Colonel
Farmer looked in the direction Jack was pointing. "Hit who?"
he asked, searching the sky. "Why that eye-viator over there,"
pointed John. "Cawn't you see 'im, sir?" But the colonel was
unable to see any planes overhead - until he got his binoculars!
Even then he had some difficulty in locating the British plane
around which white shell-puffs were clustering, about two miles
up. Needless to add, perhaps, that Gilpin's bad break about his
eyesight didn't hasten his discharge. Jack, too, was about the only
one of us who was ever able to read the time by that sundial on
the south wall of the old La Clytte church. He had good eyesight,
toO, when anyone tried to swipe food from his cookhouse.
Bob Tillotson was another laddybuck who didn't enjoy the
Christmas festivities. Bob was sick in hospital and had been put
on a diet, being allowed only a few ounces of liquid food each
da y. To add insult to his illness, several bulky boxes of Christmas
cheer had arrived for him and were piled beside his stretcher, but
he was forbidden to open thenl. Whether the contemplation of
so many unopened boxes aggravated his condition we never
knew, but Bob grew steadily worse and heroic methods were
undertaken to bring him back to normal. One night Captain
Silcox ordered an enema for Bob - and Roy Flynn and Jim
Henderson were nominated to perform the heroic deed. They
filled one of the schoolhouse fire-buckets with tepid water. Into
this they stirred about two pounds of soft soap. Hcnderson stood
on a pannier and held the frothing pail aloft while Flynn put the
business end of the tube where it belonged. Poor Bob groaned in
frightened anticipation of the probable denouement, but the two
enthusiastic ordtrlies poured soapy fluid into hinl until he seenlcd
about to burst. It may have been just a coincidence, but at that
very moment the whole Y pres salient was aroused by a gas alarnl.
Gongs clanged, bells rang, horns tooted and flappers flapped.
Fritz put over a defensive barrage and our infantrymen donned
their gas resrirators. There was a breeze fronl the west blowing

84

"SUI'
NY" FRANCE

at the time, so it is quite possible that the troops up the Line got
wind of what was going on in La Cl ytte.
And while we are \-vriting about Bob we must explain how he
gOt the nickname of "Maconachie. " 'Twas simply because he
was fond of that well-known meat-and-vegetable ration. Know-
ing his liking for the succulent M. &. V., our old friend Hender-
son one night wakened Tillotson out of a sound sleep. "Hey,
Bob," whispered Jim, shaking the sleeping Robert, "wake up
. . . wake up . . . I've got something for you!" Bob roused
himself. "Hello, what's up?" he asked, c"rawling half-way out
of his blankets. "Could you eat some Maconachie?" enquired
Henderson holding out two warm tins to the now fully-awake
Bob. "Aye, that I could, Jim! I do love a bit 0' Maconachie!"
exclaimed Bob, reaching for his can-opener. And as Henderson
looked on in awe, the two tins of M. &. V. disappeared down
Tillotson's appreciative throat, well earning for their consumer
the monicker of "Maconachie Bob." Any man who could wake
up out of a sound sleep and eat two tins of M. &. V. deserved
recognition.
Bailleul was a Mecca for everyone on pass. There could be
seen men of every rank in the Corps, and an afternoon in Bailleul
was considered something to look forward to and long remem-
ber. Of course, our officers had many excuses for their visits -
the mess caterer marketed there and a visit to the casualty clearing
station was always in order. Some of us, too, loved to sit and
meditate in the quaint old cathedral.
One morning Colonel Farmer \-vas on his way to Bailleul
when, just north of Hyde Park Corner, the motor ambulance was
brought to a halt by a large tree which had fallen across the road-
way. The colonel, followed by Corporal Hutchinson and Andy
Parker, Motor Transport driver and orderly respectively, de-
scended from the car and walked over to the obstruction. There
they found about a dozen Imperial soldiers in charge of a cor-
poral, leisurely lopping off the smaller branches of the tree. That
traffic was being held up didn't seem to bother the easy-going
Imperials. They were quite unconcerned about the long line of
vehicles already forming behind the barrier. Colonel Farmer
looked on for a minute or two, then he stepped forward. "Hut-
chinson! Parker! Damn it to hell! Show these blankety blanks
how to move this tree !"

"SUNNY" FRANCE

85

Hutch and Andy turned their car around, tied a tow-rope to
one end of the tree and swung it over far enough to permit
traffic to pass. The colonel glared at the dumbfounded Imperials.
"We'll never win this damned war with men like you. You'll
have to wake up or we'll be out here fifty years!"
Just before the Commanding Officer's car reached Bailleul
some tractors approached, pulling two fifteen-inch howitzers.
The colonel ordered the car stopped and asked the tractor officer
where and when the guns were going into action. The informa-
tion he received pleased him immensely. He turned to the ambu-
lance driver \vith a smile. "All right, Hutchinson - drive to the
Square. The war will soon be over now!" Truly was the Old
Man very mercurial in his temperament and reactions.
Mention of the Old Man's trip to Bailleul reminds us of an
earlier day when he was at Mont Noir. He climbed into an am-
bulance and in his best Parisian accent ordered the driver to drive
him to La Place, and to get there in a hurry. Away sped the car.
The driver turned to car orderly Bill Brown: "Where's La Plqce,
Billy? That's a new village to me!" Billy scratched his head.
"Damned if I know! Maybe it's one of those little villages near
Ypres." On went the car, past La Clytte, Hallebast Corner and
Dickebusch. They were within a mile or so of Y pres when, from
inside the car, came a roar that made the engine seem quiet in
comparison. "Stop the car! Stop the car! Dammitall! Where in
hell do you think you're going?" The car stopped! "I'm taking
you where you ordered, Sir. La Place is near here somewhere."
The colonel was purple with exasperation. "Turn around and
drive back the way we've come," he yelled. "I said La Place -
La Place - the Square in Bailleul! Didn't you ever hear it called
La Place before?"
Those who remember the sort of temper the Old Man pos-
sessed can imagine the scene when one day Private Roen and
another lad carried a big dud air-bomb into the colonel's La
Clytte billet. As soon as the Commanding Officer spotted the
dangerous nlissile he rushed for the door. '
Get that damned
thing out of here. Hurry up, get it out, get it out, get it out," he
roared. The two lads took the bomb over to the bombing school
where it was discovered that the bomb's detonating pin was
within one-hundredth part of an inch fronl the exploding point.
Roen was quite unconcerned about the danger involved - had,

86

"SUNNY" FRANCE

in fact, been experimenting on the dud with a wrench and a
screw-driver before he decided to turn it over to the colonel!

"Hicks of B. Section," the Unit "Goat"

Now that we've accounted for one well-known character, we
might as well explain the origin of another celebrity - the unit's
most mysterious member - "Hicks of B. Section," also some-
times known as "Ball Hyphen Hicks."
In army life, as in civilian life, it is always handy to have
someone to blame for everything that goes wrong. For the first
year of the Fifth's existence the unit struggled along, somehow,
with no one to blame for all its woes, each man shouldering his
full share of responsibility for all that went amiss - which was
plenty! At La Cl ytte, however, we accidentally discovered one
on whom we could throw the onus of all our misdeeds, short-
comings and crimes - a sort of official "goat." The discovery
came about as follows:
One morning, when Orderly Sergeant Smith was making his
rounds, he discovered in one of the huts a bed roll that was very
untidy. "Whose blankets are those?" shouted Reggie, as soon as
he entered the door. "Tell him they belong to Hicks," whispered
Corporal John McRae to Bill Taylor, and Bill did as he was
prompted. "\Vhat Section does this man Hicks belong to?" de-
manded the indignant staff-sergeant, taking out his notebook and
pencil. "B. Section!" replied Taylor. "All right, Private Taylor,"
announced Reggie, "Private Hicks will help you on sanitary
fatigue this morning," and away he went.
About an hour later the orderly sergeant returned to the hut
and found Taylor sitting unconcernedly on his blanket roll. "Why
aren't those latrine buckets emptied, Private Taylor?" he de-
manded. Si Taylor's face took on a very concerned look. "I'm
very sorry, staff," he confided, "but I couldn't find Hicks, and it
takes two men to carry those buckets on a pole, you know, so I
just had to leave them where they were."
Reggie was furious. "I'll find him," he declared, and hurried
off to the sergeant-major's billet, where he laid a charge of "being
absent without leave" against the l11issing Hicks. Jack Williams,
sensing that the lads were having some fun with Staff Smith,
agreed that the missing offender should be punished and he told

"SUNNY" FRANCE

87

the angry staff to put Hicks under arrest as soon as possible.
Poor Reggie hunted for the man high and low and for two or
three days before he realized that there was no such person in
the Fifth.
One or two of the original officers knew about the Hicks gag,
but more than one new officer and noncom. had his "leg pulled"
by the same stunt. And more than one guilty lad escaped punish-
ment by blaming his misdemeanor on "Hicks of B. Section."
From that time on, everything that went wrong was credited to
"Hicks," and the Fifth had a "goat" at last - a goat that
stayed with us until the end of the war and relieved us of con-
siderable just retribution - and contributed greatly to our merri-
ment. We should like to have a record of the number of times
new noncoms. and officers made out crime sheets against this
mythical culprit.
We well remember the time, later on in the war, when a
wounded man was carried into our dressing station, and one of
our officers who had been gulled by the "Hicks" joke, bent over
to read the wound tag. There was the wounded man's name,
"Hicks!" The medical officer had a good laugh and explained
the joke to the wounded man. "Why you must be that fellow
'Hicks' we've been looking for all over France!" suggested the
doctor. "If you had done half the crimes credited to 'Hicks of
B. Section' you would be in a military prison, instead of on your
way home with a nice 'blighty',"
Jim Henderson was the original "Hicks," but not the B. Sec-
tion character invented at La Clytte. In our old training-camp
days, Henderson and Bill Taylor used to put on a "rube" act for
the amusement of the lads, and the fellows had nicknamed them
"Hicks" and "Si" respectively. The names stuck to the pair of
them, but Henderson had gone to A. Section at Otterpool camp,
and that left room in B. Section for the introduction of the
"Hicks" which became so famous throughout the ranks of the
Fifth. As a matter of fact, one of our men afterwards married
into a Hicks family.
Our First l\eal Taste of War

The 29th day of December was one of our red-letter days.
Major Jones (posted as major, Christmas Day) had come over
fron1 l'vIont Noir to pay A. Section, and had just nicely started

88

"SUNNY" FRANCE

to hand out the long-awaited francs when Fritz began to shell
La Clytte. The first two. or three shells fell in nearby fields but
the next one landed right into the centre of the village. The pay
parade was disbanded and the men rushed to their posts in the
dressing station.
Soon the little schoolhouse floors were covered with wounded
- civilians, 18th Battalion men, Princess Pats, and men from
other units. Our bearers went unhesitatingly into the shell-swept
streets and brought the wounded into the dressing station for
treatment. The noise and vibrations from the shell explosions
were terriffÌc and, added to this, were the shouts and cries of
fleeing and wounded civilians.
The local Belgian curé helped bring in a ten-year-old Flemish
boy who had both legs and one arm fractured and half his
buttocks blown away. A minute later the curé was back, helping
our men to carry in the little lad's uncle. The uncle died shortly
after admission and the boy the following day. Some of the men
may remember the poor boy's grief over losing his watch.
Shells fell all around the school but didn't hit it. Every window
in the village was blown out or shattered. One large shell landed
in a big coal pile just opposite the dressing station and soft coal
flew in every direction, but no other damage was done. After
about two hours the shelling ceased. Our little station was like a
shambles but, strange to say, not one Fifth man was hit.
There is no doubt that Fritz was trying to put out of action
the 15-inch naval gun and a battery of six-point-twos which had
been firing from the village. There used to be a lot of newspaper
talk about the enemy firing on our hospitals and dressing stations.
but hardly ever did we establish an aid-post or advanced dressing
station without someone setting up an artillery post, a supply
dump, or a machine-gun emplacement close to us. This hap-
pened so often it just couldn't have been accidental.
An odd coincidence of the bombardment had to do with the
building of the station morgue. Chief Engineer Jimmy Lickley,
assisted by Construction Expert Francesco Restivo, had barely
completed the mortuary when the shelling started. Within a few
minutes the morgue was filled to capacity.
It was about this time that the Fifth lost four of its Rah Rah
boys - Charlie Scott, Bill Scott, "Red" Irvine and Walter
Barnes - who returned to Canada to complete their studies in

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1. La Clytte Church, Destroyed by Huns. 1918,
3. Locre Church, Destroyed by Huns, 1918,

2. Mont Noir Win::imill, near our Chateau bIllet,
4, Mont-St.-Eloy Tower as it was before the war.

"SUNNY" FRANCE

89

medicine. Evidently the powers-that-were felt that many more
medical officers would be urgently needed before the war ended.
New Year's Day came and went without much of importance
transpiring. The day was wet and windy but not cold. Up to
January 1st our unit had no casualties in its own ranks, excepting
Dyment, of course.
Shortly after the New Year, Padre Carlisle and Captain Elliott
were reported missing. Rumor had it that they had been shot (or
was it half-shot?) in Armentieres. The rumor was merely half
correct, however, and only timely identification saved them from
ignominious deaths as spies, for they had been arrested as such by
the Imperial police when they were sight-seeing in the English
troops' area. Thus was Joe Irwin robbed of promotion.
It is more than likely that for a few days the two captains
were twitted about their visit to Armentieres. Whether Elliott
and Carlisle had met the city's famous mademoiselle we never
learned, but it is a strange coincidence that just at that time we
first heard the rather bawdy song about Armentieres' famous
lady. There was an ever-increasing number of verses to the song
and the further the ditty went the worse (or better!) it seemed to
get. Our soldier-minstrels vied with each other in composing
additions to this army classic. The thing was bellowed in every
estaminet and billet on the Western Front. Here are a few of the
verses we eventually knew - slightly censored, of course:

Mademoiselle from Armentiers, parley,voo.
Mademoiselle from Armentiers, parley-voo,
Mademoiselle from Armentiers,
She hasn't been k.issed for forty years-
With her hinkJ Pinky parley-voo.
a madame, have you a daughter fine, parley,voo?
a madame, have you a daughter fine, parley,voo?
a madame, have you a daughter fine
Fit for a soldier of the Line -
And his hinkJ pinkY parley-t'oo?
a yes I have a daughter fine, parlcy-'l'oo.
a yes I have a daughter fine, parley,voo.
a yes I have a daughter fine
Fit for a soldier of the Line,
And his hink'j' pinky parley-voo,

90

"SUNNY" FRANCE

a mademoiselle has eyes of brown, parle)'-voo,
Her golden hair is hanging down, parley-voo.
With her golden hair and her eyes of brown
She's been kissed by all the troops in town-
And their hinky Pinky parley-voo.
The colonel called on Mademoiselle, parley-voo,
His carriage erect and his head as well, parley-voo.
The colonel called on Mademoiselle,
But she told him to go plump to hell -
With his hink.y Pink.y parley-voo.
The padre called on Mademoiselle, parley-voo.
To save her from the flames of hell, parley-voo.
The padre called on Mademoiselle,
He started to preach but damn soon fell
For her hink...y pinky parley-voo.
The Yanks are having a damned good time, parley-voo.
The Yanks are having a damned good time, parley-voo.
The Yanks are having a damned good time
Kissing the Waacs behind the Line
With their hinky pinky parley-voo.
It was about this time that the Fifth was becoming acquainted
\vith death as it used to strike at the Front. A few men had died
in our station at Dranoutre and many more passed out in our
ambulances and forward station while we were in La Clytte.
There we learned to throw off the morbidness which is usually
associated with the Grim Reaper during times of peace. Instinct
warned us that to dwell overmuch on the darker side of war led
to despair and defeat. Consequently, we almost subconsciously
turned our thoughts elsewhere-even when, later on, some of
our closest friends and comrades passed on.
In this connection we recall that one night our officers were in
the middle of a game of bridge, with an infantry colonel as their
guest, when an orderly brought a despatch to that officer. Hands
had been dealt and the game was in abeyance while the j nfantry
colonel read aloud the despatch, which informed him that his
regimental medical officer had just been killed up the Line. After
a moment's silence, Colonel Farmer picked up his cards. "Poor
old George killed, eh! That's too damned bad!" he remarked.
" Wh ' 7"
at s trump.

"SUNNY" FRANCE
Our First Men Go On Leave

On January 8th orders were received that leave was open -
two men a week and one officer every third week. This was good
news to those whose names fell within the first few letters of the
alphabet but not such great news to those down around the W's.
However, a wa y went the first lucky devils, while the rest of us
wondered if our turns would ever come.
Leave, especially in later days, used to come like a miracle.
To a man up the Line or about to go into a battle or closer danger
it was like a reprieve from the ever-present imminence of death.
It was like another life, almost - something he wouldn't believe
and couldn't conceive of until he was actually far away from the
theatre of war. And when he got back up the Line his recent
leave seemed like something he had dreamed - a few days lived
in an obsolescent world.
Colonel Farmer was first to go on leave from La CI ytte and
when he returned we hardly recognized him. He came back
sporting a black-ribboned monocle, a goatee, and a completely
new uniform of decidedly English cut and texture. To see him
walking about the old schoolhouse dressing station was a sight
indeed. He would be screwing his mouth into all sorts of out-
landish shapes, in trying to hold the elusive monocle to his eye.
On his feet were a pair of great clattering Flemish sabots, and.
in the early morning or very late at night, he usually discarded
his uniform and donned a suit of vivid red pyjamas. Over these
he wore a bright crimson dressing-robe and the ensemble was
more terrifying than Fritz himself.
When the pompomming of anti-aircraft batteries announced
the overhead presence of enemy aircraft, the colonel would grab
a rifle and rush into the backyard court and blaze away merrily
at the high-_flying Boche. How many rounds of futile "rapid-
fire" he sent skywards Heaven only knows.
One day Colonel Farmer and some of our fellows were follow-
ing the movements of a British plane as it emerged from a battle
over the Line. The machine was obviously out of connol as it
made its way erratically towards the rear. Suddenly, it went into
a sickening spiral dive. Colonel Farmer ordered an ambulance
and set out to where the machine had crashed. The dead pilot,
Captain Saunders, M.C., a Britisher, was brought to the dressing

91

92

"SUNNY" FRANCE

station where it was found that a bullet had penetrated his
abdomen. The colonel ordered a grave to be dug and the pilot's
body was buried with due respect and full military honors in the
little cemetery behind the La Clytte church. A day or two later
Colonel Farmer received a severe dressing down from the R.A.F.,
for not consulting them about the place of burial. Eventually the
R,A.F. removed the body to another burial ground. What the
Old Man said about unappreciative, snobbish ungratefulness
must be left to the reader's imagination.
Some of the Fifth may remember that night in La Clytte when
three of our most exalted noncoms. visited the 19th Battalion
quartermaster - when it took the soberest one of them until
nearly dawn to guide the other two back across the water-filled
fields and ditches? They may, too, remember the hyena-like
laughter with which one of the three awakened almost every-
body in the area.
Orders were received about this time to paint on our ambu-
lances a unit identification mark. The colonel was wearing a
masonic ring when the order came in. He used the triple-taw
design the ring bore for the motif of the identification mark-
a sort of three-armed figure.
Late every night the colonel would make a final trip around
the dressing station wards, inspecting every case. He had a won-
derful way with a wounded man, and never was there a case of
severe suffering that didn't receive merciful relief from pain
through the colonel's miracle-working hands and sympathetic
ministrations. If there were a dozen groaning, cursing, stretcher-
cases when he entered a room, there were at least ten quietened
and sleeping patients before he left. At his orders this man's lying
position would be altered; the bottom end of another man's
stretcher would be raised; the knees of still another patient would
be elevated and a few sandbags tucked under them. He made a
close study of each individual case and, without morphine or
other sedative, soothed and comforted almost every badly-
wounded man with whom he came in contact.
The colonel loved to question every conscious wounded man
and ask about his battalion, home, relatives, etc., in such a way
as to win the love and confidence of the patient. He delighted to
find a man proud of whatever unit he happened to belong to.
One night we had a particularly severe case - an Irish-Canuck,

"SUNNY" FRANCE

93

if we ren1ember correctly. Both legs and one arm were badly
shattered. "What unit do you belong to?" asked the colonel.
"The Twenty-First - the best bloody battalion in the Line!"
proudly asserted the wounded man. "That's the spirit!" smiled
the Commanding Officer. "You'll get better all right," he added;
"but I'm afraid you'll lose one of those legs, my lad!" The
wounded man forced a painful grin. "Oh hen, that's all right!"
he explained, "I'm going to run a poolroom back in Kingston,
but I'll sure be a damn funny-looking gink, hopping around
those tables on just one leg, eh?" It is doubtful, though, if with
all his courage, this lad pulled through.
It was in La Clytte that Privates Husband and Carruthers re-
galed the rest of A. Section with their tempestuous arguments
over Sam Hughes, the Ross rifle, and politics in general. Car-
ruthers had an exasperating habit of egging Hubby on and then
grinning at him. Never were they near each other without a
resumption of the argument; and never did the argument stOp
for the day without Hubby telling his vis-a-vis that he was a
"dirty, lowdown, jeedee, Scotch, Presbyterian Grit" - that being
Hubby's idea of the lowest thing in the world.
Dick Mitchell and Sam Baxter were another great pair who
philosophized long and earnestly in the old Nissen-hut billet. If
ever two soldiers loved each other, those two did. Both were
well-read, cultured and broadminded and either would have died
for the other - and almost any man in the unit would have just
about given his all to either one of them.
On February 1st, Captain Nicholson moved to La Clytte and
took charge of A. Section; Major Jones taking command of B.
Section, over at Godewaersvelde, where that Section had been
carrying on since the middle of December.

The uGood Old Days" at Godewaers'l.'elde @'V
Godewaersvelde (we called it " God Wears Vel vet !") was a
town of about two thousand population, back near Mont des
Cats. * There B. Section opened a rest station in an old jute mill.

.Prince Max of Hesse, the Kaiser's cousin was killed and secretly buried at Mont
dcs Cats in 1914, The Kaiscr tricd co find out the location of Max's grave but thc
monks refused co divulge it until the war was over and Germany had done something
toward compensating the monastery for damagc done by thc Huns in their first mad
rush to the Channel.

94

"SUNNY" FRANCE

Jute was piled high in the only rooms suitable for patients, and
to B. Section fell the delightful task of removing the stuff. It
was carried into the machine room and piled ceiling-high on top
of the machines.
A few days after this laborious work had been completed, the
mill-owner's wife, accompanied by two very attractive daugh-
ters, appeared on the scene and requested that two especially
valuable machines be removed and taken to her home for safe-
keeping. B. Section thereupon commenced removing the jute in
an effort to locate the two wanted machines. Naturally, it wasn't
until nearly all the jute had been cleared away that the machines
were found in the remotest corner of the room. Tired hands un-
bolted them from the floor. They were then hauled outside and,
once more, B. Section carried and piled the jute back into the
machine room.
Next morning there was considerable competition among the
boys to decide who should ha ve the honor of carrying the
machines to the owner's home at the tOp of Mont des Cats.
Eventually Ben Case and Mike Bicknell were the ones chosen.
Those machines were heavy enough for four men but the two
Rah Rah lads decided that they alone would carry them and thus
have a delectable tete-a-tete with the mill-owner's daughters.
It was, therefore, with eager expectancy that they shouldered one
of the machines and set out to deliver it. They could have taken
the two machines by car but this was a job they wanted to
last as long as possible.
When they arrived at the owner's home they were given a
great welcome. The girls received them with open arms and the
mother regaled them with wine, cakes and coffee. When Mike
and Ben finally left for their billets it was with the feeling that
they were making great headway with the impressionable young
ladies and the fond wish that there were twenty more machines
to be delivered instead of just one.
The next afternoon was rather warm as up the long steep hill
the two Sir Galahads bore the remaining machine. Their arms
ached and their backs bent under the increasingly heavy burden.
Perspiration seeped into their smarting eyes, but the memory of
the previous day's welcome and the anticipation of an even
warmer reception spurred them on. Finally they reached the
owner's house and rested their machine before the front door.

"SUNNY" FRANCE

95

From inside the house came sounds of revelry. Music, laughter
and the shuffling of dancing feet could be heard through the
partly-opened windows. Their knocks on the house door were
finally answered. Out came Yvonne, the girl who had taken
Mike's particular fancy, followed by a grinning crowd of French
friends. Holding her hand was a stalwart French corporal whom
she inrroduced as her husband! He had come home on leave the
day before and they had just that morning been married. It was a
wedding celebration that the arrival of our two Don Juans had
interrupted.
The girl's mother brought the two dazed lads some wine with
which to toast the newlyweds, but Mike and Ben were tòo
chagrined to do the toast justice. After stammered adieus they
meandered back down the hill with a new understanding of
"Love's Labor Lost" and a very strong suspicion that all women
were fickle.
If Mike was unlucky in love, there were many of the lads who
were more fortunate. John McRae and Bert Pearson were the
worst (or best!) heart-breakers. Redheaded Gabrielle, Martha,
Rachel and Zenobie were wonderful girls - all of them. And
the girls in the white house on the Steenvoorde road weren't hard
to look at, either! Our boys had a lot of good clean fun and the
mamselles received a lot of attention.

Long Jawn and Little Pick

Piccadilly Bridges, because of his well-known French accent,
was official "interrupter" for the boys. Corporal McRae used him
as an intermediary when he went courting Gabrielle. If Pick
pressed McRae's suit he did not neglect to press his own, and it
was rather laughable to see and hear the giant corporal and the
diminutive ex-signaller making their bids for the fluttering heart
of the gentle Gaby. And, to make the thing funnier - whenever
Pick and Mac weren't with the girl, another B. Section heart-
breaker was on the job, and succeeded in starring in where they
left off.
It was in this town that Doug. Cascaden was rather badly
burned in a cookhouse accident. When the medical officer asked
Cass the usual question, "Where were you born, etc.," Doug.,
regardless of his terrible suffering, didn't forget his Irish origin.

96

"SUNNY" FRANCE

" 'Twas at Legation, on Ballyshannon, County Donegal-'twas
years and years ago!" he added, with a wistful far-away look in
his eyes. Needless to add, Old Cass recovered. You just can't kill
that kind of an Irishman.
Apropos of the questioning given a sick or wounded man it
must be mentioned that the patient was generally fed up and not
interested in statistics, particularly as to his religion. We remem-
ber one badly wounded fellow who, when asked about his re-
ligion, replied, "Oh, put down any damned thing you're short
on" He was put down as an Anglican. Headquarters demanded
complete information in every case so, rather than pester the
patients, our clerks oftentimes marked them "C. of E.," and
hoped the classification wouldn't prejudice the patients' chances
of salvation. No doubt, our army casualty records showed an
odd preponderance of C. of E. wounded. We knew, too, a couple
of Fifth men who used to change their religions (if any) ! to suit
whatever parade promised the most liberty at the moment. Some
even declared themselves as atheists, to escape church parades.
All B. Section men will recall the many boxing bouts that
were put on about this time. Captain Elliott, Staff Patterson,
Staff Mott and Staff Alden used to put on the gloves and treat
the lads to many enjoyable exhibitions of the manly art. Every-
thing was hunky-dory in the fisticuff line until an Imperial ser-
geant-major arrived in town and a bout was arranged between
him and Frank Alden. Frank was lightweight champion of some
place or other "over 'orne" but after a short session with the
doughty sergeant-major Frank thought of many pleasanter ways
in which to spend an evening. The B. Section lads, though,
enjoyed this bout immensely.
B. Section had a busy time running the rest station for it was
always full of patients. In front of the station our men did a
24-hour armed guard. One day Carl English Hill was marching
up and down on his beat, red-cross brassard on one arm and a
rifle over the other, when along came a Welsh Guard regiment.
The colonel halted his battalion, came over to Carl and demanded
to know why a red-cross man was carrying a rifle. Private Hill
willingly explained. The dumbfounded Welshman then hurried
to the officer in charge of B. Section and ordered the immediate
removal of all rifles from the guard. And that was the end of our
ridiculous breaches of the Geneva conventions.

"SUNNY" FRANCE

97

Pete Wise Publishes a Newspaper

At Godewaersvelde, Pete Wise produced the first numbers of
his "W eekl y Eye-Opener," a sixteen - pa ge news-sheet written
entirely by hand and dedicated to the proposition that all men
were born equal - excepting noncon1S. and officers, who were
works of the devil. A footnote to the first number informed us
that the paper was "to be published every Saturday, at twelve
o'clock." Pete asked for suggestions of suitable names for his
publication and the "Latrine Gazette" and "La Clytte Bladder"
were suggested. Pete compromised by calling the paper "L 'Echo
de Godewaersvelde." To every issue the men looked forward
with delightful anticipation; the officers and noncoms. with mis-
trust and dread, for the editor's pen was often dipped in acid.
Following are some excerpts from various issues :
THINGS WE SEE AND HEAR
1. The making of a hero: Veni, vidi, V,C.
2. Hurrah for President Wilson! He's all write,
3. Slackers who shunned the call will soon be called to "shun,"
4, The Ford Peace Doves knew they played a losing game when
they lost that rubber at Kirkwall.
5, An "Ardene Patriot" writes, complaining that ehe Cabinet.
still contains a Foreign Minister.

OUR 1916 ALMANAC
Feb, I-Germany floats new war loan,
Feb, i2- Two men from the Fifeh go on leave,
Feb. 2S-Bread and potato riots in Berlin
Mar. i-Private Windsor continues to draw his pay for "working."
Mar, 6-Hilaire Bdloc proves that Germany has already lost ewice her
entire male population,
Mar. 30- Two men of the Fifth go on leave.
Apr, 1-Kaiser announces that he will eat his Easter Egg in Casa Lorna,
Toronto.
Apr, is-Private Windsor resumes "work"
May 1-Peace rumors are strong,
May i5-Henry Ford succeeds Carnegie as the world's adviser.
Ma..y 30- T wo men from the Fifth go on leave.
June is-Private Windsor still "working,"
June 20-0rder of the "Laughing Hyena" conferred on Sergeane C-ps.
Julr 15-Private Rosser takes commission in Boy Scouts,

98

"SUNNY" FRANCE

Aug. 1-Private Windsor "resuming work."
Aug, 15-Kaiser expects to eat Christmas Dinner in Buckingham palace.
Aug. 30-Two men from Fifth go on leave.
Sept. 9-Private Rosser resigns commission in Boy Scouts.
Sept. 15-Private Windsor still "working. "
Oct. is-Chelsea pensioners ordered to re-enlist,
Oct. 30- Two men from Fifth go on leave,
NOv.i5-Private Windsor has breakdown. Life pension mooted.
Nov. 30- The remainder of the Fifth go on leave.
Dec. 1-Kaiser decides to eat Christmas dinner in Potsdam.
Dec. 22-Hilaire Belloc admits he estimated Germany's army eight
million too many.
Dec. 24-Kaiser fears he will eat Christmas dinner (if any) on St. Helena.
- Your Brother-in-the-Lord,
(SGD,) H, C. WISE, Editor.

IMPORTANT NOTICES
There will be a mass meeting of the Ward Sweepers' Union tomorrow
evening at eight,
If you can't get a bath, just change the string of your identity disc.
It is most refreshing.
The Orderlies' Christian Association will meet tomorrow night in the
Parish Hall. The Rev. R. J. Cooke will give an address. His Grace, Lord
Bishop Merridew will also speak.
Private R. Rutherford's moustache was burned. What took nine months
to grow was destroyed in nine seconds.
Lance-Corporal Lumsden is taken on the staff - as official Eye Witness
and War Correspondent.
Pastor Cooke will lecture on the "Christian Example," by special
request of Ben Case.
No dogs allowed in the hospital- especially if they are someone else's
dogs. (Signed) B, Pearson.

ADVER TISEMENTS
LI FLUNG SOL, HIGH CLASS LAUNDRY
This is not a dry-cleaning laundry, and if all clothes handed in to my
agents 10 quarter-stores are not accompanied by a drink, they will be
handed over to the incinerator detail for disposal.- LI FLUNG SOL, Prop.

THE WARTMAN SCHOOL OF SURGERY
I am willing to give lessons and train men in surgery practice. Only a
limited number can be accommodated. Apply immediately to
SERGEANT A. WARTMAN, B,A,

"SUNNY" FRANCE 99
FOR SALE
A few good Studebakers; good cars - going down hill! Watch them
coming round the mountain (Mt. des Cats) every day. Come and inspect
them . Drivers will give them a wa y at your own terms.

EARN BIG MONEY
Learn [Q be a cinema operator. I teach you how to handle the oil can,
take films from the box and fuss round in general.
- FRANK G. BEATTIE (late Corporal),
rue Mont des Cats,

PARAGRAPHS
The only capital the Allies are in need of is Berlin.
We read of a "Typewriter Battalion," Is Wilson mobilizing?
Who put the mess in Mesopotamia?
A bunÆeed to be a success must be held with a bun dance.
N,C,O,s - Not Conscientious Objectors.
The illness of the Austrian Emperor is causing grave anxiety.[ It is
feared he may recover.
The height of folly - a Zeppelin raid.

VERSE
There was a young fellow named Mike,
Up the hill to his girl he did hik..e -
On being rejected
He said II 1'm dejected -
A French guy's wed the girl that I lik..e!"

A CASUALTY
No foe can affright us;
No strafing can blight us;
No rack..et excite us
A jot,
No bully-beef harm us
(It never could charm us
A lot).

Hun sniPers amuse us,
And rarely ill-use us;
Their "wides o just induce us
To laugh.

100

"SUNNY" FRANCE

But Phyllis, lament us-
That pudding you sent us
Has jolly well rent us
In half!

-W.E.Q,

THE DAILY LIAR..
From his home in Amsterdam,
Ananias
Sends to try us
Every day a telegram.
Monday's wire is full of pep -
Just to say,
Yesterday,
Someone wreck.ed a bloody Zepp.
Tuesday. Kaiser very ill.
Francis Jose
Hardly knows
If he'd rather cure or kill.
Wednesday's wire our senses jolts-
News from Denver
Says that Enver
Won't put up with Von der Goltz.
Thursday. Kaiser's quite restored,
Very perky,
Leaves for Turkey,
Francis Joseph very bored.
Friday. Comes the startling wire,
Straight from Wilhelm,
That some villain
Set the Vatican on fire.
Saturday. We hear from R..ome
And Madrid,
\Vire says: "No kid!
Winston is returning home,"
Sunday is a day of peace.
A nanias
Gives to guy us
'\1.onday's lies - all fresh, from Greece.

"SUNNY" FRANCE 101
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Dear Editor, I am greatly troubled, My height is only five feet, three
inches. How can I increase my height,- Yours truly, "Scotty."
Answer: - Dear "Scotty," take some ehercise and don't lead the idle
and despised life of a batman,- Editor.

NOTICE - A VIS
It must be distinctly understood that I am in no way responsible, nor
can any action for slander be brought against me, for statements or articles
not bearing my signature.- H. E. Wise.

* * * *

Only a few editions of the paper appeared. Pete didn't get the
support and encouragement he deserved, and the conditions under
which the paper was published were not conducive to journalistic
longevity.
Sergeant Wartman was the genius behind most of the activi-
ties while B. Section was in Godewaersvelde. The officers very
wisely left everything to Wart and he never let them down. Of
course, Staff Alden was always available for assistance and ad-
vice. One day the staff asked Wartman to explain the purpose of
a newly-arrived ethyl-chloride syringe. Wart explained that it
was "a new invention to be used for the extraction of fish-bones
from the rear ends of Irishmen after Lent. "

More Queries

Do you remember the moving-picture machine we had at
Godewaersvelde, and how envious everyone was of the staff's
ability to turn the crank and tangle the film - and how quíèkly
Andy unloaded those duties on son1eone else as soon as the
novelty wore off?
Remember that sign in an estaminet window, not far from
town: "FREE BEER TOMORROW"?
Perhaps some of the lads may recall the dinner the fellows
billeted at Zenobie's put over around New Year's - when a
roasted suckling pig was the piece de resistance, and Tom
Morgan piped a few tunes on his whistle; George Grindley
recited; and Red Sowden impersonated Slinl Russell's girl in a
"You Made Me What I Am Today" skit.
Some of our C. Section lads may recall the tinle that Willie
Hanney nearly blew up the Mont Noir chateau and himself along

102

"SUNNY" FRANCE

with it. Hanney was in charge of the establishment's acetylene
lighting plant, and those who knew the apparatus will remember
what a cantankerous contraption it was. One day the tank sprang
a leak and when Willie lighted a match to search for the trouble
he found it instantly! There was an explosion that put the light-
ing equipment completely out of commission for a few days, and
brought immedjate demands from the "resting" patients for ad-
ditionalliquid stimulants.
On March 2nd, B. Section moved to La Clytte; A. went to
Mont Noir and C. to Godewaersvelde.

La Clytte is Shelled Again

On March 7th La Clytte was again shelled. One shell burst in
the farrier's shop, killed the horse being shod, and so badly
wounded Jack Barron, our farrier, he died shortly after being hit.
He was buried the following day, in Bailleul cemetery.
Just before the shelling started, a few B. Section lads had been
seated back of the dressing station, discussing the merits of vari-
ous types of army footwear. One fellow said that his favorites
were those long rubber hip-boots which the Salient mud and
water made so desirable. Another man voiced his preference for
those knee-high laced boots, such as worn by officers, batmen
and transport men. It was at this moment that the first shells
landed and, being free from duty, the gang beat it a wa y into the
open fields. As soon as they recovered their breath, Scotch Gordon
informed his companions in no uncertain manner that they could
have all the hip-boots and knee-high footwear they liked but
that right then what he desired most was a pair of blankety-
blank running shoes!
Baldy Rutherford was one of this same party and, as they ran
into the field, a chunk of shrapnel ripped a hole in the back of
Baldy's rain cape. For a long time thereafter he was not per-
mitted to forget that he had been hit in the rear at the Front-
and that a hit in the back required much explanation.
Billy Sellen was badly shellshocked this same day. Billy was in
between two exploding shells and the concussions affected his
eyesight. He was evacuated to England shord y after.
One lingering memory of our stay in La Clytte is of Captain
Silcox's procedure whenever a sick man was brought into the

"SUNNY" FRANCE

103

schoolhouse for treatment. The captain would stand with his
hands clasped behind his back, and, regardless of whether the
man was supposed to have pneumonia, or influenza or some
other sickness, he would silently gaze at the patient for a minute
or two. "All right," he would then order, "let down your pants
and show me your tongue." As the surprised patient did so, Cap-
tain Silcox's next remark was, "How long is it since you were
with a woman?" The poor ailing men became so flustered it was
all too often that they blurted out the enlightening truth. The
captain's face would then relax and he would prescribe the
necessary treatments.
We must here record that when La Clytte received the heavy
shelling of December 29th, Captain Silcox was in charge of the
schoolhouse and acquitted himself wonderfully well during the
whole affair. He was cool and resourceful under fire and, along
with Captain Burgess, did some remarkably fine work over the
wounded. Eventually Silcox was given charge of Advanced
Nledical Stores and was separated from our unit.
La Clytte was again shelled on March 14th. None of our 111en
was hit, but that same evening Corporal Udell was badly shell-
shocked - and thereby hangs a tale. Just about twilight, some
long-range guns were shelling, over towards Kemmel Hill. The
shells were landing harmlessly in the long valley south of La
Clytte, and at considerable distance from the village. A nurnber
of Fifth men were out back of the schoolhouse, listening to the
approaching shrieks of the shells and watching their ground-
blasting bursts in the distance. The giant corporal, who had been
in the pack-stores when the farrier's shop had been hit one week
before, was seen crouching behind the wooden schoolhouse latrine.
One of the boys got an infantry entrenching tool and, just as one
shell reached the zenith of its shrieking arc, our practical joke-
smith hit the boards near Udell's head a resounding whack. Out
tore the corporal, his blond pompadour erect with terror. He
dived into the dugout at the front of the schoolhouse and there-
after (if not before) was a total loss to the Fifth. He was evacu-
ated "shell-shocked" the following morning.
We Move to R...emy Siding and G.15

On March 23rd the whole unit moved. A. and B. Sections
went to Remy Siding, in charge of Major Jones and Captains

104

"SUNNY" FRANCE

Nicholson, Barron, Kenney and Jenkins. C. Section went to
G.l5, in charge of Colonel Farmer, Major Philp and Captains
Turner, Newton, Burgess, Kelly, Lough and Clarke. The Motor
Transport and Horse Transport also located at G .15, which was
merely a map location between Busseboom and Poperinghe.
At Remy Siding we took over a field hospital from the 73rd
Imperial Field Ambulance. Here in a large muddy field were five
immense huts, connected to each other by duckboards. The Fifth
men billeted in the farm barns.
The first day we were at this place the 73rd colonel severely
reprimanded Sergeant Irwin for spitting in the farm cesspool! He
must have thought Sharkey had galloping halitosis - or some-
thing. The same Prussian-like Imperial officer also bawled out
many of our lads for not having their brass buttons polished to
the brightness of those of his own men, and for failing to salute
with the promptness and deference to which he had been accus-
tomed by the Imperials. Once again we thanked our lucky stars
that we were in the Canadian army and not in his. We often
called our own army "Coxey's Army," but were mighty glad
that we \,vere in it and in no other on occasions like this.
Across the road from our camp there were two casualty clear-
ing stations and, throughout our stay in the Salient, many of the
wounded were brought to these stations for treatnlent. *

Perhaps 1'ou Can Answer These!

\Vere you one of the fellows who stuffed absorbent cotton into
Major Jones' stethoscope just before he went the rounds of the
sick wards one morning?
Did you parade to the Commanding Officer and conlplain
that the staff-sergeant had more personal cooks, batmen and
billet orderlies than there were men looking after over twO
hundred patients? And do you remember the cleanout that fol-
lowed, and how some of the staff's pets had to do real work for
the first time in their army lives?
How many times did you visit that house almost directly
opposite the Remy Siding gate - for coffee, eggs and chips,
ete., avec?
*Not far from where the two clearing stations then stood there is now located the
second largest British cemetery in Belgium-Lijssenthoek Cemetery, Sad evidence of
the great number of men who died in this region.

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3, B. Section wears new Oliver Equipment, Godewaersvelde,

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"SUNNY" FRANCE

105

Were you there the day Restivo became fed up with his sani-
tary fatigue work and requested Sergeant-Major Williams to put
him on some other duty? "Please-a, sarja-maij.," pleaded the
disgusted Italian, "put someone else-a for do dees-a job. I get
too much-a deeg-a de grave, fix-a de wash-a-base and run de in-
cinerate. All-a time dump-a latrine buckets no good! - Phew!"
Poor Restivo held his nostrils between his thumb and forefinger
and rolled his eyes in eloquent pantomime. Jack Williams, if he
couldn't catch all the words, was convinced by Francesco's gesti-
culatory illustrations that Restivo deserved a change of duties.
Perhaps you remember the broad-hipped Flemish lass who
used to come to our G.15 camp for garbage. She carried over
her ample shoulders one of those heavy hand-hewn yokes from
which dangled the usual buckets. One day when she had her head
and shoulders down in the swill barrel Jack Gilpin sneaked up
behind her and tipped her up into the barrel. She was quite a
sight, what with her broad expanse of red drawers, her violently
kicking legs and her waving sabots - and more of a sight when
she extricated herself.
The sequel was that her father came roaring vengeance a few
minutes later, carrying a wicked looking sickle. Cook Gilpin
armed himself with a meat cleaver and at about sixty paces from
each other they threatened murder - the farmer in guttural
Flemish and Gilpin in nasal cockney. Jack Williams appeared on
the scene and succeeded in getting rid of the excited Flamand,
promising him that Gilpin would be fittingly punished. That
evening some of the lads visited the farmer and in eloquent
pantomime explained that Gilpin had been lined up before a
firing squad and shot. The father and daughter were so delighted
they supplied free beer to the artful tale-bearers.
Were you at Remy Siding the day one of the lads came into
the dining hut with a bulging mail-bag, and instead of giving
out the mail as was his usual custom, calmly sat down and began
his dinner? Corporal Morgan decided that the fellows should not
be kept waiting for their mail, so he grabbed the bag and pro-
ceeded to hand out its contents - and discovered that the bag
contained only imitation mail and that the day being April
First, some of the lads had successfully pulled his leg.
Remember that house with a large shining ball in the window
- and the mouthy old dame who waited on customers?

106

"SUNNY" FRANCE

At G.15, C. Section ran a main dressing station in some
Nissen huts. The men occupied one hut and a number of bell
tents. The Horse Transport lines were well sheltered by galvan-
ized wind-breaks, while bricks and tile from ruined Y pres made
an excellent flooring for horses and wagons. To G.15 we
brought casualties from the old Brasserie, Y pres Asylum, Ouder-
dom, Spoilbank, Maple Copse, Dickebusch, and other advanced
stations and regimental aid-posts, as they were successively estab-
lished by us during the next few hectic weeks.

Tiny Ineson Holds the Bridge

At the Spoilbank post was where Tiny Ineson got his first big
thrill. Just to the left of the dugouts there was a narrow bridge
crossing the canal, and beside the bridge was a sign "Be Careful.
This Bridge Under Enemy Observation." One evening, just as it
was getting dark, our party was making its way across the bridge.
All had crossed but the rotund sergeant. He was just about the
centre of the bridge when "rat-a-tat-tat," a machine-gun went
into action. Tiny flattened himself, stomach down, against the
bridge floor, his face buried into the muddy planks and his bulky
body blocking the bridge. About a half-minute went by. Loud
carefree whistling was heard and an infantryman approached and
started across the bridge. Coming upon Tiny's body he was about
to step over what he thought was a corpse when he noticed a
slight movement. He kneeled down and rolled Tiny over.
"What's the matter, chum? Are you pretty badly hit?" he en-
quired. "Not yet!" whispered Ineson, "Get down, man, get
down! Don't you hear that machine-gun?" Tiny added. "Sure
I hear it," laughed the lighthearted rifleman, "that's one of
ours!" The Front Line was 1,500 yards away.
Colonel Farmer happened to be in Dickebusch during a very
heavy shelling. A five-point-nine shell landed in a nearby latrine,
nearly smothering the colonel with its odoriferous contents. His
much-disgusted horse carried him back to Headquarters and for
a long time he had to put up with many sly digs about the rotten
time he spent in the Dickebusch n1ess one offal day in Spring.
On March 25th we cleared sixty wounded from the Maple
Copse post alone. Two days later the Imperials blew a mine at
St. Eloi and from then until we pulled out of this area we had

"SUNNY" FRANCE 107
all the wounded and sick we could handle. Night after night all
our ambulances came back crowded. The three Canadian Divi-
sions were now together for the first time and our Maple Copse
post was terribly busy. To make matters worse, Fritz shelled
daily all the routes along which wounded could be carried back.
Dickebusch, Vlamercinghe, Ouderdom, La Clytte - all were
heavily shelled by day and bombed by night. Poperinghe was
the target for high-calibred long-range guns and many civilian
and army casualties came from that city. At night G.15 was
bombed, for here, too, some master minds ran up a big railway
naval gun and Fritz searched for it very diligently.
It was about this time that Billy Brown and some of his pals
stole a case of rum from the 2nd Pioneers, near the Brasserie.
Jack Shepherd, Tommy Cunningham and a few other Motor
T ransporc fellows were relieved of their duties at the Dickebusch
milkery for the ensuing farcy -eight hours.

The Scrap at St. Eloi

From the night on which the Imperials blew the mine at St.
Eloi the Second Division was involved in a series of operations
long drawn out and extremely costly in casualties. The whole
St. Eloi scrap was fought on a front of not more than one thou-
sand yards; on ground that had been blasted beyond description
by mines, bon1bs, minnenwerfer and high-explosive shells; and
churned by continuous rains into a deep morass of stinking,
brown, muddy batter. High ground was flattened out and the
valleys blown high, until the territory bore no resemblance to its
former condition. All was mud, corruption and debris.
E very shell-hole and crater was a fetid pool. Prevailing mists
and rain hid landmarks from view, or revealed them so distorted,
location identification was well nigh impossible.
Seven craters on top of the St. Eloi mound were the centre of
almost endless attacks and counter attacks. Fogs and storms pre-
vented accurate observation and, at times, it was not known
which craters were held by us and which by the enemy. One
writer (Aitken) has summed up the affair as follows: "The story
of the craters is like that of most of the St. Eloi battle - one of
misfortune for the Second Division. But it is not one of blame.
The successive regiments who held the outposts were, from the

108

USUNNY" FRANCE

very outset, at a great disadvantage, compared with their ene-
mies. They were not, and could not be, properly supported by
their gunners, while the enemy's artillery was pounding them
. "
to pIeces.
On April 6th all our motor and horse ambulances and most of
our bearers were sent, in charge of Major Philp, up to Maple
Copse, to help the Sixth Field Ambulance who were already in
that part of the Line. The Imperials had recently moved out and
the Canadians now held the whole Y pres Salient.
It was while clearing the wounded from Maple Copse that
first night that one of our men remarked that the woods was
full of bees, buzzing around overhead. His pal, Jimmy Shorrocks,
answered, "Aye, lad, an' if one of them bees stings you we'll
blewdy well have to carry you out, too, so keep your blinkin'
head down, thou long goormless booger, thou!"
On April 14th, A. and B. Sections were relieved by the Ninth
Field Ambulance, Third Canadian Division, and moved to Ren-
inghelst (Pop. 2,500), where they were followed next day by
C. Section. By this time we considered ourselves veterans and it
pleased some of Us to tell the new arrivals what warfare really
meant! All leave was now called off, so we expected trouble.
Many of our men were at this time posted to other duties. Several
went for commissions, and some transferred to other units.
Staff Patterson applied for a commission and was sent up the
Line with the 28th Battalion, for a month's training. Pat spent
a few nights out in N 0- Man' s- Land with wiring and working par-
ties and then decided that prudence was the better part of valor.
Much to the amusement of all the lads, Pat returned to the Fifth
shortly after. After all, he had applied for a commission as
quartermaster in a field ambulance and they had not done right
by our Andy in putting him out in No-Man's-Land. The ob-
servant Pat knew that quartermasters never went such places, so
who can blame him for objecting to such a glaring breach of
military practice and tradition?
Jack Lumsden went to the Y.M.C.A., attached to the Fourth
Artillery Brigade; Bob Hare to the 28th Battalion; Dick Mitchell
and Slim Russell to the newly-formed Machine Gun Company;
Jim Henderson, Patsy Sargeant and Sammy Jacobs to Leather's
Trench Mortar Battery; Fred Noyes and Garnet Noble to the
Corps Water Patrol; Staff Truswell to the 18th Manchesters;

"SUNNY" FRANCE 109
Irv. Dyment to the 18th Battalion; Staff Mott to the Irish
Fusiliers and later to the Air Force; Carl Hill to the 24th Bat-
talion; Baldy Rutherford to the 27th Battalion; George and
Ronny Brookes to the Air Force; Harry Lang to the Imperials
and Ernie Gilmer to the Royal Irish Fusiliers. Staff Mott had
always had a desire to be an aviator and, on his very first flight
over the Line, he was shot down and killed. As a matter of
record, a glance at the nominal roll at the back of this book will
show how many of those who transferred to other units were
killed or wounded.
When he heard that one of the fellows was Jeaving for a com-
mission, Staff Smith came to say goodbye. uWell, my friend, I
understand that you are about to take a commission. I hope you
will - I know you will- in fact, I am positively sure you will
- prove to be a better officer than ninety-nine per cent. of the
damned non-competent arrogant sons of b - s who call them-
selves officers around here!"
Some of the Motor Transport lads may remember the steam-
roller that marked one of the turns on the route to Busseboom.
At night our drivers depended on this and similar landmarks.
One inky black night Ernie Smith got lost and when he reached
G.15, hours later, he explained that "Somebody moved the
steam-roller - it was there last night!"
La Clytte, Dickebusch, Vlamertinghe and Hallebast were now
being systematically flattened by enemy shell-fire. Jack Lumsden
was killed in Dickebusch on May 9th, a shell making a direct
hit on the house where Jack was on duty. On May 11th he was
buried in Reninghelst cemetery, six of his closest chums, Ruther-
ford, Hill, Hare, Hooper, Bicknell and Noble acting as pall-
bearers. When it came time for Colonel Farmer to say a few
words at Jack's graveside, the Old Man was so overcome he
could not utter one word. He simply stood with bowed head
and with tears streaming down his cheeks.
It was in the schoolhouse billet at Reninghelst that Orderly
Sergeant Charlie Camps "pulled a fast one" on the sergeant-
majors and several of the senior noncoms. One night the non-
coms. put on one of their real old-time card parties. Everything
went off so well it was long past midnight before the party broke
up and the noncoms. made their way to their sleeping quarters.
Staff Alden was first to reach the room which served as noncoms. '

110

"SUNNY" FRANCE

boudoir, and he tiptoed to his bunk in order not to awaken the
few non-roistering noncoms. who were already asleep. Just as
Alden was about to disrobe, Sergeant Camps wakened and in a
very sleepy sort of voice enquired the time. Alden told him the
hour and with a pleasantly yawned "Goodnight, Frank," Camps
turned over and apparently dropped off to sleep.
Next morning the twO sergeant-majors and about a dozen
sergeants were hailed before the colonel, charged with being
absent from their proper billets and with failure to obey the order
of "Lights Out." Colonel Farmer had no option in the matter,
for the exact time had been vouched for by Alden himself. All
the culprits were found guilty and given reprimands. The shrewd
and conscientious Charlie, however, did not get off scot-free. The
Commanding Officer gave him a very pointed lecture on diplo-
macy - and he was somewhat ostracised for a few days by his
indignant fellow noncoms.

Shepherd and the Colonel's Monocle

Our colonel's monocle was the indirect cause of Jack Shep-
herd's lapse into crime while we were in Reninghelst. Shep was
under arrest for some trivial offence and, when he came before
Colonel Farmer for trial, the colonel treated the matter very
lightly and, no doubt, was about to dismiss the case. Unfortu-
nately, for Shepherd, the Old Man chose that particular moment
in which to adjust the monocle in his much-inflamed eye. The
sight of him, screwing his face into all sorts of weird contortions,
was tOO much for Despatch Rider Shepherd! He broke out into
one of his well-known spontaneous guffaws - and right away
got twenty-one days of First Field Punishment. He was tied to
the wheel, but after about two days, Colonel Farmer had him
released, cancelled the whole charge, and returned him to his
status quo ante guffaw.
On May 14th we heard that the Mayor of Dickebusch had
been shot as aspy. Perhaps there was more wish than truth in the
rumor, for we never heard authoritatively about the matter.
On June lnd, Fritz blew some mines under the Third Division
trenches and made a deep narrow salient, reaching as far back as
Maple Copse. The P.P.C.L.!., C.M.R,s, 4lnd and 49th Bat-
talions had many casualties and the whole Canadian Corps was

"SUNNY" FRANCE

111

ordered to stand to. The colonel and both majors of the Tenth
Field Ambulance were wounded and Major Philp left us to take
command of that unit. On the following evening Captains Bur-
gess, Barton and Kenney took all our bearers up to Maple Copse.
We also established stations at V oormezeele, Bedford House
and the Brasserie.
We cannot pass without mention of the fact that for consider-
able time after the Third Division arrived in France, Major
Philp had been, by special request, attached to that Division, in
order that his exceptional organizing ability and extensive ex-
perience in actual warfare evacuation work might be utilized in
whipping the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Field Ambulances into
shape, and organizing them into the working establishments
required by conditions then existing at the Front. That he was
entirely successful in the task entrusted to him is borne out by
the fact that Second Divisional senior medical officials received
a despatch from the Staff of the Third Division, thanking our
Divisional Medical Services for the assistance rendered by Major
Philp, stressing the importance of the services contributed and
also complimenting the Fifth on the great work of our bearers up
in MapLe Copse. From this it will be appreciated that his choice
as Commanding Officer of the Tenth was eminently fitting and
an honor to the Fifth.
During the whoLe of June we carried on in these severalloca-
tions and were very busy. Our ambulances, as well as our men,
were kept on the go, day and night, and they had many perilous
trips to and from the advance posts in and about Y pres. On
June 25th Fritz got a direct hit on one motor ambulance and
Jack Walters was wounded and sent to the Base.
Night after night we were roused by false gas alarms, and had
to stand to until word came that the "alerts" were called off.
A gas alarm had to be experienced to be appreciated. Cries of
"Gas !"- and a near-panic spread like wildfire. Shell-case gongs
would be thumped; whistles would be blown; klaxon horns
would be sounded; and the average gas alarm would spread for
miles. When someone yelled "Gas!" almost everybody in Flan-
ders put on a mask! And what uncomfortable, stifling contrap-
tions they were, particularly those first pullover affairs we were
issued. The eye-pieces soon became opaque. Slobbers of saliva
drooled from mouth-corners and dripped fronl sweating chins.

112

"SUNNY" FRANCE

Sense of direction was quickly lost, and then it was "To hell with
the mask! - I'd rather be gassed!" It would be ripped off and,
more often than not, the air outside would be found sweet and
clean as compared to that inside the detested respirator.
Dominion Day came. Promptly at twelve o'clock noon every
Canadian gun fired five rounds at Fritz, by way of celebration.
That night our men came down the line and, by July 4th, the
whole unit had moved back to Boeschepe.
One of those unable to march off from Reninghelst with the
rest of the troops was a certain bulky staff-sergeant who had a
bad attack of rumitis and was stretched out for drying when the
unit moved off. The quartermaster-sergeant, the staff-sergeant
and the bandmaster of the 20th Battalion had been holding an
all-night seance with some Essardee, and the spirit had moved
the staff-sergeant until he couldn't move any more of the spirit
or himself, either. Incidentally, the bandmaster was so enamoured
of Fifth hospitality he followed the unit to Boeschepe in order to
continue the seance, for he and the quartermaster-sergeant had
become "boozem" friends. It is no wonder our fellows used to
put such feeling into their singing of that old song:
If the sergeant drinks your rum, never mind;
If it puts him on the bum, never mind;
He's entitled to a tot - but he takes th.e bleedin' lot-
If the sergeant drinks your rum, never mind.

We Summer at Boeschepe

Boeschepe is a French town of 2,500 souls. It lies about one
mile from the Belgian frontier and approximately the same dis-
tance northeast of Mont des Cats. Here the men had a real home
and it remained our headquarters until late in August.
The Fifth's job was to run a rest camp, consisting of a marquee
and about a dozen bell tents; and a "self-inflicted" hospital in
the local schoolhouse, where those men who had deliberately
wounded themselves received treatment.
Opposite the schoolhouse was an orderly room where courts-
martial were held and we regretfully record that some of the
scenes therein enacted left us stunned with horror and sickened
with disgust. It seemed to us that many of the poor lads who
came before their military judges in this place received very un-
sympathetic hearings from the officers appointed to try them. We

"SUNNY" FRANCE

113

wondered whether any consideration ever was given to the fact
that a prisoner was a volunteer soldier, had borne himself bravely
in many battles and was no longer in control of his mental and
physical reactions - that he was merely a physical and mental
wreck because of many terrible months of exhausting trench life.
We used to wonder (and still do!) what some of those well-fed,
comfortably-billeted, all-powerful trial officers would have done
had they been through the same tragic circumstances their pris-
oner had experienced - had been obliged to eat the same food;
undergo the laborious work of digging trenches, dugouts, ete.;
carry the same weight on long marches and í n the Line; depend
on the occasional issue of rum, instead of having the ever-avail-
able bottle of Scotch from the Officers' Supplies Stores; and go
through in general all the innumerable dispiriting ordeals reserved
for the common soldier only.
All too often were medical officers called upon to officiate at
the post-mortem of some young lad who had been shot for
"desertion"- some mother's son who had enlisted with the
ideal to uphold all that was good and noble and righteous, and
had carried on until his brain and body had reached the breaking
point. Surely there must have been some other way out, than by
having him shot down in cold blood by his own comrades.
"Shot for desertion" was the way the court records closed such a
case, but we wonder if the correct entry should not have read
"MURDERED, by the Prussianism in our own army!"
We have in n1ind one young infantryman, under twenty, who
was shot for desertion. A Field Ambulance lad who was waiting
to bring the boy's body away, became sick at his stomach and
attempted to a void witnessing the actual execution. The officer
in charge of the shooting party forced him, under threat of
severe punishment, to remain and watch the poor victim's fright-
ful death. The padre who was with the infantryman during his
final few hours was hysterical for many hours afterward. A
brother of the executed lad was a member of the same unit. His
reaction to the trial and execution of his unfortunate brother
must have been terrible.
It might be said that these officer Judges were, themselves,
victims of the n1ilitary machine. To a great extent they were -
but their very rank implied a certain amount of willingness to act
as trial officers and acquiesce in the verdicts of courts-martial.

114

"SUNNY" FRANCE

Humphrey Cobb has stated that a soldier always looks through
lenses made of the insignia of his own rank. We are trying to
present the case for the victims of such courts as seen through our
lenses - even though those lenses showed us a distorted picture.
Surely similar injustices should not be permitted to take place in
any future war!
Shortly after we arrived at Boeschepe, Colonel Farmer, in COlll-
pany with Albert Armes and Bill Atkinson, visited Remy Siding
cemetery and placed a large wooden cross on the grave of the
colonel's nephew, Lieutenant James Belt, who was also a nephew
of Canon Belt, the Anglican clergyman at Ancaster.
As for the lads in general, they quickly settled down and got
acquainted with the local "natives." There was a very comely
barmaid by the name of Marie, whom almost the whole unit,
from the sergeant-major down (and up!) courted with great
enthusiasm and with varying success.
It was, too, another Marie in this same town, with whom one
of our sergeants became somewhat involved, with the result that
Colonel Farmer considered an official investigation was neces-
sary. Andy Patterson and Jack Williams were delegated a com-
mittee of enquiry. They paid a visit that evening to the gende
Marie and found her most attractive, amiable and receptive -
so amiable, in fact, as to cause the two noncoms. to linger well
into the late night hours.
Jack and Pat were about to pull out for camp, and make due
report, when hoofbeats were heard on the road which ran about
twenty feet above the level of the estaminet roof. Peeping out
through the windows, the two noncoms. could see, silhouetted
against the skyline, four horsemen (Barton, Nicholson, Burgess
and Clark). As the noncoms. watched, the riders halted their
mounts and one of the quartet called out: "Ou est la route a
Boeschepe, mademoiselle?"- just by way of introduction, of
course.
Marie ignored the officers' shouts, and after several repetitions,
the four horsemen wheeled their mounts and trotted away. Next
morning one of the noncoms. bumped into Captain Barton. "Ou
est la route a Boeschepe, mademoiselle?" mimicked the non-
com. Barton glared at the questioner. "So you were the blankety-
blank who was there last night, eh? No wonder we couldn't get
in! ! . . . But, of course, Staff, we were there on official business

"SUNNY" FRANCE 115
only!" he added, somewhat shamefacedly. "Oh, yeh! Well so
was I !" chortled the grinning noncom. \Vas Barton embarrassed!
During the first couple of weeks in Boeschepe the boys were
pretty free to come and go - parades and drills being off the
agenda. Many of the lads took advantage of the opportunity to
visit Reninghelst, Poperinghe, Mont Noir, and other familiar
places.
Shortly after taking over the camp, notice was posted that the
"extra duty pay" which had been allowed to cooks and motor
mechanics, was to be discontinued, and the air was somewhat
bluer around the cookhouse and Motor Transport quarters for
many weeks thereafter.
One of the important happenings was the building of an incin-
erator. Captain Nicholson, Dick Thomas and Tommy Poole de-
vised a wondrous brick structure that was the temporary envy of
every sanitation squad for miles around. Weeks of strenuous
labor, by tired grousing fatigue parties, were put into the build-
ing of the masterpiece, and there were rumors of prospective
decorations and promotions for those responsible for the con-
ception and erection of the imposing contraption. Unfortunately,
however, after a few days' trial the incinerator proved a "flop."
And although Godewaersvelde had launched Messrs. Thomas
and Poole on their road to renown, it was the Boeschepe master-
piece that really established their fame as the "Incinerator Kings."

Some More Questions

Do you remember Captain Harris, who was our padre at
Boeschepe? He was very popular with all ranks and was killed
not long after, while serving with an infantry battalion.
Can you recall that church festival which took place here, when
the whole civilian populace turned out in gorgeous costumes of
lace, velvet and spangles, and paraded behind quaintly-garbed
chanting priests?
Do you remember how one of our Horse Transport men
served first field punishment at this place, being tied to a wheel
and undergoing all the other indignities of this manifestation of
so-called army justice?
Were you there the day Solley showed his rations to Captain
Silcox, complaining that there was not sufficient for a man to

116

USUNNY" FRANCE

Ii ve on - and the captain remarked, "I would consider that an
ample ration for myself.?" Solley looked his disgust. "There
might be enough for you, sir, but not for a man!" Solley, of
course, meant there wasn't sufficient for one who had to work as
hard as he was working just then.
Were you there that dark night at Zillebeke when our bearers
were busy collecting wounded from the Maple Copse area?
Happy Carlisle was stumbling about in the inky blackness when
an infantryman told him to stop walking on the bodies of the
dead! "What do you mean?" retorted Happy, stepping gingerly
off what he took to be some bundles of sandbags. "Why, that's
our corporal in one sack and our sergeant in the other," com-
plained the infantryman, "and you've been walking all over
them !"
Do you remember the sergeant from the A.D. M.S. head-
quarters, who used to leave our camp, carrying away with him
sacks of canned chicken, Red Cross supplies and rum - and did
you overhear the Williams-Busst confab over this same affair?
Were you on that route march when Staff Smith ordered Teddy
Gilmore to stop smoking on parade, and Teddy told him to go
and perform an interesting operation on himself? If you were
there, you might recall, too, that Reggie had Ted pinched and
cnarged with "conduct to the prejudice of military order and
good discipline," in that he failed to obey a lawful command;
and with "insolence to a noncom." When the case came before
the Commanding Officer, the colonel found Teddy guilty on the
first charge only. He dismissed the second - after hearing Reg-
gie's repetition of Gilmore's rather rude admonition. "That's a
physical impossibility," exclaimed Colonel Farmer, "the case is
dismissed !"
After about the middle of July, route marches and drills became
almost daily occurrences. Rumor had it that we were to go south
and join in the Somme offensive.
On July 17th word reached us that Bob Hare was a prisoner in
Germany. This was welcome news, for Bob had been reported
missing on June 13th and was presumed dead.
On July 23rd we sent working parties up to Bedford House
and Spoilbank, in charge of Captain Neilson.
On July 24th, Mike Bicknell was wounded while on the Spoil-
bank working party. The day was Mike's twenty-first birthday

"SUNNY" FRANCE

117

anniversary. His present from Fritz removed his presence from
the Spoilbank job.
On August 14th, King George and King Albert of Belgium
toured the Canadian area and were given a great reception by
many of the lads who were working for them.
On August 25th the Fourth Canadian Division joined the
Corps. On the following day we, with the First and Third Divi-
sions, set out for the Somme.
During the spring and early summer, several of our Fifth
fellows had very close calls. Some of them suffered shell-shock,
but our only casualties in addition to those already mentioned
were Privates A. H. Barker and W. J. Leigh. These men received
rather severe blighties and were evacuated to the Base.

9

CHOOSE YOUR ARGUMENT

The Eleventh of November in the year Nineteen-Eighteen,
Was the day the Allied monk.ey-wrench gummed up the Hun machine.
From that day to the present, nearly all this wide world o'er,
People have been questioning, .. Who was it won the war?"

Some have argued this way and some have argued that;
Their theories have been quite thú/" their contradictions .flat.
Enough of useless argument - we can't stand any more!
We'll now admit (choose which you will):

We
They
Nobody
The Quarter Bloke
The Profiteers
Mae West
The P.B.I.
Amos 'n Andy
Mlle. from Armentieres
The Greyback.s

won the war!

CHAPTER FOUR
(Tune-Sea, Sea, Sea, why are you angry at me?)
Jam, Jam, Jam !--Have you ever seen Carlisle eat Jam?
Gooseberry, Strawberry, Damson,
Marmalade, Apricot--then some. r
Jam, Jam, Jam !--Down his throat many [l':ls he can cram.
He has no appetite! He just eats day and Olght :--
Jam, Jam, Jam! h S )
(Sung on way back. from t e: omme

TO THE SOMME, E7 BACK
(August 26, 1916, to January 20, 1917)

L,:', /1/ "ø;.

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a pouring rain and marched to
Steenvoorde (Pop. 4,500), where we stayed that night in a large
barn. Captains Elliott and Newton were sent ahead as billeting
officers and continued in that capacity until we arrived at the
Somme.
At four o'clock next morning we were away again. We stop-
ped for our mid-day nleal near Cassel and saw the famous hill
where once a Duke of York marched up and then marched down
again. After dinner we continued on to an old chateau just out-
side Noordpeene. A plaque over a door told us that the chateau
was built in 1718. This day's march was one of the most inter-
esting we ever made. Beautiful, fertile valleys and graceful hills
met our eyes from daylight to dark.
The following day we marched to Eperleques. In a field close
to the Watten road we. erected tents and tarpaulins and settled
down for the night. This day's nlarch had been particularly try-
ing. As the crow flies, the distance was not great, but as we were
obliged to detour over nlany back roads to make way for faster-
moving artillery, transport, etc., we covered that day a remark-
ably long distance. All afternoon we had been marching over very
119

120

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK

hilly country. The day was stifling hot, and an approaching rain-
storm made the heat more oppressive. Captain Elliott came out
to guide us the final two or three miles to camp and it was a
fagged-out, limping, weary, and grumbling Fifth which made
camp that night.
From August 29th to September 3rd we remained at the Eper-
leques camp. It rained nearly every day, but that didn't prevent
us from having daily "conditioning" marches and drills.
While we were at Eperleques, Captain Kenney left us, to go
to the Second Stationary Hospital at Taplow. The captain had
been with us from the start and was well liked. He always had
shown great interest in the younger men of the unit, the Boy
Scouts being his especial care.
It was at Eperleques camp, under our tarpaulin bivouacs, tha t
the unit minstrels put some of the final touches to our marching
song, which we used to sing to the tune "D'ye Ken John Peel?"
We give the words of this song and we hope that you who sang
them while marching along those old French roads can recapture
some of the wholehearted zest you used to put into them during
the old days. There were many verses but we give only the
printable ones.
(Tune - D'ye Ken John Peel?)
D'ye k.en old Restive and his comrade Covell-
They run the "incinerate" and they make him go like hell -
They burn up all the garbage and other things as well,
And they get steam up early in the morning.
D'ye ken Tommy Poole with his six-foot rule -
Built an incinerator near Boeschepe school;
Tommy, Dick and Nicky suffered something cruel
When the damned thing would'nt function in the morning.

D'ye k.en Sid Humphries mending all the shoes-
He whistles and he sings and he never has the blues,
But he always seems to have the latest news
From the Latrine Gazette every morning.

D'ye ken Bill Jones - he's a bleedin' bag of bones,
And the Good Book. says that his k.it-bag's full of stones
And weighs ten pounds; neath the weight of it he groans
When he hoists it to his shoulder in the morning.

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(Canadian Official War Photos)
1. A Big One lands close to Advanced Dressing Station at Somme,
2, A Typical Stretcher-Bearing Party,
3, Loading the Motor Convoy at Somme A,D.S,

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK

121

In the quartermaster's store are a dozen men or more,
And it makes the fellows sore to look through the open door
And see them sitting eating what they never ate before -
But the men get just bully in the morning.
D'ye ken Wilfy Wager always saying "seek" for look-
You're S.O.L. if your name is in his booookJ
It's a dollar to a doughnut you'll be detailed to a cook-
House fatigue if he spots you in the morning.
D'ye ken old McKillop, he blows the bugle fine -
He blows Last Post when he wants them into Line,
And he blows the" Lame and Lazy" when it's dinner time,
And Lights Out for l\.eveille in the morning.
Ð'ye ken Sergeant Camps when in your hut he stamps
.And details you to fatigue, when your scowling face he lamþs;
Then you hope he'll catch itch, scabies, leprosy or stomach cramps,
And wear a blanket at a funeral in the morning,
Ð'ye ken old R..estive and his comrade Covdl-
They carry up the rations and runna like-a hell,
And they tell the sarja-maije all the men go through the haige,
And they all get C,B. in the morning,
There's the incoming myle, and the houtgoing m')Jle,
The hofficers' myle, and the sergeants' myle-
You must come and get your myle at the proper time,
Or you cawnt ' ave your myle tzll the morning.

On September 4th we route-marched in the morning, and in
the afternoon packed up and moved to Houlle, where we had
supper and slept in an old flour mill until one o'clock next morn

ing, when we marched off again, through St. Orner and on to
Argues, where we entrained.
One week of marching had been plenty for everyone, and had
left impressions which time can never eradicate from our minds.
Even now we can see those shaded old Roman roads, where, on
a bright day, a gridiron of sunshine sifted through the tall,
majestic poplars and elms that stretched their never-ending double
row along the roads' deep-ditched edges; roads over which a long
vista of interlocking branches met in a sort of Gothic arch, from
which great drops of cold, sparkling moisture dropped on to our
heads in the early morning or on a rainy dare

122

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK

Mile after mile we would march along, the colonel mounted
and a wa y out in front - before us the red, sweating necks and
the swinging legs of the men ÍJì1mediately ahead, their steel-shod
boots sending up sparks from the flinty uneven cobbles - every
man of us longing for the next ten-minute halt when we could
sag down on the right-hand side of the road, using out packs for
pillows and elevating our aching feet as high as possible. Cigar-
ettes and pipes would then be smoked, water botdes would be
broached and hunks of chocolate or hardtack hungrily devoured.
The ten-minute rest sped like lightning. "Fall In!" would sound;
men would stagger painfully to their feet; packs would be
hitched back upon aching shoulders; straps would be again thrust
into burning armpits; cigarettes would be tossed away -or "but-
ted" and tucked behind dusty ears - and a wa y we would go once
more, for another fifty minutes of the same thing all over again.

Once More a la 40 Hommes - 8 Chevaux

It was now about one year since we had made our first
40 Hommes-8 Chevaux train trip, and needless to mention, per-
haps, the celebrated pullmans were considerably more acceptable
because of our intervening experiences.
The train pulled out of Argues about 3 a.m. We made our
way via Calais, Abbeville, Boulogne and Etaples, to Conteville,
where we detrained late in the evening and marched to Long-
villers, where we stayed for the night.
No doubt the Horse Transport lads will remember the horse
that was killed while our train was going through one of the
many long tunnels en route south - and the lengthy explanation
Max Kelso was subsequently obliged to give. Which reminds us
that whenever a horse or vehicle was lost a very exhaustive re-
port was required, and there was hell to pay if anv negligence
wassuspectcd. But whenever a man passed out, a bríef"K. in A."
sufficed. It was easy to get men, but horses and equipment cost
money.
Our train journey had been very interesting. Just about dawn
we passed Calais, and many of the lads imagined they could dis-
cern the chalk-like cliffs of Dover. Then we came to Abbeville,
Ruskin's favorite town, where a thousand years before, the First
Crusaders had gathered to be harangued and exhorted by Peter

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK

123

the Hermit of Amiens. We remembered reading somewhere that
Caesar had once camped here. From our box-cars we saw the
famous old Saint-Riquier church. We also saw several citizens
fishing from their bedroom windows. Next came Boulogne and
we glimpsed the ramparts and gateways of the upper city. We
also saw the famous column Napoleon built to mark his "inva-
sion" of Britain. It was dusk when we reached Etaples, so we
didn't see much of that place.
On September 6th we marched from Longvillers to Halloy-
Pernois, where we stayed overnight. Next day we moved on to
Fermes-de-Rosel, near which were located a German prisoner
camp and a large R.F.C. aviation field. We slept that night in
barns. From there we could once more hear the rumbling of guns
and we knew we were getting close to the Somme front.
On September 8th we moved to V al-de- Maison, where we
were billeted about the village, and took over a divisional rest-
station from the Sixth Field Ambulance. For five days we re-
mained there, running the rest-camp, whitcwashing walls, clean-
ing streets, ete. Back of the rest-station was an apple orchard and
many of the boys climbed the trees to write letters and read,
because there was nowhere else to sit in comfort. Little Andy
Nicholson wrote his last letters home in one of those trees. Here,
too, we were issued the blue shoulder patches and the C-2 badges
which from then on were to identify Second Division troops.

At Warloy-Baillon and Up the Line

On September 13th the Eighth Field Ambulance relieved us
and we moved to Warloy-Baillon, where we cleaned out several
barns for use as a main dressing station during the coming battle.
On September 14th all our bearers moved up the Line, ready
for thc big push which was to commence the next morning.
The days following were momentous indeed. Up the line our
bearers labored almost incessantly, clearing the wounded from
around Contalmaison, Courcelctte, Casualty Corner. The Sunken
Road, Pozieres, Gibraltar Point, Thiepval, La Boiselle, Orvillers,
Martinpuich and other famous Somme battlefields.
The weathcr during the whole series of Somme battles was
exceedingly wet. Dirty, grey, chalky mud was everywhere. The
clothing, shoes and equipnlent of the woundcd 111Cn and our

124

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK

bearers were plastered ""rith this dogging "goo." At night the
men resembled staggering grey ghosts. The artillery fire had
churned up all the rO'adway'S and trenches until they were well
nigh impassable. Most of the time our wheeled stretchers were
useless. All too often were wounded men dumped from stretchers,
when those carrying them fell or were bogged in the chalky
quagmires.
Stretcher-bearing under such conditions was quite different
from the parade-ground stuff in which we had been so carefully
drilled during our training days. Of all the ridiculous drill we
had then received, the loading and lifting of stretchers by num-
bers was the most useless. Rarely, here, did we have four men to
a stretcher. More often than not, only two men were available.
Under actual battle conditions we simply picked up our wounded
man as tenderly as possible, bandaged him as quickly as circum-
stances would permit, and carried him out as fast as his weight,
the terrain, and our own fear and legs would let us go.
What man who carried wounded under these circumstances
could ever forget the terrible groaning, cursing and pleading of
the poor fellow, half-rolling off a shoulder-high stretcher? Who
could ever forget the dark brown and purplish stain that seeped
through the stretcher canvas, and all-too-often dripped down on
to our backs and arms? Who can't remember the seeming futility
of the whole mad business, as we were unable to take cover when
shells blasted the chalky ooze all over us, or when a bearer was
hit and fell, dumping perhaps a compound-fracture case, shriek-
ing with the additional pain, into a ruddy, stinking trench or
shell-hole? And how many times did we go through all this, only
to find, on reaching the aid-post, that the wounded man had
died on the way, and that all our efforts to save him were futile?
Nothing grand or heroic about all that, was there? It was simply
a matter of carrying on as long as you had sufficient strength and
fortitude to do so.
The nights were very cold and, when a day without rain did
come along, the hot sun baked the chalky uniforms into hard,
chafing, misshapen masses.
For the first few days the bearers' rations failed to reach them
properly, and if it had not been for the food they took from the
haversacks of the dead, our lads would have gone hopelessly
hungry. After the first phase of the attack, we established ration

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK 125
dumps at the Contalmaison Chalk Pits and at Casualty Corner.
These posts were in charge of the Dental Captain and for the
rest of the Somme scrap the men got their rations and rum more
or less regularly. To these pOSts, too, the bearers not on duty
came for rest and sleep.
Sleep, to these fagged, nerve-sharrered men was just like dying
for a shorr time. Their faces would then show Strange sights.
All facial lines were relaxed; all pettinesses, weaknesses and vices
stood out in brutal detail. Jaws and chins fell open and drooped,
and cheek furrows grew deeper. It was difficult to recognize in
these sleeping caricatures of men the comrades of our training-
camp days.
In Warloy-Baillon, the Nursing Sections were busy day and
night. The wounded fairly poured in - from motor ambulances,
horse ambulances, general service wagons and commandeered
farm conveyances. Many walking cases, too, found their dazed
wa y back to this town - too shell-shocked and bewildered to
understand that there had been no need for them to come so far
back for treatment. To these men, no doubt, the paramount
thought was to get out - to get back, as far as possible, from
the hell up forward. Every barn was filled with wounded. They
came in faster than we could get them attended to and evacuated
to the clearing stations. Most of the wounded were so exhausted
they slept for hours on the straw-covered barn floors, tOO spent
to have their wounds re-dressed and tOO tired to remain awake
long enough to take nourishment.

We Suffer Some Casualties

On September 15th, Dick Mitchell was killed, and Slim
Russell and Baldy Rutherford, who had gone to infantry units,
were wounded. The following day Willie McFarlane, Lewie
Finch, Herbie Grant, Andv Nicholson, Willie Hanney, Andy
Parker, Tommy Pender and George Grindley were killed. Fred
White, Corney Weiler, Garnet Noble and Sergeant Warrman were
wounded. Colonel Campbell of the Sixth Field Ambulance, the
officer in charge of Second Division evacuations, was also killed
on this same day.
The deaths of Privates Parker and Nicholson were strangely
co-incidental. The two Andys' friendshir was a very beautiful

126

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK

thing, a sort of Damon-Pythias relationship. They just about
idolized each other and it was odd that after chumming together
for about twO years they should practically die together.
Another sad coincidence was the arrival on this very day of
a transfer order for George Grindley to take a commission with
an Irish Line Regiment.
Sergeant-Major Jack Williams left us shortly after we arrived
at Warloy-Baillon. Word came that his wife had become very
dangerously ill and that he was urgently needed at home. Most
of the men were up the Line at the rime so had no opportunity
to bid him farewell. Headquarters noncoms., however, gave him
a send-off party and he left Warloy with the good wishes of
every man there.
All were sorry to see Jack go, for he had the respect of every-
body. Jack played no favorites and got things done with a mini-
mum of fuss and grousing. In our mind's eye we can see him
even now as he used to walk on to the parade ground - a stubby
toothbrush sort of moustache on his upper lip, his chin snuggled
into his short, thick neck, his shoulders squared back, and his
stocky frame straight as a poker. Williams looked like a middle-
weight boxer, talked like an Aldershot noncom. and walked like
a man who knew where he was going. He kowtowed to neither
officers nor men, treated everybody like human beings and con-
ducted himself as a he-man and gentleman. We do not think he
had an enemy in the unit and when that is said of a regimental
sergeant-major it means plenty.
On September 28th Captain Barton and Roy Skilling were
wounded. On October 2nd Frank Terrio was killed and Fred
Adshead wounded.
On October 3rd the Headquarters Sections at Warloy-Baillon
were relieved by the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth Field Ambulances
and they moved to the Brickfields, near Albert. To this place our
bearers came the day following - for a few hours' rest, reinforce-
ments and kit-refirrings. Here we occupied bell tents. The whole
area was a sea of mud, for the rain had continued to pour down.
While we were at Warloy and the Brickfields the men learned
to love a certain Captain Bell, an American doctor who joined
us at Eperleques and was only temporarily arrached to the Fifth.
This officer was an astonishingly human character. He had abso-
lutely no "side" and seemed totally indifferent to military usages

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK

127

and traditions. His spare moments he spent amongst the rank
and file whom he entertained and instructed in many different
ways. He was really the most remarkable character we knew-
next to Colonel Farmer, of course! He was ambi-dexterous, and
could write and perform delicate surgical operations equally well
with either hand.
Captain Bell had a wonderful memory and was an accom-
plished elocutionist - could recite long passages from Shakes-
peare, Longfellow, Hugo and other authors, as well backwards
as forwards. He would ask his listeners to mention a chapter,
paragraph or stanza from any prominent book and he would
recite it forthwith. He could give the date and circumstances of
almost any outstanding event in Biblical, British or American
history.
Captain Bell's uniform wasn't exactly what the High Com-
mand would have approved of; his boots, belt and other harness
were not what Sandhurst would consider correct; his nlisshapen
cap was tilted at an angle that would have brought tears to the
eyes of a drill-master; his attitude toward full-buck privates and
junior noncoms. was a challenge to army traditions, but - he
was a real man, one of Nature's Gentlemen, to whom militar-
ism, snobbery and class distinctions were repugnant. He was, too,
an exceptionally clever surgeon and a shrewd physician. We have
no idea where he came from or where he went when he left the
Fifth, but we do know that with him went the best wishes,
admiration and respect of every man in the unit.

We Meet Our R....einforcements

It was at the Brickfi.elds, too, we got our first opportunity to
become acquainted with our reinforcements. As a matter of fact,
a considerable number of new men had joined us shortly after
our arrival at W arloy, but as most of them were sent up the
Line the same night they arrived, we had little chance to greet
or chat with them. Some of them became casualties on their first
trip up front and we never did meet those lads where we could
get to really know them.
Our first reinforcements had reached us when we were in La
Clytte and Mont Noir. Bob Gray, Herb Gilbert and Norm
Heidnlan were in the first draft to the Fifth and it must be

128

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK

confessed that they were, for a week or two, treated more or less
as outsiders. This attitude was quite understandable, for the" orig-
inals" of the unit had been together for over a year and had
become somewhat like a large family. They had learned most of
each other's strong points and weaknesses, their likes and dislikes,
and much of their past historíes. Almost every" oríginal" had his
own chum and favorite cronies, and there was a natura) hesitancy
toward taking an unknown newcomer-no matter how fine a chap
he might be - into the long-established and select inner circle.
Gradually, however, each reinforcement was "sized up," ap-
praised, and accepted as a chum and equal. No doubt he passed
a rather uncomfortable time, until he found his bearings and
"fitted in," but, after all, that applies to every situation in life.
And - we Canadian soldiers were brutally blunt and frank in
most of our relationships!
Throughout the war the Fifth received approximately five
hundred reinforcements and it is doubtful if any other unit ob-
tained higher-class types of men than did ours. With very few
exceptions, they finally measured up to the standard of our
"originals" and proved themselves A-1 men in every particular
- whether they were officers or privates.
It must be remembered, too, that the "originals" were on trial
by the newcomers. New arrivals had to "size up" our officers,
noncoms. and men. They had to learn a whole new language -
a weird vernacular of war-slang, pidjin-French, barrack-room
jargon and front-line wisecracks - all rolled in together, with a
confusing admixture of Lancashire, Scotch, Irish, Cockney,
Italian and other brogues and dialects. Through all this strange
and somewhat repellant crust of language, habits and pretence,
the new men had to pierce deeply to find and understand the real
man hidden underneath. That nearly every reinforcement "found
his man" is proven by the many life-long friendships born of
those days when college graduate and rich n1an's son dug a
latrine, humped a stretcher or occupied a funk-hole alongside an
unschooled day-laborer or lad from a humble cottage home.
Just before the end of our stay at the Brickfields Colonel Farmer
paid what must have been a memorable visft to Divisional Head-
quarters. Our bearers had been up the Line since September 14th.
We had suffered several casualties and had "carried on" through-
out one of the most sanguinary periods of the Somme offensive.

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TO THE SOMME E7 BACK 129
The Old Man had forwarded recommendations for awards for
bravery, but, so far, the Fifth had apparently been ignored. Our
unit had not been allotted any of the decorations which were at
that time being awarded to other units of our Division. Colonel
Farmer was determined that his men were not going to be dis-
criminated against so he dictated a blistering-hot despatch to the
powers-that-were, telling them what he thought of the apparent
slight. \Vhen the letter was finished he decided that it didn't say
half what he wanted to say so he tore it up, jumped into a car
and went to deliver his message personally. What transpired at
the interview we do not know, but in due time the a wards as
recommended by the Old Man came through. He may sometimes
have been undiplomatic, but he always got results!
On October 7th word reached us that Sergeant Wartman, then
in No. 3 Imperial Casualty Clearing Station, at Puchevillers,
had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. We were
also notified that we were to march north next day.

The Somme Battles in Brief

The Somme battles began on July 1st. Canadian Cavalry and
Artillery were at Bazentin and Guillemont. The First Division
fought at Pozieres on August 31st. On September 3rd the Cana-
dian Corps occupied 4,100 yards east and west of the Bapaume
Road. Tanks were first used on September 15th when the Cana-
dians advanced, captured the Sugar Refinery and Fabeck Graben
and took Courcelette. On September 17th Mouquet Farm fell
into our hands. Further advance was made on September 20th
and 22nd. On September 26th the First and Second Divisions
took Zollern, Hessian and Kenora Trenches. Within the follow-
ing three days our line was advanced nearly 1,000 yards.
On October 1st the Second and Third Divisions took Regina
Trench. Only the Canadian Artillery remained at the Somme
after October 17th, along with the Fourth Division which had
now come south. The first three Divisions had n10ved back to
the Lens-Vimy sector. By November 11th the Fourth Division
had advanced 500 yards. On November 18th they captured
Desire Trench. By November 28th all Canadian units were out
of the Son1n1e, having gained 4,000 yards on a front of 3,000.
Our casualties numbered 24,029.

130

TO THE SOMME [y BACK

The Germans called the Somme scrap "The Blood Bath." It
was called by our Staff u a part of our policy of attrition"- an
attrition on the wrong side of the balance sheet, for the Germans
held nearly all of the dominating positions along the Front, and
had, generally, a vast superiority in ammunition and equipment.
During the Somme scrap the authorities were particularly
alert in their search for pocket cameras. Frank O'Leary continued
to carry his, nevertheless. One day Frank was in the act of snap-
ping a battle scene near the Sugar Refinery when two intelligence
officers nabbed him. Frank tossed his camera into a water-filled
shell-hole. "Give me your paybook!" ordered one of the officers.
O'Leary reached into his pocket and handed over the paybook-
but it happened to be one he had just a few minutes before re-
moved from a dead body for identification purposes. He was
unable to retrieve his camera but heard no more about the affair. *
Just before our motor ambulances pulled out of Contay an
aeroplane crashed nearby. The two injured airmen were loaded
into one of our cars, with orders to the driver to take a reserve
road that had just been newly surfaced and drive as fast as possi-
ble to a clearing station a considerable distance in the rear. Cor-
poral Hutchinson and Private Imeson were in charge of the ambu-
lance and lost no time on the way. They were going at almost
top speed when they heard a car coming behind them. Hutchinson
stepped on the accelerator but after a mile or so the other car
pulled alongside and a blue-tabbed Transport Service officer
ordered the corporal to stop.
"Where are you from?" demanded the officer. "Flying Corps,
sir!" answered Hutch. "I should damwell think you were!"
fumed the officer. "What do you think this road is - a race-
track for your amusement? Is this war merely something for your
fun? Orderly, take this man's name and number. . . . I'll make
an example of him!" The orderly wrote down the information
and the ambulance once again got under way, with the staff car
going ahead at a fast clip.
The two wounded aviators had taken in every word of the
altercation, but ordered Hutch to hurry again. "Open her up,
Canada. To hell with that bloody bluebeard!" So, the corporal
*Frank had another kodak in his pocket when he lost his foot at Passchendaele,
but one of his bearer pals took charge of the camera and it was returned to him in
Canada, without the ever-alert authorities being any the wiser. Our book owes many
of its illustrations to the cameras carried by Frank and other Fifth kodak-toters.

TO THE SOMME [:ï BACK

131

opened her up and in no time at all was close to the staff car.
Again the bluetab stopped the ambulance. Then for the first time
he spotted the C-2 and Fifth idenrification mark on the car. "Ah
. . . now I understand
You are Number Five Canadians
No
wonder you're driving like hell! Come on, away you go. Follow
my car and drive slowly. "
Next morning) Colonel Farmer came to the corporal. "Good
morning, Hutchinson - I've just received a very serious report
about one of our cars being on a reserve road and driving at a
terrific speed. It must have been that man Fryday." Hutchinson
explained the incident and handed the Old Man an explanatory
note from the two injured aviators. Up in the air went the
colonel. "Damn those officious meddling Imperial Transport
blankety-blanks
How do they expect us to win the war with
their interference
I wish I'd been there - I'd have shown that
damned blue-tabbed son-of-a-something he couldn't talk to my
men that way."
On Sunday, October 8th) the unit moved out of the Brick-
fields) on its way north. We arrived at Vadencourt at 9 p.m.,
after a seven hours' march. Here we stayed overnight. It was
while we were here that word reached us that Max Kelso's
ambulance had been hit and his horses killed, but that the
popular noncom. himself was, miraculously, uninjured. Less
fortunate was Bob Tillotson who on this same day received a
chunk of shrapnel in his side. Bob was evacuated to the Base,
then to B1ighty and finally back to Canada as the result of his
wound.
The next day we marched to Talmas. Near here there was a
pursuit plane aerodrome to which our men went and witnessed
the landing of several badly shot-up planes and wounded aviators.
We left Talmas around noon on October 10th and marched to
Beauval where we stayed overnight, sleeping in barns and houses.
This was a fair-sized place and the men were not too tired to get
about and have some fun.
Austin Booth) our cycle orderly, was evacuated sick, being sent
down the Line from Talmas. Andy Patterson immediately ap-
propriated Booth)s bicycle and accompanied by Joe Irwin who
had also wangled a wheel from somewhere, obtained pernlission
to pedal the road from T almas to Beauval. The distance was
only about six miles. The unit nlarched it in about tW{) hours

132

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK

but it was not until long after dark that Pat and Sharkey arrived.
None but themselves ever found out where they went or what
they did during the time they were en route. All we know is that
they turned up in Beauval, minus their bikes, fagged out, but
exhilarated and happy - and with a tiny French poodle answer-
ing to the name of "Museeka." The poodle disappeared during
the night following their arrival. Evidently the poor dog pre-
ferred gentler speech than that emanating from the unmusical
masculine throats of the hard-boiled noncoms. in our sergeants'
billet and was determined to return to a home where "a dog's
life" was really worthwhile.
Some of the senior noncoms. may remember the big night
they enjoyed in their Beauval billet - how they were all bunked
down on the hallway floor and too excited by the evening's
horseplay to sleep. Whether the hard floor, the hard Beauval wine
or the long day's hard routine had anything to do with their gay
wakefulness we cannot say. We do remember, however, that
they all had a very hard time getting to sleep. We also have a
rather hazy recollection of a borrowed wrist watch figuring some-
what dramatically in the evening's comedy.
During one of the many overnight halts on the march north-
ward we heard for the first time that song which became such
a great favorite of Canadian troops, "Roses in Picardy." One of
our men (little Arthur Shore, we believe) was heard singing it
one night in a barn billet. Rain was pelting down outside and
Lights Out had sounded some time when, out of the darkness
came Arthur's low, sweet tenor voice, with the words which had
such a timely and peculiar significance:

Roses are shining in Picardy,
In the hush of the silver dew.
Roses are flowering in Picardy,
But there's never a rose like you, and
The roses will die in the Summer time,
And our roads may be far apart,
But there's one rose that dies not in Picardy,
That's the rose that I keep in my heart.

On Wednesday, October 11th, we marched to Bonniere. It had
rained every day since we left Albert, so on this night and in this
town we were given a rum issue. A miracle of miracles!

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK 133
On the following day we marched off at 8 a.m. and billeted
that night in the barns of Mont-en- T ernois. Next day we reached
Oieval, where we again occupied barns overnight. On Saturday,
October 14th, we bade goodbye to Oieval about 8 a.m., and
hoofed it to Hersin. Here we passed the night, being billeted in
several houses - the first dry and sanitary billets we had seen
since leaving Warloy-Baillon.
On October 15th (Sunday) C. Section was sent up the Line,
in charge of Major Pentecost and Captains Burgess and Neilson.
On this day more reinforcements reached us.
October 16th found the remaining two Sections still at Hersin.
Here we were notified that Sergeant Wartman, D.C.M" had
that day died in No.3 Casualty Clearing Station at Puchevillers;
and that Captain Nicholson had been awarded the Military Cross,
and Sergeants Max Kelso and A. Hogg Military Medals for
their work at Casualty Corner. We were all deeply saddened by
Wartman's death. A whiter, better man never lived. He was the
most respected and best-loved noncom. our unit ever had, and
there was not a man among us who wasn't poorer because of
\Vart's passing. He was buried in Puchevillers Cemetery. Poor
old Wart, by the way, had a premonition of death, for on the
night before he was hit he pledged Andy Patterson to look after
his personal effects and write to his mother. Even after he was
wounded he was firmly convinced that there was no hope for him.
Not a few members of the Fifth were present at Wart's funeral;
and there were no dry eyes as his body was being laid away.
Sergeant Wartman's remarks to a wounded infantryman, away
back in La Clytte days, are typical of the man. The grateful rifle-
man was thanking Wart for his care and kindness when Wart
stopped him: "Why, that's what we're here for. We're not
fighting-men ! You fellows are the real soldiers, and it's our job
to help you. Our hats are off to you lads - there's nothing in the
world too good for you!"
The long march north from the Somme was not without its
share of memorable incidents. It was Colonel Farmer's invariable
habit to go ahead by motor ambulance each morning and inspect
the billets alloted to his men for the evening halt. Roy Flynn and
his partner in crime, Art Beven, accompanied him on these trips
and always had their eyes peeled for anything to their own ad-
vantage. One morning, Flynn discovered a half-case of whisky

134

TO THE SOMME [:;r BACK

hidden in the car and, during the day, he and Beven managed to
purloin it. They removed it to a safe hiding place and its loss
was not discovered by the colonel until late in the evening. He
blamed everybody but the right persons, because Beven and
Flynn had not been out of his sight all day, so far as he could
recall- and it was they who helped the colonel most earnestly
to search for the thieves and the stolen spirits!
It wasn't until about ten years later that Colonel Farmer
learned the truth, and then Flynn and Beven were (fortunately for
them!) out of the army and beyond the colonel's reach.

Fosse Ten} Bully Grenay} Calonne} Etc.

On October 17th, A. and B. Sections moved to Fosse Ten.
Here they took over a main dressing station to which wounded
were brought from advanced stations at Sains-en-Gohelle, Cal-
onne, Pont Grenay, Bully Grenay and Maroc, all small mining
villages about five miles west of Lens. In these places we were
exceptionally comfortable. This part of the Front was very quiet.
The casualties were few and our duties not too arduous. We were
in a coal-mining district so there was a goodly supply of fuel
available for our oil-drum braziers. At all the advanced posts our
men occupied deep and fairly bomb-proof dugouts and cellars,
while at Fosse Ten the upper storey of a schoolhouse served as
an excellent billet.
This village consisted of a few streets of brick houses in which
lived the mine workers of the adjacent mine or Fosse. The mines
in each district were numbered and Fosse Dix was number 10
mine or pit of the Lens district. The rather hybrid name "Fosse
Ten" was merely the army's appellation for the place.
In Fosse Ten one day was much like another and the men
carried out their routine duties with the fond hope that their
stay there would continue indefinitely. There were many good
estaminets in the neighborhood and the townspeople welcomed
us into their homes and readily sold us vin rouge, vin blanc, biere
Anglaise, cafe noir, pommes de terre frittes et les oeufs.

French-Fried Potato Chips} Eggs} Etc.

In our mind's eye we can still see the kitchen of one of those
humble old French homes - the red-tiled floor - washed clean

TO THE SOÌ\1ìvlE E7 BACK

135

by having pails of water thrown over it and then swabbed dry
by broad-backed bent-over women swishing big pieces of gunny
sacking or other material back and forth over it; the tiny, round

bellied, red-hot stove with its square suspended oven and its
highly-polished pipes leading into a chimney-hole over an open
hearth; the whitewood dinner table with its top scrubbed spot

lessly clean; the great iron soup-pot that always hung suspended
over a faggot fire in the wide, low, smoke-blackened fire-place;
the glass artificial flower globes on the mantel; the quaint old
wooden whatnot in the corner, holding odd pieces of brass,
pewter goblets or a velvet plaque to which were attached the
medals of some 1870 war veteran.
What soldier didn't thrill to the sound of eggs frying in a big
iron skillet, and potatoes sizzling in an immense pot of boiling
fat? Who among us didn't gaze in awe and concern the first time
he saw some stout Flemish housewife rest a bulky round loaf of
Belgian bread, or a long crusty French loaf, against her ample and
aproned tummy, while she sliced it (the bread 1) with a curved,
scythe
like bread knife? And how often did the freshly-cut slice
drop to the floor, to be retrieved, brushed off and smeared with
margarine? Eggs, chips and bread would be washed down our
hungry throats with a generous amount of thick, inky coffee "r
chicory, served in large handle-less cups. And - if you were
lucky - a slug of rum or cognac would "lace" the coffee and
make your happiness complete.
A Canadian soldier had a wonderful "way" with these French
and Flemish home-folk. He would burst into a home, tramp all
over the recently-cleaned tile floor with his muddy boots and
proceed to make himself thoroughly at home with all who hap

pened to be there. To the old man of the house he would give a
handful of pipe "tabac." The elderly Madame he would grab
round the waist and make her dance with hin1 an impromptu jig.
If there happened to be a daughter in the menage, all was jake!
He would try to kiss her and unblushingly extend his ever-
ready invitation: "Promenade ce soír, mademoiselle?" And he in-
varía
ry received the same laughing response: "A pres la guerre!"
In a few minutes he had won the friendship of the old man, the
love of the old woman, and the admiration of the daughter.
They might call him "Vauríen, cochon, polisson, JJ or "mauvais
soldat" and tell him he was "no bon"- but they did so with

136

TO THE SOMI\1E E7 BACK

laughter in their eyes and the warmth of understanding in their
voices. Before long the housefolk would be grouped about their
bon ami, asking him questions about his fiancee back in Canada
and looking at the snapshots of his friends and loved ones. He
invariably had a pocketful of snapshots to exhibit; and who can
forget the genuine interest those Flemish people l11anifested in
our personal affairs, and their sincere grief whenever they heard
that their friend "Billee JJ or "Johnnee JJ had been kiHed up the
Line, and would not be visiting them any more?
Where, oh where, in this whole wide world, could a soldier
be better received and have all his manifold shortcomings more
tolerated than in anyone of those humble homes just back of the
Front? Surely were these kindly French folk and our men kindred
spirits. Verily, those poor people had learned well the import of
the parable of the good Samaritan. We shall bless them to
our dying day.
It was in Fosse Ten that Teddy Blair proved that the "Fight-
ing Fifth" came by its name honestly. One night Teddy and a
few of his A. Section buddies found themselves in an estaminet,
among a lot of heavy-artillery gunners. One of the gunners was
pestering a twelve-year-old girl and when Teddy asked him to
desist, a battle broke out. A regular free-for-all ensued and, by
the time Teddy and his Lancashire pals got through with them,
the men of the "Heavies" had a lot more respect for "bomb-
proof, noncombatant stretcher-bearers. JJ

Colonel Farmer Leaves the Fifth

On November 4th we heard that Colonel Farmer was to leave
us on the following day. For many weeks there had been vague
rumors that he was to be given a higher command but, as tÍllle
passed without anything more definite happening, we had ceased
to pay much attention to the rumors.
At 9.30 a.m., November 5th, however, a muster-parade was
called and our old colonel said goodbye. He spoke briefly to the
whole unit and then went through the ranks, shaking hands with
every man. Tears made their way down his ruddy cheeks and
there was a huskiness in his voice and a tremor in his hand-
clasps as he said his fareweHs. When he had passed through the
ranks and taken his leave of every man individually, he stepped

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to the front of the parade while Major Pentecost led three cheers
from the officers and men. The Old Man stood for a moment,
his right hand quivering at the salute; then he turned and walked
briskly to an awaiting ambulance, and was driven down the
road and away.
Our reaction to the departure of our original Commanding
Officer was decidedly interesting. Colonel Farmer was a remark-
able character - as you will have found out from the many
things we have written about him. He had a terrible temper, and
never seemed desirous of controlling it. He would fly into a rage
over the most trivial and picayune matters. He would never
brook a denial- but he himself would deny point-blank the
assertion of another. He would vent his spite and relieve his
anger on anyone or anything that happened to be near him at the
moment. He would punish an erring officer or man without any
consideration for the fitness of the punishment to the offence.
Nearly every officer and man in the unit thought he hated
the colonel - but every officer and man truly loved him, although
we were totally unaware of our deep regard for him until after
he had left the Fifth. Then we remembered many of his admir-
able and good qualities. We recalled that if in temper he had
abused us, he later made up in some way for his unfairness. We
realized that if he had cursed and punished us he had also made
better men of us and had looked after our comfort and welfare
like a real colonel should We knew that if he had given us C.B.,
first field punishments, fines, reprimands and admonishments, he
had, in most instances, torn up our crin1e sheets and given us
new and clean starts in our future army existences.
We appreciated that he had welded us into a unit which, man
for man, was the equal of any in France. He had by sheer ability
and driving power - and without much help or encouragement
from those senior to him in the medical services - recruited,
trained, instructed and brought to France an organization to
which every other unit could proudly point and on which all
could confidently rely.
Colonel Farmer was an exceptionally capable physician, a well-
trained and long-exrerienced army officer, an accomplished horse-
man and an extraordinary good judge of human nature. Who can
ever forget the Old Man, weeping unashan1edly whenever one
of "his boys" as he called them, was killed. Invariably, he would

138

TO THE SOMME E.7 BACK

call for the dead man's history sheet, sit and gaze at it for a few
moments, then erase any unfavorable records it might contain.
"This man had no crimes!" the Old Man would say sadly, then
he would go and write to the man's next-of-kin a kind, com-
forting and sincere letter of condolence.
It was not very long before we realized that we had lost one
of our best friends. We also had a very strong suspicíon that the
Fifth had been the innocent victim of a vindictive dislike some-
one of higher command had entertained for our departed Com-
manding Officer.

A New Commanding Officer

On November 6th, Major Chester Fish McGuffin, of the Fourth
Field Ambulance, took over command of the Fifth. He started
right in, with extra parades, drills and daily route-.marches to
bring our unit up (or down!) to his conception of efficiency and
discípline.
One week later we received an issue of official green envelopes
_ envelopes in which we could mail letters we didn't want cen-
sored. On the outside of these envelopes there was a statement
signed by the sender to the effect that nothing subversive or of
military import was in the letter. It is feared that more than one
man took advantage of these envelopes to pass on none-too-
fa vorable opinions about the new Commanding Officer. Those
were the first issue of green envelopes we had received in five
months.
Captain N ïcholson left us on the 14th of November, and went
to No.2 Casualty Clearing Station. From there he was trans-
ferred to the Fourteenth Field Ambulance at Widey Camp. Later
he became A.D. M.S. of Widey and held that rank until de-
mobilization. We were sincerely sorry to see him go for he had
been with us from the start and was a general favorite. After he
left the Fifth he was once mentioned in despatches.
It was about this time that Captain Sinclair, or "Billy" as he
was to become popularly known, joined the Fifth, along with
another captain named Taylor. Captain Sinclair brought with
him a banjo-mandolin and, fron1 then on, he gave officers and
men many happy moments with his playing of the instrument.
Who can ever forget him, singing "The Man Who Done Me

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK

139

Wrong" and "The Slim-Backed Fusiliers?" How the lads used
to join in with the chorus of that "Eyes right, foreheads tight,
noses to the front" song! He introduced "Pranky and l ohnn y "
to our unit, but the words as we knew them were slight y differ-
ent to the version popularized later. We would give you the
words as we once knew them, but, thank goodness, we cannot
recall them now!
Whenever passes were available our men visited the town of
Bethune. This mining-centre metropolis was one of Joe Irwin's
favorite haunts. One day the Imperial police in Bethune arrested
Joe for being without his puttees. Joe, unfortunately, had no pass,
and, fortunately, no identification material such as an army pay-
book or other document.
Right from the moment of his arrest Sharkey kept up a steady
stream of French, and all the questioning of the brave redcaps
failed to elicit from Joe an answer in English. The police could
speak no French and our sergeant apparently could speak no
English, so, after a lot of blustering by the military police and
much gesticulating by Joe, the puzzled police gave it up as a bad
job and released their prisoner. "Gorblimey," exclaimed the
police corporal to his patrol mates, "we'll 'ave to let the bloody
blighter gow! 'Ees just one of them blawsted hignorant Can-eye-
dians what cawn't speak or hunderstand the Hinglish lang-
widge!" Needless to add, Joe hurried away, but before he left
town he bought a bottle of Martini cocktail for his friends back
at Fosse Ten.
That Martini was potent stuff! After about two drinks of it,
Max Kelso and Frank O'Leary regaled their comrades with a
long and loud dissertation on the "Origin of the Species." The
scope of their discussion took in everything from the amoeba to
a team of wonderful German coach-horses Kelso said he once
owned. Max continued to talk about these horses far into the
night and long after Frank had forgotten what the discussion
was about.
It was Max Kelso, too, who made an unfortunate contact
with some lysol deodorant when he sat on top of the night
bucket which stood just outside the sergeants' billet. Max let out
one awful yell and went bounding down the loft steps and over
to a nearby well where he stood stark naked in the frosty night
air, pumping ice-cold water over his stinging posterior.

140

TO THE SOIvlME E.7 BACK

Some of the senior noncoms. may remember the night one of
our staff-sergeants returned to his billet bragging about the hit
he had made with Darkey the Belle of Fosse Ten. The staff, who
was rather short in height, informed his listeners that Darkey
had kept murmuring "T rop court, trop court, trop court" in his
ear all evening. He did not understand French and when his pals
informed him that he had misconstrued the meaning of the dis-
appointed girl's exclamations, he was considerably chagrined -
and embarrassed, for, like most short men, he was very sensitive
about his lack of stature.
From the time of our arrival in France and right through to
the Somme we had been able to buy fairly good beer back of the
Line. Of course, it never was as good as we desired but it was
palatable, potent, and better than chlorinated water. About the
time we reached Fosse Ten, however, the beer was becoming
very poor. As a matter of fact, we began to suspect that it was
being made in those huge barrel-like wagons used for conveying
field fluid. And as the quality went down the price went up. The
urge for self-preservation forced more than one ultra-loyal and
accomplished beer drinker to switch his allegiance and devotion
to those twO styptic demons, Vin Rouge et Vin Blanc. Our old
chorus about madame and her beer voiced our feelings:
Madame, your beer's no bon,
Madame, your beer's no bon,
Like your pommes-de-terres fritz
It gives us the pip -
Madame, your beer's no bon.

Our Second Christmas in France

Christmas found us carrying on in Fosse Ten and at the
previously-mentioned advanced stations. This was our second
Christmas in France and we celebrated it in a manner similar to
that of the first.
New Year's Day came and went without anything unusual
happening. Shortly after the New Year, our new Commanding
Officer was promoted to the rank of lieutenant -colonel.
During our long stay in this area we had but few wounded to
look after. The weather was cold and wet, but in our good
billets we didn't suffer. Periodically the three Sections changed
places so there was plenty of variety to our activities.

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK 141
On January 17th, 1917, our unit had charge of the clearing
of wounded in the great daylight raid which was pulled off by
our Brigade on the Bully Grenay-Calo
ne front. About ten col-
lecting and relay posts were established throughout the trenches
and all our bearer squads were in the Line for this show. A false
raid had been carried out on the 16th, to put Fritz off his guard.
That it succeeded in doing so is proven by the fact that the real
raid was a complete surprise and success, and that comparatively
few of our own men were wounded. We carried out more
Germans than Canadians.
Back at Fosse Ten that morning things didn't go off quite so
smoothly. Our new Commanding Officer had given a big party
the night before and when the first patients - mostly Germans,
fortunately - arrived at Fosse Ten not one medical officer was
on duty. Arrangements made previously called for immediate
contact with an Imperial casualty clearing station at Aubigny.
This casualty clearing station had an unlimited number of ambu-
lances available and these were held, awaiting word from our
orderly room. Soon our dressing station was filled up and with
no means of evacuation. The acting sergeant-major persuaded
Sergeant-Major Harry Williams of the Horse Transport to saddle
his horse and ride to Aubigny and notify the casualty clearing
station of the tie-up.
Not until long after the ambulances arrived and the snarl was
untangled did the new Commanding Officer appear on the scene.
Even then. his efforts consisted chiefly of blaming everyone else
but himself for the cruel delay. Perhaps the fact that one of the
unit's most exalted officers had inadvertently sat down on a red-
hot stove during the all-night party and burned the seat out of
his breeks deprived the Commanding Officer of some of the
assistance he had depended on for the clearing of the wounded.
No doubt n1any of the oldtimers will remember Alf. Pount-
ney's return to the unit after a short course at the Gas School -
and the corporal's lecture on gas-helmets, ete. : " 'Ere's' ow you
tykes 'old of the mawsk. You grabs the 'lastíc in bowth 'ands,
shoves your fyce into it, and puts the mouth-piece in your mouth,
tvking a firm 'old on it with your teeth; and myking sure the
'lastic 'owlds toighdy round your fyce," ete., ete.
Three days after the raid we were relieved by the First Divi-
sion and the whole Second was moved by trucks and busses, back

142

TO THE SOMME E7 BACK

to the Pernes-en-Artois neighborhood. We were rather sorry to
leave the homes which had been ours for the previous three
months. In Fosse Ten and Bully Grenay we had enjoyed many
happy times. I n the former place les pommes de terre frittes and
les oeufs could be had at Madame Louise's, Darkey's and at
other well-known retreats. Back of the horse-lines was another
popular rendezvous where Elaine and Jeannette waited on (and
for) the boys, and where one could always buy a tot of Fifth
Field Ambulance rum, which the household obtained regularly
from a certain non-too-popular captain who was a worshipping
habitue of this tin-roofed meeting place; and cigars, too, which
another gallant had given to the girls' dad as a peace offering.

A Bombardment at the Horse-Lines

It was near this humble home that a capital crime was almost
perpetrated one dark and foggy night, when one of our officers
went to make his nightly rounds of the horse-lines. Just as this
much-becussed officer reached the pathway along by the galvan-
ized-iron windbreak, he was the target for bricks, rocks, chunks
of coal and other formidable missiles. The metal windbreak rat-
tled with the force of the pelting objects but, fortunately, the
officer went unscathed. As the first missile whanged past his head
he threw himself flat on the muddy ground, and so escaped what
might have been sudden death had he been hit. As soon as the
mysterious bombardment ceased, the captain rushed to his feet
and ran into the horse-lines, where he was brought to a sudden
halt by an alert sentry. The captain identified himself and he and
Sergeant Max Kelso did their utmost to get to the bottom of the
affair but without any success. All the transport men were found
in their proper places and the identities of the miscreants respon-
sible for this outrageous attack were never determined.
No doubt many of the Fifth will recall, too, the night a certain
sergeant was on his way down the long steep stairs from the
men's billet - and a heavy fire-bucket came hurtling down,
nearly decapitating him. Max Odessky had many's the laugh
over this incident.
Bully Grenay, too, had provided some never-to-be-forgotten
fun. Although the town was intermittently shelled, and there
were very few houses undamaged: many of the townspeople still

TO TI-IE SOMME E7 BACK

143

remained, living in the deep and spacious cellars beneath the
toppled houses.
Who could ever forget the much patronized bathhouse, the
several egg-and-chip places where they served cognac avec; and
the old fellow who could always find a bottle or two of ancient
vintage if you had the money to pay for it; or the home into
which one of our athletic officers climbed one dark night, through
a tiny window in the top storey? Or "Madame Machine Gun"
who used to take in washing?
No doubt some of the fellows remember the time Bill Ferris
found in Bully Grenay a dog somebody recognized as belonging
to Sergeant Camps. The poor animal appeared to be dying from
abuse and starvation, so Bill took care of it and nursed it back to
health. When his squad returned to Fosse Ten he brought the dog
to Camps, who was at a loss to account for its presence in Bully
Grenay. Charlie was positive his dog was still in Fosse Ten.
Search was made and sure enough, Camps' dog was found in its
kennel. The animal Ferr
s had rescued was its exact counterpart.
Even Charlie couldn't tell the two dogs apart.
The subject of pets reminds us of several that belonged to our
fellows at various times. There was Brett's dog, Bessie, which
was never seen after a bombing raid on Amiens. One of Bessie's
pups was killed by a German police dog at Caix. There was
George Bailey's dog Sam, always dressed in a pearl-buttoned coat.
There was Nigger, Tim Eaton's and A. B. Smith's dog when we
were at Gouy-en-Artois. Some of the Motor Transport boys may
remember how this dog was always at A. B. 's heels when the
corporal came to wake his gang in the morning. It was al wa ys :
"Come on boys, show a leg there! Show a leg! Nigger, COlTIe
here!" There was, too, the kitten Harry Fryday found at Vier-
straat. It died down near Contay in 1916, after eating a mess of
bully beef Fryday prepared. Later on, of course, there came Major
Elliott's police dog and a pair of Dachshund pups somebody
found a few weeks before the armistice.

THE GENERAL'S MEN

(Published at time of Sir Arthur Currie's Death)

The General's gone. (God rest him!)
Gone to his last parade;
Gone in a fanfare of trumpets
To the rank.s of his ghost brigade;
Gone to the great Commander-in-Chief
For his final accolade.
And now II he belongs to the ages, n
With those who marched on before,
Heavy with grief is a nation's heart-
A heart deep-scarred in war-
A heart whose solemnly fervent prayer
Is that war may come no more,

The General's gone; but with us
Are thousands of those he led-
His soldiers - brok.en, despairing,
But envying only the dead!
Baffled, bewildered, soul-sick.ened-
Called "traitor," called "sluggard," called "red"!

The General's gone. (God rest him!)
But - what of the General's men?
Can a General's soul repose in peace
While his warriors march again -
Battling more bitterly, merely for bread,
Than they battled for dollar-ten?

Were those tributes paid to Currie
Just so many words to be said-
Or an honest and reverent homage
To be shared by the legions he led?
Is there only the Cross for the living?
Has the Torch journeyed on with the dead?

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CHAPTER FIVE

I want w go home. I want w go home,
The whizzbangs they rattle, the cannon they war,
I don't wane w go w the Fwnt any more!
Take me over the sea, where: the Allemand can't get at me

Oh my, I don't want to die, I wane to go home.
I want w go home, I wane w go home,
I don't want w cwuch in a trench any more,
When flying pigs hurtle and Jack Johnsons war.
Take me over the the sea, where snipers cannot snipe at me,
Oh my, I'm wo young w die, I want w go home,

VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE

(January 21, 1917, w November 17, 1917)

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20th, the whole unit had moved
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E tion in a sadly dilapidated con-
vent. A corner-stone informed us that the building was erected
in 1649; and the accumulation of filth about the place hinted
that it hadn't had a thorough cleaning since the start of the war.
The patients occupied the convent rooms, while our men camped
in bell tents pitched on the grounds fronting the building. Snow
and wet weather set in and we were very uncomfortable.
Our new Comnlanding Officer ordered route nlarches, discip-
linary drills, physical training parades and other unpleasant activi-
ties for us but, strangely, he himself never drilled the unit nor
took charge of one parade - to Major Pentecost and the ser-
geant-nlajor being delegated the onerous task of drilling the unit
in the town square.
On our very first day in Pernes several Fifth lads were arrested
for being out after 10 p.m. The Imperial A.P.M., who controlled
the area informed our colonel that local official time was a few
minutes in advance of Canadian Corps time and that the men
should be excused for the first offence; but the A,P.M. 's inter-
cession was of no avail. The innocent delinquents were hailed
145

146 VUvlY, LENS û PASSCHENDAELE
before our Commanding Officer and given C.B., fines and repri-
mands - all in the name of "efficiency." The esprit de corps of
the Fifth began to approach the vanishing point.
As a matter of fact, in the orderly room was about the only
place the majority of the men ever saw their new colonel. The
lads of the Motor Transport Section may have seen more of him
than did the rest of us, for they used to entertain us with astound-
ing stories about long-past-midnight trips they were called on to
make to St. Pol; and of a besotted dead-to-the-world passenger
they brought back to Pernes during the nine days we were there.

We Capture Auchel

On January 29th we moved about five miles northeast (0
Auchel and, for the ensuing two weeks, occupied exceptionally
good billets in two schools, one at either end of the town. Auchel,
a prosperous mining town and at that time undamaged by the
war, gave to our men the most hospitable reception they had
ever been accorded in forward areas. The townspeople were par-
ticularly well-to-do, for the coal mines were being operated to
their utmost capacities. There were many good-sized and well-
stocked shops, and the estaminets were fully supplied with what
it took to please the troops.
Our two weeks' stay in Auchel saw the Fifth getting rnore
physical training parades, infantry drill, equipment-polishing and
lectures than it had received in the whole preceding sixteen
months. From Reveille to Retreat the men were kept on the go
- by ridiculous parade-ground stuff that was about as helpful
up the Line as the one who ordered it proved to be while he was
with the Fifth. Here, too, our new colonel never drilled the unit,
and seldom during the daytime was he seen by the rank-and-file.
The lectures consisted of weird, theoretical, academical dis-
sertations on what should be done under circumstances such as
never had existed (and never were to exist!) in actual battle.
One lecturer, who never had been with us up the Line, instructed
our stretcher-bearers that if ever they ran out of iodine, bichloride,
or other antiseptic solution during a battle, they could cleanse
wounds by bathing them with whisky or brandy! During one
lecture the didactical lecturer stood on a small platform in one of
the schoolrooms, his braces dangling down from beneath the back

VIMY, LENS [,
PASSCHENDAELE 147
of his tunic and swinging about his boot tops. That evening the
men regaled thernsel ves in estaminets and billets by singing:
(Tune - Phil the Fluter's Ball)
Oh, the men smiled and snickered and the quarter-blok..e he swooned
When old Major Ings suggested whisk..y for a wound,
Staff Alden got so rattled his future fun was ruined -
Down at the lecture we received this afternoon.
There were sterile bandages and sterile lints,
Sterile gauze and sterile splints,
Sterile basins and sterile towels-
Soon the men are going to have sterile bowels!
We look..ed at the major and he look..ed at us;
We all began to fidget and to mak..e a fuss,

Vhen down towards his boots the major chanced to glance,-
There his damned old suspenders were dangling from his pants.
(Now, gorblimey, what do you think.. of that?)
Sharkey Irwin, Frank O'Leary and Harry Williams were only
a few of the lads who found good homes for themselves in
Auchel. Bully Beef Dupont's place, a milliner's shop, and the
"Estaminet of Mirrors" were some of the favorite meeting
places. There was, too, that mysterious retreat where one of the
A. Section sergeants used to get a bottle of Black and White pre-
sented to him each night at closing time. Incidentally, Frank
Alden and Harry Williams were so anxious to discover the source
of this liquor supply they shadowed the lucky sergeant night after
night, but to no a vail.
It was with sincere regret that the lads of the Fifth moved
from Auchel; and it was a very resentful unit (about one year
later) when word reached us that Auchel had been heavily shelled
and bombed, and many of our kind civilian friends killed or
wounded and their homes destroyed.
We moved to Cambligneul, a small town about ten miles
northwest of Arras, on February 12th, and relieved the Ninth
Canadian Field Ambulance, taking over a main dressing station
in the middle of one of the muddiest fields imaginable. A few
leaky Nissen huts and ragged bell tents served as hospital and
billets. The town was squalid and ugly and most of the buildings
were in ruins. Only a handful of the forn1er inhabitants remained
and they were pathetically poor and miserable. For l11any days it

148 VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE
had rained or snowed almost incessantly, so town and camp were
in a sea of mud.

Neuville St. Vaast and Aux l{ietz Cave

\Vhile the Nursing Sections remained to run the hospital, some
of the bearers, about sixty-five in all, were sent up the Line as a
working party. Their job up there was the digging of a large
dugout at the corner of Denis-Ie-Rock and Comb ow trenches on
the western slope of V imy Ridge. This dugout was to be used as
an advanced dressing station in the approaching V imy battle.
For six or eight weeks the bearers stayed on the dugout job -
working by night and sleeping (or trying to sleep!) by day, in the
heavily shelled cellars of Neuville St. Vaast.* As soon as dark-
ness came, the men made their way up long muddy communica-
tion trenches to the dugout. There, with pick and shovel, they
worked until just before daylight, when they would spread grass
and net camouflaging material over the mined chalk and then
make their way, tired, lousy, hungry and soaking wet, back to
their cellar hiding-places - to sleep the sleep of exhaustion.
These cellars stank and were alive with vermin and rats. Water
seeped through floors, walls and ceilings, so that it was not very
long until many of our men "went sick" and had to be sent down
the Line. In all the weeks we were up there the men had no
proper rest, no baths, no change of underwear or socks, and
totally inadequate rations. No officer was with us - a sergeant
and a few corporals being given all the responsibilities. Never
once did our Commanding Officer visit his men to see where
they worked and slept and the conditions under which they were
existing. During the whole time of their stay not one issue of
rum reached them, although they were wet through and half-
frozen day after day.
Before the working party completed the Denis-Ie-Rock job,
other work was undertaken on posts in Territorial Trench, Abri
Boche and one or two other places. More of our men came up
*French troops under Foch had taken Neuville St:. Vaast from the Germans earlier
in the war, and it was in the ruins of this town that Foch set up his guns during the
repeated but unsuccessful French attacks on the Ridge proper, As a matter of fact,
Foch's troops had more than once won their way to the top of the Ridge but were
forced to retire because of the failure of flanking armies to advance. Neuville St, Vaast,
when we were there, bore ample and tragic evidence of the sanguinity of the Poilus'
struggles for Vimy. There was, too, nothing to show that the town had once been
the "Petit Monte Carlo" of the north.

VIMY, LENS E:ï PASSCHENDAELE 149
from Cambligneul and were quartered in Aux Rietz Cave. They,
too, went to work every night, but during the daytime were able
to sleep safely and dry in the cave. Eventually, one or two officers
were available at Aux Rietz to attend to sick parades, supplies,
discipline, ete.
Perhaps a little parody which was popular at the time will give
some idea of what our Neuville St.Vaast billets were like:

(Tune - Little Gray Home in the West)
There's a little wet home in a trench, that the rainstorms
continually drench;
A dead mule close by, with its feet towards the sk..y, gives off
a most terrible stench.
Underneath us the mud mak..es a floor where asthmatic rats
squeal and snore.
Oh, quite gray is my hair from the shells that plump there -
Near ,my little wet home in a trench.
There are snipers who k..eep my head low, There are crosses
and graves, row on row,
The star-shells at night mak..e a hell of a lzght - they cause
putrid language to flow.
Just bully and biscuits to chew-no jam, no Maconachie stew!
H,E. shells drop down there - oh no place can compare
With my little wet home in a trench,
The work at the dugouts was done well within the range of
rifle and minnenwerfer fire. We were only about 200 yards from
the Front Line and, until we had dug well down, were all-too-
frequently targets for ambitious and alert enemy snipers. The
swish-swish-swish of machine-gun bullets and the earth-shaking
explosions of flying pigs were our nightly accompaniment. Al-
though one or two of the Engineers in charge of the work were
hit, our only casualty was Jesse Dawkins, who stopped a sniper's
buJIct one early morning and was sent down the Line with a nice
blighty in the shoulder. Sickness, however, took its toll and, out
of the sixty-five men who started the dugout, only about forty
were on the job when it was finished.
Major Jones Passes On

It was about this time that Major Jones was taken ill with
pneull1onia. He lay in his billet at Cambligncul for a few days,

150 VIMY, LENS [;- PASSCHENDAELE
but gradually grew worse and was taken to hospital at Aubigny.
He failed to rally, however, and to the dismay of the whole unit,
passed away on Monday, March 5th. Two days later he was
laid to rest in Aubigny Cemetery, Colonel Farmer and Captain
Kenney coming from Boulogne for the funeral. Major Jones was
a well-liked officer. He was considerate of the men and they felt
his death very keenly.
Colonel Farmer, during his visit to Cambligneul, passed a few
hours with the officers of his old command. During the evening
they discussed the probable duration of the war, and the Old
Man predicted that hostilities would end in November of the
next year (1918). While none took the colonel's prediction seri-
ously at the time, one or two thought it interesting enough to
note in their diaries - and promptly forgot about it until the
end of the war when the uncanniness of the Old Man's accuracy
was brought home to them.
By way of injecting a lighter note, we must mention that
immediately after Major Jones' funeral two of our lads possessed
themsel ves of his greatcoat and cap and, as they had been taught
to improvise and exercise their Can-eye-dian ingenuity, they pro-
ceeded to do just that. They made their way, by motor ambu-
lance, to the officers' canteen in Aubigny where one of the lads,
attired in the major's cap and coat and accompanied by an ambu-
lance orderly as batman, presented an order for a case of whisky.
"Very good, sir," said the canteen sergeant, "please fill in the
official slip, sir, and you can 'ave it right away." The pseudo-
major filled in the slip, signed the dead major's name to it and
passed it over the counter, along with the necessary money to
pay for the order. "I wonder if you would mind putting the case
in the car for me?" asked the fake major. "Right-o, sir!" agreed
the obsequious three-striper. So, under the watchful guidance of
the acting batman, the liquor was loaded into the car and brought
to Cambligneul where, for a day or two, a lot of exhilarated
privates and noncoms. vouched for its potency. Major Jones him-
self would have appreciated that sort of improvisation and in-
genuity. A. B. Smith and Johnny Hay were the acting-major and
batman.
Lea ve was now in full swing. Paris was thrown open to the
troops and several Fifth men put in for leave to the City of Light
( di versions). One noncom. (we forget whether he was sergeant,

VIMY, LENS Ù.,.. PASSCHENDAELE 151
corporal or private at the time - he was promoted and demoted
so often!) put in for Paris leave; but his idea of Paris was a farm
not far from Cambligneul and the chief attraction was red-
headed. There among the cows, pigs, ducks and chickens, he
passed his ten days - and then came back to the unit with won-
derful tales about the Folies Bergeres, Casino de Paris and the
Boulevards. Another good improviser!
Joe Irwin and Frank O'Leary were the first tWO "Other Ranks"
to go to Paris, and the tales they told on their return regaled their
cronies beyond description. Many of us had been dubious about
how we were going to find our way about Paris, but Joe and
Frank assured us that nearly everybody in Paris could speak at
least a little English. They told us about one young Parisienne
who proudly displayed her linguistic ability by saying "beef-
steak" and "water-closet"- two words known to every person
in Paris, but the only two English words she could say.
One of the outstanding features of our Cambligneul camp was
thè daily arrival of a little "chocolate girl." No day was too wet,
snowy or cold for this teen-aged mamselle, and very few were
the days when she didn't succeed in selling her stock-in-trade.
She carried a large covered basket in which were chocolate,
writing materials, fresh eggs and many other articles, and she is
the only girl we can recall who had unrestricted access to one of
our camps. Even in the coldest weather she went barefoot and
hatless, a rough dress and a thick coat of grime being her only
protection from the weather. It was sympathy for her wretched-
ness, no doubt, that caused her to be permitted in the bell tents.
Shortly after we left Cambligneul we heard that this girl had
been placed under restraint bv thL Inilitary police who suspected
her of being a spy.
About the end of March the dugout at Denis-le-Rock and
Combow was cOlnplcted and the bearers moved back to Cam-
bligneul headquarters. There they were given lectures on how to
bandage wounded and carry stretchers during the coming Vimy
scrap. These lectures were given by two captains who had just
recently joined the Fifth and had, as yet, no actual experience up
the Line. According to these two officers, the evacuation of
wounded from the Salient and the Somme had been bungled, so
new methods of stretcher-bearing and clearing from aid-posts
were to be used in the coming battle. The two strategists had the

152 VIMY J LENS [y PASSCHENDAELE
prettiest diagrams J charts and plans imaginable; and our bearers
listened with a we and wonderment to how easy it was all going
to be when our two new captains took charge of this work during
the Vi my show.
Our Commanding Officer also had his senior noncoms. intro-
duced to him (for the first time!) and he delivered to them a
fierce harangue on how it had been done at the Somme, ete., and
how it should be done at V imy - or else ! To show that he
meant business, the colonel ordered the sergeant-major, a staff-
sergeant and a sergeant to make a thorough survey of the Vimy
Front and sent them up in daylight to the Front Line trenches.
All of which was a splendid. idea - excepting that the part of
the Front he sent them to was in First Division territory and
whatever topographical knowledge they obtained was entirely
useless to them in Second Division operations. However, the
three noncoms. spent a very interesting day, for Fritz chose that
part of the Line for his daily artillery strafe. The noncoms. passed
most of the time with the infantrymen - cowering in funkholes J
sheltering under elephant-iron and dodging around traverses to
escape flying pigs and other hardware.
It was at this time, and just before the Vi my battle, that three
of our original noncoms., Staff Alden and Sergeants W . Wager
and A. Hogg, left the unit. Alden went to England and the other
two returned to Canada. A send-off party was given to the de-
parting noncoms. and, helped by a couple of jars of rum stolen
from a nearby Army Service Corps canteen, and a few bottles of
Irish whisky bought in Bethune, a very merry evening was passed.
It was at this parry that Dean Wilkins burst for the first time into
the high-powered oratory which was later on to become so
effective in the politico-legal world.
During the first week of April the unit moved from Camblig-
neul and took over stations at Hersin-Coupigny, Mont-St.-Eloy
and in Aux Rietz cave. By the night of April 6th all our bearers
were located in the cave and the attack was expected to com-
mence the next morning. The cave was to be used as a main
dressing station for wounded from the advanced dressing dugout
at Denis-Ie-Rock and Combow trenches, and another post to be
established at Parallel Eight,
Aux Rietz cave was a gigantic affair. About two hundred
steps led down into it and it was large enough to accommodate

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1. Bringing wounded by narrow gauge trucks from the top of Vimy Ridge.
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(Official Ca:-.. War Photos)

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1. Road fronting our A,D,S,. Vimy. 2, Stretchers piled at back of Vimy A, D,S,
3. German Trenches to right of hill-road leading down to Vimy Village,
4. Body in Blanket, ready for burial. 5, Entrance. Brewery A, D,S., Vi my R.R. Station.

VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 153
five or six thousand men. It was lighted by electricity developed
by a miniature power plant which also pumped a supply of fresh
water from wells sunk within its confines. Double-tiered chicken-
wire bunks were built against the chalk walls of the several vaults
and galleries which made up the interior, and a few ventilating
shafts were bored through its hundred-foot chalk roof. Our
bearers were already well acquainted with the place, for it was
here they had billeted or come for rations during the time they
were on the Neuville St. Vaast working party.
It was quite easy to lose oneself in this immense, smoke-filled,
dimly lighted cavern, for all the galleries and tunnels looked
alike. Rats and lice were plentiful in the place, but it was bomb-
proof. Even the largest shells exploded harmlessly on its roof, so,
in spite of its many shortcomings, the cave was a "jake" billet
and our men slept and ate in comparative comfort and safety.
Consequently, they were not a bit disappointed when the Vimy
attack was postponed for a day or two. In the meantime our pre-
liminary bombardment of the enemy's reserve and support posi-
tions continued throughout every hour of the days and nights.
It was while our Headquarters were in Hersin that Pete Joyce
came to the Fifth. Pete was an Irish Canuck from Eastern Canada,
and his chief objections to the war were officers and noncoms.
He was rather fond of a drop of good stuff and, on the day before
we moved into Aux Rietz cave, Pete celebrated his arrival by
visiting all the estaminets in the district. Returning to the chateau
billet, he ran full-tilt into our Commanding Officer and, not
ha ving heard very good reports of the colonel, Pete proceeded to
tell him just what the men and he personally thought of him.
The Commanding Officer called out the guard and the outspoken
Peter was thrown into the clink. Next morning he pleaded for a
postponement of trial and to be sent up the Line with the bearers,
and his plea was granted. On the morning of the 9th, when we
were in the support trenches waiting for our turn to go forward,
Pete noticed that we had back of us some Imperial troops. "Whar
a hell of a spot I'm in!" exclaimed Pete. "There's the English
behind me, the Germans in front of me, and a bunch of bloody
noncoms. and officers beside me. What a hell of a place for an
Irishnlan to be in !" Here let us record that Pete remained with us
for over a year and turned out to be a fir<)t-class soldier and a
general favorite.

154 VIMY, LENS [:; PASSCHENDAELE
The Battle of Vimy I{idge

About three o'clock on the morning of April 9th (Easter
Monday) our bearers climbed out of Aux Rietz cave and took up
position at the Pill Work in Parallel Eight, in Abri Boche, and
in other support trenches. Zero hour was set for five-thirty and
the minutes went fast, indeed. Promptly on time our final bom-
bardment opened and hell was let loose. Only a few answering
shells came our way, but one of these landed on the steps of a
dugout, killing Charlie Stagg and burying the other occupants. The
survivors were rescued and the bearers went forward shortly after.
By this time hundreds of German prisoners were coming in.
We used many of them for stretcher-bearing throughout the day,
turning them over to the prison cages when darkness set in.
The first attack was a huge success and we had little occasion
to use the dugout we had worked so long and laboriously to
build. It is to be hoped that it made a comfortable billet for
those who came after us and it is hard to understand the reason-
ing that led to its building. If the V imy attack had failed, Aux
Rietz cave, Abri Boche and the Pill Work could have accom-
modated all our wounded, so it seemed like just one more
example of "fool orders" by someone miles in the rear - some-
one who had no personal knowledge of the actual terrain over
which the battle would be fought, and didn't care to visit the
Line and investigate. The net result of our long and useless dug-
out job was that it left our bearers fagged out and weary for the
work entailed in the actual battle.
One of the hardest things a junior officer or noncom. had to do
was to enforce a stupid or useless order, \\,hen the men were in-
telligent enough to know better. That was where so-called "dis-
cipline" generally (and in most cases - fortunately) fell down in
the Canadian Corps. It is a safe bet that our casualties would
have been much greater in number if our junior officers, non-
coms., and the men themselves, had not exercised commonsense
and very often ignored and disobeyed fool orders issued by some
red-tabbed higher-ups whose only idea of battle terrain and con-
ditions was gleaned from a gaily colored map spread before them
on a liquor-stained table. No doubt the \\'hole thing appeared
simple on a map, where a smooth strip of white was no-man's-
land and a double or treble row of X's marked the German

VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 155
barbed wire. Maps didn't show shell holes, twisted wire, blasted
roadways or recently-made obstacles of any kind. They showed
no stinking corpses, slime-filled depressions, and all the other im

pediments that set traps for our feet and made progress almost
impossible. Neither did they show any signs of the grim, alert
and efficiently equipped enemy who would be watching our
every move from aeroplanes and kite balloons and relaying the
information to troops prepared and determined to blast us into
Eternity. It was a great war - on a map!
Only officers and men who were through it can tell how many
times they were ordered to occupy posts and trenches that didn't
exist; how many times they were commanded to make their way
over roads that weren't there - and hadn't been there since the
first few weeks of the war; how often they were instructed to
carry cases from aid-posts that were actually in territory still held
by the enemy! It is no wonder that our frequent and fervid com

ment was "Thank God we've got a Navy!" and that the lads
used to put a lot of feeling into their singi ng of:
Oh, it's the Navy - the I\oyal Navy,
That k.eeps our foes at bay.
Our old song "Britannia Rules the Waves"
We all can sing today.
We've got a Navy - a fighting Navy-
The enemy k.nows that too;
For it k.eeps him in his place
When he k.nows he has to face
Our gallant little lads in navy blue.
Apropos of our subject, we must mention that, during a
severe winter in the Salient, we ran across some fellows from the
Marine Division. They had ju<)t done a spell in the Front Line
trenches, and weren't a bit backward in admitting that they
wished they were back with the Fleet.
While we are on the subject of foolish orders we must mention
a general inspection that was made of our Horse Transport during
the desperate Spring of 1918, when Fritz was making his last
advance into allied territory. Many days were given over to
brass-polishing, harnes<)-cleaning and all the other drudgery that
precedes an inspection. When inspection day finally arrived, our
general service wagonç;, water-carts and horse ambulances were

156 VI MY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE
loaded onto motor lorries and conveyed to the inspection ground,
in order that not the slightest speck of mud could get on them!
All this in the name of "effÌciency"- while, up Front, every
man, horse and conveyance was urgently needed to help clear the
thousands of wounded from clearing stations and dressing sta-
tions which were in danger of falling into the hands of the
advancing Hun. *
Siegfried Sassoon, the eminent English poet who served in the
Imperial infantry and had first-hand knowledge of how things
were bungled, has written as follows:
If I were fierce and bald, and short of breath,
I'd live with scarlet majors at the Base
And speed glum heroes up the line to death.
You'd see me with my puffy petulant face,
Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel,
R...eading the l{oll of Honor. "Poor young chap,"
I'd say, "1 used to k.now his father well;-
Yes, we've lost heavily in this last scrap,"
A nd when the war is done and youth stone dead
I'd toddle home and die - in bed,

Thelus Cave and Vimy

During the second night of the scrap, the bearers, led by Cap-
tain Hart, moved up into the village of Thelus. This was the
captain's first trip with the Fifth squads so, before we started out,
he had the men fall in in company formation while he gave thenl
a talk on the duties of stretcher-bearers, the seriousness of the
task ahead of them and the dangers involved. Just to cheer them
up, he told the men that many of them might not come back
alive. However, the lads were too tired and sleepy to pay much
attention to the captain's remarks, for they had not slept for at
least forty-eight hours. They had, as a matter of fact, been re-
lieved only about a half-hour before and had just nicely got
setded in some old German dugouts when the order to fall in

*That the Canadian troops were not the only sufferers from incompetency at Head-
quarters is proven by the tragic fiasco at Bullecourt, on April 11, 1917, when tanks
were (ate in arriving for an attack - and then, when they did arrive, they fired from
the rear into the backs of the advancing Australians! A highly respected Australian
officer, too, informed the Home authorities in the Fall of 1916 that in the Somme
battles he saw many of his friends "murdered through the gross incompetence, callous-
ness and personal vanity of those high in authority," This indignant officer was killed
in a later battle but the facts are recorded in the Australian official war history.

VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 157
was given. The dugouts were scattered along blown-up trenches
and, when Captain Hart received the despatch ordering the ad-
vance, he had difficulty in locating any of his men, He eventually
noticed a dim light wavering up from one dugout entrance, so
he shouted, "Who's down there?" Back came the answer, "Hicks
of B. Section," and the voice was Tommy Hawkey's, "All right,
Private Hicks. Come up here and help me to find the sergeant.
We have to move farther forward. Tell him to have all the men
fall in at once." Being a newcomer, Hart wasn't aware of the
Hicks gag. And, although he was somewhat inclined to be
demonstrative during the first few days of the Vímy battle, he
soon settled into the work and eventually became one of our
best leaders up the Line.
We remained in the ruins of Thelus for about two hours, but
were finally shelled out. Just before dawn we made our way over
to the left and took shelter for the time being in Thelus cave.
This cave was similar to Aux Rietz, excepting that it was un-
lighted, but for a few guttering candles. It was also smaller. We
had no sooner entered than the fagged-out men threw themselves
down on the chalk floors to sleep. In the dark, Teddy Blair cud-
dled up to someone next to him - someone whose blanket
Teddy wanted to share. In the morning Blair discovered that his
bed-mate was a dead infantryman whose shattered body some
comrade had covered with a blanket but had not had time
to bury.
So
e of our bearers may remember that small-calibre revolver
Blair carried everywhere he went. The only time we ever knew
him to use it was during the Vimy battle. Teddy was on one of
two squads located at one of our sunken-road posts, when a pack-
mule was found standing nearby. The poor brute was badly
wounded. In its pack-saddle some shells still remained - mute
evidence of the work the poor animal had been doing when hit.
One of the mule's flanks had been practically blown away, so
Blair whipped out his revolver and undertook to give the animal
a couþ de grace. Three times he fired into the mule's forehead
before the anÍlnal fell to its knees. Teddy was preparing to give
it a last and finishing shot when the mule rose to its feet and
dashed madly out of sight.
Near La T argette corner we erected a large dressing tent about
the second day of the fight. Dean Wilkins and Andy Patterson

158 VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE
were the two noncoms. in charge of the carrying parties to and
from this station. Almost all the actual carrying was done by
Hun prísoners. A nine-point-two shell landed in the midst of a
bunch of these men, killing or wounding all the Huns, but
strangely enough, missing the stretcher cases and Dean Wilkins
who was in charge of them and standing close by when the
shell burst.
Some of our bearers may remember the lone infantryman they
found seated on the roadside near our sunken road post. He was
seated very naturally, \.vith his arms folded around his rifle which
was upright between his knees, the butt resting on the ground.
He appeared to have fallen asleep, but investigation disclosed
that he was dead. There was no wound on the corpse. E videndy
he had sat down for a brief rest and been killed by the concussion
from a shell or bomb.
We made Thelus Cave our dressing station until just before
dawn on the morning of April 14th, when we went down the
eastern slope of the Ridge, passed through Petit Vimy and estab-
lished relay posts at intervals along the winding hillside trail.
An advanced aid-post was established in a deep artillery dugout
from which the Germans had been routed the day before. The
place was littered with empty shell-cases, discarded equipment,
and other evidence of Fritz's precipitate departure. On a table
were the remnants of an interrupted meal and, in a small passage,
several brand new dress helmets were found. In gunpits nearby
were some six-point-nines with the gun crews and horses lying
dead about them. Captains Hart and Sinclair were the officers in
charge of the advanced post; while Captain Churchill, another
newcomer, looked after the relay posts. Later on in the day,
Captain Elliott joined Hart and Sinclair and with the bearers
worked feverishly to get the various posts ready for the handling
of wounded. A working party also proceeded to put the Vimy-
Farbus road in repair. \Ve were now in full view of the Germans
on the other side of the valley and they presented us with shells of
almost every calibre and descríption.
Now began the long, slow and laborious evacuation of
wounded from the eastern side of the Ridge. From Thelus, Far-
bus, Petit Vimy, Vimy, and other points on the eastern slope,
our cases had to be carried by stretcher - up, over and back
across the winding roads and trails to collecting stations at the

VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 159
top of the Ridge. From there, horse ambulances, motor ambu-
lances and lorries took them back to dressing stations at Zívvy
Cave, Parallel Eight, Aux Rietz Cave and La T argette. There
the wounded received secondary dressings and treatment from our
Nursing Sections and were sent down to various casualty clearing
stations.
On April 14th our Commanding Officer moved up to Thelus
Cave and made it his headquarters during the Vimy operations.
From then on the lads named the place "McGuffin Cave" in
honor of the colonel.
By April 15th we had established another and larger advanced
post in the ruins of a brewery at Vimy Station, relaying our cases
back by stretcher. Around this station and on our side of the rail-
way embankment we were subjected to very heavy shelling, night
and day. Fritz had occupied the territory so long he knew the
range to an inch, so the casualties among our Canadian troops
were very heavy. Our relay posts, too, were under a continuous
strafe. Whizz-bangs, high explosive and naval shells searched
every road, trail, and corner. Most of our wheel-stretchers were
smashed and the men had to shoulder the wounded back to the
collecting posts. Fritz put over tear and poison gases just often
enough to make the boys wear their respirators; consequently, the
bearers put In some hectic days and nights.
On April 17th Captains Dunlop and Burgess relieved Hart
and Sinclair. On this same day Max Kelso brought one of our
water-carts up to the Vimy aid-post. Evidently, Fritz's observers
mistook the water-cart for a piece of artillery, for enemy gunners
opened fire on it and came close to blasting it off the map,
This was also the day on which occurred the "Wilson Offen-
sive" or the "Battle of the Notes," as the wags called it. It
seems that Captain X. and Captain Z., who were in charge of
the relay posts near Petit Vimy, became separated. Each officer
was accompanied by his batman and had taken shelter in a cellar
dugout. During the heavy shelling of the long afternoon one
captain wanted to consult with his fellow officer, so he sent his
batman with a note asking the other captain to "come over for
a conference." The note was delivered but the batman returned
alone - with an answering note from the second captain, asking
the first officer to come and see him. And there they remained
until late in the evening, each sending notes to the other. Of

160 VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE
course, the shell-fire wasn't considered too heavy for the two
tired runners. Next morning Captain X. reported "sick" and was
sent back to Mont-St.-Eloy and eventually reached the Base.
Captain Z. left us later on and under similar circumstances. Thus
we lost the
two Cambligneul tacticians who were going to
show us how things should be done up the Line!
On April 23rd one of our planes was brought down not far
from the entrance to Thelus Cave. Some of our men grabbed a
stretcher and rushed over to the wreck. The observer was already
dead but the pilot only wounded. Our boys put the aviator on
the stretcher and were starting back to the cave when Fritz
landed a shell right amongst them, killing the pilot outright and
wounding Alfie Roe so badly he died shortly after. Alfie was
carried to the trench at the cave entrance and a sergeant hurried
below and informed the Commanding Officer of what had hap-
pened. He reported that Roe was dying and wanted to give the
colonel a last message to his next-of-kin. Whether the Command-
ing Officer was unable to climb the cavern stairs we do not know,
but Alfie died without his colonel getting to see him, although
the sergeant made repeated efforts to induce his Commanding
Officer to come to the cave entrance, if only for a moment.
Finally the colonel threatened the noncom. with arrest if he
bothered him further. The lads who rushed over to the plane were
told that they had been recommended for decorations but the
only medal awarded went to an officer of another unit. He went
nowhere near the plane!
On April 25th two officers of the Sixth Field Ambulance man-
aged to get a Ford ambulance up to Vimy, but had a terrible
time getting through, even with the light car.
On April 27th George Graves and Arthur Rich got through to
Vimy with an ambulance and thereafter some of our cases were
sent out by motor transport. For the first few days the cars ran
only under the cover of darkness but, later on, daylight trips
were also made.
From this date our slow, dangerous and back-breaking carrying
up and over the Ridge was considerably lessened. A corduroy road
and a light-railway line had been laid up the western side of the
Ridge, and the Thelus-Farbus road had been put into passable
condition. The Lens-Arras road across the top of the Ridge was
the collecting point to which most of our cases were carried. No

\

P ASSCHENDAELE

1. Menin Gate
2. Lille Gate
3. Shrapnel Corner
4. Bedford House
S. Maple Copse
6. Sanctuary Wood
7. Bellewaarde Lake
8. Hellfire Corner
9. White Chateau
10. Dixmude Gate
11. Marsh Bottom
12. Tyne Cot.
13. Hillside F8m1
14. Heine House
1 S. Vienna Cot
16. Crest Farm
17. Snipe Halt
18. Peter Pan

19. Fleet Cot
20. Calgary Grange
21. Kronprinz Farm
22. A1>raham Heights
23. Bordeaux Farm
24. Seine
25. Thames
26. Springfield
27. Alma
28. Dochy Farm
29. Vansakere Farm
30. Toronto
31. Riverside
32. Fokker Farm
33. Frost House
34. New Cot
35. Square Farm
36. Grey Ruin

37. Oder House
38. White Cot
39. Mill Cot
40. Summer House
41. Paradise Alley
42. Cork Cot
43. Railway Wood
44. Railway Farm
45. Ypres Prison
46. Kitchener Wood
47. Clapham Junction
48. Hellblast Corner
49. Lårch Wood
SO. Belgian Bty. Cornet'
51. Salvation Corner
52. Vancouver

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VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 161
doubt many of our bearers will remember the hubbub and con-
fusion that reigned at this road. Here were ammunition dumps,
pack mules, narrow-gauge trucks, engineer supplies, motor lor-
ries, wheel-stretchers, general service wagons, water-carts and
about everything that went to make up the material equipment
and machinery of an attacking army.
Off the roads, the ground was a deep bog of slushy, stinking,
chalky mud. Dead men, horses and mules lay everywhere, half
covered with mud and water. Tangled barbed wire and water-
filled shell-holes made progress by foot almost impossible. For
every two steps forward at least one backward step was slipped.
Consequently, our stretcher-bearers and ration parties had their
troubles.
As at the Somme, the men in the advanced posts failed to get
their rations regularly for the first few days. The Fourth and
Sixth lads with whom our bearers often worked were even worse
off for food, but they received about four issues of rum to our
one during the few weeks we were together.
Thelus Cave, from the first night we moved into it, served the
bearers as a supply and relief base. From the 14th on it was a
sort of advanced headquarters. Here were our colonel, sergeant-
major and whatever bearers were temporarily on rest. Here, too,
were our advanced Quarter Stores, with Sergeant Woodburn in
charge. The cave entrance was shelled intermittently, day and
night, and, in addition to our own men, the place sheltered Fourth
and Sixth Field Ambulance men, infantrymen, artillerymen, and
men from almost every other branch of the service.
Unlike Aux Rietz', this cave was unlighted, except for the few
candles the men were able to obtain. It had no running water
and there was no latrine accommodation. Drinking and cooking
water had to be brought in petrol cans, and the men had to climb
a hundred or more steps to the outside latrines. One night Max
Odessky, one of our very best bearers, was unable to find his way
to the stairway in the inky blackness. He wandered about until he
became lost. Thinking he was in one of the cave's many unused
galleries, and unable to hold out any longer, he urinated against
the wall. U nfortunatel y, our Commanding Officer chose that
moment to open the door of his specially-built, boarded-in, well-
lighted and private cubicle. He discovered Max in the act, and
ordered him under arrest. Next day Odessky received from his

162 VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE
Commanding Officer twenty-eight days first field punishment
for his terrible crime. Yet, to our knowledge, the same Com-
manding Officer, from the 14th of April until the day he went
back to Four Winds after the Vimy scrap was finished, never
once went outside the cave. An old oil-drum served him day and
night - his batman being obliged to climb the long cavern
stairway and empty the receptacle.
Throughout the battle we also had squads at the various regi-
mental aid-posts and some of our officers were sent as temporary
medical officers to battalions.
On April 29th, Bill Plowright was killed by a dud shell that
came in through the upper wall of the Vimy aid-post. Both he
and Alfie Roe were buried in Ecquoivres Cemetery. On May 3rd,
Bob Ellis was killed and Larry Kelly wounded when a shell
landed in a battalion regimental aid-post. On May 4th, Dave
MacGlashan was wounded. Another original Fifth man, Lieu-
tenant Carl Hill, of the 24th Battalion, was wounded on the
first day of the scrap.
On May 5th came the welcome news that we were to be re-
lieved by the Sixth Field Ambulance. That evening we gladly
turned over our posts to the Sixth and moved back to Four
Winds, where our headquarters were established, and where the
unit settled down for a "rest" consisting of drills, parades, equip-
ment-cleaning, physical training and inspections.
Those bearers who were in the brewery advanced dressing sta-
tion at Vimy Station will hardly forget that final hectic twenty-
four hours they put in, when Fritz strafed all day long and at
three-minute intervals.
In the meanwhile, the First Canadian Division was attacking
on the Fresnoy part of the Front and many casualties came pour-
ing into the Second Division area. On May 10th, Captain Hart
took A. and B. Section bearers up to Willerval to help the Sixth
Field fellows clear the wounded. There they stayed until the 17th
when they returned to Four Winds.
On May 18th we received word that Sergeant Dick Thomas
had been awarded the Military Medal. Three days later Captain
Elliott received his majority. It is more than likely that the night
of the 18th saw Dick Thomas or "Confidential" as the lads
affectionately dubbed him, wetting his decoration in some nearby
estaminet. No doubt he gave his favorite recitations, "The Face

VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 163
on the Barroom Floor" and "The Shooting of Dan McGrew."
Dick loved to recite, "Us must have a concert," Dick would
begin - and the concert was on - with Dick's contribution
having a leading part. No doubt Elliott also celebrated his
promotion in a befitting manner.

The Battle of Paris

It was about this time that leave was opened somewhat more
freely than hitherto. The capture of Vimy Ridge had put new
confidence into the higher-ups in France and at home, and it was
considered that more men could be spared from the Front - for
a while at least. Because of the great loss of shipping tonnage
through enemy submarine activity, and the heavy demand for
ships to transport American troops, our men were encouraged to
spend their leaves in France. The Mediterranean cities and Paris
were thrown wide open to them. Some of the Fifth men went to
Nice and Monte Carlo, but Paris was the city that attracted
the majority.
Lea ve to Paris! There was a prospect to set the imagination
working overtime; and when, just after the Vi my show, we had
our chance to see the town, many were the applications to go
there. We wanted to visit and see for ourselves what many
famous men have called the "Capital of the World." It has also
been said that every man has two "home-towns"- the city of
his birth, and Paris. So far as Canadian soldiers are concerned,
the saying is a truism for if ever they made a city their second
home-town, that city was Paris. They not only captured the city
but were captured by it.
Who, of those who got Paris leave, doesn't recall the pain-
fully slow train trip to the French capital, and the old Gare du
Nord, where we pulled in shortly after midnight - to be met
by taxi drivers eager to drive us to the Meurice, The Moderne,
The Mont Tabor, The Continentale, or some other hotel? And
how the hotel clerk's eyes would pop open when a simple soldat
or sous-officier would ask for a room with bath -son1ething
that only wealthy officers had been in the custonl of demanding
from him. And that wonderful breakfast of delicious chocolate
and crisp breadrolls that was served to us in bed each morning -
there was a great idea!

164 VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE
Those who were lucky enough to get there immediately after
the capture of Vimy will remember the cordial welcome they
received from the Paris people. \Vho could ever forget how
elderly men would stop us on the boulevards and invite us into
the nearest café to drink to les braves Canadiens who had taken
a Ridge which had cost the lives of over one hundred thousand
Frenchmen earlier in the war? Our questioners wanted to hear,
over and over again, how the battle had been won; and if, under
the inspiration of several bottles of champagne and excellent
Café de la Paix dinners, SOl11e of the men laid it on rather thick,
who can blame them? For a few days our money was no good at
all, and we basked in the glory of the captured Ridge with all the
nonchalance and abandon of seasoned veterans.
Springtime in Paris was the time of year when you could sit
on the terraces in front of Poccardi's, Fouquet's, Brasserie Uni-
verselle and other cafés, while you sipped a grenadine, un bock or
a Scotch-and-soda. There you saw the world go by. Officers and
soldiers in the uniforms of every branch of all the Allied armies
paraded past your table. And the women
Every girl that came
along seemed the most beautiful you had ever seen - until the
next one passed

In Paris we saw no hotels or cafés marked "Officers Only,"
such as were so common in England and in the British Army
area in Northern France and Belgiul11. There was here none of
that class distinction which had galled free-born Canucks else-
where. In Paris one could see French colonels and privates sitting
at the same dinner tables, drinking at the same bars and dancing
on the same floors. The humble poilu or simple soldat was
"Somebody" to the French people and, invariably, was treated
with as much respect and consideration as an officer. The poilu
would address his superior officer as mon colonel or mon capitaine
and was addressed in return as mon vieux, mon brave or mon
enfant - and we never noticed anything disrespectful or patron-
izing in the relationship.
When the first Canucks arrived in Paris they encountered much
difficulty in getting their leave pay. It was necessary for them to
go to an Imperial Pay Officer in the Caserne Pepinierre and line
up at the tail-end of the pay parade. Then, like as not, just as it
came their turn to be paid, it would be lunch time, or tea time,
or snack time, or some other quitting time, and the pay officer

VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 165
would close his office and tell the Canucks to come back next
morning. The following day they would take their place at the
end of another Imperial line-up - and go through the whole
exasperating farce all over again.
After wasting two whole precious days in a fruitless attempt
to get money from the British pay officer, a group of about
twenty Canadians decided to have a "show down." They deter-
mined on a parade of their own - not to the A.P.M., not to
the officer in charge of British troops, but to the British Am-
bassador himself! Away they went to the offices of that great
gentleman, Lord Berrie, and had a hectic half-hour getting past
a small army of attachés, flunkeys and office factotums. E ventu-
ally they were informed that the Ambassador would give an
audience to two spokesmen, whereupon the group delegated a
Fifth noncom. and an infantry full-buck as spokesmen. These
two men were then ushered into the presence of the kindliest old
gentleman imaginable. After hearing their complaint he was in-
dignant at the cavalier treatment they had received and said he
would see that Canadians were paid first thereafter - that their
victory at Vimy had earned them that consideration. He phoned
immediately to Pepinierre Barracks and gave instructions to that
effect. Then he asked the two delegates to sit down, help them

selves to cigarettes, and tell him about the Vimy scrap. Almost
an hour went by before he would let them leave his office. On
their return to the Caserne their pay was waiting for thel11 and,
shortly after, a Canadian Pay Officer was always available for
Canucks on Paris leave.
The theatres our men seemed to like best were the Folies Ber-
gères, Casino de Paris, Ie Petit Casino, Grandes Guignolles and,
of course, the great Gaumont picture palace. The Opera, too,
drew its share of devotées. The Montmarte and Quartier Latin
folk saw much of the Canadian on leave - and he saw much of
them! He sat in the Rotonde; he strolled the Boul. Mich.. and
MOi1tparno; he lounged on the terrace of the Dome; he loitered
along the banks of the Seine and browsed over the volumes in
the open bookstalls; he visited the Invalides, Notre Dal11e, the
T rocadero, the Madelaine, Sacre Coeur, the Pantheon, Les HaIles,
Versailles, the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, the Arc de T riomphe,
Luxembourg, St. Cloud, and other places of interest. He ate in
whatever café or restaurant happened to be nearest when he was

166 VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE
hungry - and enjoyed every meal. It was almost impossible for
him to find poorly cooked food in Paris. No matter how much
or how little the meal cost, the food was always excellently well
prepared. When he wanted English-speaking company - which
was seldom - he patronized Henri's American Bar* and re-
newed acquaintances with his almost-forgotten friends, John
Collins, Sherry Flip, Horse's Neck and others.
Fortunately for those on Paris leave we received what seemed
like an a wfullot of francs for a pound note and our money went
considerably farther than in London. A good room cost about
seven francs a day; an excellent meal from three to ten francs;
and very palatable beer or wine a franc a bottle - and up.
What Canuck could ever forget the cadets near the Place de
1 'Opera, with their suggestive postcards and their offer to guide
us to the high-spots in the Paris Tenderloin? Or the petites poules
who used to tell us in their peculiarly quaint way how gentilles
et propres they were anáboasted that they were blondes naturelles
- et partoutes? Or the old one-horse fiacre we could hire for
next-to-nothing to take us leisurely out to the Bois de Boulogne'
or the Bois de Vincennes? Or the trips for the literary minded to
the homes of Balzac, Hugo, Voltaire, Rousseau and other famous
writers? Or the conducted visits to the scenes of many Les
Misérables incidents - the Picpus Convent, the Sewers, etc.? It
may safely be said that once a Canuck went on leave to Paris
he afterward showed comparatively little interest in London or
Old Country leave.
Mention of Paris brings to mind the fact that several Fifth
fellows had the good fortune to run into Canon Scott, the be-
loved padre of the First Division, while there. It was not un-
usual for the padre to be standing outside the Gare du Nord when
the leave train disgorged its load of pleasure-bound men from the
Front. In an understanding, sympathetic manner he oftentimes
joined in the rollicking, care-free pranks of men on leave and in
an adroit way saved them from becoming involved in the ques-
tionable night life and myriad temptations of the great city.
The padre was the biggest boy of the lot. It mattered not
whether it was a jaunt to Versailles, a trip to Sacre Coeur or a
night at the theatre, he remained with the boys. "I've been with
*It was reported after the war that Henri was a German Spy and committed sui,
cide when detected and faced with arrest.

VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 167
them through the hell of the trenches," he would say, "I guess
we'll have a little bit of heaven together, too!"
It was the privilege of one of our men to spend the last night
of his Paris leave in the company of Canon Scott. Several full-
buck prí vates were in the party. First they had an excellent
dinner. Then they went to hear "Thais" at the famous Paris
Opera. From the 'opera there was a grand last-minute rush to the
Gare du Nord, where all piled into the cold, dingy railroad coach
which was to house them for the ensuing twelve-hour trip back
to the Front. Rather than enjoy the comforts of the officers'
coach, the padre remained with the rankers. The compartment
was crowded. Not a pane of glass was intact in the coach win-
dows. The night was intensely cold. But, in spite of the wretched
circumstances, the padre sat crowded into a seat and hummed a
few bars from "Thais" until he finally fell asleep with his head
resting in the lap of one of his companions. When Canon Scott
awoke he remarked with a shiver that the lap of a soldier made
a "very poor emplacement for a canon." His drolleries did much
to brighten the painful trip back to the war.
When the padre stated that he had been with his men through
the hell of the trenches he spoke the truth. He lived the sort of
life he preached about. He practised Christianity in the everyday
contacts and circumstances of army life. The great heart of the
man showed itself in his every act and word and it is no exag-
geration to say that thousands of men attended his services at the
Front simply because of their love for the padre personally.
Everybody admired and respected the old Canon - even the
crown-and-anchor addicts whose games he so frequently broke
up. We cannot resist comparing him with the other type of army
chaplain who used to preach to us so fervidly and tell us before
each scrap to go forward unafraid, that our faith would pull us
through and that a Great Award a waited us if we were killed in
battle. We remember only too well how often we were com-
pelled to chase this type of chaplain from our advanced dressing
dugouts, to make room for wounded. We never could under-
stand why this sort of bible-thumper was so reluctant to face
Death if he really believed all the stuff he poured into our ears.
We must add the names of five other padres: Carlisle, McGilli-
vra y, McDonald, Harris and Kidd, to that of Canon Scott as arm y
chaplains we knew who, by example, tolerance, humility and

168 VIMY, LENS [y PASSCHENDAELE
kindness inspired us to the utmost. Thank Heaven, the Fifth
was fortunate in its choice of padres.
Mention of Paris recalls to our mind that it was one of our
own officers who took over the leadership of a famous Paris
music-hall orchestra, one eventful night, and led the musicians
so successfully, the stage show was unattractive in comparison.
Evenrually, it was found necessary to relieve him of his leader-
ship, in order that the audience would pay attention to the per-
formance behind the footlights.

We Celebrate the 24th of May

On May 24th the unit enjoyed a celebration that marks the
event as one of its red-letter days. The whole twenty-four hours
were given over to sports and amusements of every description.
A few barrels of beer were obtained and the Fifth had one of the
best times it had enjoyed since arrival in France. In the evening
a stage was rigged and the C-2 Concert Party put on a perform-
ance that excelled anything we had before seen near the Front.
Who could ever forget McKenzie, with his Yiddish, Irish and
Italian monologues; or Clapham, with his Lancashire and Y ork-
shire character bits; or Leslie Benson and Ashton, in their im-
personations of the fickle females, Gertie Allbut and Marie; or
the two Hagen boys, in their "General Factotum" skit; or Cap-
tain Burke's tenor solos? We also had some of the 20th Battalion
musicians, led by their popular leader, Bandmaster Moore. Those
who entertained us had such a good time themselves, very few
of them were able to get back to their own billets until the
following day, so all through the night the merriment went on.
One or two of the entertainers who just had to get back to their
own quarters were loaded into wheelbarrows or general service
wagons and transported to their homes under cover of a rather
moonlight night.
On May 26th, Colonel McGuffin rejoined his old unit, the
Fourth Field Ambulance; Major Burgess becoming Commanding
Officer, pro tern, of the Fifth.
It was at Four Winds that Bob Hodgkinson put on the foot
races and gave the winners money prizes - with money they
themselves had lost on Bob's crown-and-anchor games. Bob was
our unit's leading "gamboleer." From the day we arrived in

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these ruins and. when our observers climbe:l up to look across the Ridge. the Germans saw the dis-
turbed crows flyaway and immediately the towers were the target for enemy high explo'lives,

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VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 169
France, Bob had carried about with him a canvas crown-and-
anchor "board" and a set of dice. No sooner were we settled in a
place than out would come the board and dice and Bob's voice
could be heard shouting, "Come on me lucky lads! Have a franc
on the old mudhook. How about a little bet on the sergeant-
major? Come on me lucky lads ! You can't lose. You come in
with a sandbag and go away with a bloody dugout!" Bob must
have taken thousands of francs from the Fifth lads but they got
it all back again, one way or another. It was the gan1e and not
the money that fascinated Bob. He promoted foot races, wrestling
bouts, boxing bouts and other contests, and gave back thousands
of francs in cash prizes to the contestants. The money was eventu-
ally spent on beer and vin rouge, so what was the difference!
Our Daily Orders of June 5th informed us that Colonel
McGuffin had been a warded the Distinguished Service Order in
the King's Birthday Honors. On June 9th, Sergeant-Major Jack
Gardner's name was posted as having been Mentioned in
Despatches.
Just to show how fleeting and temporary such honors could
sometimes be, we must mention that within one week after
Jack was Mentioned in Despatches he was placed under arrest
for "Insubordination." The charge was the result of a misunder-
standing, brought about by the attempt of one of the men to
escape a muster parade. The sergeant-major was tried by Major
Burgess, who dismissed the case when Jack and the officer in-
volved agreed to shake hands and forget the incident.
"c!f5ob b.1íIl not look pou obet fot meba(5
but fot
Cat5."
Elbert Hubbard wrote that line long before the war, and he
didn't necessarily mean physical scars. He no doubt had in mind
those invisible scars from wounds of the soul, of the heart, of the
mind and of the memory - scars received in the many desperate
and bitter conflicts of life, and not in the clashes of war only.
Each and everyone of us knows, deep down in his own heart,
whether or not he earned a decoration. We all know men who
earned medals and didn't receive them - and men who got
decorations and didn't earn them. It may safely be said that,
next to Fritz himself, the allotment of decorations caused more
strife, envy, jealousy, discontent, disgust and discord than any
other feature of army life. But those were the reactions of army

170 VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE
days - of the Past. Now, thank Heaven, we can laugh about the
whole silly medal business, for we know thelr true worth.
Only civilians ask questions about medals. Veterans rarely
mention them, excepting in a joking sense. Those of us who
have decorations have been repeatedly embarrassed when asked
to explain how, when, where and why we received them. And
some of us who did not get medals have spent many uncomfort-
able and painful moments trying to explain why-we were so
long overseas without getting ourselves decorated for bravery.
E very veteran who recci ved a medal knows that his comrades
helped him to earn it; and every soldier who was actually at the
Front, did his bit and didn't get a decoration, knows he is the
secret sharer of whatever honor and glory go with his com-
rade's medals.
On June 12th our unit joined other field ambulances in a
Field Day at Hersin-Coupigny. The Fifth won as many races-
and fights! - as any unit participating. Colonel McGuffin repre-
sented the Fourth and won the fat man's race, the prize for which
was a bottle of Scotch whisky. To the same officer fell the honor
of distributing the prizes and in doing so he began telling about
some of his experiences as a hockey player. "Perhaps many of you
don't recall that in my younger days I played hockey!" he began,
when from the middle of the crowd Teddy Blair interrupted him.
"Sure, I remember - and you were the dirtiest player I ever
saw!" The gang simply roared in laughter. McGuffin asked the
interrupter to step forward and Teddy mounted to the platform.
The colonel, to his credit be it said, laughingly gave Blair his
own bottle of Scotch, threw up his hands and sat down, thor-
oughly squelched, but much better thought of for his act of
sportsmanship.
On June 23rd, Divisional "Vimy Ridge" Sports were held at
Hersin-Coupigny. Here our soccer team lost its game in the finals
to the 18th Battalion by the score of 2 to 1.

Short Summary of Vimy Battle

The preliminary bombardment for the Battle of Vimy opened
on March 27th. The first stage of the battle was from that date
to April 2nd. The second stage was from April 2nd to April 9th,
when the main assault took place. The third stage ended on

VIMY, LENS [7 PASSCHENDAELE 171
May 5th. Zero hour on April 9th was 5.30 a.m. By 6.02 a.m.
the first objective was reached. Between 7.45 a.m. and 9.30 a.m.
the second objective was taken. The third objective was reached
by 1 p.m.
Ludendorff said no troops could take the Ridge. General Nivelle
was of the same opinion and quite opposed to the attack. But the
Canadian Corps captured it, penetrated 10,000 yards on a front
of 7,500 yards and defeated nine German divisions. We took
7,000 prisoners, 67 guns and hundreds of machine-guns and
trench mortars. Our casualties were over 20,000.
The attack progressed as follows:
April 9th- Thelus captured.
April10th-Farbus captured.
April 12th-Hill 145 and trenches south of Farbus Wood cap-
tured.
April 13th-Petit Vimy, Vimy, \Villerval and Givenchy
taken.
April 14th-Lievin captured.
April 15th-Cite St. Pierre taken.
April 28th-Arleux taken.
Colonel Kappele J Our New Commanding Officer

On June 28th, Colonel D. P. Kappele returned to us as Com-
manding Officer, and on the following day a muster parade was
held when the new Commanding Officer inspected his command.
As an original officer of the Fifth the colonel had won the respect
and admiration of everybody and it was with fervent thankful-
ness we greeted his return. Since he left us in December, 1915,
while our headquarters was in La Clytte, he had been Command-
ing Officer of the Seventh Cavalry Field Ambulance (Seeley's
Brigade) and had won the Distinguished Service Order while
with that Command. From the tin1e he left us we had followed
his varying fortunes with kindly interest, hoping that one day he
might come back to us as Commanding Officer.

More Questions

Did you fall for that "Tizzy Whizzy Bollakateevo" game
which Jimmy Shorrocks, Cecil Eldridge and Billy Brown in-
vented and used to garner francs and centimes whenever they

172 VIMY, LENS [7 PASSCHENDAELE
found themselves broke? And were you there the day Bob Hodg-
kinson broke the wily inventors - and was given the weird
gambling paraphernalia as part payment?
Were you one of the gang which went on leave to Braintree -
when Cecil Eldridge's horse slobbered all over Billy Moore's
tunic ?
Some of the oldtimers may remember the morning Spud
Thompson appeared on parade wearing a steel helmet on which
was stuck the candle by which he had lighted his way to bed the
night before.
Do you remember those red-letter days on which Tommy
Dalton received his periodical remittance check - when he used
to collect his cronies, Billy Brown, Horace McKillop, Tommy
Hawkey, et ai, and adjourn to the nearest estaminet until the
money was all gone?
Were you there that morning the colonel inspected the Quarter
Stores and was confronted with Solley's original and graphic
masterpiece - a sign on which were nailed the two unmention-
able parts of a rabbit, followed by the words "TO YOU' '?
Perhaps some of the fellows will remember the day a huge rat
crawled inside Spud Thompson's tunic while Spud was asleep-
apd the hectic few minutes he put in beating the ferocious rodent
to death, Spud was badly bitten but a liberal use of the stuff used
for snake-bites prevented blood poisoning.
Some of the senior noncoms. may recall the bridge-whist
tournaments they ran while at Four Winds and Estree Cauchie -
and t'owd sojer who, when he was well primed, used to playa
finger tattoo on the table and bravely "shoot the works." And
the stuttering affliction a certain warrant officer brought back
from Paris and used as a means of reaching Blighty.
On July 1st (Dominion Day) we celebrated the fiftieth anni-
versary of the Confederation of the Provinces of the Dominion
of Canada. In the morning we attended a monster drumhead
church service in which all the Canadian units not in the Line
participated. The weather was ideal. In the afternoon a make-
shift team played a 5 to 5 tie baseball game with a team from
the Third Field Ambulance. In the evening our soccer team beat
the Third's by a score of 4 to 1.
On July 3rd, C. Section, with Majors Burgess and Elliott and
Captains Sinclair and Petrie, moved to Bully Grenay. Next day

VIMY, LENS [7 PASSCHENDAELE 173
A. and B. Sections moved to Fosse Nine, near Barlin. Working
parties from all three Sections went up the Line on the St. Pierre
Front, to prepare aid-posts and relay stations for the coming
scrap at Lens. -
At Fosse Nine most of the men were billeted in private homes
throughout the little mining town. Here they were quite com-
fortably quartered, the only drawback being that they had to
clean block after block of the local streets, gather garbage and
do all the unpleasant jobs of a street-cleaning and sanitary de-
partment. Early morning drills, physical training, and route
marches made the lads wish they were up the Line with the
working parties. Several wrote complaining letters home and
when the censoring officers read the epistles a few doses of
Number One Field Punishment were meted out.
At Bully Grenay, C. Section passed some eventful nights and
da ys. Fritz was now concentrating artillery fire on the town, and
civilian and army casualties were very heavy. Gradually the
place began to resemble Dickebusch and Vlamertinghe and only
a few of the more venturesome townspeople remained. Our
station was hit repeatedly but only the upper part of the building
was penetrated by shells.
On July 13th a shell got a direct hit on Ed. Mahy's ambulance.
Mahy and Doug. Joycey were seriously wounded, while Barney
Woods received many painful but not severe wounds in the face
and upper parts of his body.
Perhaps some of the oldtimers know the identity of the two
officers who stayed overnight in one of the Bully Grenay billets-
when one of them substituted for his comrade at a very import-
ant rendezvous? The version current at the time, had it that the
junior officer had fallen into the arms of Morpheus after an
exceptionally heavy nightcap of army rum or something, and
that his conscientious pal carried out the extremely important
survey of dangerous terrain which had been reserved for his mate.
The full details of the affair never leaked out, but it was under-
stood that the incident had no untoward aftermath. All con-
cerned seemed fairly satisfied to let things rest as they stood -
excepting the junior officer who had a hard tÍlne reconciling him-
self to the somewhat humiliating substitution.
Some of those concerned may recall the day one of our non-
coms. was instructed to crect a sign forbidding conveyances from

174 VIMY, LENS D- PASSCHENDAELE
entering our Fifth Headquarters' grounds. When the noncom.
submitted a sign bearing the word "vehicle," an officer ordered it
changed - said nobody would know what the word vehicle
meant!
Bully Grenay, too, afforded those three A, Section inseparables,
C. C. Jones, Alex. Waite and Bunny Brown, opportunity for
many interesting experiments in art. The abundant supply of
chalk provided unlimited n1aterial for the sculpture of heads,
busts and figures, while the diversified scenery offered a fascin-
ating study for their pencil sketches. Fred White, of the Motor
Transport, was anodier lad whose artistic tendencies are well
remembered.

Getting R....eady for Hill 70

Sergeant-Major Alf. Pollette, of the Horse Transport, came to
us on July 19th, while our headquarters were in Fosse Nine.
Right from the beginning he made a good impression on the
men under his command, and on the other noncoms. with
whon1 he came in contact.
On July 25th headquarters moved up to Hersin where the
intensive drills, marches, and physical training stuff continued.
The working parties remained up the Line.
On August 2nd Sergeant-Major Gardner was evacuated to
a casualty clearing station, making the fourth sergeant-major the
unit had lost since mobilization.
On August 14th the Fifth again took over our old station at
Fosse Ten, and all our bearers were transferred to posts in St.
Pierre, Fosse Eleven, Lens Hospital and some other locations
over toward the Hill 70 Front.
On the morning of August 15th the main Lens attack devel-
oped and during the ensuing week our men were kept on the go,
day and night. The whole area was heavily strafed with every
sore of shell in the Hun repertoire. It was here we received our
first real taste of Fritz's Yellow Cross mustard gas. Every road,
pathway, shell-hole and trench was saturated with the blistering
stuff and we had considerable trouble trying to treat the resulting
gas cases effectively.
To our St. Pierre station we cleared wounded from Lens
hospital and one or two pillbox posts over toward Hill 70.

VIMY, LENS E:ï PASSCHENDAELE 175
From St. Pierre our cases were sent back by narrow-gauge trains
to Bully Grenay, and by a wide-gauge road to Fosse Ten. Both
railheads were well within enemy vision and whizzbang range, and
several already-wounded rnen were killed near our loading places.
In a half-ruined house on a corner near the wide-gauge loading
point we had a cookhouse and bearer headquarters for a few days.
Bill Sowden was the cook and Corporal Pountney made his
abode dose to the cookhouse. Perhaps some of the fellows may
recall the rum issue they nearly had at this spot. Unfortunately,
the rum jar was found empty when it came time for the issue-
but not Alf Pountney! He was happily immune to the tirades
directed his way by the incensed officer and disappointed bearers.
On August 17th Allan Hill was wounded by a shell which
landed dose to where he and other bearers were loading stretcher-
cases on the wide-gauge railway trucks. On the night of the
18th, Bob Hodgkinson, Ban Johnson and Tommy Sampson were
wounded and their stretcher -case killed when they were about
half-way between two of the St. Pierre posts. This "carryJJ was
one of the worst we had ever encountered.
Ban Johnston and Tommy Sampson were two of our youngest
bearers. We had scores of fellows who had not yet reached voting
age. We knew at least two who celebrated their sixteenth birth-
days in France. Among those who were at the Front at a very
tender age we recall the following: Mike Bicknell, Austin Booth,
Ernie Cavey, Jesse Dawkins, Chick Faryon, Norm Foy, Herbert
Gilbert, Stew Grieve, Willie Harrington, San1my Jacobs, Curly
LeRoux, Toots Meisner, Reggie Mofford, Pier Morgan, Max
Odessky, Alf Ralph, Billy Sellen, John Smith, Frank Temperton.
There were, of course, several others; but their names escape us
Many, too, gave "official JJ ages which wouldn't have stood test
if the authorities had cared to investigate.
Back at Fosse Ten the Nursing Sections and Headquarters
Details were kept very busy. Every available officer and man
was pressed into service. Even the batmen and mess-orderlies
were taken off their customary duties and put to work in the
dressing station wards. Perhaps some of the men who were there
at the tÍll1e will remember the bawling-out the acting sergeant-
major received from two of the officers who flew into a violent
rage when they learned that the mess-orderlies had been used for
hospital fatigues during the emergency. One of the officers

176 VIMY, LENS [:T PASSCHENDAELE
vehemently declared that he wouldn't have men handling his food
who had been employed carrying hospital buckets!
The Hill 70 scrap lasted about ten days, the main attack taking
place on August 15th, Three Divisions, the First, Second and
Fourth took part. Our casualties, including the preparations for
the main battle, were nearly 11,000. Before the capture of Lens
could be completed, the whole Canadian Corps was moved
north for the Passchendaele affair.
On Wednesday, August lInd, all the bearers were relieved and
came down to Fosse Ten, where they remained overnight. The
next day the whole unit moved to Four Winds and Estree-
Cauchie.' Here, once more, began the discouraging routine of
route marches, drills, physical training and equipment-cleaning.
Sir Douglas Haig was due to inspect us in a few days' time and,
until the inspection was over, a rotten time was experienced.
Shortly after Haig's inspection we took over a dressing station
in Neuville St.Vaast, and a working party went up to Chaudiere
to build an advanced dressing dugout at Betty's Gap. This was to
be another useless task for, after about seven weeks of nasty
weather and laborious effort, we abandoned the capacious dugout
to the rats and vermin.
On September 8th Billy Moo;e, Red Whitmore and L. O.
Brown were awarded Military Medals for their work in the
Hill 70 fight.
On October 4th Fred White was wounded near Chaudiere.
On October 18th the Imperials took over our Chaudiere post
and the Fifth gathered together at Mont-St.-Eloy. All surplus
equipment was stored in barns at Villers-au-Bois and, exactly
one week later, the unit marched to Aubigny and entrained for
our old stamping ground up in the Ypres Salient. On our way
north we passed Tinques, Hazebrouck and Caestre and went on
to Pradelles where we stayed for four or five days of drill, route
marches and kit inspections.
During the few days at Pradelles, many of the lads got passes
and permission to visit Godewaersvelde and renew acquaintances
with Gaby, Zenobie and other friends in the district. Our return
to the Salient seemed like getting back home - back to the well-
known haunts of a long-ago day. But we were very soon to
change our minds about the old stamping ground, and wish with
all our hearts that we were back in the Lens-Arras sector.

VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 177
The Battle of Passchendaele

On November 1st we moved in trucks to Ypres, where the
Nursing Sections took over a main dressing station in the base-
ment cells of the old ruined príson. The bearers continued on up
to the White Chateau, * Frost House, Zonnebeke and Thames
advanced posts. The Horse Transport lines and Quarter Stores
were located between Poperinghe and Vlamertinghe. During the
ensuing three or four days we also established aid-posts at
Bavaria House, Bremen House, Mitchell Farm, Levi and Tyne-
cot. Stretcher cases were to be taken to Vlamertinghe Mill
station; sick to Red Farm, Vlamertinghe; and gas cases to
Brandhoek.
Who could ever forget those two weeks of the Passchendaele
show? Looking back now it all seems like one long, weird, and
terrible nightmare of water-filled trenches, zigzagging duck-
walks, foul slime-filled shell-holes, half-buried bodies of dead
men, horses and mules, cement pillboxes, twisted wire, shrieking
shells, flying humming metal, crashing aerial bombs, stinking
mud, water-logged and blood-soaked stretchers - a Slough of
Despond such as even a Bunyan couldn't conceive of.
That long, wearisome "carry" from Tynecot to Frost House
was like a never-ending Via Dolorosa to all who made the
journey. Passchendaele was the Somme multiplied and intensified
ten times over. Dark, wet, hopeless days were followed by almost
endless, cold, marrow-congealing nights of despair and exhaus-
tion. Every man was soaked through to his skin the whole time
we were there, and the added weight of his sodden, muddy uni-
form and equipment seemed to sink him deeper into the pre-
vailing mire. After the first few hours we moved about like so
many dazed automatons, stumbling, staggering, blundering
along the heaving duck-walks and erupting roads - almost toO
stunned to care whether we lived or died and totally indifferent
to the volcanoes of smoking shell-craters about us. The hours and
da ys and nights seemed to merge with one another into a cruelly
indefinite whole and it is doubtful if any man was afterward able
to distinguish one Passchendaele day's experiences from another.
On November 5th Bill Elliott was fatally wounded. Next day
Captain Colbeck, Frank O'Leary, Harry Rowley, Jack Burrill and

.White Chateau had been Haig's headquarters during the 1914 Ypres baule.

178 VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE
Hank Cheesman were wounded; and Bill Bateson, Percy Moyer,
Harry Thurston, Max Odessky and Jimmy Blackwood were
killed. George Mulligan of the Motor Transport was also fatally
wounded. He died on November 18th. Most of these casualties
occurred near Frost House and Bremen House. The following
day Hugh Lickley was wounded, while on November 12th, our
last day in the Line, C. C. Jones was killed by an aerial bomb.
All through the battle our burial parties were kept very busy.
The condition of the terrain made it unnecessary to dig many
gra ves, for there were shell-holes enough for burial places. The
fact that the British missing totalled approximately 30,000
would suggest that most of those missing thousands foundered
in the muddy morass that was the scene of battle.
Near Frost House one of our staff-sergeants was assisting an
Imperial p
dre to bury a man who had been decapitated by a
chunk of shell. "Poor fellow," exclaimed our noncom, "he never
knew what hit him!" The very correct padre favored the non-
com. with a cold, supercilious stare. "Isn't that perfectly obvi-
ous?" he retorted, in a tone that betrayed his attitude was "Dear,
dear! those crude Colonials again !"
No doubt many of our bearers will recall the Y.M.C.A. can-
teen near Frost House, where hot tea, coffee, biscuits and choco-
late bars were handed out to all who came along. It is possible
that the "Y" people fell down in some instances, but who
didn't? Their great work near Frost House compensated for a
lot of shortcomings.
A more or less remarkable incident during the battle was the
trip up the Line of one of our n10s:t senior noncoms. He was
located at Frost House during one of the worst periods of the
scrap. Things quietened down somewhat about two o'clock in
the morning so the noncom., who was suffering from a violent
headache, took advantage of the lull and came down to head-
quarters for some aspirin and an hour or two's sleep. Just before
dawn he awoke and made his way back to Frost House, much
to the surprise of one or two officers who were all set to charge
him with cold feet.
On November 13th the whole unit was gathered together at
the Y pres prison. From there it entrained and moved to Toronto
Camp, back near Busseboom. Here it ren1ained for two days
while the men slept once nlore the sleep of utter exhaustion, in

VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 179
cold, barren, fireless huts. On the second day out, a few of the
more-rested lads made their way to Reninghelst, Ouderdom, La
Clytte and Locre and visited civilian friends in those places
If ever the Fifth was glad to be out of a battle, that battle
was Passchendaele. Never had our men been more weary, dis-
couraged and frankly pessimistic than during the two days' halt
at Toronto Camp. Their one fervid, freely-voiced wish was that
they might never return to the Salient. Never before had they
sung so feelingly their old Ypres parody:
Sing me to sleep, where the bullets fall -
Let me forget the Wttr and all.
Deep is my dugout, cold my feet,
Nothing but biscuits and bully to eat.
Sing me to sleep where shells explode,
And shrapnel and "sausages" are la mode,
Over the sandbags bodies you'll find-
Corpses before ')'ou and corpses behind.
(Chorus)
Far, far from Ypres, I long to be,
Where German snipers can't snipe at me.
ThInk... of me crouching where the lice creep,
Waiting for someone to sing me to sleep!
Sing me to sleep in some old shed
Where rats are running over my head.
Stretching out on my waterproof,
Dodging the rain that pours through the roof.
Sing me to sleep where the star-shells glow,
Full of French beer, and Cafe a l'eau,
Dreaming of home and the girl I love best -
Somebody's muddy trench boots on my chest!
To add to our misery many of us who had been in the German
pillboxes picked up a multitudinous supply of Pediculus Pubus.
When these were added to our already abundant stock of Allied
and enemy greybacks - and, in many instances, scabies and gas
"ores - our unhappiness was cOlnplete. Goodness only knows
how many pounds of blue ointment and how n1any disinfectant
baths were necessary to remove from our bodies the pesky rest-
disturbers, During the time \ve were battling this terrible army
of bran-like ticklers we knew what Napoleon meant when he
spoke of armies marching on their bellies. And we appreciated

180 VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE
the message contained in that familiar picture which shows
Napoleon standing with one hand thrust underneath the breast
of his tunic. Bonaparte, no doubt, was reaching for some of the
same sort of pests that were troubling us.
The inadequacy of our anti-aircraft gunfire during the Pass-
chendaele show was a subject of very bitter comment. Fritz's
planes came over at will almost every hour of the day - and
most of the night. They flew so low we could distinguish the
features of the airmen and they bombed and machine-gunned us
to their hearts' content. Our "Archies" impotently and furiously
banged a wa y at them but nary a one did we see brought down
by ground gunfire. Invariably the enemy flyers remained overhead
until all their "eggs" were laid and their ammunition exhausted.

A Brief Summary of the Battle

The Passchendaele battle was one of the bitterest, hardest and
most exhausting fights that armies ever fought. Many eminent
authorities assert that it was, too, the most useless and wasteful
battle of the whole war. Lloyd George and others have written
scathingly about the nun1erous bungles, poor staff work and
general futility of the affair; while Haig's defenders have nothing
but praise for that general's conception, strategy and conduct of
the battle. Somewhere in between lies the real truth, so we will
leave our readers to decide for themselves just what that truth
may be.
A brief summary of the Passchendaele operations follows:
Military authorities call it the Third Battle of Y pres and have
divided it into eight distinct battles:
1. Pilkem, July 31st to August 2nd.
2. Langen1arck, August 16th to 18th.
3. Menin Road, September 20th to 25th.
4. Polygon Wood, September 26th to October 3rd.
5. Broodssinde, October 4th.
6. Poelcappele, October 9th.
7. First Passchendaele, October 12th.
8. Second Passchendaele, October 26th to Noven1ber 10th.
Total number of divisions engaged: British 51, German 78; and
the total number of British and Dominion casualties: killed,

VIMY, LENS E7 PASSCHENDAELE 181
49,611; wounded, 232,292; missing, 29,068; making a grand
total of 310,971. Canadian casualties approximated 13,000.
There is no authentic record of the number of German casual-
ties, but our best authorities are agreed that the enemy losses were
much lighter than ours. The Germans were helped tremendously
by the extremely wet weather that set in. The month of August,
1917, was the wettest in twenty years.
By November 10th, when the battle ended, the British and
Dominion troops had advanced their line an average depth of
three miles on a seven-mile front. Perhaps some indication of
the severity of the fighting may be found in the large number of
decorations awarded during the engagement. There were fifty-
nine Victoria Crosses alone.
On November 15th we climbed aboard busses and, two days
later, after staying overnight at Robecq and Labeuvriere, were
back in our old billets at Estree Cauchie. Here we were to remain
for a month - and a welcome stay it proved to be. There was
now a considerable let-up in parades, drills, ete. Leave was again
thrown open and the men were given plenty of time to clean from
their uniforms and kits the foul mud of Passchendaele.

..

WAR BOOKS WE FOUND INTERESTING

Unwilling Passenger.
Unforgotten Prisoner.
Spanish Farm Trilogy,
All Quiet on the Western Front.
The Case of Sergeant Grischa.
Medal Without Bar.
A Farewell to Arms,
Ten Thousand Shall Fall.
Soldiers' Pay.
One Man's War.
Now It Can Be Told.
Paths of Glory.
Enormous Room,
Cabaret de la Belle Femme.
The Great War as I Saw It.
Generals Die In Bcd.
Cry Havoc.
Le Feu,
They Who Take the Sword.

CHAPTER SIX

Here we are, here we are, here we are again,
Here we are, here we are, here we are again.
We licked you on the Maroe,
We tnmmed you on the Aisne,
We gave you hell at Neuve Chappelle --
And here we are again!

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E:7 AMIENS
(November 18, 1917, to August 22, 1918)

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For a few weeks we had absorbed political propaganda favoring a
vote for conscription. We were told that, if conscription passed,
all men who had served two or more years in France would be
given furloughs to Canada, and that more frequent leaves would
be given to those who didn't rate furloughs. Gross misrepre-
sentations were made to us about the condition of affairs back
home, and it is no wonder that most of us fell for the bunk and
voted accordingly. A remarkable feature of the election was the
voting of our teen-old youngsters.
On election day orders were posted informing us that Frank
O'Leary, Percy Chadwick, Jimmy Bell, Art Lansdowne, Jim
Erskine, George Waddington and Jimmy Archibald had been
awarded Military Medals for their work at Passchendaele.
On December 20th the Fifth boarded busses and moved back
to Nedonchelle, Ames and An1mettes for a so-called "rest." And
what a rest we had! At first the unit was billeted in the sparsely
boarded barns of the three adjoining villages, and before we were
183

184 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E:ï AMIENS
there two days the men were talking of parading to our Com-
manding Officer and asking to be sent back up the Line. The
weather was bitterly cold and our billets offered scant protection
from the biting winds and snowstorms. About the fourth day
the condition of the men grew so serious the noncoms. were
given permission to get their men into houses wherever possible.
Within a few hours nearly every man was billeted in a house and
from then on were appreciably more comfortable.
The poor transport horses were much less fortunate. They were
tethered right out in the open and suffered terribly. Near-zero
weather prevailed and the severe cold was intensified by cutting
winds and hard-driven snow. Night after night the pitiful whin-
neying of the half-frozen animals could be heard throughout the
villages, and several of the poor brutes died of exposure. It must
be mentioned, however, that no effort was ever spared to ease
the suffering of horses and mules at the Front. Sick and wounded
animals were cared for with a concern and tenderness that did
credit to our horsemen and Veterinary Services.
At Ames we spent our third Christmas in France. The men
had a fairly good dinner in the local schoolhouse. Afterwards they
hied themselves to their several billets and to the few drab
estaminets and passed the rest of the day playing cards, reading,
or wrestling with their old friends Messrs. Vin Blanc and Vin
Rouge. The day after Christmas, Captain Sinclair's name was
posted - with the information that he had been a warded the
Military Cross.
Some men from our Nursing Sections were temporarily at-
tached to the 131st Field Ambulance (Welsh) at Lillers, and were
able to join the Imperials in their celebration of Boxing Day.
The potency of Lillers wine and army rum was such that, by the
time the celebration was over, our lads understood for the first
time why the day was named so appropriately.
Most of our time on "rest" was spent shining brass, cleaning
leather, scrubbing Webb equipment and tidying-up in general.
One more inspection was due, so there was the usual frantic
hustling and ordering by the officers and noncoms. - and the
customary cursing and grumbling by the other ranks. At last the
big day arrived and General Burstall gave us the once-over-
with the usual result: Everything was lovely, excepting the trans-
port rifles, which were found in their well-known condition.

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BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y f7 AMIENS 185
The Business of Going on Leave

The one bright feature about our stay at Ames was the re-
opening of leave. Many went on leave from this place and they
couldn't have been more pleased to get away if they had been up
the Line at the time. Ames was a mighty good place to go on
leave from! Several went to Paris, but at this particular time the
majority went to the Old Country. Perhaps the heavy casualty
list of the Passchendaele battle decided some of the lads - par-
ticularly the Old Country fellows - to go over to Blighty and
visit relatives and friends who had lost men in the recent fight.
Some may recall that exalted feeling which swept over us
when we were warned to get ready to go on leave - and we set
out to obtain presentable uniforms, boots, puttees, ete. Remem-
ber how difficult it was to get stuff through official channels and
how, eventually, you had to borrow various articles of raiment
from your chums? This fellow would lend you a pair of officer's
breeks he had swiped somewhere. That fellow would bring you
a pair of brand-new Fox's puttees he owned, or a pair of tan
shoes that just fitted you. Another lad would lend you a snappy
British Warm and cap he had wangled from a friend in the
Artillery. From one source or another you were fitted out quite
smartly and were able to go on leave looking as spruce as any
batman or Base Detail.
Then, when you finally had your leave warrant in your pocket
- remember how anxious you were to get away before Fritz got
you; and your hideous presentiment that, at the last minute, some-
thing would prevent you from going? And the well-meant advice
from your comrades to "keep away from wine, women and song
- particularly the music !"? And the numerous commissions en-
trusted to you - which you forgot until you returned? And the
fervor in your voice when you sang:
Take me back to dear old Blighty,
Put me on the train for London Town,
Take me over there - drop me anywhere -
Liverpool, Leeds or Birmingham, oh I don't care!
How 1'd like to see my best girl -
Cuddling up again we soon shall be! Oh,
Hy-tiddley-hy-tee, tak.e me over to Blight'\"
BliJ!,hty is the place for me.

186 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS
Nearly every man who went on leave to the Old Country will
remember, too, the "gone" feeling we had when our seven or
ten days' frolic was over and we went down to the station to
entrain for the Front. Old Country lads were almost invariably
escorted to the depot by relatives, sweethearts or other friends.
Canucks were accompanied by acquaintances or sweethearts met
while in training or on leave. There was always the same forced
gaiety and hollow laughter, however, when train time approached.
Who could ever forget the hysterical merrymaking which took
place outside the iron-grilled track barricade, when just as the
"all aboard" warning was given, some overwrought woman
would suddenly break down, sob and frantically cling to her
man, as he gently tried to force her rigid arms from round his
neck? Remember the brave banter of that song which those
already aboard would be singing from the open train windows
while the farewell scenes were going on outside:
Goodbye-ee! Don't cry-eel
Wipe the tear, baby dear, from your eye-ee.
It's hard to part I know,
But I'll be tick.led to death to go!
Don't cry-eel Don't sigh-ee -
There's a silver lining in the sk..y-ee.
Bon soir, old thing!
Cheerio, chin chin!
Napoo - toodle-oo - goodBYE-eel
On January 17th, 1918, our "rest" came to an end - much
to the men's delight. Off we marched to Bruay, where we bil-
leted overnight in the civic theatre. The next day - after clean-
ing up the theatre and ridding it of muck that had accumulated
since the war first started - we continued on our way eastward.
Headquarters were established at Villers-au-Bois and the bearers
proceeded up the Line to stations at Souchez, La Coulotte, Fosse
Six, Angres, Crump Post and Artillery Post.
Of Souchez nothing remained except a few uninhabitable
cellars. The town had been flattened early in the war and par-
ticularly during the many attacks the gallant French Poilus had
made in their efforts to capture Vimy Ridge. "The Battles
of the Lorette Valley" was what the French called their series of
attacks, and they were bloody affairs, indeed. The whole Souchez
area was dotted with the graves of brave Frenchmen who fell

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS 187
there. It is estimated that over 160,000 Frenchmen fell in their
futile efforts to capture the Ridge, and the estimate is quite be-
lievable by anyone who has seen the multitudinous graves cover-
ing the district.
Nearly every shell that fell while we were in the Souchez
Valley eX f osed the bodies of dead Frenchmen. Many skeleton
hands stil grasped long triangular bayonets, and hundreds of
broken skeletons were unearthed, partly wrapped in the long red
breeches and buttoned-tail coats worn by the Poilus during the
early days of the war. It is said that in their final assault on the
Ridge many of the French were without rifle ammunition and
rushed to the attack with bayonets and clubbed rifles as their
only weapons.

Víllers-au-Bois, Souchez and La Coulotte

At Villers-au-Bois our Nursing Sections, Transport Sections
and Headquarters Details passed a quiet and rather dull time.
The village was very small, drab and squalid. Here the C-2
Concert Party had its theatre and, if it had not been for the Con-
cert Party, some rather good estaminets and an infantry battalion
canteen, our headquarters fellows might have died of boredom.
Canucks called this place "Villers of Booze," and it came by its
name honestly. Dean Wilkins, Joe Irwin and Harry Hutchinson
could tell some great yarns about this village - if they would.
And mentioning Joe Irwin reminds us of a certain morning in
Villers-au-Bois. Dean Wilkins was lying in the dental chair, re-
ceiving treatment from the dental major. About eleven o'clock
in walked Joe, from his sleeping quarters in an ad / 'oinin g room.
He was in his sock feet. Around his head was a co d, wet towel,
indicating that Joe was experiencing the morning-after pangs of
a successful night-before. Without even glancing at the major or
Wilkie, Joe shuffled over to a corner where his boots had been
deposited. Two pairs of boots were there - an ankle-high pair
and those swanky knee-length laced boots that Sharkey generally
wore on his hunting trips. He reached for the long pair but, dis-
consolately shaking his head, decided he was not able to do all
the lacing their wearing would involve. Slowly, and with elo-
quent grunts and sighs, Joe bent over and succeeded in putting
on the shorter shoes. Then, silently contemplating the well-loved

188 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS
knee-length boots, he sat for a few moments, his elbows resting
on his knees and supporting his bowed and throbbing head on
upturned hands. Gradually he raised his eyes and, with a startled
look, focussed them on the forehead of Dean Wilkins who was
still tipped back in the dental chair. Painfully Joe rose to his feet
and walked across the room. Reverently placing a verifying hand
on Wilkie's broad, expansive forehead, Joe broke the silence.
"Merciful Heavens," he groaned, "what a hell of a headache
you could have inside that skull!" That was one morning Joe's
boss didn't have the heart to bawl him out for being late for duty.
It was in Villers-au-Bois, too, that Corporal A. B. Smith and
Captain Clark fought their famous "Battle of the Round Table."
The corporal had purloined a table from' the 20th Battalion, and
when the captain tried to take it for his own use, A. B. refused
to give it up. Clark had Smith arrested and charged with malice
aforethought, conduct to the prejudice of military order and good
discipline, failure to obey a lawful command and several other
heinous offences. The war was now on in earnest. A. B. demanded
a court-martial and after about ten days of attack, counter attack,
and a lot of red tape - and red faces! - the case was dismissed
and the table returned to the 20th Battalion. It was important
things like this that hastened the winning of the war!
Meanwhile at Souchez, La Coulotte and other posts the bearers
carried on. uCarried" is the right word! They humped stretchers
from every regimental aid-post in that part of the Line for a
whole month. The usual wintry weather prevailed - and the
customary shortage of rum continued at our forward posts.
About this time the Canadian infantry carried out many of
their ublack-faced" raids. Perhaps some of our bearers will re-
member their weird experiences of carrying out wounded men
who had every appearance of being negroes.
On February 19th the bearers were relieved. They joined the
rest of the unit back at Four Winds and Estree Cauchie. A full
month was put in at these two places. About twenty of our men
ran a rest station, while the remainder of the unit paraded, route-
marched and carried out all that disheartening routine which used
to go with the word "rest" back of the Line.
On March 21st we had another general inspection and once
again everything was satisfactory to General Burstall - except-
ing the rifles and some of the wagon tool-boxes of the Horse

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS 189
Transport. While our inspection was going on, about thirty-five
miles south of us the Germans were launching their great and
final offensive. Disquieting rumors about the Fifth Army debacle
reached us but we were rather unconcerned. To us a general
inspection was apparently more vital than the threat of an over-
whelming enemy victory. We heard that after the Fifth Army
debacle General Fayolle had been given command of the British
Di visions fighting at Peronne. Two days later we learned that
the Peronne bridgehead had been abandoned and that a gap of
twelve miles was left open between the British and French forces.
On March 23rd all leave was cancelled. The Fifth was ordered
to "stand to," ready to move off at shorr notice. For three days
and nights this "stand to" continued, and it was very evident
that our High Command was somewhat panicky over the disaster
south of us.

A Forced March South

On March 26th, at 10 p.m., we fell in and moved off towards
the south. We had been issued extra emergency rations, iodine
ampoules, and shell dressings; so there was a feeling that we
were going to see some excitement. Rumors of all sorts were
coming in thick and fast. We heard that the Germans were close
to Paris; that the British were backing up to the Channel ports;
that Foch was now in charge of the Allied armies; and several
similar reports. The old reliable Latrine Gazette was very active,
but we were sure of only one thing and that was that things were
going decidedly wrong for our armies.
What a weird march we had that night! Shortly after leaving
Estree Cauchie, Fritz's planes flew over us in the darkness, drop-
ping bombs. Although the bombs fell harmlessly into nearby
fields, the roar of plane and torpedo propellers, the deafening
explosions and high-pitched detonations of bombs and anti-air-
craft shells were terrifying to the troops which clogged every
roadway leading south. The whole Corps seemed to be on the
move. Not a single unit was singing or marching to music.
There was a dread expectancy and suspense in the very air. Time
after time the Fifth was forced to the roadside while mounted
troops and artillery thundered past.
Just before dawn we met the remnants of Gough's Army strag-
gling their weary way north\vard. Many of them were drunk

190 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y [:ï AMIENS
with rum and wine looted from abandoned army stores and
wrecked estaminets. Not a few tried to sell us watches, fountain
pens, cartons of cigarettes and other supplies they had looted from
Fifth Army canteens. Only a small percentage of these fleeing
troops carried rifles or other equipment and their frenzied haste to
get away from the advancing Hun was only too apparent. A
more demoralized rabble would be hard to imagine.
When we first met this retreating mob we were almost too
disgusted to even speak to them. There were we, marching into
a spot that was too hot for them, and our opinion of the Fifth
Army that morning was low indeed. Of course, at that time we
didn't know what these poor devils had been through, nor how
they had been let down by their higher-ups. We couldn't help but
notice, too, that there were only a few officers along with them,
and that those officers were lieutenants. Apparently these men had
been deserted by their senior officers, so it is small wonder that
their retreat rese1)1bled a rout.
The roads over which we marched were rapidly being mined
by the Engineers, and at every bridge was a squad of sappers with
demolition charges laid and ready to blow it up at the first sign
of an advancing enemy. The giant roadside elms and poplars
were being sawn partly through, so that they might be toppled
across the roads when occasion demanded.
Shortly after daylight we began to meet thousands of frantic
civilian refugees making their pitiful way out of the shelled and
threatened district. Old men, women and children passed us,
carrying bundles and pushing baby carriages and wheelbarrows
loaded with their humble belongings. In some instances young
women were between the shafts of farm-wagons on which were
piled all the household goods they had been able to salvage from
their toppling homes. Generally these pathetically miserable
refugees were forced to flee across the fields because the roads were
already blocked with fleeing and advancing soldiers.
At ten o'clock on the morning of March 27th we arrived at
Bienvillers-au-Bois - after marching about three miles past it
and sneaking up on it from the south! Bienvillers-au-Bois is about
halfway between Arras and Albert and, by dir
ct route, the
distance from Estree-Cauchie was twenty-six miles; but the
Fifth was forced to take many detours over side-roads. We must
have marched about thirty-five miles during the night.

BIENVILLERS
AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS 191
We were supposed to relieve the 75th Imperial Ambulance but
when we arrived we discovered that the 75th had relieved them

selves and, with the exception of one officer, had pulled out for
more congenial surroundings many hours before.
\Ve breakfasted in the town and then about thirty-five of our
bearers, in charge of Captain Muir, were sent up the Line to help
the Fourth Field Ambulance. Three of our officers and as many
senior noncoms. then set out across the fields to the west of Bien

villers-au-Bois, to chart out a route of retreat in case we, too,
were obliged to fall back suddenly.
During our first day at Bíenvillers-au-Bois the Special Order of
General Currie, Corps Commander, was posted. After reading it
we were sure that things were in a very bad way. Here is the
Order:
27th March, 1918.
1. In an endeavor to reach an immediate decision the enemy has gath-
ered all his forces and struck a mighty blow at the British Army. Over-
whelmed by sheer weight of numbers the British Divisions in the Line
between the Scarpe and the Oise have fallen back, fighting hard, steady
and undismayed,
2. Measures have been taken successfully to meet this German on-
slaught, The French have gathered a powerful army, commanded by a
most able and trusted leader, and this army is now moving swiftly to our
help, Fresh British Divisions are being thrown in. The Canadians are soon
to be engaged. Our Motor Machine Gun Brigade has already played a
most gallant part and once again covered itself with glory,
3, Looking back with pride on the unbroken record of your glorious
achievements, asking you to realize that today the fate of the British
Empire hangs in the balance, I place my trust in the Canadian Corps,
knowing that where Canadians are engaged there can be no giving way.
4, Under the orders of your devoted officers in the coming battle you
will advance or fall where you stand facing the enemy.
5, To those who will fall I say, "You will not die but step into im-
mortality. Your mothers will not lament your fate but will be proud to
ha ve borne such sons, Your names will be revered forever and ever by your
grateful countr y, and God will take you unto Himself."*
*Paragraph 5 is very interesting ! We doubt whether many of the "poor bloody
infantry" were interested in the immortality awaiting them. Pretty phrases didn't
alter the fact that death, shattered bodies, blindness or madness awaited not a few
of them. And we know many mothers who still lament the fate of their sons. As for
our "grateful country" revering our names, well- just observe the thousands of
poor, suffering, down-and-out, pensionless, burned-out wrecks who were once those
heroes to which the Order referred, Most of them will be glad when the time comes
for God to "take them unto Himself." Apparently, He is the only One who has
any further use for them.

192 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS

6, Canadians, in this fateful hour, I command you and I trust you to
fight as you have ever fought - with all your strength, with all your
determination, with all your tranquil courage, On many a hard-fought
field of battle you have overcome this enemy.
7. \\'ith God's help you shall achieve victory once more.
(Signed) A, W. CURRIE,
Lieut.-General,
Commanding Canadian Corps.
The whole atmosphere of the district was very depressing.
Men and horses were tired out. Shells were pouring into the town
and buildings were being rapidly demolished. Only a few civil-
ians were still there and they were making frantic preparations
to leave. One brave old Frenchwoman called to some of our lads
and pointed to a great cask she was leaving behind in her half-
ruined dwelling. The cask was quickly broached and for once
our men had more good red wine than they, their mess tins and
their water bottles could hold.
The lads of the Motor Transport reaped a harvest here. On
their first night in town Harry Hutchinson, Stan. Dumont and
some more of the mechanics "discovered" an abandoned but-
cher's establishment where some chickens, rabbits, pigs and a
goat had been left behind. To save the poor fowls from starva-
tion, their necks were wrung and the Motor Transport fellows
had a great feed of poultry. The butchering of one of the pigs
was postponed for another day, so a tow-rope was tied to one of
its hind legs and the prospective roast tethered to an ambulance
wheel. The squawks of the chickens and the squeals of the pro-
testing pig drew the attention of an infantry colonel, who came
to investigate. "Who are you men, and what's going on here?"
he demanded, Back came the answer: "We're Fifth Field Ambu-
lance men!" By this time the officer could see what was going on.
"Oh ho! - I see - rendering some first-aid, eh ! Well, carryon,
boys - there'll be far worse things happen before we get out of
this place, I fear!" Needless to say the fellows carried on.
Another "find" of the Motor Transport consisted of the funeral
apparel in an undertaker's establishment. The boys appropriated
the clothing and, next noon-time - under the professional eye of
Hutch - A. B. Smith donned the mourning garb and took his
place in the ration line-up. Wearing a long black coat and tie, a
high silk hat on his head, and leading a squealing pig, A. B. held

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BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y [y AMIENS 193
out his mess tin to the cook, The startled chef informed the
funereal gentleman that rations were very scarce and that he
couldn't spare any food to civilians. Sergeant \Voodburn was
appealed to, but it was only after Smith revealed his identity
that he was fed. He then offered the pig to the sergeant, but Sam
had enough troubles already so the offer was declined. There was
a strong suspicion that the Motor Transport fellows had had
more than their full share of the juice of die grape and that this
was another time when M. T. didn't mean e.mpty.
For two days the main portion of the unit remained in Bien

villers-au-Bois, "standing to" and ready to pull out on a mo

ment's notice. Nobody seemed to know where Fritz had been
stopped or if he had been stopped. If ever an army was in panic -
this was the army!
On March 29th, however, the powers-that-were discovered
that the enemy had actually been brought to a halt, for the time
being, at least. There are several books telling how, when and
where this was accomplished so there is no need for us to explain.
What interests us is that the Fifth left Bienvillers-au-Bois on
March 29th and marched north. Headquarters were established
in the town of Bretencourt. The bearers were sent up the Line to
the Wailly Front. Horse Transport headquarters were located,
temporarily, at Bac du Sud.
Our reactions to the forced march south and the spectacle of a
British army in rout are well remembered. The Passchendaele
success (?) was still in our minds, while faith in our generals was
at a low ebb. Fervently we hoped that the appointment of a
French Generalissimo would bring us better leadership. Rightly
or wrongly, we distrusted the ability and strategy of our General
Staff, It looked just then as though the war was going to go on
and on forever - or end in a German victory.
At Bretencourt we heard for the first time that delightfully in

decorous song, "It's the Syme the 'Ole \V orId Over." Some
guardsmen were singing it in an estaminet, beating time on the
table with their beer mugs and mess tins, and doing their utmost
to drown out the raucous strains from a piano which was sup

posed to be playing the accompaniment. The song voices the
soldiers' peculiar love for poking fun at parsons, padres and
other members of the cloth. Here's one version of the song -
considerably expurgated:

194 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS
IT'S THE SYME THE 'OLE WOl\LD OVEl\
\(
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'B

'ole worl d o-ve
I
8 t he P Qor what @ets the

r

the

. ,
ply-sure
Now eyent that 8 bleed1n Bhyme

She was poor but she was honest;
Pure, unstyn-éd was ' er fyme,
Till a wicar's son betrayed ' er
An' the poor girllorst 'er nyme,
(Chorus)
So she ups an' gows to Lunnon
For to 'ide' er guilty shy me;
There she met an army chaplain
An' agyne she lorst 'er nyme,
(Chorus)
, Eard ' im as ' e jored 'is T ommies,
l{yevin' 'bout the flymes uv 'ell.
Witir' er 'ole 'eart ' im she trusted -
'Ow 'e fooled 'er's 'ard to tell.
(Chorus)
See 'im in 'is ridin' britches,
'Vntin' foxes in the chyse,
While the wictim uv 'is folly
Mykes 'er livin' by 'er wice.

"

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y [:ï AMIENS 195
(Chorus)
So she plyes ' er gyme in Lunnon,
Sink.in' lower in ' er shyme;
There she met a politician,
An' agyne she lorst 'er nyme.
(Chorus)
Now 'e's in the 'ouse uv Commons
Myk.in' lors to put down crime,
While the wictim uv 'is passion
Walk..s the streets each night in shyme.
(Chorus)
Next thue cyme a blowted bishop-
Marriage was the tyle ' e towld!
There was no one else would tyk.e ' er,
So she gyve' erself for gowld,
(Chorus)
See 'e.r in 'cr 'orse an' carriage,
Lyk..e the lydies in the park..!
Though she's myde a wealthy marnage,
Still she 'ides a brykjn' , eart,
(Chorus)
In a tiny 'ouse in 'Amspead
Sits 'er parents old an' lyme,
Drink.in' champyne what she sends 'em-
But they never speak..s ' er nyme.
It's the syme the 'ole world over -
It's the poor what gets the blyme,
While the rich 'as all the plysures -
Now eyen't that a bleedin' shyme!
There were hundreds of verses to the ditty as we heard it. And
the further the song went the more heartrending did the poor
wayward girl's adventures become. One fairly good soloist usu-
ally sang the verses and, after each verse, all those present joined
in the chorus, "It's the Syme the 'Ole World Over, ete." This
was one way in which men forgot the fate awaiting them,
perhaps, on the morrow.
Sergeant- Major Pollette, of the Horse Transport, left us and
returned to the Divisional Train while our Headquarters were
in Brctencourt. He, too, had "got in wrong" with the officer in
charge of transport and had spent the previous few weeks under
open arrest, with Heaven only knows what serious charge against

196 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y [:ï AMIENS
him. However, Alf. spent his "open arrest" days lounging about
in cOll1fortable chairs, eating excellent food, free of all duty, and
leading the life of Riley in general. His case never came to trial.
Those in authority thought it best to let well enough alone, so
he was transferred back to the Train and out of reach of our
Transport Captain.

WaillYJ Beaurains and Mercatel

\V aill y village had been pretty well flattened by the time we
located there. Only five or six villagers remained, and they lived
in their cellars. On our first trip up the Line in front of Wailly
we were unaware of the exact location of the enemy trenches.
The Imperials from whom we took over were not in touch with
Fritz and had only a vague idea where his front line was. We
took over during the night and settled down in a sunken road
just to the north of Mercatel. On our left was Beaurains. Imme-
diately in front of us was the Arras-Bapaume road, and we soon
discovered that Fritz's line ran just east of this road and cut
through the village of Neuville Vitasse, over on our left.
In the sunken road our fellows dug in for the night, each squad
making its own funkhole against the eastern bank of the road.
Our biggest squad, Heavy Cardwell, Turkey Elliott, Alf Ralph
and Albert Somers, walled up their funkhole so tightly they
couldn't get into it, and were so tired by their building efforts,
after the long night march, they sagged down disgustedly on the
roadway and slept. Even the salvos of whizzbangs Fritz sent
over during the night failed to rouse them to the point of making
their funkhole inhabitable. Whích reminds us that work often-
times had more terrors than death for many of the boys.
We remained in the sunken road throughout the following day
but, on the next night, moved over to the left and established
posts at Beaurains Corner and in an old German pillbox on the
right-hand side of the road leading from Beaurains to Neuville
Vitasse. We also manned some regimental aid-posts east of Mer-
catel. This whole front area was dotted with ruined Nissen huts
and tumbled-in dugouts, and Fritz knew their locations to a
nícety. He continued to shell and bomb the place all the time we
were there. It was near here that the padre of the 22nd Battalion
was killed and that the same battalion's regimental aid-post was

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y f7 AMIENS 197
blown up. Several of our men were near the place at the time and
weB remember their experiences.
For three months our bearers stayed in this part of the Line.
During that time the Second Division carried out over forty
raids - and our men carried out Heaven only knows how many
wounded! We used a quarry near Wailly as a bearers' headquarters
and ration post. An additional post was established later in a hut
on the north side of the Ficheux- Mercatel road. No doubt many
of the bearers will remember this hut - and the nice deep dugout
behind it which was out-of-bounds to them. Some may recall,
too, the inky black night when Roy Flynn got separated from a
party of bearers which had become hopelessly lost on their way
into the Line. Flynn found it more expedient to spend the night
in an infantry dugout than to be senselessly slogging over territory
blanketed in Stygian darkness.
The Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Field Ambulances alternated in
taking charge of evacuations, but our bearers were left in the
Line the whole ninety-two days. Here once again our men were
thankful when the Fourth and Sixth took over, for then we got
better rations and an occasional issue of rum,
On April 4th two bearers of the Sixth were killed and one of
our Motor Transport lads was wounded.

At Gouy-en-Artois

On April 6th our unit headquarters moved from Bretencourt
to Gouy-en-Artois where the Nursing Sections took over a Corps
Rest Station. The station was built in an immense apple orchard.
The patients' quarters were in large Nissen huts, while one or
two smaller huts and some bell tents served as billets for our
own men. These huts and tents occupied the lanes between large
apple trees and, shortly after our unit moved in, the trees blos-
somed and made a beautiful fragrant picture.
Gouy was a real h0111e for those fortunate enough to be
located there. There were several first-rate estaminets in the
village where the men found what they wanted; and in a nearby
chateau our officers found relief from boredo111. The estaminets
were veritable Monte Carlos. Crown-and-anchor, banker, poker,
craps, and about every other gambling game known to the
troops went on from opening to closing tÍl11e. \Vhat for111 of

198 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y f7 AMIENS
indoor sport occupied the hours of those in the chateau we do
not know. It was very noticeable, however, that those enter-
tained there were loth to leave the place.
At the suggestion of a padre who was temporarily attached to
the Fifth, a dry canteen was opened and a concert party organ-
ized. Right from the start the canteen was a huge success. For
the first few days the stock of cigarettes, chocolate, soap, etc., etc.,
was sold out within a couple of hours of opening time. But,
gradually, an increased stock was carried and as much as thirty-
five hundred francs was taken in daily. Sergeant Sharpe and
Private Rosser were the canteen clerks and had some great trips
back to Frevent, St. Pol and Abbeville on buying expeditions.
Eventually, an extensively assorted stock was carried. Even
cigarettes and other supplies from faraway Toronto changed
hands over the canteen counter.
On April 16th a new Horse Transport sergeant-major, O. O.
Wilson (joey), came to the unit and things began to hum omin-
ously for the lads at the horse-lines. New orders and more
stringent disciplinary instructions came thick and fast - much
to the disgust of the experienced old-timers and the unit per-
sonnel generally.
About this time things looked rather black to the north and
south of the Canadian area. Reports told us that Paris was being
mysteriously bombarded by a gun seventy miles away. Fritz had
advanced to within a few miles of Amiens and there was danger
of a break-through between the French and British forces. Lloyd
George had attended a conference at Beauvais and was pressing
for the confirmation of Foch's rank as Commander-in-Chief.
The Germans had advanced to the outskirts of Cachy. Things
certainly were going badly to the south of us. In the north, the
enemy had captured Dranoutre, Kel(1mcl, La Clytte, Locre and
Bailleul - all old homes of ours not so many months before. *
About the only bright ray of news was that the Virgin's statue
had been toppled from the Albert cathedral, and according to an
ancient French legend, the war was to end soon after the statue
fell. We might as well admit that, so far as we were concerned,
we didn't t hen care an awful lot how the war ended, just sO
*Dranoutre was captured by the Germans on April 25, 1918, and recaptured by
the British on August 30, 1918, The enemy entered La Clyne temporarily but was
forced out. The Allied line settled down just east of the village at the end of the Lys
battle of 1918.

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS 199
long as it did end) and soon. We were pretty well fed up about
this time and the old propaganda stimulants had long ceased to
enthuse us.
To make matters worse) many of our lads contracted that
mysterious malady which was first called P.U.O., but was later
to become known as the Spanish Flu. At first those taken ill
thought the three letters meant "Placed Under Observation."
They were considerably relieved when told that P. U.O. stood
for Pyrexia Unknown Origin. Sick and wounded men were
always anxious to read their casualty tags. They used to puzzle
over the clerk)s hieroglyphics, trying to decipher them and find
out what the doctor thought of them.
Several of our bearers came down sick from the Wailly Front
and not a few of the Nursing Section fellows were admitted to
hospital. Of course, all were treated by our own medical officers
and it was a serious case, indeed, that was ever sent down the
Line. Desperately sick men from our u!1it were kept in our own
camps and carried on the unit strength week after week. Accurate
record of these cases was very rarely kept and this neglect was to
have a tragic effect later on when men applied for pensions or
medical treatment. Very few Fifth history-sheets recorded ill-
nesses, unless the nlen concerned were actually evacuated to
clearing stations or base hospitals. That the practice of keeping
our own men lying around ill for weeks at a time was very un-
fair, goes without saying; and it galled our lads no little to lie
seriously sick and see outside cases, not nearly so ill as they,
sent down the Line.
Even a fairly severe wound wasn't a guarantee that you would
get away from the Fifth. What actually happened to a wounded
Fifth man is told in the following song far better than we
could tell it:

(Tune: And They Called it Ireland)
Sure a little bit of shrapnel fell from out the sk.y one day,
And it nestled in my shoulder in a quaint and loving way;
And when the M.O. saw it, oh, it look.ed so sweet and fair,
He said, "Suppose we leave it, for it look.s so peaceful there!"
Then he painted it with iodine to k.eep the germs away;
He injected anti-tetanus that hurts me to this day -
I had visions of old Blighty - thought the Base at least was mine --
But he mark.ed me "Fit for Duty" and he sent me up the Line'

200 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, \V AILL Y f7 AMIENS
Our Successful Soccer Team

\Vhile Headquarters were at Gouy, the Nursing Section lads
were able to indulge in several workouts in soccer. Only make-
shift teams were available, but several pleasant evenings were
spent in kicking the ball around. Many of our best players were
up the Line with the stretcher-bearers, but if they had been able
to participate, the old Fifth would have been able to more than
hold its own with a few of the teams which were throwing thcir
weight about in the Gouy area.
As early as 1914, in Exhibition Camp, some of our soccer
enthusiasts got together and with more or less scrub teams
played a few games with teams from other units. The coming of
winter prevented anything definite being done in the way of a
permanent team, however. At Otterpool the men were too tired
to do much playing and there was very little opportunity for
such, except for an occasional workout with teams hastily chosen
from our own ranks, and scrub teams from our neighbors, the
Sixth Field Ambulance.
At Dranoutre, La Clyne and Reninghelst there were a few
games. The West Lancs beat us 4 to 0 at La Clyne, but we had
only a makeshift team. It was not until we were at Boeschepe
that the first real start was made. A collection was taken up and
money sent over to Blighty for boots, uniforms and equipment.
The first team was, as near as we can remember - goal, Red
McKenzie; backs, Nobby Clark and Sid Simpkins; halves, Billy
Moore, Johnny Hay and Jimmy Shorrocks; forwards, Teddy
Gilmore, Arthur Wood, Billy Bryant, Willie Hanney, and an-
other lad whose name escapes us.
There was no regular competition, most games being inter-
sectional affairs. Only a few games were played with outside
teams. Perhaps some of the fellows will recall a game played
against a swanky bunch of Imperials who can1e to Boeschepe,
all dolled up in big league uniforms, to playa Canadian team
which didn't turn up. The Imperials fielded a wonderful looking
team and were very impressive in practice, but we gathered
together a scrub team and gave them a bad beating. In this garne
Red McKenzie, who had been a star in Canadian football, was
with difficulty restrained from leaving his goal and rushing up
the field for a touchdown! He did score one goal f01' the opposite

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BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y f7 AMIENS 201
side by reaching back over his own goallíne in an effort to give
a terrific heave to the ball.
While we were at Four Winds, a lot of soccer was played-
mostly by pick-up teams from our own Sections. Some of the
lads may remember Chic Faryon who then weighed about 115
pounds soaking wet, getting into one of the games for a brief
spell. A few minutes was enough for Chic ! Weary, bruised and
lame, he retired to his hut to nurse his hurts. \Vhen asked why
he quit playing, his response was, "Oh, they put me out of the
game because I was too rough!"
We entered a team in the Second Division playdowns during
the summer of 1917. In our final game, played at Hersin on
June 23rd, we lost to the 18th Battalion, 2 to 1. Our team at
this time was - goal, Jimmy McLean and Stan Thompson;
backs, Nobby Clark, Harry Thurston, Bill Crompton; halves,
Billy Moore, Johnny Hay, Ernie Saunders, Sid Bridges; forwards,
McKerror, Billy Bryant, Jimmy Shorrocks, Arthur Wood, Harry
(jock) Simpson. We beat several good teams en route to the
finals, notably the Second Divisional Pioneers and Second Divi-
sional Ammunition Column. Billy Tribe was the team's trainer.
On September 7th our team played a one-all tie with the First
Entrenching Battalion, at Camblain I' Abbe. This was one of the
best teams on the Western Front. An immense crowd of Imperial
and Canadian soldiers witnessed this game, which was played in
the evening.
On September 12th, we played against the champions of the
First Division, also at Camblain l'Abbe. Five minutes from the
end of the game, neither team had scored. Arthur Wood made a
bet with an opponent that he would score a goal. A few seconds
before full time was up Arthur breasted the ball into the net and
won his bet and the game. Considerable money changed hands
over this contest, for a large number of Canadian Corps staff
officers were present. Second Division Headquarters staff backed
our team to the limit and made a clean-up. Those in charge of
the team were complimented and the players thenlselves given a
great ovation. The photograph shown in this book presents the
team as it was at this time.
In the spring and early part of thesunlmerof 1918 Major Elliott,
OUf Sports Officer, arranged games with various outside tealllS.
ElÍlnination games were played with several Corps units in order

202 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS
to produce finalists for the Dominion Day sports at Tinques. Our
team failed to reach the finals. The 27th Battalion won the Corps
Soccer Chan1pionship on July 1st, 1918.
Our last soccer competition in France was at Auvelais in the
spring of 1919. Our team again reached Second Division finals
but was beaten by the 31st Battalion, who went on to win the
Corps Championship. At Witley Camp a scrub team was entered
in a five-a-side competition, the game being played at Guilford.
The soccer team originated in the "Other Ranks" and was
managed by a committee of non-players: George Graves, Sid
Hill, Archie Rich, Arthur Rigby, Jim Lickley, Ben Sharpe, and
Jimmy Walker. Major Burgess and Captain Sinclair were active
and keen supporters. Altogether, the teanl had an outstanding
record. Most of the players were fellows whose duties took them
up the Line and they didn't get any special favors or coddling
because they played on the soccer team. More than once fellows
were brought down the Line just long enough for them to go on
the field and play the game, after which they went back immedi-
ately to their stretcher-bearing jobs up Front.
Several Field Days were held at Gouy, when wrestling, boxing,
football, baseball, tugs-of-war, and almost every other form of
sporting event were enjoyed. Pipe bands and an occasional Amer-
ican Army band entertained the troops. It was hard to believe
that only a few miles away the Allies were battling for their
very existence.
While we were on the Wailly Front some of our bearers were
brought down the Line to playa baseball game. Our pitcher, a
lad barely out of his 'teens, was breezing a fast ball over the
plate when his arm snapped in t\vo places - a very painful
injury but one that took him out of the war.
Two of the many memorable sports happenings about this
time were the wrestling bouts in which Major Elliott, former
125-lb. champion of University of Toronto, participated. Many
of the fellows will remember his bout with an 1t11perial sergeant-
major whom he succeeded in pinning to the mat after a very
weird contest. Another bout which brought the crowd to its feet
was that between Elliott and a chap named Lougheed. This was
the most hectic battle imaginable, for the major's opponent had
been Varsity's 12S-lb. champ the year after Elliott held the
crown. The two wrestlers were very evenly matched - and each

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, \V AILL Y [y AMIENS 203
was exceedingly surprised by the terrific battle put up by his
opponent. No quarter was asked and none was given, so the
onlookers saw one of the best bouts ever staged.

We Organize a Concert Party

The Fifth Concert Party was in full swing shortly after it was
first thought of. One or two patients and two or three men from
other Field Ambulances were included in the troupe but otherwise
it was wholly a Fifth affair. Bill Ferris, \Ves Ivory, Pickles Clarke,
Billy Mills, Red Sowden and Joe Irwin were some of the artists
and they succeeded in putting on a pretty fair show. Bill Ferris
was the star comedian and this American-born Lancashire lad
from the Canadian army did much to brighten the war, with
his droll dialect monologues and his songs, "I'm Not So Young
as I Used to Be," "Try a Little Piece of My Wife's Cake," "That
Was Me Last Night in Poper-in-jee," "I Was Standing on the
Corner of the Street, " ete. v..' e also got hold of a movie machine
and some films, so what with the stage performance and the
pictures our little theatre was crowded for every show. The
favorite revue was "Shall Us - Let's," and many of our men
and patients will long remember the happy evenings provided by
the troupe. Gilbert Watson, now a well-known orchestra leader,
was our female impersonator and the genius at the piano was
a fellow named Putnam, if we remember correctly.
On June 22nd Sergeant-Major Hodder took over his duties
with the Fifth; and George Graves was a warded the Meritorious
Service Medal on the same date. The next day was given over
to Divisional Sports and these brought to a close the many
athletic events our Headquarters Sections had enjoyed during
their stay in Gouy-en-Artois.
While we were in Gouy, Happy Carlisle once again distin-
guished himself. He and another sergeant occupied a tiny Arm-
strong hut in which there were two chicken-wire bunks, one
above the other. The weather was so mild, no blanket covering
was necessary. In the upper bunk jHappy slept night after night
with scarcely anything over him, and merely his rubber ground-
sheet between him and the wire. One early morning, after a
rather big night-before, Happy awakened to find himself lYing
in a pool of water. There were no leaks in the roof so Happy

204 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS
decided that he had had some sort of accident in his sleep. He
la y for a few moments, then reached for his claspknife and
jabbed some holes in the rubber sheet. The welled-up fluid
drained through the holes; and Happy, with a satisfied grunt,
rolled over for another snooze - totally forgetting that there
was someone in the bunk beneath him. It was the same Carlisle,
too, who had one of the Motor Transport fellows running around
in circles because the happy-go-lucky sergeant had given him an
application of iodine in mistake for argyrol.
During all the good times back at Gouy-en-Artois, the bearers
remained up the Line in front of Wailly, clearing wounded from
regimental aid-posts as far to the left as Telegraph Hill and as
far to the right as the Cojeul River trenches southeast of Mer-
catel. There were night raids, dawn raids and daylight raids, and
only an extensive system of approach trenches and some conveni-
ent sunken roads saved our bearers from becoming casualties.
It was while we were on this Front that attempts at blood
transfusion were made in some of the regimental aid-posts.
Blood tests were taken and bearers with blood of varying cate-
gories were located near the posts so that they would be avail-
able if needed. While we saw several attempts at transfusions
about this time we regret having to admit we didn't see more
than one or two which were successful. Our bearers volunteered
quite readily for donations of blood. Perhaps the fact that every
donor was given forty-eight hours' rest and a half-dozen botdes
of Bass's Ale had something to do with their eagerness to help.
Dozens put their names on the waiting lists.
On Sunday, May 12th (Mothers' Day), Bill MacKenzie was
killed. Fritz was shelling a kite balloon that flew over our
Wailly funkholes and a big chunk of eight-inch shell struck Mac
and narrowly missed Cecil Byrne, who was lying beside him.
MacKenzie was a general favorite and it was a sad party of men
who buried him in Wailly Cemetery on their way up the Line
the following evening.

Grand R...ullecourt

On June 29th the bearers were relieved by the Tenth Field
Ambulance. They rejoined the other Sections at Gouy and on
the following day the whole unit marched back to Grand

BIENVILLERS
AU-BOIS, \V AILL Y E.7 AMIENS 205
Rullecourt. Here the officers occupied a large chateau while the
men billeted in huts and bell tents on the chateau grounds.
The chateau must have been of some imDortance at one time.
Now, alas, it was in a sadly dilapidated êondítion. Its marble
floors were chipped and stained; its oak-panelled walls splintered
and warped; its frescoed ceilings blackened and broken by brazier
smoke and leaking rains. But over it all there seemed to hang the
intangible atmosphere of a glorious past. No furniture remained
in any of the rooms, excepting one or two broken-down bed
frames and chairs. There remained everywhere the distressing
evidence of innumerable occupations by rude and destructive
soldiery. On nearly every wall were etched and scrawled the
names and ribaldries of French and British fighting men.
The rear of the chateau looked out on a level spacious tract of
land, bordered on two sides by woods, and at the far end by a
screen of graceful poplars. This tree-enclosed area (about five
acres) was to be our parade ground.
It was rumored that we were to be given at least one month's
rest - to compensate us for our long stay on the W aill y Front.
And again the word U rest " had an ominous portent, for, what
with a new, inexperienced, yet zealous sergeant-major, and an
ambitious disciplinarian in the person of Captain Dunham, the
lads were soon wishing they were back at Beauraíns and Mercatel
where there was "a war on."
The ensuing two weeks (excepting one day) was given over to
intensive squad and company drill and a lot of parade-ground
stuff that \vas useless up the Line. And, as was invariably the
case, those who proved to be the best on the drill square were the
very laddy-bucks who were not so valuable up where a different
sort of proficiency was needed. All this barrack-square stuff was
particularly irksome to the stretcher-bearers and left them fagged
out and embittered at the beginning of nearly every battle.
Here we were, forming fours, marking time, and doing over
and over again all the old elementary stuff we had done back in
1914. If the idea of those in command was to get us so fed up
that we would welcome a trip up the Line, they succeeded. They
little understood - and seemed to care less! - that we \vere
totally different men from the enthusiastic, inexperienced and
tractable youths of training camp days, when one of our most
earnest songs was:

206 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y û AMIENS

At the halt on the left form platoon -
Oh we've tried it the whole afternoon!
If the odd numbers don't mark... time two paces-
How the hell can the rest form platoon?
It is the only fair to explain that the position of our new
sergeant-major was far from enviable. There he was, dropped
into the middle of a unit which had been in France since 1915.
He was expected to create harmony in the ranks of men who
were openly resentful of an outsider being placed over them; he
was persuaded to carry out a routine of barrack-square discipline
by one or two of his immediate superiors; he had the unveiled
hostility of most of the senior noncoms. - almost everyone of
whom considered himself capable of making a better fist of the
sergeant-major's job; he had had no experience with a battle
unit previously. Small wonder that his position was almost un-
tenable. He must have
pent many unhappy hours, after
he first
few days, when he realized what a tough spot he was in! Per-
sonally, he was a very decent, likeable sort of fellow and made
many friends before the end of the trip to Germany. Whoever
was responsible for his being put in charge of the Fifth played him
a dirty trick, undermined the Fifth's esprit de corps and did the
unit a grave injustice.

Dominion Day Sports at Tinques

The one welcome break in the two weeks of "rest" came on
July 1st, Dominion Day, when Corps Sports were held at Tin-
ques, a tiny village on the St. Pol road and about eight miles
from our camp. Two motor lorries were provided to transport
our two hundred and more men to the games, so it will be
appreciated that most of the fellows had to ride "Shank's Mare"
and do some lorry-hopping if they wanted to get to Tinques for
the celebration. .
The Corps Sports will long remain in the memories of those
who witnessed them. The whole afternoon and evening were
given up to games and merrymaking. Lacrosse, baseball, foot-
ball, sprints, walking races, distance races, wrestling, boxing, and
almost every other sort of athletic contest took place. In the
early evening some of our best aviators flew over the crowd and
put on an exhibition of aerial acrobatics which, for daring and

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS 207
recklessness, may never be heaten. The pilots were said to be some
of our most famous Canadian aces, but their identities were not
disclosed to us at the time. The Duke of Connaught, Sir Robert
Borden, Hon. N. W. Rowell, General Currie and many other
celebrities were present; also many of our Canadian nursing sisters.
When darkness stopped the field sports, a composite Canadian
concert troupe put on a three-hour open-air performance, and the
troops saw the stars of our various concert parties at their best.
There was, we regret to mention, one drawback to the great
celebration: Tinques was DRY! And so were the twenty thou-
sand soldiers who raided the village in their frantic search for
good stuff! The day was hot and dusty and what little liquid re-
freshment the village boasted had been exhausted since early in
the morning. However, from some mysterious source, many of
our fellows succeeded in getting enough beer and wine to sustain
them during the long trek back to camp.
On July 13th the unit marched out of Grand Rullecourt.
A, Section went to Warlus; B. to Beaurains; and C. to Achicourt.
An advanced dressing station was also established at Ronville, a
suburb on the south of Arras. All three places were being hea vil y
shelled and bombed at this time, and night after night many
of us took to the roadside drainage ditches for cover from the
roaring Gothas.
After five days at Beaurains and Achicourt, B. and C. Sections
joined the rest of the unit at Warlus. There the Fifth remained,
not doing much of anything in particular, until July 23rd, when
it marched back to Grand Rullecourt. Throughout the whole of
this march it rained heavily and the nlen arrived at their destin-
ation wet through. Their greatcoats, blankets, kits and uniforms
were wringing wet, and when they paraded and asked for an
extra blanket per man, for the one night only, their request was
turned down. Of course, our quartermaster-captain had made the
trip by car, had all the blankets he cared for, and slept in a com-
fortable bed in the chateau, so naturally he couldn't understand
why a soaking-wet, tired, foot-slogging man should want a
blanket between himself and the cold bare floors of the leaky huts
and tents. Eventually, ho\vever, the men raised sufficient hell, and
dry blankets were issued by the colonel's orders, and in spite of
the quartermaster-captain's heated protests that such procedure
was contrary to the way it had been done in South Africa.

208 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS
Once again the old routine of drills, etc., got under way. Men
were "crimed" for petty and trivial technical breaches of King's
Rules and Regulations. For instance, four were arrested for being
a minute or two late for night roll-call. They refused trial by
the
r own Commanding Officer and requested a court-martial.
It is quite possible that the cursing and swearing of our men
was heard as far back as Divisional Headquarters, for, on July
30th, General Burstall sent a letter to every unit under his com-
mand, complaining about the terrible profanity prevailing among
the troops, and asking all commanding officers to do everything
in their power to discourage the use of such language. It must be
admitted that the general's request didn't meet with any great
success, so far as our unit was concerned.
For a week or two there had reached us the welcome news
that, in the north, the British and French had stopped Fritz's
advance and that the French had attacked with considerable
success in the southern part of the Front. Rumor had it that we
were due for a move, and every mother's son of us hoped for
some sort of change - no matter what - as relief from our
Grand Rullecourt martinets.
On July 30th the Fifth marched to a spot between FosS'eux and
Hauteville. There we boarded old London busses and travelled
south, by way of Doullens and Briquemesnil, to Breilly, a small
village on the River Somme and about six miles west of Amiens.
There we had a wonderful time for four or five days. The Somme
supplied us with excellent bathing, boating and fishing, and in
spite of the rat!her strong currents, our lads spent a lot of their
time in and on the historic river.
On the morning we set out for Brielly some official war artists
set up their easels and proceeded to sketch our lounging unit.
We've never been able to trace the results of their efforts. Perhaps
we were like the subject of an old song - "a picture no artist could
paint !" Water was very scarce at the morning halting place and
very few men were able to shave. Those who did rid themselves
of whiskers had to buy their sha ving water from a nearby farmer.

We "Take Over" at Amiens

On August 4th we were off again and marched into Amiens,
where we established our headquarters in a large, abandoned

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y f7 AMIENS 209
college for ladies. The Horse Transport lines were located on the
outskirts of the city and about a half-mile from the college.
Some of the men may remember the very life-like stuffed dog
found in the college dormitory - and the excellent cornet found
hanging on a cubicle wall. Sergeant-Major Hodder entertained
the troops by playing several solos on the cornet with which
instrument he proved himself strangely familiar.
Amiens, when we arrived there, was being shelled rather freely.
Very few citizens remained in the city. The central and residential
districts were barricaded off and troops were not pern1itted to
enter the city proper, without special permission. Armed sentries
guarded the shops and homes from molestation by looters and
souvenir hunters. The famous cathedral could be seen quite read-
ily from our billet. It was generously protected by sandbags and
concrete buttresses but there were a few gaping holes in the roof
and walls when we first saw it.
For two days the whole three Sections remained in the ladies'
college, cleaning its many rooms, cubicles and cellars and getting
them ready for use as a main dressing station. Our men were kept
under cover as much as possible during daylight hours, but after
dark they were permitted to move about in the open.
As a matter of fact, as soon as dusk arrived, all roads and main
arteries leading into and through Amiens were alive with moving
troops of all descriptions. Infantry, tanks, artillery, machine

gunners, pontoons, lorries, service wagons, tractors and ambu

lances - marching men and horses from every branch of the
service were moving eastward from dusk until dawn. Yet, when
daylight came, there was little visible evidence that thousands of
troops had been on the move during the night. It was as though
some weird phantom army was in motion, and for the first time
in the whole war, the men seemed to gain confidence because of
this long
needed innovation of secrecy in movement. All night
long many of our largest planes flew back and forth over the
German line, drowning out the noise of our moving army.
Another clever ruse fooled the enemy: The 4th Canadian
Mounted Rifles and the 27th Battalion were sent into the Line
at Kemmel for two or three days. As soon as the enemy had been
permitted to identify them and conclude that the whole Corps
was in the vicinity the two regiments were rushed south and
joined the rcst of the Corps on the second day of the scrap. Two

210 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E.7 AMIENS
casualty clearing stations were also moved into the Kemme!
area and the nursing sisters warned to keep the movement secret
- with the logical result that Fritz was quickly aware of their
presence and jumped to the desired conclusions.
On the afternoon of August 7th our bearers moved up to
V illers- Bretenneux, lea ving behind them the Transport and
Nursing Sections to run the main dressing station. Colonel Kap-
pele, Major Elliott and Captains Parker and Clark were the only
officers left at headquarters. All the other officers went forward
with the stretcher squads or to various regimental aid-posts.
Just before our bearers marched out of Amiens, Joe Irwin made
the rounds, saying goodbye to everybody. Orders were in for Joe
to return to Canada - and how we envied him! He was going
horne, while we were going into we did not know \vhat. \Ve
were all glad for Joe's sake, though, for he was one of the old
originals, and had been in Frañèe since 1915. At the start of the
war the lads nicknamed him "Sharkey" and thus will he be
known to them as long as they live. He and the dental officer
had waged a private, yet friendly war of their own, from the
da y we reached France - and the war ended with honors about
even. \Vhether Sharkey did most of the dental work we cannot
sa y, but we will assert that he got the best results from the use
of the dental quarters and equipment. Joe spoke French very
fluently and, consequently, had to attend to most of the civilian
patients. And how he did look after them!
The bearers waited in V illers- Bretonneux until dark. Then
they moved over to their right, into the ruined village of Cachy.
Here in cellars they took shelter until three o'clock in the morn-
ing, when they moved up into the support trenches, ready for the
opening of the battle.
At 4.20 a.m" August 8th, the barrage opened. Hundreds of
guns that had been moved in almost overnight sent their shriek-
ing shells over to the enemy. Tanks moved into jumping-off
positions; and artillery and engineers with their guns, limbers and
pontoons edged closer to the Line, waiting for the lifting of
the barrage.
After a few minutes our n1en moved forward. And along with
them moved second-wave infantrymen, machine-gunners, artil-
lerymen, tanks and engineers. Just in the rear of us could be seen
approaching cavalry, while over our heads roared low-flying

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS 211
battle planes. From the moment our barrage opened only a half

dozen enemy shells came at all close to us.
The whole show appeared, at the start, more like a well-
staged pageant than an actual battle. Here was the Canadian
Corps, over 120,000 strong, going into a scrap that was different
from anything it had known in the past. Here a man could stand
up. He could move about on top of haret, dry ground - not
under it or through it, in knee-deep mud. He could see, too,
alongside him all the supporting forces that went to make up an
attacking army, and the sight gave him added strength and con-
fidence. He had the Aussies on his left and the French Poilus on
his right, so was satisfied that his flanks were securely protected.
A heavy ground-mist hung over the old Front Line as the
troops started forward, but this gradually lifted and exposed to
view a panorama of blown-in trenches, uprooted wire, wrecked
gun-pits and a terrain dotted with shell-holes and dead bodies.
There was ample evidence that our preparatory barrage, while
not as heavy as at Vimy and Passchendaele, had been far more
accurate and effective. Enemy guns were found with their muzzle-
covers still on and their crews killed before they could get them
into action. In some of the deepest dugouts Germans were found
still asleep and they were dumbfounded to find themselves our
prisoners.
Our bearer squads moved forward almost a mile without en-
countering any difficulties, other than tangled wire and machine-
gun bullets. Fritz was firing from a small woods just northeast
of Hangard Wood and our infantry was held up for a while.
Here we were kept busy giving first-aid to the infantry casualties
which were occurring Í1l1mediatelv in front of us. Suddenly some
of the new fast whippet tanks came to the help of the infantry-
men and quickly put the hidden Hun machine-gunners out of
action. None of the Fifth men was hit at this point, but several
of our attached regimental bearers and some of the Sixth and
Fourth men were killed or wounded.
By this time the sun was well up and the ground mist had
lifted. As we moved forward to Marcelcave we could see numer-
ous groups of t,
e fleeing enemy on the high ground about a
thousand yards ahead of us. In Marcdcave B. Section established
a dressing station, while A. and C. Sections nloved forward
toward \Viencourt. Just in front of the lattcr village was another

212 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, \V AILL Y E7 AMIENS
small wood, the Bois de Pierret, where hidden machine-guns
held up our infantrymen once more. At this time we were right
amongst the attacking riflemen, our men lying flat on the ground
while the crouching fighting men and bombers attacked the
machine-gun posts. Here again we were fortunate, but all around
us riflemen were being hit and their casualties were many. Once
again whippet tanks came to the rescue and blew the hidden
gun crews out of action. Those new fast tanks "put the wind up JJ
Fritz in no uncertain manner.
It was at this time we received one of our greatest thrills of
the whole war. Our cavalry came into action and they made a
most comforting and inspiring sight. Lances, sabres and carbines
had been the subjects of foot-soldiers' jokes for so long, it was
difficult for us to believe our own eyes when we saw them going
into action. Yet here they were, and as the cavalrymen dis-
mounted, knelt and opened fire in support of our infantrymen,
we gave them a rousing cheer of appreciation.
All through the day the advance went forward. Past the
wooded heights on the west bank of the River Luce; over the
almost-dry river-bed itself, and on through Cayeux, Guillau-
court and Caix our Division swept. Darkness found us about
one mile east of Caix and word reached us that the whole Corps
had made a sÍlnilar advance.
It was in Caix that Billy Brown and Yorky Coates found their
'I pot of gold. " In a ruined cellar the two lads discovered a n1etal box
containing twenty-five golden Louis - five hundred francs. Evi-
dently the money had been buried by some French householder
and dislodged from its hiding-place by the recent bombardment.
Billy and Y orky each took twelve of the coins and gave the odd
one to the first man who followed them into the cellar. In Arras,
a few weeks later, the twenty-four Louis d'Or were spent on the
stuff that cheers, and all the pals of the two lads shared in cele-
brating the lucky find.
A. and C. Sections moved back to Wiencourt for the night.
B. Section stayed at Marcelcave and Guillaucourt. At the latter
place an advanced post had been established during the afternoon
and wounded were being sent back by rail. All through the pre-
vious night and day French railway troops had been busy repair-
ing the railway on our immediate left and it was due to their
great work that we were able to evacuate our cases by rail.

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS 213
Although the stretcher squads had been on the move since
practically the afternoon of the 7th, their work had been con-
siderably lessened by the assistance of hundreds of German pris

oners. From about five o'clock in the morning of the 8th, an
immense number of captured Huns had been arriving and we
utilized them to the limit. Our own men gave first-aid to the
wounded and then had them carried back to Marcdca ve, Caix
and Guillaucourt by the gray-coated prisoners. When our supply
of stretchers ran out we used German ground-sheets as litters.
From zero hour until dark we had advanced about eight miles.
The weather was intensely hot and there was a shortage of drink

ing water. We had been warned against using water from cap

tured wells, so our men were in dire straits until a well of clean
water was discovered in the ruins of W iencourt. Here we were
able to satisfy the cravings of our wounded fighting-men and
replenish our own water-bottles.
As was the case in nearly every battle, we failed to get proper
rations up the Line. Once again, if it had not been for food taken
from haversacks of the dead we would have had scarcely any
food at all during the first twenty-four hours of the battle. Of
course, the long and rapid advance was somewhat unexpected
and might have caught the commissary people unprepared, but
to the fellows up the Line there seemed little excuse for the
shortage. Roads had been repaired quickly and our ambulances
had no difficulty in getting up to our advanced stations. Even
general service wagons had been sent up to transport wounded,
so it was hard to understand why some of these conveyances
hadn't been utilized to bring up rations when they came for cases.
About ten o'clock in the morning of August 9th, B. Section
bearers joined A. and C. at Wiencourt and all moved forward
once more, keeping close to the railway embankment on their
left. On an open plain just west of Rosieres another dressing
station was established. From here we watched the infantry and
tanks capture Rosieres. For a few hours, only the left portion of
the town was in our hands and in the fight for the right portion
our tanks and infantry suffered very heavily. Immediately in front
of us a tank was hit and burst into flames. Some of our bearers
rushed over and hauled out a wounded officer, but he was so
badly injured and burned he died soon after we rescued him.
The other occupants of the tank died horrible deaths inside their

214 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS
steel pyre, for the flames and exploding shells made further
rescues impossible.
Shortly after the tank blew up we were again joined by the
cavalry. Right beside us they manoeuvred into charging forma-
tion and galloped away through the Rosieres-Vrely valley. In a
few minutes we followed them along the valley, gathering their
fallen and picking up the wounded infantrymen who had made
the breach through which the mounted troops charged.
Dead horses lay everywhere along that valley. Fritz had left
behind him dug-in machine-gun crews and these had created
ha voc in the ranks of the charging horsemen. But not one German
that manned the machine-guns escaped. The gun crews lay dead
or wounded beside their weapons. Here we had our first experi-
ence in dressing sabre slashes and lance wounds. Every sabre cut
seemed to be at the point where a man's neck joins his shoulder,
and the heavy downward slashes had cur deep diagonal wounds
which were difficult to treat, In most instances the lances had
pierced the Germans' throats but not a few had entered the
breast. One or two shattered lances still pinned their victims to
the ground. Many hopelessly wounded horses lay and threshed
about the valley but we picked up discarded rifles and put the
poor animals out of their misery.
In the afternoon of August 9th we moved into Vrely and set
up a dressing station in some German dugouts. While some men
sta yed here others continued on to Meharicourt, in front of which
village our infantry were digging in for the night. A few long-
range naval guns searched for our dugouts.
Between V rel y and Meharicourt the fighting had been very
severe. Our bearers here found hundreds of Canadian and German
dead and wounded. We established an aid-post in a ruined brew-
ery cellar in Meharicourt and, until darkness fell, collected our
wounded there. As soon as dusk arrived we sent our cases back
to Vrely, utilizing German prisoners for thar purpose.
From the night of August 9th, and right through to August
15th, we cleared wounded from an area to the left of Rosieres
and to as far right as Rouvroy. * During this period the enemy's
resistance had stiffened considerably and our infantry were occu-
pying captured German trenches. To the south of us the Third

*In Rouvroy we noticed that the Germans had used the local church as a stable
for their horses. The building was in a filthy condition,

BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y E7 AMIENS 215
Division continued to attack, while on our left the Fourth Divi-
sion approached Chilly and Hallu. For five days there was a
series of attacks and counter-attacks and the whole area was
heavily shelled. Every night enemy bombing planes came over
and the cavalry in the valley suffered heavily. Gradually, how-
ever, the Canadian Corps pushed forward. Our Division cap-
tured Fransart and Chilly; while the First took La Chavctte and
joined hands with the French at Fresnoy-Ies-Roye.
By August 16th we had established other posts in Warvillers
and in Fouquescourt, and were evacuating cases from these posts
when Imperial troops relieved our bearers during the night of
August 17th. The Front Line at this time was almost parallel
with and just west of the Chaulnes-Roye railway line. Lorries
carried our men back to Amiens and the whole unit was together
once more in the college dressing station.
During that final night in the tunnels of Fouquescourt a new
captain came to us - a very well-groomed and meticulously-
dressed officer who, when he saw son1C of the lads delousing
themsel ves over a few sputtering candles, delivered a very pointed
lecture on the lack of cleanliness. "There's absolutely no excuse
for vermin among men of a field ambulance," he declared, "and
a man who permits himself to become lousy should be placed
under arrest!" A few minutes later this self-same captain had his
own shirt and undershirt off and, with the aid of his flashlight,
was picking louse after louse off his clothing and person. While
he had been busy lecturing the men, some of the lads had dropped
a few of their own lice on the newcomer's blankets. From that
night on he said no more about uncleanliness. Apparently he had
troubles of his own - plenty of thei11 and big ones.
Throughout the ten days of the battle our Amiens dressing
station was crowded with wounded. A casualty clearing station
had been set up in a nearby asylum and this, too, was full of
wounded. For the first few days cases came in faster than they
could be cleared. There was a shortage of blankets, stretchers and
medical supplies and hundreds of wounded men lay on the hard
cold floors of the dressing and clearing stations, without even a
great-coat to keep them warm during the chilly August nights.
Gradually, however, the clearing convoys caught up with the
work and by the time the battle was over everything was
running smoothly.

216 BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, W AILL Y [y AMIENS
The Fifth lads must have worn horseshoes in the Amiens scrap
for, although other ambulance units suffered several casualties,
we had not one man kIlled. Two or three of our bearers were sent
back shell-shocked or gassed.
Among other casualties, our friends of the Sixth Field Ambu-
lance lost Captain MacKechnie and, if he had been a Fifth officer,
our bearers couldn't have felt worse. He had worked with us so
often up the Line he had become like one of ourselves. Mac-
Kechnie was a strapping big fellow, well over six feet, so the
men had nicknamed him "The White Hope." An officer or non-
com. had to be either very much admired or greatly detested to
be nicknamed by his men. This captain was greatly loved by all
who served under him.

A Brief Account of the Battle

Between August 8th and August 22nd, 1918, the Canadian
Corps defeated sixteen enemy divisions, captured 10,000 pris-
oners, 201 guns and 1,000 machine guns, and had 11,725 casual-
ties. Our attack started on a front of 8,000 yards and was widened
out to 10,000 yards. Total penetration was fourteen miles. Sixty-
seven square miles of territory and twenty-seven towns and
villages were liberated.
The battle opened on August 8th at 4.20 a.m. By nightfall the
enemy's defenses had been penetrated over eight miles and the
following towns and villages captured: Hangard, Demuin, Beau-
court, Aubercourt, Courcelles, Ignaucourt, Cayeux, Caix, Mar-
celcave, Wiencourt, l'Equipee and Guillaucourt; and the Corps
also helped the French troops in the capture of Mezieres. On
August 9th the Corps advanced four miles, capturing Rouvroy,
Le Quesnel, Folies, Bouchoir, Beaufort, Warvillers, Vrely, Rosi-
eres and Meharicourt.
General Rawlinson remarks in his memoirs that "the spirit of
his Colonial troops was the deciding factor in the splendid
. "
vICtory.
The Amiens "show," according to General Currie, was the
conception of General Rawlinson, and was undertaken with the
three-fold objective of:
1. Lessening the possibility of a German break-through at
Amiens, where the Huns had been attempting to drive a wedge
between the British and French Armies.

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quarry post. Alec Lewis lights patient's cigarette.

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BIENVILLERS-AU-BOIS, WAILLY [y AMIENS 217
2. The freeing of the Amiens-Paris railway, that invaluable
artery of communication crossing the entire Allied rear area and
for many weeks under enemy gun-threat and domination.
3. The preservation of the city of Arras, to the north - Arras,
the old cathedral city which had received a terrific bombardment
and hammering ever since the enemy advance of March 21st.
The battle ended with all goals attained and with the deeply-
rooted conviction of our High Command that the war could be
waged to a successful conclusion before the end of 1918. To
Ludendorff the battle brought the realization that the "jig was
up, " for he mentions in his memoirs that "Amiens painted for
Germany the black day of the war. JJ To Haig it brought tears
of thankfulness. It was the definite turning-point in the war. In
General Currie's own words: "Haig came to me at Pernes. We
sat alone and discussed Amiens and the dark days during the
spring set-backs. He told me that his one comforting thought
during the terrible days of reverses was that his army could not
be defeated so long as his Canadian Corps u:as undefeated. On
many occasions, he told me, he was tempted to throw the
Canadians at the onrushing Boche but something had always
whispered 'No' to him, and so he saved us for the counterblow. JJ
Additional evidence of the im portance the High Command
placed in the Amiens victory was the visit to the Canadian
Front of the King, Foch, Haig, Weigand and Petain on August
13th. \Ve were up the Line and, consequently, didn't see them,
but we knew they were in the neighborhood, and we felt that
we must have done something exceptionally big to attract such
an illustrious group of visitors.
On Sunday, August 18th, a thanksgiving service was held in
the great Amicns cathedral. Many of our men attended and
joined the grateful citizens in offering thanks for the ren1arkable
victory and the relief of the long-threatened city.
The ensuing two days were spent in cleaning up and in kit
refitting, ete. At 9.30 p.m. on August 20th the unit said goodbye
to Amiens and marched to Boves, where it entrained for the
north. After riding all night a la 40 hommes, 8 chevaux, we de-
trained at \Va vrans and marched east to Ambrines where we
billeted overnight. On the 22nd we went by busses to Achicourt,
and once again took over the dressing station we had established
before going south.

Famous army abbreviations-perhaps you know what they mean,
Some of them puzzle us:

A.W.O,L,
S,R.D,
P.U.O.
P.B,I.
F.U.F.U. Ex F,F,H.
S,A.P.

S,F.A.
S,O,L,
R.I,P,
M.ExD.
P.U,A.
F.U,],I.A.R.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Oh where do we go from here, boys?
Where do we go from here?
We've been from Ypres to the Somme
And haven't found good beer.
We're sick as hell of shot and shell
And generals at the rear -
We've got no rum and we're feeling bum,
Where do we go from here?

THE LAST PHASE

(August 23, 1918, to November 11, 1918)

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A Miracle
Happens

FOR THE
next two days the
Fifth was kept
rather busy refit-
ting and making
arrangenrrents for
the conrring Battle of Arras. One very noteworthy innovation
was introduced at this tinrre : Our officers were thoughtful enough
to go over their battle nrraps with the senior nonconrrs. and
acquaint the sergeants with the plans of the con1ing action. We
believe that the snrroothness wièh which posts and stations were
established fronrr that tinrre on fully vindicated the confidence
placed in the Bearer Sergeants. They were inrrnrreasurably helped
by their newly-acquired knowledge of the battle terrain.
By the night of August 25th, battle organization was conrr-
pleted and the stretcher squads nrroved up to Beaurains Corner,
ready to go forward behind the infantry on the following nrrorning.
Zero hour had been originally set for 4.50 a.nrr. but was
changed to 3 a.nrr. in order to effect a greater surprise and allow
our troops to pass through the enenrry's forward nrrachine-gun
defences before dawn.
Shortly after the opening barrage our bearers nrroved forward.
The first waves of our attacking infantry were already a few
hundred yards ahead of us and everything pointed to another
victory. The few wounded nrren we attended to were highly
jubilant over the success of the initial phase of the attack. Captain

219

220

THE LAST PHASE

Hart, with most of the squads, moved over to the left, through
Tilloy-Iez-Moffiaines and then eastward, along the south side of
the Arras-Cambrai road. Major Elliott and Captain Moses, with
our other bearers, moved ahead in a south-easterly direction.
They established an advanced dressing station near our old aid-
post just west of Neuville- Vieasse. All our evacuations were
made through this station until late in the afternoon, when an-
other post was established just east of Neuville- Vitasse.
Although we had a great many wounded to handle throughout
the day, our bearers' work was considerably lightened through
the help of hundreds of German prisoners. The captured Huns
were so glad to be on our side of the Line they willingly shouldered
stretcher cases and, in charge of one or twO of our men, made
their way across country to the Neuville- Vitasse clearing points.
So anxious were some of the unescorted German carrying parties
to get as far toward the rear as possible, they kept right on going
and carried their burdens right into Arras.
During the night of the 26th Captain Hart's party made its
headquarters in an old German dressing station just west of the
captured village of Guémappe. In this station we found several
dead and wounded Huns. Scattered about the place was con-
siderable first-aid material and among it we found a lot of paper
shell-dressings, paper bandages, ete. The wounded Germans
seemed quite pleased at finding themselves in our hands. Evi-
dently, there had been a tragic shortage of medical supplies in
their own army.
The first day of the scrap had passed with only one bearer,
Frank Laflin, being killed and without any of our men being
wounded. Our only other casualty was a water-cart which had
been run over by an advancing tank near the Neuville- Vitasse
station. Once again our troops had met with success. By 7 a.m.
the infantry had captured Chapel Hill and Orange Hill and were
in Monchy Ie Preux. By 11 a. tn. they had taken the strongly held
trench system east of Monchy and were in Guémappe at 4 a.m.
\Vancourt and Heninel were in Canadian hands by nightfall.
The day's advance was an average of about six thousand yards,
and over two thousand prisoners had been taken.
On the morning of August 27th the attack opened about five
o'clock and once again our bearers moved forward, closely
behind the infantry . To our unit fell the task of clearing all the

THE LAST PHASE 221
wounded south of the Arras-Cambrai road. \Ve found the second
day of the battle far different from the first. Fritz had brought up
fresh troops. His resistance was greatly stiffened, and our wounded
more numerous. However, our infantry were not to be denied
and in spite of the enemy's dogged resistance succeeded in pushing
forward. Vis-en-Artois was captured early in the day. Cherísy
was in our hands by 2 p.m., and the Sensee River was crossed
late in the afternoon. Throughout the day Hart's squads had
continued to move along behind the attacking troops and suc-
ceeded in clearing the wounded back to the Neuville- V itasse
station and to another post established early that morning at a
point where the roads forked just west of Wancourt.
Throughout the previous night, working parties had repaired
the Arras-Cambrai road and we were able to use many of the
returning ammunition lorries for the transportation of our most
serious cases. All the roads were now under fairly heavy shell-fire,
owing to the fact that the Imperial troops on our flanks had been
held up and Fritz was able to rake us with artillery cross-fire for
the following few days.
The Canadian advance on August 27th reached a maximum
of four thousand yards along the Cambrai road; but the casualties
in our Division were exceptionally heavy. The Fifth Brigade
fought a terribly gruelling battle around Cherisy and for the river
and ridge just east of that village. From the opposite slope the
enemy was able to pour down a terrific fire and time after time
he made heavy counter attacks in an effort to dislodge our troops
from their dearly-won position. In spite of Fritz's opposition,
the lads of the Fifth Brigade held on to their gains and dug in for
the night just east of Vis-en-Artois and Cherisy.
Late in the afternoon Captain Hart's squads had established
an advanced dressing station in a quarry just west of Vis-en-
Artois and about halfway between the Arras-Cambrai and Gué-
mappe-Cherisy roads. It was from this post that most of the 5th
Brigade cases were cleared back to the station near Wancourt.
Shortly after daylight on the morning of August 28th Captain
Hart took a motor ambulance up the Cambrai road to Vis-en-
Artois, turned right and proceeded to Chcrisy village. He was
unaware that the enemy still held the heights just east of the
Sensee River. Consequently, that two-mile ride along the Vis-
en-Artois-Cherisy road was an exciting one indeed. Shortly after

222

THE LAST PHASE

turning south, just west of the ruined Vis-en-Artois bridge, the
car came under direct machine-gun fire. Its sides were fairly
riddled with bullets and there is no doubt that only Fritz's sur-
prise and haste saved the car and its occupants from becoming
casualties. The car belonged to the Fourth Field Ambulance, so
possibly the audacious captain wasn't too concerned about its
welfare. On arriving at Cherísy, the ambulance was driven behind
a heap of debris. Its five rather scared occupants tumbled out and,
after a careful inspection of the ruined trenches and dugouts which
made up the village, made their way by foot back to the quarry
dressing station. Squads were immediately sent into Cherisy to
clear the many 22nd Battalion wounded whom Hart and his
party had located.
The previous day and night had been a glorious and costly
period for the 22nd Battalion. This famous regiment had gone
into the attack with a battle roll of eight hundred and fifty men,
all ranks. They brought only about twenty men out of the Line
when they were relieved during the night of August 28th.
Counting the fifty men detailed for stretcher-bearing the "V,an-
Doos" mustered only seventy men all told. They lost every
officer, including Captain Marin, their medical officer, who was
last to take over command. One of the company sergeant-
majors brought out the handful of survivors. The Fifth Field
Ambulance may well be proud of the fact that to its stretcher-
bearers fell the honor of clearing the wounded of such a valiant
battalion.
During the afternoon of August 28th the bearer party on the
right (in charge o[Major Elliott and Captain Dunham) establish-
ed a collecting post on the north side of the Guémappe-Cherisy
road, just west of Cherisy village. From this point wounded were
sent back by cars and lorries, while from the quarry over to the
left the same means of evacuation were employed. Most of our
cases were gathered from the area fronting Vis-en-Artois and
Cherisy. The enemy counter-attacked throughout this day also in
a desperate effort to protect his Drocourt-Queant Switch line.
It was on this day that the Canadian Corps fought with its right
flank exposed, through failure of the Imperials to come up in
support. The British had been held up at Croisilles and this had
made the three-day battle almost wholly a Canadian affair, our
troops receiving little or no support from either flank.

THE LAST PHASE

223

During the night of August 28th-29th the First Canadian
Division relieved the Second, and the Fourth Imperial Division
relieved our Third Division, on our left. Vie were glad to have
the Fourth Imperials with us, and from then on we found them
excellent fighting men and first-class comrades.

We Have a Brief l{est

Just before dawn on August 29th our squads made a final trip
up beyond Cherisy and Vis-en-Artois and brought out the last
of the Canadian wounded. We then turned over our two forward
stations to First Division units and made our way back to Beau-
rains and Achicourt.
Our casualties during the three days were Frank Laflin, killed;
Ban Johnson and one other bearer, wounded; and Harry Fearnall,
badl y gassed.
Our bearers were mighty glad to be out of this "show."
Here again they had been without proper rations while up the
Line. Those responsible for the sending up of food supplies didn't
seem to have the slightest idea of what conditions up front
actually were. Whole carcasses of mutton \,vere sent up to the
bearers, regardless of the fact that only a squad or two were at
each regimental aid post or relay post. These squads were on the
go, night and day, looking after the wounded; so how the
quartermaster-captain ever expected men so situated to cut up,
divide and cook carcasses of mutton is beyond comprehension.
Under similar circumstances some other units cooked the food
back at their headquarters, divided it into variously sized por-
ions and sent it up the Line. Our lads had no means or time for
the handling of a whole sheep and were obliged to abandon the
meat to the rats, or give it to troops who had a cook-kitchen
with them. There wasn't any actual shortage of food during this
scrap, but the method of getting it to the bearers made it im-
possible for them to enjoy the fresh meat portion of the rations.
All our comment on failure of rations must not be taken as
a reflection on Bill Atkinson and the other fellows who actually
did the work in the quartermaster stores. They were invariably
painstaking, obliging and desirous of giving the lads up the Line
the very best. But there were limits to their powers - limits
placed upon them by the officer in charge of their department.

224

THE LAST PHASE

It was that officer's duty to go forward and see for himself the
conditions prevailing, but - well, he just didn't, that's all. So
the noncoms. and men in the stores had to bear the brunt of all
the grousing.
Before the Amicns battle we had been warned to beware of
drinking water from wells in captured territory. It was rumored
that Fritz was poisoning and otherwise polluting all drinking
supplies. Now, again, the same warnings were posted and the
only way we could prove whether or not a well was poisoned
was to make a prisoner drink some of the water. If he lived, all
right; if he died, all wrong - especially for the prisoner . We
must admit, however, that not one of our trial subjects died.
The nearest any of them ever came to death happened when we
were in the station near Guémappe. We had been without drink-
ing water for many hours when we located a well close to the
entrance of the station dugout. The water appeared rather
brackish and smelled none toO sweet. A stout six-foot Prussian
sergeant was brought forward and about a quart of water given
to him. That prisoner must have had a guilty conscience for it
was only by threatening to shoot him that he was prevailed upon
to drink. Even then it took him about fifteen minutes to swallow
the suspected fluid. We then sat him down while we formed in
a ring around him. His face grew paler and paler. Finally he
turned a sickly green color. Perspiration stood in large beads on
his face and forehead. He trembled and tottered as if he were
about to give up the ghost. But it must have been chiefly fear
that bothered him, for after waiting a half-hour for him to pass
out, we ourselves partook of the water and none of us felt any
ill effects.
For six days (he bearers rested at Beaurains, and the Head-
quarters and Nursing staffs carried on at Achicourt. During this
period there was a steady forward movement of troops past our
billets. Night and day there was a continuous motion of march-
ing infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineers and supply lorries.
Unlike the Amiens scrap, very few tanks seemed to be going
forward. We were no\v many miles behind the Front and the
onl yother evidence we had th
t there reall v was "a war on" was
that Arras was being shelled by long r
nge naval guns, and
Fritz's bombing planes paid us a visit every night the weather
was favorable.

.A. rras -
Ca.mbTai

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hec.ouY C

THE LAST PHASE 225
Things Appear Brighter

\V ith the first phase of the Arras scrap behind us, and its
almost unbelievable success added to our Amiens triumph, we
were beginning to feel considerably cocky. While we didn't in
the least anticipate an early end to the war, we did realize that
we now held the whip hand. Our estaminet choruses at this
time betrayed our optimism and esprit de corps.

(Tune - She Only Answered Ting
a-ling)
The bells of Hell go ting-a-ling-a-líng-
Por Pritz but not for me!
For me the angels sing-a
ling
a-ling -
They're waiting there for me.
o Death, where is thy sting-a-ling-a--ling?
o Grave, thy victory?
The bells of Hell go ting-a-ling-a-ling,
For Fritz but not for me.

(Tune - Hold Your Hand Out, Naughty Boy)
Keep your head down, Allemand.
Keep your head down, Allemand,
Last night in the pale moonlight, I saw you, I saw you-
You were fixing up your barbed wire
When we opened up rapid fire,
If you want to see your mother and your sister and your brother,
Keep your head down, Allemand.

On September 4th our bearers again went up the Line, in
charge of Captain Moses. The Fourth Field Ambulance was now
in charge of forward area evacuations and our squads were
attached to (hat unit for the time being. The Front Line was
just west of Marquion and our bearers helped clear wounded
from the Cagnicourt-Buissy area. Our Division was once more
in action and the great battle for the famous Hindenburg Line
was in progress. The notorious Crows' Nest had fallen into
Canadian hands on September 1st. On the following day the
Orocourt-Queant line was won. Villers-Iez-Cagnicourt, Cagni-
court and the Buissy Switch line were captured. During the fight-
ing of September 3rd, 4th and 5th, the enemy had been forced
back to the east bank of the Canal du Nord.

226

THE LAST PHASE

Wes Ivory was all set for Paris -
Had his leave warrant, too, but alas!
His trip proved a flop-
Leave came to a stop,
And Ivory, instead, went to Arras!
* * * *
Our bearers remained with the Fourth Field Ambulance until
the night of September 10th when they returned to our own head-
quarters at Achicourt. Our only casualties during this trip in were
Fred Meehan and Bill Stanley who were both badly gassed on
September 7th.
On September 10th Ban Johnson) Gordon Rosser) Freddy
Wall and Teddy Gilmore were awarded Military Medals. Two
days later Ben Sharpe received the same decoration.

Three Years in France

On September 15th the Fifth celebrated the third anniversary
of its arrival in France. The officers had a special dinner to mark
the occasion. The men had a slight increase in their day)s rations
and a special issue of rum. The senior noncoms. bought a pair
of suckling pigs from a farmer and succeeded in purchasing (or
stealing) a jar of rum. To Sergeant-Major Hodder fell the honor
of mixing some rum-and-milk punch - and he did a first-class
job. The anniversary was enjoyed by every man in the unit.
Perhaps you were one of the gang that set out to obtain wine
for the celebration - the gang which entered an Achicourt
estaminet and ordered two botdes of wine, and while the pro-
prietor was down cellar getting them) filled six water-botdes
with wine from a cask?
We carried on at Achicourt) with nothing of moment occur-
ring) until September 20th when A. and B. Section bearers) in
charge of Captains Kirby and Parker) were sent forward to help
the Fourth Field Ambulance in the Cagnicourt-Riencourt area.
Next day the rest of the Fifth moved into Arras where they occu-
pied some half-ruined houses in the residential part of the town.
These houses were in a reparable condition. Their furniture and
other contents were exactly as they had been left when the former
occupants had fled from them. Our men were put on their honor
not to molest anything and we are glad to report that the only

THE LAST PHASE 227
thing stolen was a beautiful handmade lounging robe which fell
into the ever-covetous hands of one of our sergeants.
On September 23rd we moved into the Deaf, Dumb and Blind
InstItute and opened a corps rest station. It was on this day
that Drí ver Claude Hogle of the Motor Transport was killed
by a shell, Two days later we were relieved by the 14th Canadian
Field Ambulance and we then "stood to" ready to go up the
Line. During the night of the 25th Fritz's planes came over Arras
and dropped dozens of bombs around the railway station, where
there were thousands of men and horses being detrained. Some
of our sergeants were near the station at the time but, although
many men and horses were killed or wounded, our fellows
escaped with nothing but a severe shaking-up. It was rumored
that our noncoms. were well fortified with grape juice of 1910
vintage and, consequently, received that Divine protection
usually extended to fools and imbibers of strong drink.
During the night of September 26th-27th the headquarters
details and C. Section moved up to a field between Cherisy and
Hendicourt, where they were joined by the bearers of A. and B.
Sections. The next day was spent mostly in inaction, only a few
wounded being relayed back by our ambulances. The Fourth
Field Ambulance were alongside us and the only cases we were
required to look after were rear-area wounded. We were now
occupying bell tents and these made excellent targets for Fritz's
bombing planes during the ensuing two or three nights.
Early in the afternoon of September 28th all our bearers
moved forward to Sains-Iez- Marquion where we were again
under canvas. We were now on the east side of the Canal du
Nord. Before us and slightly to our right was the famous Bourlon
Wood where Byng and the Fort Garry Horse had fought so
gallantly (and almost disastrously) the previous November.
Bourlon had fallen to the Canadians just the day before, so some
of our lads went over to the \Vood and from its eastern heights
had their first glin1pse of Cambrai burning in the distance.
Our Division was now in reserve so we remained compara-
tively inactive on the 29th, while the rest of the Corps battled
for Cambrai and swung over to the left to force the city from
the north.
Early in the morning of September 30th the bearers moved
forward, first to Sailly, then over to Bourlon Village, then back

228

THE LAST PHASE

to Sailly again. The whole Canadian Front was now veering to
the no
th ,of Cambrai, owing to the failure of the troops on our
right to keep up with the Canadian advance. Some Impenal
generals were rather peeved when the Canadians finally captured
Cambrai, because that honor had been intended for the Seven-
teenth Corps. However, somebody had to take the city and the
job was done by our troops.
From a bearer headquarters post established in Sailly, squads
were sent to the various regimental aid-posts near Tilloy. These
squads were kept very busy, for casualties were heavy, particu-
larly in the Fifth Brigade.
On October 1st the Nursing and Headquarters staffs of the
Fifth moved ahead to a field near Marquion, where tents were
pitched and a collecting and evacuation post was established.
For two days they remained in this location but Fritz bombed
and shelled the area so heavily it was found necessary to move.
During the night of October 3rd-4th, a lad named Doyle, a
bearer of the Sixth, was killed as he lay asleep. Next morning
the unit headquarters staffs mov,ed to the r'Ï'ght, into the ruined
village of Sains-Iez-Marquion.
Our unit was now in charge of Second Division evacuations;
and Majors Burgess and Elliott were in command of the bearers
over in the Sailly sector. Orders posted this day informed us
that Captain Hart had been awarded a bar to his Military Cross
and that Captain Mossman had re
eived the Military Cross.
From September 30th, when our bearers first moved into
Sailly, they had been kept very busy. Fritz had made counter
attack after counter attack and casualties had simply poured
into the regimental aid-posts. To add to our lads' general dis-
comfort they had been shelled and bombed every night. The
enemy was now putting up his last desperate resistance and it is
recorded that Ludendorff decided, after the Canadian successes
of September 28th, to demand from his government that imme-
diate peace negotiations be inaugurated. In the meanwhile his
troops would endeavor to hold us where we were in order that
better peace terms might be obtained.
October 1st, according to many military authorities, was one
of the most stubborn days in the war. On that day the Hun
brought up no fewer than ten fresh divisions and thirteen addi-
tional machine-gun companies in an effort to stop the Canadians.

THE LAST PHASE

229

On this one day alone our Artillery fired over seven thousand
tons of ammunition in support of our infantry.
Gradually, however, our infantry captured all the high ground
north of Cambrai and at one-thirty o'clock on the morning of
October 9th our troops entered the city. They took the garrison
by surprise and by daylight had mopped up the numerous strong
points throughout the place. Dawn found them on the south-
eastern edge of the town and well along the Valenciennes road.
The Imperials on our right were now up to the road leading to
Le Cateau. General Currie has stated that the Canadian Fifth
Brigade could have penetrated the town from the north two days
earlier, but strict orders had been given that none of the Brigade's
troops were to enter Cambrai!
By this time our bearers were in Escaudoeuvres and had suc-
ceeded in clearing all the wounded. The last few hours of the
attack had brought comparatively few Canadian casualties so
our men had a few hours welcome r
spite.
Early on the morning of the 10th an advanced station was
established to the right of Thun-St. - Martin and about one thous-
and yards behind Iwuy on the Iwuy-Cambrai road. On the fol-
lowing day a new post was located at a cross-road close to Iwuy;
and another in the beetroot factory at Naves. We were able to
get our cars up to these stations an'd our cases were cleared with
the utmost despatch.

One of the Fifth's Blackest Days

October 12th found our bearers occupying the same posts as
on the previous few days, and clearing their cases back to the
convent dressing station in Escaudoeuvres. It was on the morning
of this day that the Fifth's headquarters officers were nearly wiped
out: Colonel Kappele brought two lTIotor alTIbulances forward
and these were passing through the town of Iwuy (captured
October 11th) when a large shell exploded right between the two
cars. Not one of the party escaped injury. Eleven in all were hit.
Captain Parker, Sixth, and Captain McNeil, Johnny Nichols
and Bill Stanley of our own unit were killed. Colonel Kappele,
Major Burgess, Captain Clark, Captain Kay (Y.M.C.A.), Bill
Gordon, Vern Lyne, and Bill Murphy were wounded, most of
them seriously. Five of those hit were original members of the

230 THE LAST PHASE
Fifth. We now had but one original officer left. Strangely enough
neither car was very badly damaged. One ambulance was able
to return to Escaudoeuvres under its own power.
After dusk that evening an advanced post was established in
a chateau just north of Iwuy. In this chateau the 22nd Battalion
had its headquarters. This impetuous regiment had that very
day made an attack during which its men lost their bearings.
They eventually found themselves, however, and attacked with-
Out the prearranged barrage. They were so peeved at themselves
over their own mistake they took it out on Fritz, and kept right
on going until they had captured the ground they were supposed
to take on the following day.
Stretcher squads were also sent up to Hordain to clear cases
from the 24th Battalion R.A.P.
During the night of October 12th we were relieved by an
Ambulance unit from the 51st Imperial Division. Our bearers
rejoined the rest of the Fifth in St. Olle, a small suburb on the
western edge of Cambrai. Here, in a chocolate factory, the unit
opened a sort of general rest station. Major McGill was now in
command. .
Here we had some heartrending experiences with hundreds of
refugees who came staggering in from the district between Cam-
brai and Valencíennes. These poor unfortunates - aged women
and men, young girls and boys, and infants in arms - were in a
terrible condition. Most of them had for many weeks existed in
cellars and dugouts, subjected during that time to not only our
bombardments but to the enemy's as well. It had been many
months since they had eaten meat, butter and sugar, their chief
food having been watery cabbage-and-potato soup. They were
frightfully verminous and many of them suffered from skin
infections and other repulsive ailments. They moved about like
people in a nightmare and never shall we forget their "wolfing"
of the first food we gave them. Over one thousand extra rations
had been sent to us for just this emergency and if ever the Supply
people deserved credit it was then.
Over three hundred of these released French folk were ad-
mitted to our dressing station and everything possible was done
to relieve their suffering. Several St. Olle cellars were made
ready for them. We supplied them with blankets and they slept
in safety for the first time in months.

THE LAST PHASE

231

Denain J and a New C011'zmanding Officer

We remained at St, Olle until October 23rd, when we marched
to Monchecourt, a small town about eleven miles north of
Cambrai. Here we remained, running a dressing station, until
November 2nd when we marched east to Oenain, a steel and
mining city of about thirty thousand population.
In Oenain we took over quarters in an old school building.
The city had been captured by Canadian troops on October 20th,
and, when we arrived, the townspeople had barely got used to the
fact that the hated Hun had been driven from their city. The
school building, we were infonned, had been used by the Germans
as a prison camp - and we could readily believe that the in-
formation was true. Every room, from attic to cellar, was in a
terrible condition. Evidently the prisoners and their guards had
been without latrine accommodation, for every hole, nook and
cranny throughout the place presented the stinking evidence of a
long and filthy tenancy. To our men fell the nauseating task of
cleaning up the building and more than one man became vio-
lently ill during the first few days we were there. Many kind
civilians came to our rescue, however, and took our fellows into
their homes until the school was fit for human habitation.
Major Lomer had come to us as Officer Commanding and
was now actively in charge. Orders were received for our unit
to carryon a corps rest station in the school building, so further
scouring and cleaning had to be done. Of course, the logical
thing to have done was to use German prisoners for the dirty
work involved. But no ! We had the additional mortification of
seeing hundreds of captured Huns marching past the school
grounds or sitting at ease during a halt just the other side. of. the
school-yard fence, while we were cleaning up the stinking filth
left behind by their brothers-in-arms. This job, perhaps, was
merely part of the price we paid for being Corps Troops, for
such we now werc, the Fourteenth Canadian Field Ambulance
having temporarily taken our place with the Second Division.
Although we were not then a ware of it, we had been in our
last battle. There in Oenain we remained while the Canadian
Corps captured Valenciennes and pushed on to Mons.
From the day on which we entercd Denain for the first time,
the air was full of peace rumors and talk of an armistice; but

232

THE LAST PHASE

although every man-jack of us fervently wished the rumors were
true, scarcely one of us actually believed that the war was so
near its end. We all expected Fritz to back up to a stronger
position near his own frontier or the Rhine, and hold us there
during the coming winter. The oldtimers among us were the
most skeptical of all. They had been in the war so long they were
almost incapable of believing that peace was possible. War had
become almost a normal condition to these men and they had
heard so many false rumors and been gulled by so much faked
propaganda it was going to be very difficult for them to ever
again believe in anything.
In spite of our pessimism, however, we began to discuss with
our closest pals what we hoped or would like to do IF the war
ever did really end. Looking back now we smile when we recall
how confident we were that the world was going to be a much
finer place to live in than before the war. One of our chief de-
lights was the contemplation of freedom from military restric-
tions. For more than four years many of us had put a lot of feeling
into that old song about what our actions were to be if ever u'e
got out of the army!

When this blooming war is over,
Oh, how happy I will be;
When I get my cívvy clothes on,
No more soldiering for me!
No more church parades on Sunday,
No more asking for a pass,
I will tell the sergeant-major
He's a blink..in' silly ass.
Once the dirty work in the schoolhouse was over, the men
found life in Oenain rather pleasant. The rest station duties
were not very onerous. No serious cases were kept for treatment
and the lads who did become our patients were so glad to be out
of the war for a while, they insisted upon looking after them-
selves almost entirely.
The citizens open
d their hearts and homes to everybody, so
pleased were they to be free from the four-year grip of the hated
Boche. The enemy had taken from them nearly all their mat-
tresses, linen, brassware and metal, and there was not very much
left in the way of household comforts for them to offer to our

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THE LAST PHASE

233

men, but what they had, they placed at our disposal. Who could
ever forget the ravenous look in the eyes of those poor half-
starved Oenain folk when they saw for the first time our rations
of white bread, fresh meat, cheese, butter and sugar! Most of
them had almost forgotten what such food looked and tasted
like, so long was it since they had seen any of it. And many's the
happy dinner our lads enjoyed in Oenain homes - meals toward
which considerable of our army rations was contributed.
On Sunday, November 10th, President Poincare visited
Oenain, and Canadian troops formed his guard of honor. The
citizens turned out en masse to greet their beloved President and
the whole town took on a gala appearance. Hastily improvised
flags, banners, tricolor rosettes, and bunting of the Allies' colors
were festooned over doors and windows. The Mayor, M.
LeFebre, received the President on the city hall steps. M. Poincare
addressed the liberated citizens and tears ran down his cheeks as
he informed the townspeople of conditions throughout France
generally. It was dusk when he finished his address, and finally
made his way to the railway station, escorted by the whole
torch-bearing, singing, cheering populace.
During the President's receptíon on the city hall steps a des-
spatch was handed to him, informing him of the final terms of
the armistice and the almost certainty of those terms being
accepted by the enemy and becoming effective on the following
morning. While not making the contents of the despatch public,
M. Poincare did inform the local officials that the news was of
the best and that their martyrdom was near! v over.
That night there were le
gthy and pessimistic discussions on
the likelihood of the war ending next day. There was little en-
thusiasm, however, other than of that well-known sort which \\'as
roused by frequent and deep references to those old inspirers,
Vin Blanc et Vin Rouge. Heavy movements of troops of all
descriptions continued through the streets. Every available man,
gun and lorry seemed to be going forward, so that, while inside
the billets there might be talk of peace, in the streets outside
there was the ever present panoply of war. Just about the time
some oldtimer would become half convinced that an armistice
was possible, there would come the sound of tramping feet, the
rumble of limbers or the grinding of ammunition lorries - and
it was painfully evident that there was still "a war on, JJ and that

234

THE LAST PHASE

preparations were going forward to continue it. What then could
an oldtímer do but have another drink and say that it was "just
the same old Latrine Gazette bunk" and that he would be over
h e" h "
t ere ror anot er seven years.

An Armstice at Last

The morning of November 11th brought low-hanging clouds
and promise of rain. But the leaden skies neither dampened our
spirits nor weighed down our hearts. As for the chances of an
armistice becoming an actuality - most of us were "neutraL"
We had become hard-boiled fatalists and the common attitude
was "If there's going to be Peace, let it come. We're here in a
jake town; the people are treating us swell; we're eating regu-
larly, sleeping comfortably, not working too hard, and drinking
often - so we'll make the best of Today. Let Tomorrow bring
what it rna v !"
Through
ut the morning there were well substantiated reports
that the war was over, but it wasn't until about three o'clock
in the afternoon that official information reached our unit. Even
then the news was so vague none of us placed too much credence
in it. Early in the evening, however, there arrived full confirma-
tion of the signing of an armistice; and even the oldtimers were
at last convinced that it was possible for the war to be ended.
There was not much enthusiasm or rejoicing when we first
recei ved the news, however. Most of us were too dazed to fully
appreciate the portent of the communiqués. About the uppermost
thought in our minds was that the war was over and we were
still alive - ALIVE! - could move about like human beings
once more; could plan for the future with a modicum of cer-
tainty and expectancy of life; could throw off the dreadful fear,
not of being killed, but of being blinded or otherwise horribly
mutilated.
Son1e of our men merely sat about in small groups and dis-
cussed the possibilities of a reopening of hostilities and the prob-
abilities of a march into Germany. Most of us, though, passed the
evening of November 11th in our pet estaminet, at our favorite
ci vvy fireside, or in writing letters home to say that we were safe.
The following day brou,ght with it the first spirit of elation
over the arn1istice. The sun shone brightly and the air was clear

THE LAST PHASE 235
and cold. It was like a Fall day "back hon1e" and, for the first
time, the lads realized to the full that Peace had really come and
that it wouldn't be very long until they were home once more.
All through the day there was gaiety in every face, voice and
gesture. The townspeople were simply delirious with joy and the
infection of their spirits quickly spread to the troops. All joined
in a riotous celebration and "the sky was the limit" so far as
discípline and military comportment were concerned.
In the evening the whole unit sat down to a special dinner in
the large assembly room of the school. Additional food and
beverages had been brought up from Arras and everybody had
plenty. Major Lomer read to us the officíal terms of the armistice;
and the evening (and many of the men) passed away quite
pleasantly.
The name Denain shall always conjure up fond memories and
thoughts in the minds of every Fifth man who was fortunate
enough to be there. The town wasn't much to look at - only a
plain, humble, somewhat drab sort of place. Dozens of ugly
slag-heaps dotted its environs and its buildings bore ample
evidence of the grimy dust which had for many years showered
over the city. Civilians told us that the town's bessemer steel
plant had been wantonly blown up by the Huns just before they
were forced out of Denain by our troops. Another piece of childish
vandalism committed by the thwarted enemy was the removal
of Marshall Villars' statue. Only the stone base of this monu-
ment remained. Villars, who had saved France by defeating the
Austrians at Denain in 1712, was the city's greatest hero and
nothing could have hurt the townspeople more than the dese-
cration of his memorial.
Denain also reminds us that it was while we were there two
of our senior noncoms, nearly had a battle over some apples.
\Vhile one of the noncoms. was away on leave a crate of excellent
Spy apples arrived for him from Canada. Our mailman left the
crate in charge of one of our most exalted sergeants, thinking
that they were in safe hands and would be duly turned over to
their rightful owner who was expected back within a day or two.
The owner of the apples never saw one of them, however.
When he rejoined the Fifth he discovered that his fellow noncom.
had eaten them - excert for some he had given away to a few
of his cronies, who wondered at his suddenly acquired generosity.

236 THE LAST PHASE
No fist fight ensued, but the language around the sergeants'
mess was terrible for a few days.

A Summary of the Last Phase

Following is a summary of the Canadian Corps' activities
immediately prior to and during our stay in Denain: -
The Corps had changed position on October 11th, to sweep
eastward on a ten-mile front south of Douai. The First Division
carried the Canal de la Sensee and the fertile plain beyond. Mont
Houy and Valencíennes (Pop. 35,000) fell on November 1st.
The Corps pushed on, cleared the Foret de Raismes and crossed
the flooded area bordering the Scheldt. Astride the long road to
Germany the Corps followed hard for another twenty miles and
on November 9th reached Mons. Before midnight next day our
troops entered Mons and seized the commanding heights to the
southeast. When the armistice supervened at 11 a.m., November
11th, the Line was five miles northeast of the town, beyond
Boussoit, La Bruyere and St. Denis, by Casteau.
The armistice order was recd ved by the troops in the Line in
the early morning of November 11th. It read:
"Hostilities will cease at 11.00 hours November 11th.
Troops will stand fast on the line reached at that time,
which will be reported to Divisional H.Q.R.s immediately.
Defensive precautions will be maintained. There will be no
intercourse with the enemy of any description. Further
instructions will follow."

The twenty major battles (apart fron1 a great number of
minor engagements) which have indelibly written the history
of Canada's part in the war are as follows:
1915-Second Battle of Ypres, in April and May (St. Julien and Lange

marck) .
1916-Battle of St. Eloi, April 3rd to 19th.
Battle of Sanctuary Wood and Hill 62, June 2nd and 3rd,
Battle of the Somme, September, October and November.
1917-Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 9th to May 5th, including Battle
of Arleux and Fresnoy, April 28th and 29th and May 3rd.
Battle of Hill 70, August 15th.
Battle of Passchendaele, October 25th to November 13th,

THE LAST PHASE

237

1918-Battle of Amiens, August 8th to 22nd.
Battle of Arras, including capture of Monchy-Ie-Preux. August
26th to 28th.
Capture of Boiry and Cherisy, August 27th to September 2nd,
Breaking of Queant-Drocourt Line, September 3rd and 4th.
Crossing Canal du Nord and capture of Boudon Wood, September
27th to 29th.
Battle around Cambrai, October 1st to 9th (Cambrai capture.d
1.30 a.m. on 9th).
Battle of Douai, October 19th.
Battle of Denain, October 19th and 20th.
Battle leading to capture of Valendenne.s, October 25th to
November 2nd.
Advance leading to capture of Mons, November 7th to 11th.
According to General Currie's report:
Between August 8th and November 11th the Canadian Corps
fired off over one-quarter of all the ammunition used by all the
British armies on the Western Front in the same period.
From August 8th to October 11th, forty-seven German
divisions had been engaged and defeated by the Canadian Corps
- nearly one-quarter of the total enemy forces on the Western
Front.
In the Arras battle, August 26th to September 4th, the Corps
attacked on a front of 8,000 yards increased to 12,000 yards. It
penetrated 20,000 yards, fought eighteen German Divisions,
captured ninety-eight guns and 9,000 prisoners. Our casualties
numbered 9,000.
In the Cambrai battle, September 27th to, October 12th the
Corps attacked on a front of 9,000 yards. It penetrated 30,000
yards, captured 120 guns and 9,000 prisoners, defeated thirteen
German divisions reinforced by 13 enen1Y machine-gun batta-
lions. Our casualties totalled 15,106.
Between August 8th and November 11th the Canadian Corps
captured 31,537 prisoners, 623 heavy and field guns, and 3,178
machine-guns and trench mortars. Over 500 square miles of
territory, 228 cities, towns and villages were liberated, including
Cambrai, Denain, Valenciennes and Mons.
Between October 11th and November 11th the Corps had
advanced to a total depth of over ninety-one thousand yards-
91,000 yards through a country in which the cnen1Y had destroyed

238

THE LAST PHASE

railways, roads and bridges, and flooded large areas to impede
our progress. Fighting was comparatively light up to the Scheldt
Canal, but stiffened from then till the capture of Mons. Most of
our final advance was in adverse weather.

Canadian Casualties
by years
1915. . . . . 14,065
1916. . . .. 53,100
1917. . . .. 62,565
1918. . . .. 60,241
189,971

Canadian Casualties
Aug. 8 to Nov. 15, 1918
Aug. 8 to Aug. 26... .. 11,706
Aug. 26 to Sept. 5..... 8,999
Sept. 5 to Sept. 27.. . . . 7,175
Sept. 27 to Oct. 12..... 15,106
Oct. 12 to Nov. 15. . . . . 4,419

47,405

Canadian Casualties in Divisions during Final Hundred Days

Aug, 8 to Aug. 26
First. , . . . . . 3,370
Second. . . . . 2,691
Third, . . , . . 2,586
Fourth. . . . . 2,797
Corps T ps. . 262

11,706

Aug. 26 to Sept. 5
First. . . . .. 1,574
Second. . " 3,467
Third. . . .. 2,718
Fourth.. '" 1,071
Corps Tps. . 169

Sept. 5 to Sept, 27
First. . . . .. 1,965
Second.. ... 1,269
Third. .. . . . 849
Fourth, . . .. 2,929
Corps Tps.. 163
7,175

8,999

Sept. 27 to Oct. 12
First. . . , . . 4,124
Second. . " 1,386
Third. . . . . 4,084
Fourth. . ., . 5,146
Corps Tps.. 366
15,106

Oct, 12 to Nov. 15
First. . . . . . 429
Second.. . .. 1,743
Third, ... 554
Fourth. . . .. 1,502
Corps Tps.. 191
4,419

Total Canadian enlistments up to end of war, according [0
figures given by General Mewburn. . , , , . . , . , . . . . . ., 611,741

CHAPTER EIGHT

There's a long, long crail a-winding, into the land of my dreams,
Where the nightingales are singing and the white moon beams;
There's a long, long night of waiting,
Until my dreams all come true,
Till the day when I'll be going
Down that long, long trail with you.

GERMANY, ENGLAND E:ï HOME
(November 12, 1918, to May 19, 1919)

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; ..'/:-... ç:<;-::r
formed us that we were to close the
.>-'" '::: ,- rest station immediately and be ready
to move off on the long march to the
Rhine, as part of the Army of Occupation. The Hun was to be
given a six-day start and was to maintain that interval between
our troops and his. That distance suited us just hne. For many
months we would have given almost anything to be a six-days'
march away from Fritz and all his works!
The next two days were spent in packing up and getting ready
for the nlove. Two days didn't give the lads much time to say
their farewells to Oenain friends and sweethearts bur, with their
customary efficiency and perseverance, they managed to get the
sad job done. At 9.30 a.m., Friday, November 15th, we pulled
out of Oenain on our 250-mile march to the Rhine. Here is a
brief summary of our marches and other activities during the
ensuing few days:-
Friday, November 15th-Lefr Oenain at 9.30 a.nl. Arrived ar
Valencíennes about noon. Reached Quicvrechain (Pop. 3,555)
late in the afternoon. Weather fair. The townspeople informed
239

240 GERMANY, ENGLAND E:ï HOME
us that the Germans had operated a munitions plant there and
that our avaitors had repeatedly bombed the place - killing
over seven hundred civilians but doing little damage to the
munition factory. This day's march was twenty-four kilometres.
Saturday, November 16th - Left Quievrechain at 10.30 a.m.
Crossed Belgian frontier and continued on to Frameries (Pop.
12,000), southeast of Mons. Arrived in town in the evening and
had good billets in private homes. We were greeted and acclaimed
by the inhabitants all along the route. Improvised flags and
bunting were strung from tree to tree and hung from house
windows everywhere. Twenty kilometres was the distance we
marched on this day.
Sunday, November 17th - Resting at Frameries. Civilians
continued to treat us very hospitably. Clothing and kit inspec-
tions held. Orders received to turn in one-third of all equipment.
Covelli returned from leave to Italy and brought with him some
Italian wine for his friends -and got "crimed" by the Command-
ing Officer for being a couple of days late! Rations very scarce. *
Monday, November 18th - Marched off at noon to Houdeng-
Aimeries. Passed through Mons, where the citizens gave us a
very cordial welcome. This day's march was made rather un-
pleasant on account of the roads being blocked with marching
troops and returning refugees. We arrived at our destination in
the evening and were given billets in a convent hospital-school.
No rations were received during the day. Shortly after our
arrival the convent Sisters served hot soup to us. That night a
public dance was given in our honor. It was held in the townhall
and the dance floor was crowded with swaying soldiers and
civilians. A balcony which circled the room was jammed with
joyful spectators. Scarcely a cap-badge or tunic-button was left
to our men after the belles of the town got through with their
welcome. All had a wonderful time, and in spite of the fact that
they had to go to sleep hungry, the fellows were fairly happy.
The colonel's explanation of the food shortage was that railway
bridges, tracks and roadbeds had been blown up and that trains
couldn't get through. Routine Orders of the day informed us
that Harry Fryday had been awarded the Medaille d'Honneur,
a French dec oration. The day's march was twenty-one kilometres.
*By nightfall of this day all the Allied armies had crossed the lines they occupied
at the moment hostilities ceased.

GERMANY, ENGLAND E:ï HOME 241
A I{eal Mutiny At Last

Tuesday, November 19th - At Houdeng-Aimeries (Pop.
8,000). The men had no breakfast. The Commanding Officer
refused to hear their complaints and ordered the whole unit "con-
fined to barracks. JJ A parade was called for 9 a.m. Not one man
paraded. Another parade was ordered for 11 a.m., and only
nineteen men answered roll call - all the other fellows had left
camp. The Commanding Officer refused to see a deputation from
the men, so they couldn't see the Commanding Officer. The
Mother Superior of the convent again ordered hot soup served
to our men, and they felt considerably embarrassed depriving the
local civilians of food which the long-suffering townsfolk them-
selves so obviously needed. To add to the general discomfort, it
rained hard all day.
Private Alex. Samuels, No. 536215, who had not been well
for the previous few days, died.
Some of our men spent the evening and night in La Louviere
(Pop. 20,150), about two miles southeast of Houdeng-Aimeries.
There they saw the French townspeople raid a tobacconist's shop.
The store front, windows, showcases and fixtures were smashed
to bits and the raiders helped themselves to pipes, tobacco,
cigarettes, and everything that was worth carrying away. We
learned that the proprietress had been very friendly with the
Germans during their four-year occupation of the town and that,
just before our men arrived on the scene, the woman had been
stripped naked, her head had been shaved close and she had been
chased out of town. Many of our lads returned to camp with
pipl:s and other booty.
Wednesday, November 20th - At Houdeng-Aimeries. Up to
noon there were no rations for the men, so the mutiny continued.
There was now a sort of fifty-fifty arrangement - no food for
the men - no parades, drills or duties for the Commanding
Officer. Finally, shortly past noon, the colonel consented to listen
to the men's complaints. A delegation of two men from each
Section paraded to the Commanding Officer and he heard plenty.
Rations were obtained during the afternoon, and that night the
men had their first decent meal in three days - and, no doubt,
the colonel had his first decent sleep in three nights. Everybody
was pleased when the trouble was settled.

242 GERMANY, ENGLAND E:ï HOME
This mutiny had been brewing ever since we left Denain.
Rations had been scarce from our first day on the march and, to
make matters worse, the Commanding Officer didn't seem to
understand the temper of his new Command. His natural desire
for a smart-looking unit for the march to Germany was quite
understandable; but it caused him, perhaps, to forget the fact
that the attitude of the men was: "Oh, hell, the war's over.
We've done our stuff. Why should we have to go hungry?" Ours
was not the only unit to suffer through lack of food. Railroad
lines were certainly in an awful mess and what trains did get
through the congestion were unable to meet the demand for
supplies. Every unit in the area was short of provisions. But-
we had plenty of cars which could have been sent for rations, if
there had been the necessary foresight. The men saw our cars
being used for joy-riding jaunts to nearby cities and felt that they
might have been put to better use. Then, too, when the men first
paraded to complain, the colonel's attitude could have been more
conciliatory. He just wouldn't consider any arbitral settlement,
so the men took the law into their own hands.
Thursday, November 21st - After an excellent breakfast the
unit moved off at 9.30 a.m. We arrived at Gouy-Ie::-Pieton
(Pop. 4,000) about 2.30 p.m. The men were billeted in private
homes. The quarter-stores and headquarters details found quar-
ters in the local schoolhouse. Here we experienced considerable
difficulty getting our men into the townspeople's homes. The
civilians seemed in deadly fear of us. Eventually we learned that
the Germans had told these poor folk that Canadians were
savage Red Indians who would scalp, CUt off ears and commit
other unmentionable atrocities. Most of the population was
made up of women and children, so it is not to be wondered at
that their reception was so strange. However, after we had been
in town a few hours, the people thawed out and became exceed-
ingly kind and considerate, and humbly apologized for their
previous attitude toward us. When w'e finally left town they gave
us a great send-off and there was scarcely a dry eye among them
when they said goodbye. Our march this day was fifteen kilo-
metres and the day was cold and wet.
Friday, November 22nd - Resting at Gouy-Iez-Pieton No
parades except morning roll call. Many of the men spent the
day hunting for pommes de terre frittes, Zes oeufs, ete.

GERMANY, ENGLAND E:ï HOME 243
Saturday, November 23rd - At Gouy-Iez-Pieton. Morning
parade only. Tommy Dalton and George Graves awarded Mili-
tary Medals. Nice weather, Many of the lads spent the day
examining the intricate trench system and formidable wire en-
tanglements Fritz had forced Belgian civilians and prisoners to
build in this area. Evidently it had been his original intention to
make another stand back here. In the afternoon the unit fell in
and had a rehearsal of the march-past it was expected we would
have to perform when we reached Germany.
Saturday, November 24th - Moved off at 10 a,m. to St.
Amand (Pop. 1,500) a poor wretched little village straddling
the Charleroi-Louvain railway line. The men billeted overnight
in barns. Rations again became scarce. During this day's march
we passed a corner where a sign read "to Quatre Bras," and we
thought of Napoleon and Waterloo. Here, in St. Amand, the
attitude of the townspeople made up somewhat for the short-
comings of the billets. Old men and women danced and shouted
with joy as we marched into their village. Other Canadian troops
had passed through before us so the people knew we were all
right. St, Amand, too, had suffered very cruelly. Many of its
inhabitants had been killed by German shell-fire and gas. The
survivors hated the Hun with a ferocity almost beyond descrip...
rion. The day's march was twenty-three kilometres.
Monday, November 25th - Off at 9.30 a.m. to Isnes (Pop.
ï50), a poverty-stricken little farm village scrambled along four
muddy crossroads. About twelve kilometres northwest of Namur.
Billeted in farmhouses and barns - some of us in the school...
house. This day's march had been very trying. It had rained since
early morning and the footing on the muddy cobblestones was
very bad. All along the route (twenty kilometres) we saw dozens
of dead German horses and much abandoned war material,
such as lorries, limbers, barbed wire and ammunition. Every
horse bore traces of having been butchered for food. Invariably
there was evidence that the tenderloins and other choice cuts had
been hastily removed. One bright spot in this dreary day was a
pay parade, shortly after \.vc arrived. The evening was given
over to estaminet parties and other indoor sports.
Tuesday, November 26th - At Isnes. "Resting." The men's
marching of the previous day had displeased the Commanding
Officer, so we were given some disciplinary drills and parades.

244 GERMANY, ENGLAND [y HOME
Wednesday, ;Vovember 27th - At Isnes. Still "resting" - on
drills, parades and kit cleaning. The people of the village were
friendly enough, but their extreme poverty and misery made
them appear almost bovine mentally. They had subsisted on
next-to-nothing for over four years and malnutrition was very
evident in their appearance and actions. The only time we saw
any of them break through their mental fog was when Andy
Patterson opened a Christmas parcel he had received from
Canada. The parcel contained cakes, cigars, candy, tobacco, socks,
etc., and when the poor people where he was billeted saw the
contents, they behaved like starving children. Pat gave the old
man some cigars and tabac, and the old lady and daughter some
cake and candy. It had been four years since these poor unfor-
tunates last saw anything like this, and they promptly broke
down and sobbed as they clutched the little gifts to their
breasts.
This same fellow Patterson was one of the few Fifth men who
slept in a bed while at Isnes - and when we say "slept", we
mean SLEPT! About the middle of our last night in the village,
Pat was sleeping so soundly he didn't hear the farmer's daughter
enter his bedroom, tiptoe to his bed and kiss him long and pas-
sionately on the lips. He didn't wake even when she made her
way to the kitchen to tend the laundry Pat had confided to her
care the day before. After about a half-hour in the kitchen, the
amorous mademoiselle returned to the bedroom and repeated the
osculatory performance at additional length and with added in-
tensity. Pat slept blissfully on and didn't awaken until the girl's
caresses clogged his breathing apparatus. By the time he got his
eyes opened he saw what he took to be a nightgowned ghost
slipping out through the bedroom door. Early next morning the
unit marched out of Isnes and Pat didn't mention his experience
until many weeks had elapsed. He chose as confidant the identical
sergeant who had been his bedmate during the delectable adven-
ture. Pat was dumbfounded when he learned that his bed pal
had been wide awake during the whole performance and had
watched the rather lop-sided love scene through half-closed eyes.
Pat's bedmate had been very n1uch chagrined over the one-
sidedness of the whole affair, particularly because Pat had slept
next to the wall and it was necessary for the girl to lean over him
to kiss the lips of the lucky staff-sergeant.

GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME 245
The Battle of the Barges

Thursday, November 28th - Moved off early in the morning,
during a heavy downpour of rain. Reached Namur about noon
and had mid-day meal from unit soup-kitchen on one of Namur's
business streets. During the morning the Fifth rejoined the Fifth
Brigade. After lunch we marched on to Nameche (Pop. 1,450) a
quaint little village on the River Meuse. Shortly after starting
out we passed through a village named Beez, and in N ameche
our men came upon booze - which very few passed! Here we
fought what the lads called the "Battle of the Barges," owing to
the fact that it was on some German barges they dIscovered a
large quantity of very potent cognac, wine and rum. Some of the
fellows got more than they could carry, so it was necessary to
carry them and their loads in one of the general service wagons.
A few fellows had appointments with the colonel for the next
morning - if they could make it. The civilians throughout this
district were very friendly. We were right in the heart of Wal-
loonese Belgium at this time - in the Namur-Liege district
where Fritz stubbed his toe so badly in 1914. Day's march,
twenty-five kilometres.
The manner in which the lads got away with the contents of
the barges betrayed the fact that the ambition they had admitted
so often in song was more than just a lyrical aspiration:
So when 1 die, don't bury me at all -
Just pickle my bones in alcohol.
Put a bottle of booze at my head and feet,
And then my soul shall rest in peace.
Friday, November 29th - Marched off early to Havelange
(Pop. 1,640). The first part of the route lay parallel with the
Meuse and was over roads which were inches deep with slippery
mud. An hour or so after setting out, we struck off in a south-
easterly direction. During the noon halt one of our barge battle
prisoners treated his guard to some of the stolen rum. The guard
got zigzag, the prisoner escaped, but we had the same number
of prisoners at the end of the day - counting the ex-guard! The
day's march was twenty-five kilometres.
The 2Znd Battalion marched immediately in front of us
throughout the day and we saw a Canadian staff car full of
General officers whizz by and spatter mud over the tranlping

246 GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME
infantrymen. The BYan-Doos" cursing and booing could be
heard for miles. That night we billeted all over Havelange.
Many of the boys were quartered (very appropriately!) in a
brewery. One man's diary mentions that Bit was a good place."
Perhaps this was the brewery we had referred to so often in song
since away back in 1914.

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Saturday, November 30th - Marched off at 11.30 a.m. to
Petit Han. Captains Graham, Kirby and Wark took thirty men
of our Nursing Sections to help a casualty clearing station. The
unit still headed sd,utheast and was now passing through a beau-
tiful hilly country. The weather was somewhat clearer and the
footing better. Our reception on this day was not very cordial.
The Bnatives" impressed us as being rather pro-German. Quarter
Stores people again had great difficulty in getting rations and
supplies. The men's boots were going to pieces rapidly and only
twenty pairs were obtainable from Supply Headquarters. This
evening's communiqué informed us that all the invaded terri-
tories had been entirely re-occupied by the Allies. Day's march,
twenty kilometres.
Sunday, December 1st - Reveille at 5.30 a.m.; moved off at
7.30 a.m. Joined the Fourth Brigade at Barveaux. Heavy frost
during the previous night and a pouring rain during the day made
the roads very slippery . We were now among the Ardennes hills.
The wagons had to be man-handled up several steep grades.

GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME 247
Civilians encountered on this day were exceptionally friendly and
helped us by pushing the wagons and by strewing ashes over the
hills. This was the part of the country where wealthy Belgians
did their hunting. Reached our destination, La Fosse, shortly
before 5 p.m., but darkness had already set in. Rations very scarce.
Billets good - particularly those of the Motor Transport Section,
which were in a fine old hunting lodge at the top of a hill. Day's
march, twenty -nine kilometres.
Monday, December 2nd - At La Fosse. Rained heavily all
day and thick fog hung over hills and valleys. Men received an
issue of rum! They spent the day indoors, cleaning equipment
for the entry into Germany, and listening to stories about atro-
cities at La Fosse during the first few days of the German occu-
pation. They were shown a place near the rivees edge where
many La Fosse folk had been ruthlessly shot down by the Huns
in 1914.
Tuesday, December 3rd - At La Fosse. Cleaning equipment,
shining buttons and preparing generally to impress the Germans
with British army "efficiency. JJ
Wednesday, December 4th - Up early and away, through a
heavy driving rain and ankle-deep mud, to Honvelez. Heavy
mists blotted out the scenery. One hill we climbed was said to be
over two thousand feet above sea-level. We were all up in the air
now and understanding our Commanding Officer somewhat
better. Arrived at our destination well after dark. Were now
only six kilometres from the Gernlan frontier. Day's march,
thirty-one kilometres.

We Enter Germany

Thursday, December 5th - A bright clear day. Left Honvelez
at 9.30 a.m. Crossed German frontier, at Beho, a small village
about four'miles north of the Duchy of Luxemburg, shortly be..
fore noon. Here we had our first glimpse of Hunland. While we
inwardly exulted over our arrival in Germany we were neither
inclined nor rermitted to give much outward expression to our
feelings. At the few peasants who stared sullenly from roadsides
and fields we glared disdainfully and proudly, as befitted soldiers
of a victorious army. The demeanor of the poorer Gernlans
seCIlled to betoken more despair and fear than resentment. \V c

248 GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME
discovered that the attitude of the wealthier classes was un-
doubtedly one of hate, resentment and antagonism. Possibly they
foresaw the breakdown of their age-long domination over the
working classes. Conditions underfoot were very bad, but, for-
tunately, the march was comparatively short. At 2.30 p.m. we
arrived at Thommen, where we stopped overnight - and where
many of the lads took on a fresh supply of lice. Our billets simply
ran with vermin. The townspeople kept discreetly out of our
sight. Day's march, fifteen kilometres.
Friday, December 6th - We set out at 8 a.m. in a mist thicker
than a quartermaster's breath. We had, too, the customary rain,
so the roads continued very muddy and slippery. We were now
in an exceedingly hilly country, and had changed direction,
travelling sharply northeast. One hill, in particular, gave horses
and men a very trying time. This hill was almost two kilon1etres
long and seemed to go almost straight up. Again it was a case of
man-handling wagons and ambulances. Here, once more, was
evidence of the disordered German retreat. Dozens of dead
horses lay strewn along the roadside, along with abandoned war
material. These horses, too, bore signs of having had their most
edible portions hastily removed. It was long after dark when we
arrived at Manderfeld, where we billeted overnight in a Catholic
hospital and chapel. The Quartermaster Stores occupied the con-
vent laundry. The townspeople were very "cold" towards us but
the Catholic Sisters could not have been more kind and con-
siderate. The day's march was twenty-eight kilometres.
Satu1-day, December 7th - Up at 6 and away at 8 a.m.
through low-hanging clouds and mist. Whenever the surrounding
country was momentarily visible the scenery was exceptionally
beautiful. We were now marching through the famous Stadtkill
valley. Shortly after nightfall we reached our destination, Schmid-
theim, a picturesque town about nineteen hundred feet above
sea-level. Here the men were billeted in private homes, and the
officers in a grand chateau. Quartermaster Stores took over the
local school. The people here were genuinely Prussian in appear-
ance and bearing. For the most part they were civil enough, but
it was plainly evident that our presence was much resented. In
this town were hundreds of discharged German soldiers and these
men were well-behaved, respectful and friendly. We were now
in the district to which wealthy Germans came for their hunting.

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GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME 249
Luxunous chalets and hunting lodges dotted the wooded hills.
In the chateau our officers had the satisfaction of taking some of
the pomposity and arrogance out of the count or baron who lived
there. Day's march, twenty-four kilomerres.
Sunday, December 8th - At Schmidtheím, resting. On this
day one of the local Huns failed to pay proper respect to the
colors of one of our Fifth Brigade battalions. The whole populace
was rounded up and the man made to apologize publicly for the
affront. This was one instance when German people were shown
who won the war.
Monday, December 9th - Moved off at 8.30 a.m. Rained
heavily all day. Because of the extremely heavy going the men's
kits were carried by lorry. Arrived at Munstereifel, the largest
German town we had been in up to this time. It was a very
picturesque place, nestling between two large hills and with a
mediaeval wall around it. The men were comfortably billeted in
a girls' school, using the dormitories for sleeping quarters and
eating their meals in the large dining-room. The German mark
had now tumbled to seventy centimes, so our money bought less
beer and wine than during the previous few days.
It was a search for good wine that brought some of the Motor
Transport lads into contact with two very pompous German
civilians. The two Huns were seated with a rather attractive girl
when our lads entered an estaminet. Three full glasses were on
the table, so our fellows lost no time in emptying them down
their own throats. The two Germans were then forced to stand
at attention while Hank Newell produced a flag (the Stars and
Stripes!) from his hip pocket and, holding it before them, forced
them to salute it. Then Jimmie Walker planted his boots into
the scats of the Heinies' pants and propelled the two crest-fallen
Gern1ans out the bierhaus door. When it is ren1embered that
Jimmy hailed from Lancashire there need be no fear that his
footwork lacked force, accuracy and variety. The girl was quite
willing to reward our fellows for their opportune interruption
but, not being pro-German, they declined her advances.
That night Harry Hutchinson, Stan Dumont and a few other
Motor Transport lads found themselves a billet in a sort of farm-
estaminet, which was presided over by a big, fat, thick-necked
German. The night was rather cold so our boys bunked them-
selves on the floor of the kitchen, where a nice hot fire was

250 GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME
burning in a cookstove. During the evening Harry and his pals
noticed the German paying considerable attention to a steaming
boiler on the stove so, as soon as the houseowner had gone to
bed, the boiler's contents were investigated and found to be
excellent sausages. Harry and the boys continued sampling the
sausages till there was none left. Then they carefully replaced
the boiler lid and laid themselves down to sleep, with the satis-
faction of a pleasant job well done. Their sonorous snores com-
menced almost immediately.
Shortly after Reveille next morning the fat German was
hcrard grunting and puffing his way towards the kitchen. Our
fellows apparently paid no attention to him as he made his way
directly to the stove. There he raised the lid of the boiler and
immediately let out a string of "Achs, Gott in Himmels, Ver-
dams, " ete., and turned to upbraid the Motor Transport fellows.
Strangely enough, just at that moment our men were in the act
of cleaning their Colt Forty-Fives and the business ends of the
weapons pointed in the direction of the spluttering Hun! With
a startled grunt and a gasp that made his fat neck purplish, the
terrified Hun threw up his hands and staggered from the kitchen.
The Motor Transport lads heard him sobbing out his troubles
to his haus-frau in the adjoining room but, when they emerged
from the kitchen, he took one horrified look at the holsters on
their hips and they never saw him again. Their final glimpse was
of a terror-stricken giant, threshing his legs and arms down a
back lane that led to the wide and open spaces beyond the walls
of the town.
The march from Schmidtheim to Munstereifel was twenty -six
kilometres.
Tuesday, December 10th - Marched to Ipplendorf. Set out
at 9 a.m. A fine clear day. Shortly after starting we climbed a
particularly steep hill that tried our endurance to the utmost. It
was long after dark when we arrived at our destination. The
men had very good billets in private homes and found the people
more friendly. Most of the households had lost menfolk during
the war, so the townspeople were very bitter in their attitude
toward the Fatherland's leaders and upper classes. We were now
onl y a short march from the Rhine A few of our fellows were
billeted in the nearby village of Rheinbach. The day's l11arch was
thirty-two kilometres.

GERMANY, ENGLAND [;- HOME 251
We /{each the Rhine

Wednesday, December 11th - Moved off at 9 a.m. to Godes-
burg, a beautiful city right on the edge of the Rhine. Here the
men were quartered in the Rhine Hotel, situated on a promontory
of the river bank. It had rained hea viI y all day so the fellows were
glad to remain indoors during the evening and avail themselves
, of the almost-forgotten luxury of steaming-hot baths. There
was an abundant supply of hot water, towels, clean bed linen, ete.
The hotel proprietor was plainly not in harmony with his com-
pulsory guests but he was obliged to make the best of things as
we overran his establishment, mingling with his many wealthy
Prussian guests and helping ourselves to whatever we needed.
Many of the hotel towels, serviettes and pillow-slips accom-
panied us when we eventually took leave of the hotel.
The few who went to look around the town found Godesburg
a very interesting city. It had a population of about fifteen
thousand and possessed the ruins of a castle that was at one time
considered the outstanding example of eleventh-century fortress
architecture. From the hill on which the castle ruins stood we
could see, to the southeast, the famous Drachenfels, or Dragon's
Rock, where Siegfred slew the dragon. It was from the Drachen-
fels mountain that the stone for Cologne cathedral was quarried.
Day's march, twenty kilometres,
Thursday, December 12th - "Resting" at Godesburg. Con-
tinued to rain heavily. Everybody stayed indoors, shining equip-
ment for the march across the Rhine the following day. Had a
great time turning water taps and electric lights on and off, this
being their first opportunity to enjoy such conveniences since
many a long day. Here, too, the lads had their first real chance
to talk over their experiences on the long march to the Rhine.
One conclusion nearly everybody arrived at was that Sergeant-
Major Wilson or "Joey," as the boys called him, was one who
had most thoroughly enjoyed the long tramp. Whenever a proud
Prussian civvy neglected to doff his hat while our unit marched
by, Joey was off his horse like a shot, and the disrespectful Hun's
headgear was ripped from his head and trampled into the mud.
Then Joey would plant the heavy toe of his boot in the middle
of Fritz's backside and show him in no uncertain manner that
there was a certain amount of deference and respect due the

252 GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME
first-class warrant officers of a conquering army. And, somehow,
or other, Joey's meagre sixty -one inches of height didn't prove the
least handicap when he tackled six-foot offenders. Joey's aim
was deadly.
Friday, December 13th - Those Germans who believed in
the ill portent of Friday the Thirteenth were vindicated on this
day - the day appointed for the Allied Armies' march across
the Rhine. In a drenching rain our unit moved off at 11.30 a.m.
and marched to Bonn. Here, wearing steel helmets (straps on
point of chins), and without packs, greatcoats or raincoats, we
crossed the Bonn bridge. General Currie stood at a saluting base
near the eastern end of the bridge, where we gave him "Eyes
Right" - and felt very sorry for him standing there in the rain.
We continued on to Putzchen, a village of about forty residences,
two tiny school-houses, a church and an asylum. Here the men,
soaked to their skins, slept on the bare floors of the schoolhouses
- in spite of Foch' s definite instructions that the men of the
Army of Occupation were to have good beds. When it is remem-
bered that the month was December, it will be realized that
sleeping on bare floors and in wringing-wet clothing had its
drawbacks. Some of the fellows complained at the time - and
were informed that the billeting officer just couldn't bear to put
the men into the local private residences. He felt that "it wouldn't
be right to put ordinary soldiers into such fine homes as those!"
The night before the Fifth marched off to Bonn it was joined by
two of our bearer sergeants who had left about three weeks previ-
ously to attend a courtmartial, back near Mons. It appears that
when they reported at the Mons orderly room they were informed
that the case was closed. The men to be tried had been killed in
action during the final hours of the war. Passes (post-dated three
weeks) were given to the two sergeants and they started back to
their unit - via Brussels, Waterloo, Charleroi, Louvain, Liege,
Aix-Ia-Chapelle, Cologne, Godesburg, Bonn, Coblenz and many
other towns and villages throughout Rhenish Germany. It is
quite possible that they would have been going yet, if they had
been able to get enough to eat and drink. At Waterloo they were
the proteges of the proprietor of the Inn where Wellington wrote
his victory despatches. In Brussels they were looked after by
the French Chasseurs' headquarters staff. At Louvain the organist
of the ruined cathedral insisted that they remain as his guests for

GERMANY, ENGLAND D- HOME 253
a few days; and at a civic reception to French Blue Devil regi

ments they stood with the civic dignitaries on the reviewing
stand while the Chasseurs paraded past! In Liege, the City of
Bridges, they were looked after
and for!) by an ultra-conscien

tious and very parade-ground Imperial liaison officer. At Aix

la-Chapelle they were taken to the bosoms of another French
Chasseur regiment and looked on while their brother shock

troopers forced a pompous Hun station-master to climb to the
top of the railway station and set the clock according to French
time. At Aix-Ia-Chapelle they shared, too, in the warmth gen

erated by a burning German freight train - set afire by their
French buddies when the local Burgomaster failed to supply fuel
for the station stoves. In Cologne they registered at a first-class
hotel and, after an excellent breakfast next morning, left-
without settling their bill. In Bonn they were so far ahead of the
oncoming Canadians, the Burgomaster mistook them for a
reconnoitering party and insisted upon them accepting the city's
hospitality, and resting overnight in Bonn's leading bierhaus.
In Godesburg the custodian of the castle took them to his heart
and family table. Everywhere they went, from the time they
reached the Rhine, an armed patrol of the newly-formed civic
guards followed them, to protect them from harm and insult.
We do not know what ya'rn they told to impress the flustered
officials, but it must have been a good one. They were far in
advance of the marching Canadians, so Fritz possibly mistook
them for Intelligence men. Intelligence men!
December 14th to 17 th - We remained at Putzchen, with
nothing to do except drill, physical training, and fatigues; and
attempted to dry our clothes. Meanwhile, we failed to under-
stand why the homes of the villagers were too good for us.
December 18th - Moved forward to the twin villages of
V ilich and Geislar, with headquarters at the latter place.
December 19th to 31st - At Vilich and Geislar. A. and C.
Sections and Transport men at former place, while B. Section
remained at Geislar, running a small first-aid hospital in an
orphanage institution. B. Section billeted in an adjoining build-
ing, while our officers took over luxurious quarters in a nearby
chateau. In Vilich the men were billeted in private homes. An
inter-communal beer hall about halfway between the two villages
served as mess-room for the whole unit.

254 GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME
After once becoming settled, it became apparent to the Fifth
that theirs was to be a life of ease for an indefinite period. There
was an immediate let-up in discipline and, with very few men
required for duty at anyone time, group excursions in either
direction along the Rhine became the common portion. A short
distance up the river was Cologne, while downstream lay Cob-
lentz, headquarters of the American Army of Occupation.
Either city could be reached by boats and trolley cars. The roofs
of the trolley cars were equipped with spring-brackets extending
the full width of the cars. Contact with the power line was made
by these bracket-arms, instead of by pole-and-wheel trolley such
as in use in Canada. These brackets ensured that no "jumping"
took place as the cars raced at high speed around curves and over
íntersectíons.
About the only parades we had were pay parades and bathing
parades. The bath-house was in Bonn, and we have a hazy
recollection of one parade when our lads discovered a store of
German underwear in a nearby building. They quickly got in
touch with our Motor Transport and, in less tíme than it takes
to tell, the whole store of clothing was removed to the Fifth's
billets across the river. Much of the underwear was issued to the
men but there was plenty left over to trade off to the civvies for
beer, Rhine wine and other luxuries.
The men, for the most part, were left to their own devices and,
before long, the remote attitude of the German Feople showed
signs of relaxing. When, eventually, the unit left for Belgium, en
route home, the people turned out in crowds to see us off; and
there was many a tear visible on the cheeks of matrons and
maids alike. It was very evident that, although we had sometimes
shown the populace who won the war, we had, on the whole,
made a good impression - on at least one portion of the
civilian population.
Cologne, of course, was the largest city in our area but,
excepting the famous cathedral, there was little in the city to
attract our men. Bonn, though, proved rather fascinating to most
of us on account of its being a famous university city, the birth-
place of Beethoven, and the scene of some of Marlborough's
greatest exploits. The Bonn bridge, too, was considered the most
beautiful of all the Rhine bridges. And, by the way, our march
across this bridge on the 13th of December was regarded as of

GERMANY, ENGLAND E:ï HOME 255
more historical significance than our crossing of the German
fronder. Coblentz, farther south, was in the American area and,
although many of the fellows went down there, they never
enthused over its attractions.

We Celebrate Our Fourth Christínas

On Christmas Day the men had their best dinner since 1914.
In the evening we had the Y-Emma Concert Party to amuse us
and we entertained them so well they had to be carried back to
Bonn in our motor ambulances. Pat Rafferty's song "Apple
Dumplings" was the hit of the evening. For once our men had
more than they could eat, and more rum sauce than plum pudding.
As at every Christmas dinner, the noncoms. waited on the men's
tables and had their own dinners afterward. The Sergeants'
menu was as follows:

SERGEANTS' MESS MENU
Vilich-Geislar, Germany - Christmas Day, 1918
FISH
(I.?Juneland Bloater)
Soup
(Gott Mitt Vns Mystery)
MEAT
Dressed Roast Pork with Apple Sauce
(Sch wein mitt der clothes on)
VEGETABLES
Potatoes Cabbage Turnips
(Der Kaiser) (Der Klown Prinz) (Hindenburg)
(All easily digested)
PUDDING
Ye Goode Olde Englyshe Standbye
(with Rhine Wine Sauce)
DESSERT
Jelly
(Hapsburg Dynasty)
Biscuits
(Kultur)
FRUITS

Custard
(Nach Berlin)
Pastry
(Armistice)

Oranges
(Alsace)

Apples Dates
(Lorraine) (Abdication)
GOD SAVE THE KING

Carrots
(Tirpítz)

Peaches
(Hohenzollern)
Cheese
(Blockade)

Nuts
(Heligoland)

256 GERMANY, ENGLAND [:;ï HOME
New Year's Day came and went without anything particular
happening, except that some of our troops expressed their sense
of humor by decorating the famous statue of William the First,
which stood in the Kaiser-Platz at Bonn. When the proud
burghers came out for their morning promenade in the Platz they
were horrified to find their beloved Wilhelm wearing a bedroom
pot instead of his customary Pick.lehaub, and with a manure-
covered stable broom in his right hand, instead of a sword.
Barnyard stra w protruded from his imperial nostrils, and an
immense weiner was stuck between his lips. We should like to
mention some of the other indignities heaped upon the statue,
but must refrain. The escapade had one regrettable result, how-
ever: From that day on, a twenty-four-hour guard of Canadian
infantrymen was posted over the statue - to show the sackers
of Louvain that our generals didn't approve of insults to the
statues of dead Huns!
On January 5th the Sergeants of the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth
Fidd Ambulances celebrated with a Victory Dinner. A hotel in
Siegburg was commandeered for the occasion and about sixty
senior noncoms. participated. That the affair was a huge success
was proven by the repercussions that followed the affair. The
owner of the hotel - a typical Prussian ex -officer - reported
that he had been forced to stand at attention while the merry-
making noncoms. sang "0 Canada, " "Mlle. from Armentieres, "
"When We've Wound Up the Watch on the Rhine," and other
patriotic songs; that his best cut-glass service had been used by
the sergeants to drink their wine while he was compelled to
stand at the salute, with a tin cup full of beer in his left hand,
and drink to the health of The King, Madame Machine Gun,
Maconachie Bob, the Soap Box, the Cambligneul Chocolate
Girl, and other celebrities; that his magnificent grand piano was
pushed halfway over the balustrade that looked down upon a
rocky cliff about three hundred feet below the ballroom balcony;
that he was forced to wait on table, serve drinks, clean dishes,
and light cígarets and pipes for his unwelcome guests; that the
noncoms. had grabbed up chairs, wall trophies and other weapons
and chased many high German dignitaries from their hotel rooms;
that they had put a rather blotto sergeant-major into a bathtub,
turned on the water and gone away - nearly drowning the
sergeant-major and flooding the floors of the hotd's best suite.

GERMANY, ENGLAND [:;ï HOME 257
Everybody knew that the Prussian's complaints were ground-
less and that he was simply peeved because Germany lost the war.
Who ever knew our sergeants to work as hard as his report
indicated? "They just couldn't have been Fifth noncoms. !" was
the decision of our officers, and the hotelkeeper's complaints were
thrown our.
On January 7th orders were posted informing us that Major
Burgess had been a warded the Order of the British Empire and
also Mentioned in Despatches.
On January 22nd orders arrived for us to move back into
Belgium on the following day. None of us was sorry.
Our stay across the Rhine hadn't been quite the glorious event
we had anticipated it would be. For one thing, the German
people did not appeal to us like the French people had done,
They were a different race entirely. They hadn't the same verve,
dash, or that intangible something possessed by our Gallic
friends and, although they were kind and obliging, we found
ourselves unable to take them to our hearts. There were, of
course, individual exceptions, but generally speaking, we and
they didn't quite "fit in."
Captain Alex Elliott, brother of the major who had left us
the day after we crossed the Rhine, was one in particular who
never did get to understand the Hun's mentality. And his under-
standing wasn't improved at all when he was one day leaning
on his cane on the Bonn Bridge. Along came a Heinie practical
joker and knocked the supporting cane from under the contem-
plative dental officer. Down went the captain on the seat of
his breeks and away went the laughing Boche. But Elliott was
up and after him immediately and, catching up with him, showed
him that even if a Canadian officer lacked a good understanding
of German mentality he did possess an effective underpinning in
the form of two heavy-soled nun1ber ten boots. After applying
those boots where they did the intellect of the pleading square-
head the most good, the captain turned him over to the military
police.
Another bit of German Kultur we couldn't savvy was that
long winding alley just a stone's throw from the Cologne cathe-
dral. This narrow tortuous street of sin was about three-quarters
of a mile in length, eight feet wide fron1 house to house - and
the Lord only knows how deep in the ways of iniquity and

258 GERMANY, ENGLAND E:ï HOME
depra vity! There must have been thousands of girls in those five-
storey stone tenements, and it was as much as a soldier's life was
worth for him to attempt to navigate alone and after dark
through that awful alley. During the first few days of the Occu-
pation the girls actually poured into the street attempting to drag
men into the houses. And all the time the surging masses of fallen
women were in the street scarcely a stitch of clothing covered
their ugly nakedness. Here, within speaking distance of one of
the world's oldest Christian cathedrals, human souls were for
sale for three marks. What a sad commentary upon the cleansing
virtues of a church whose centuries-old influence hadn't been
able to eradicate those terrible temples to uneasy virtue which
existed and thrived within a few steps of its own proud doors!
After we had been on the Rhine a few da ys the Allied
Command took over control of these bagnios, and some of our
unit doctors had the questionable privilege of sorting out and
sending hundreds of the unfortunate women to hospitals. Guards
were then mounted over the street and from then on it was
"out of bounds. "
We were still in Germany when word reached us that Colonel
Kappele and Major Elliott had been awarded bars to their
Distinguished Service Orders.
One highlight of our Rhine stay occurred in Cologne: There
was a high-class trolley service from that city to Bonn, and our
men depended dn it for transportation back to their billets when
returning from a day spent there "on pass." The trolley service
ceased at midnight, however, and unfortunately some of our lads
found themselves marooned in Cologne one night, with no
means of getting back to their billets. Somebody had a bright
idea: "Commandeer a trolley car!" No sooner said than done.
Although it was about 2 a.m., our resourceful "other ranks"
made their way to the car barns. Only a maintenance man was
in the building, and he was compelled to release a car and switch
power onto the lines over the route to Bonn. After that, the
quaking barn man was locked in a clothing locker, and one of
our lads t00k over the trolley car controls, his pals piled aboard
and away they went. How they ever negotiated the correct
curves, sprang the right switches, and finally pulled up in Bonn,
not even they could remember or explain, and if it had not been
for the terrible hullabaloo raised by the Germans and our own

GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME 259
authorities we might have thought the whole escapade a wild
dream or the result of an over-indulgence in Rhine wine and
seltzer. Fortunately the resourceful trolley riders were never iden-
tified by the powers-that-were.

We Say Farewell to Hunland

At 3 p.m., January 23rd, the Fifth packed up and marched to
Siegburg, where it entrained and travelled until eight o'clock the
next night. The distance travelled was comparatively short, but
the weather was cold, the trains filthy, and the accommodation
decidedly unsatisfactory. At eight o'clock the men detrained and
climbed aboard busses and rode all night. Just as day was breaking
they arrived at Auvelais, a mining town of about ten thousand
population, situated on the River Sambre and about halfway
between Charleroi and Namur. Here they tumbled out of the
busses and made their way to billets in houses scattered through-
out the upper portion of the town. For the rest of the day they
lay around, sleeping the untroubled sleep of the just, the pure and
the brave.
On January 28th Routine Orders informed us that Sergeant
W. E. (Pierpont) Morgan, an "original" from Toronto, had
been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
The people of Auvelais received us with open arms and hearts.
We were now in the region where Fritz had gone berserk in the
early days of the war - the intensely patriotic Sambre-Meuse
district where many hundreds of civilians had been martyred to
the cause of kultur. Liege, Dinant, Tamines and dozens of other
towns and villages had witnessed the brutal butchering of help-
less old men, women and children during those terrible August
days of 1914, when this part of Belgium had bravely protested
the ravishing of their beloved country.
In Auvelais we met several survivors of the Dinant and
T amines massacres and from them heard first-hand evidence of
what they had been through. In T amines alone three hundred
and eighty-three were killed and ninety-eight wounded. These
figures include men, women and children, ranging in age from
one year to eighty-nine years. These poor victims weren't killed
during a bombardment or a battle. They were ordered out of
their homes and herded together in the local Grande Place, with

260 GERMANY, ENGLAND [:;ï HOME
their backs to the Sambre River. Machine guns were mounted
before them and they were mowed down like so much grain.
Those who weren't killed in the first rain of bullets were forced
to stand erect and be shot down by successive bursts of fire. Even
the local priests were not spared. Six hundred and thirteen citizens
in all were fired upon, but one hundred and thirty-two escaped
by crawling under the fallen bodies of their fellow citizens, or by
jumping into the Sambre and swimming to freedom under cover
of the gathering darkness. When the machine gunners stopped
firing, riflemen with bayonets and clubbed rifles went over the
scene of carnage, finishing off those who were merely wounded.
The next day other natives of the district were rounded up and
forced to dig an immense pit and bury the dead. The Germans'
only excuse for the terrible butchery was that the civilians had
fired on them as they battled with some French outposts for the
bridge over the river. The truth of the matter is that a mere
handful of French soldiers had held up the Huns and prevented
them from crossing the Sambre for many hours, and the exas-
perated Boche "took it out" on the helpless citizens. The claim
that these poor people had fired on the Germans was without the
slightest foundation for, on the approach of the enemy, the
mayor and curé had collected all the arms and ammunition in
town and stored them under lock and key in the town hall.
Some of our men were actually billeted in the homes of sur-
vi vors of this tragedy and with them visited the scenes of the
massacre, and there could be no doubt about the horrible truth
of the whole sad affair. This was our first (and only) direct con-
tact with victims of Hun atrocities and the evidence they supplied
was indisputable.
Throughout the whole long length of the war Auvelais had
been in the hands of the enemy and he had worked its mines to
the limit. Every able-bodied man had been forced down into the
pits, while women, girls and elderly men were impressed for the
hauling and loading work above ground. In this town the Ger-
man was hated fiercely and relentlessly and we were regaled with
many stories of secret revenge taken on some of the brutal in-
vaders. In addition to the mines, Auvelais possessed a glass factory
and a thriving Amianth weaving industry of which great things
had been expected until war brought its development to a
sudden stop in 1914.

GERMANY, ENGLAND [:;ï HOME 261
Many of the men suffered a rather serious shortage of money
during the long stay at Auvdais. Wine and song cost consider-
able lucre, but some of the lads sacrificed parts of their uniform
and equipment to the good cause. More than one lad was seen
with a pair of riding breeks, a pair of boots, a suit of underwear,
or some other article tucked under his greatcoat - on his way to
purchase beer, cognac, or the temporary affection of some lady
fair. We have in mind a certain little A. Section corporal who
one night slaked a beautiful thirst with the proceeds from the
sale of a brand-new pair of boots. It is said that he came back to
his billet this particular night on his hands and knees, so the
boots were excess equipment anyway.
While at Auvdais many of us planned what we were going to
do when we arrived back home. Of one thing we were all deter-
mined, and that was that we would eat when we were hungry,
come and go as we wished and, above all, we would sleep as
late in the morning as we desired. A song to which the Yanks
had introduced us expressed our sentiments very clearly:
Oh, how I hate to get up in the morning
Oh, how I love to remain in bed;
For the hardest blow of all
Is to hear the bugle call:
"You've got to get up, you've got to get up,
You've got to get up, this morning!"
Some day I'm going to murder the bugler;
Some day they're going to find him dead;
r II amputate his Reveille
And step upon it heavily,
And spend the rest of my life in bed,
The Motor Transport lads had some great times in Auvelais.
They used their schoolhouse billet as a strategic strongpoint from
which they manoeuvred into (and away from) many a battle
with other troops in the neighborhood. We remember one
dark night when Harry Fryday and Johnny Hay fdt the urge for
additional liquid refreshment and excitement. It was long after
midnight when they made their way to the main street, where
they espied a ray of light escaping fron1 the closed shutters of
their favorite estaminet. They were acquainted with a young
lady who lived in the establishment, so they thumped on the front
door and asked to get in. The door was cautiously opened and

262 GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME
the two Motor Transport lads attempted to enter. Their intrusion
was resented, however, by five Twenty-Fourth Battalion officers
who, apparently, had settled there for an all-night party.
A battle started. The front door was ripped from its hinges.
Fryday, Hay, the five officers and the door fell into the street and
a regular Donnybrook ruction was on. One or two of the offi-
cers went down in the first onslaught, and away went the two
Motor Transport fellows for their own battleground at the
schoolhouse. Fryday's fists and his parting insinuation that the
officers were "square-headed b-s" roused their opponents
to fever heat and they quickly took up the chase. We don't
remember what happened to Johnny Hay, but we do know that
Fryda y hid behind an ambulance while four of the officers went
into the schoolhouse to hunt for him. One officer meanwhile
stood guard at the school gate. Harry was upon the lone sentry
in less time than it takes to tell, and down went the officer.
Out rushed the four officers and, locating Fryda y backed up
against a wall on the opposite side of the street, they made a
wild rush at him. Of course, all were full of firewater so it
wasn't long before they lost contact with Fryday. Harry then
made his way into the schoolhouse and crawled into his bunk -
forgetting to remove his cap and boots. The infantry officers en-
tered, found him and took his name, number, etc., and promised
to have him courtmartialled at the earliest possible moment.
No courtmartial took place, however. All concerned realized
that the whole affair was just a bacchanalian brawl and decided
to let it go at that. Two weeks later, Fryday and Hay were
passing the same estaminet and, seeing two officers halTImering
at the door, vel
tured over and asked the way to a nearby town.
While one officer was directing them, the other looked them
over somewhat pointedly. "Isn't your name Fryday?" he asked.
"Yes," answered Harry, anticipating another battle. "Well, Fry-
day, come over to the Twenty-Fourth officers' mess sometime,
give the password and enjoy a swell evening." Harry's face took
on its well-known Irish grin. "What's the password?" he enquired.
"FR YDA Y," was the reply. The four soldiers thereupon shook
hands and parted. The invitation was never accepted, for our
Division moved out of Auvelais soon after. Just as well, perhaps.
Another melee might have started. You can't teU what might
happen when a wild Irishman gets a drink under his belt!

GERMANY, ENGLAND [y HOME 263
This, of course, wasn't the first scrap in which a lady's favors
were a factor. Over a period of many months we saw several
battles for the smiles of back-of-the-Line wenches who wouldn't
have been given a second glance under peacetime conditions.
However, we know of only the one scrap in which Fifth fellows
were involved. An old army song tells, no doubt, the story of
many of those girls who gave their hearts to the soldiers:
Apres Za guerre fini,
Tous Zes soZdats parti;
Les desmoiselZes beaucoup pZeurí,
Apres Za guerre finí.
We stayed in Auvelais for a little over two months and, in
spite of our longing to get home, the stay was rather pleasant.
Various recreational activities were instituted and study classes
were formed. The men had little to do and most of the time
was given over to social pleasures. The local theatre was opened
and several French and Belgian theatrical troupes entertained us.
Many of our own concert parties put on shows for us and oc-
casionally we put on a show of our own.
About the only Section to drop into regular duties was C.
Section, which supplied twenty men to the Twenty-Sixth
Imperial Casualty Clearing Station in Namur. An influenza
epidemic had hit the troops quartered in the Namur area and
the Fifth were appealed to for help. Sergeant Woodburn was
in charge of the party fron1 our unit and their stay with the
Imperials was of about six weeks' duration. Our fellows made
a great hit with the casualty clearing station personnel and
received a very hearty vote of thanks and send-oft when the time
came for them to return to the Fifth. The casualty clearing
station was located in the military hospital at Namur and our
fellows were well treated by the Imperials and citizens.
Many balls and dances were held in our honor during the stay
in Auvelais. The Fifth Brigade gave a "Grand Bal d'Adieu"
in the local theatre on March 2 4th. To say that a good time
was had by all is putting it too mildly. Our lads carried the
local belles right off their feet in more ways than one. It was a
great night for those who could dance the rapid whirl-'em-
around dances, so popular in Europe. Among others, Covelli,
Restivo, Dean Wilkins, Pier Morgan and Sam Woodburn were

264 GERMANY, ENGLAND [y HOME
right in their glory and gave mesdemoiselles Germaine, Marie,
Al yce and other pretty A uvelais girls, heartflutters they must
still remember.

One More Com1nanding Officer

To Major Treleaven, who had become our Officer Command-
ing on March 6th, fell the task of getting the unit ready for the
trip back to the Base. From the date of his taking over there
had been much activity towards preparing for the next move
toward home. Occupational lists were made out and Dispersal
Area data arranged. The names of married men were registered
and, by the time the orderly room clerks got through with
us, they knew how, when, where and why we were born,
whom our great great grandfather's sister married and how many
children she had by her first husband - if any! They knew the
color of our eyes, hair, skin, teeth, and the tint of our political
beliefs. If they could have read our thoughts at that time we
should all have been put down as "Reds" for, if ever soldiers were
fed up on red tape and militarism, we were. They encouraged
us to register for 160-acre plots of Northern wasteland and we've
often wondered since who is working those wonderful fairyland
farms a benevolent Ottawa so kindly envisioned for us.
All sorts of rumors were in the air. Married n1en were to
be sent home first, so benedicts immediately increased in number.
Then farmers were to be released first, and there was a sudden
mounting in the number of ploughmen, harvesters and fertilizer-
spreaders. A da y or two later miners were to go home first,
and right away the unit was full of pitn1en and tunnellers. If
we had remained at Auvelais much longer every man in the unit
would have had at least six trades, occupations or what-have-you!
Immediately after the Brigade Ball, however, things began to
happen. Orders were received to turn in all horses and wagons.
And how the Horse Transport fellows hated to part with their
equine friends and labor-making conveyances and equipment!
On the 25th day of March some of our married men left for
home and on the 28th the lads from Eastern Canada left to join
other units for demobilization.
Finally, on April 2nd, we marched to the station and entrained
for the Base. All Auvelais and many wet-eyed girls from several

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nearby hamlets were at the station to see us off. It was about
two hours before the train pulled out and during that time nearly
every man kissed his girl friends goodbye a dozen times at least.
E very toot of the engine whistle was the signal for a final
frantic embrace and, by the time the train actually got under way,
(1.15 p.m.) there wasn't a more thoroughly-kissed, tighter-
hugged and wetter-eyed crowd of women in the whole wide
world than those kind, open-hearted girls at the Auvelais station.
As the train drew slowly out, the strains of 0 Canada and La
Brabanconne were intermingled, a regimental band on the train
and a civic band on the station platform providing the music.
All through the afternoon and evening the train wormed its
way slowly westward. About midnight we reached Mons. Then
we passed through the devastated regions near the old Front.
The whole trench area looked more desolate than ever, and our
erstwhile gayety was stilled and our hearts saddened as we con-
templated the region where so many of our comrades had lain
down their lives. Arras, Doullens, Amiens - we passed them
all in turn, and eventually arrived at Le Havre early in the morn-
ing of April 4th. We marched once more up the same long hill we
had climbed on that long-ago afternoon of September 16, 1915.
But what a transformation had taken place since last we stayed
at Le Havre! Then there were only a few bell tents and scarcely
a wooden hut on the plain atop the hill. Now there were hun-
dreds of huts and tents, miles of hard roads and sidewalks, and
dozens of small shops, canteens and rest and recreation huts.
The next two days were spent going through the delousing
baths and fumigators, and in visiting the town, docks, theatres,
and other scenes of interest. Our own Divisional Concert Party,
the C- Two's, were in the camp theatre and many of our lads
spent a final night there, listening to their old favorites.
Some of the lads may recall the trip three of our men made to
the Rue des Gallions that last night at Le Havre - when the
three took on a whole squad of military police and found them-
selves finally thrown into the clink. The rousing fight put up by
one of the Lancashire lads on this occasion must have convinced
a few of the M.P's that some of our fellows could use their feet
even after French wine had gone to their heads. The three Fifth
lads were sent back to our unit next day, however. The Imperial
cops seemed mighty glad to get rid of them.

266 GERMANY, ENGLAND [y HOME
The Lancashire Lads

No history of the Fifth would be complete without special
mention of the Lancashire Lads. All together there were over a
score of them. Hamilton was their place of enlistment and nearly
all of them were assigned to A. Section. When they first arrived
at Exhibition Camp the other members of the unit were some-
what puzzled by their odd speech. Canucks, particularly, could
not make them out. They kept very much to themselves and it
was not until we reached England that the other men began to
understand them, and learn that beneath their rather gruff aloof-
ness they were mighty fine fellows.
Arthur Dudley was sort of leader to them and they seemed
to look to old Dud for example and guidance. He was a South
African veteran and very level-headed. Somebody had the excel-
lent good sense to make Dud a noncom. and, from the date of
his promotion, he wholeheartedly and effectively championed the
cause of his Lancastrian brothers. There were no better men,
either in or out of the Line. And where would our Soccer team
have been without these boys with the educated feet? Small won-
der that the Lancashire Lads occupy a foremost place in our
memories and a warm spot in our hearts.
At 6 p.m., Monday, April 7th, we marched aboard ship and,
after an all-night cross-channel journey, docked at Southampton
at eight o'clock next morning. From here we entrained for Widey
Camp - where we once again came under the iron discipline
and exasperating routine handed out by parade-ground officers
and noncoms. Here we tasted the galling cup that later on resulted
in well-deserved rioting at this camp and also at Rhyl. It was
quite evident that the Widey Camp martinets had been so far
from the war they hadn't yet learned that it was over. We sin-
cerely hope that, when the rioters burned down Tin Town a few
days after we left, they did not fail to chastise some of the camp's
staff bullies who tried to make our lives miserable during our
month's stay at W idey.
Now began the long and tedious series of medical examina-
tions, boards, embarkation interviews, ete., ete. The whole gamut
of red tape statistical stuff through which we had gone at Auvelaís
was repeated here - but with far less tact and understanding on
the part of our interviewers. Naturally, we were heartsick for

GERMANY, ENGLAND [y HOME 267
home, and the incessant questioning irritated us almost beyond
endurance.
There were several bright spots in our Widey sojourn, how-
ever. Canteens and cinema shows provided considerable entertain-
ment, but the best thing in camp was a pass to get out - to go to
London, Manchester, Edinburgh - anywhere else but the camp!
On Saturday, May 3rd, our unit supplied its quota of men for
the Colonial Victory Parade in London. That was the day on
which Colonial troops from all the "far-flung posts of the Em-
pire" paraded past Buckingham Palace for a final farewell by the
Royal Family. The whole of dear 01' Lunnon turned out to pay us
homage, and the cheers along the route of march were almost
deafening. Truly had the English taken us to their hearts - even
if they never seemed to quite understand us and our (to them) un-
couth ways and lack of respect for parade-ground discipline and
military traditions. The cheering didn't come only from the civil-
ians. In the city were thousands of Imperial soldiers and they
cheered as loudly as any.
To every member of the Colonial Forces, His Majesty the
King extended thanks. A copy of his personal letter follows:

(ROYAL CREST)

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

May 3rd, 1919.

Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men
of the Overseas Forces:
It is with a heart full of pride and gratitude that I take your salute today
as you march in triumph through London.
The people of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, by their instant
readiness to share in the trials and responsibilities of the Great War, have
shown to the world the unity of the British Empire. You, with your com-
rades from the Mother Country, vied with one another in noble deeds,
which will ever be held in proud remembrance.
Readily you adapted yourselves to the changing conditions of a new
and formidable kind of warfare, and endured physical hardships and
exacting mental strain.
Whether on the plains of Flanders, or the heights of Gallipoli, in
France, in Palestine, or other theatres of war, you displayed gallant
endurance in defence and vigorous initiative in attack.
We and future generations will never forget the part played by the
Canadians in the Second Battle of Ypres, and on the Vimy Ridge, by the
Australians and New Zealanders at Gallipoli and in the advance in
France in the spring of 1917, by the troops of all three Dominions in the

268 GERMANY, ENGLAND [y HOME
breaking of the Hindenburg line last year, by the South African Brigade in
Oelville Wood and by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment at Monchy-
le-Preux.
Now, in the day of victory, I wish to express to you, who represent
the Overseas Forces, my unbounded admiration for splendid feats of arms
and for sacrifices made.
I wish you all God
speed on your homeward journey, with the hope
that the outcome of this world struggle may assure peace to your children
and your children's children,

(Signed)

GEORGE R. I.
While we were at Widey, Ex-Staff-Sergeant Reginald Seneca
Smith met Ex-Sergeant Robert R.,Turner. Reggie held out his
hand in greeting. "Ah, myoid friend Bob! I plainly observe that
you, too, have suffered somewhat drastically from the ludicrous
viscissitudes of army life !"
On May 7th the Prince of Wales visited Widey and presented
regimental colors to several Second Division battalions. Our
unit also paraded and received the Prince's thanks and blessing.
The three rousing cheers and tiger we gave to the Heir to the
Throne as he left our parade ground were probably the most
honest and spontaneous cheers we had given for many a long day.
The Prince was the sort of fellow Canadians could understand
and appreciate. Long may he "carryon!"
After the first week at W idey there were continual rumors that
we were about to sail immediately for Canada. The old Latrine
Gazette didn't fool our lads, however. They left camp day after
day and tripped to London and other places, without the slight-
est worry that the Fifth might sail away without them. They
knew only too well that it took weeks for Base tacticians to
make up that unknown quantity they called their minds. And,
besides, the daily papers informed them that a seaman's strike
was on and that very few boats were leaving port.
We Board the Olympic for Home

On Saturday, May 10th, we said our "soldiers' farewells" to
Widey Camp. About nine o'clock that morning we entrained
for Southampton. There we boarded the Olympic early in the
afternoon. Our sailing strength was one hundred and forty-six,
all told. Other troops sailing with us were: 22nd, 24th, 25th, 26th
and 29th Battalions; 5th Battalion C.E,; No. 1. See. D.A,C.;

GERMANY, ENGLAND [y HOME 269
No. 2 Stat. Hosp.; and a few miscellaneous drafts from other
Second Division units.
An immense crowd of people were down to the dock to see us
off; and several bands entertained us during the long process of
loading ship. The Mayor of Southampton addressed us from the
quay and told us that Britain was proud of us and that England
would never forget us. We already knew it would be a long
time before the Old Country folk could forget us, for we had
done our utmost to show them how to make the most of every
opportunity . We had taught them, among other accomplish-
ments, how to chew gum, how to be within three paces of an
officer without saluting him, how to travel on trains without
paying, and - oh, ever so many other things that should keep
us in their memories.
The highlight in our send-off was the farewell speech given by
General Burstall. We were the first of his old Division to leave
for home, and there could be no mistaking the sincerity in his
voice and the meaning of his words when he bade us goodbye
and good luck. He told us that the old Second Division had one
of the proudest records of any Division in the whole British army,
and that most of the credit was due to the men themselves
and not to him. He stated that the break-up of his old Division
was the cruellest wrench his heart had ever suffered. Tears ran
down his cheeks as he spoke. The little C-2 "Lest We Forget"
buttons we received were a personal gift from General Burstall,
and Time has added to the great admiration and respect we had
for the man. He was cheered to the echo at the end of his speech
and when the Olympic cast off, about 8 p.m., he stood at the
salute until the gathering dusk hid him from our sight. There
was a MAN.
A copy of "A Special Order of the Day" was placed in the
hands of each departing soldier. It read as follows:
FAREWELL MESSAGE TO ALL RANKS OF THE SECOND
CANADIAN DIVISION FROM THEIR COMMANDER

Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Men of the Second Canadian
Division: We are about to return to our homes in Canada, after taking
our part in carrying to a successful issue the task which our nation under-
took in 1914.
We have had strenuous times together and have many glorious deeds
to recall. The record of our Division is one of which we have splendid

270 GERMANY, ENGLAND [y HOME

reason to be proud. The history of this war will not have any pages more
glorious than that which will tell of the Somme; of Hill 70 and Lens; of
Passchendade; of Arras, during the great German offensive in the Spring
and again in the Autumn, when they were forced to make their final
retreat; of the battle in front of Amiens; of the forcing of the Escaut
Canal, when Cambrai was set free; and finally, the rapid advance in the
last stages of the war, until the afternoon of November 10th when we cap-
tured the heights commanding Mons, together with parts of the city.
We have reason to be proud of these achievements which have made
the name of our Division glorious, and while we think of then1 our
thoughts naturally turn to those loyal comrades who fought and endured
with us, and who have paid the full price of devotion to Country. They
have died but their names will live. Their graves in France and Belgium
will be perpetual memorials of our achievements long after we have
passed a wa y.
This is my last message to you. The Division will now cease to exist
as an original formation. The organization of the Division will pass away
but its spirit will live forever. This to me is the grandest thing of all.
The gallant actions and achievements, the cheerfully endured sufferings
and hardships of the past four years of active service will inspire the
future generations of our country in all time to come. Take home to
Canada with you the knowledge of duty faithfully done in the days of
war, and the determination to be no less faithful to your country in the
days of peace. For you can be quite sure that the characteristics of courage
and endurance, of determination and initiative which you have shown on
active servïce are as necessary in the building up of your country as they
ha ve been in defending her.
I wish to express my thanks to you for the faith and trust you have had
in me and my staff. And now that we are about to separate may I say to
you that our one aim as a staff has been to leave no factor neglected in
winning the most decisive victories at the least possible cost, to provide for
your comfort as far as we could, and to merit your trust and confidence.
I wish to thank not only the fighting troops, which have won imperish-
able fame, but also the Services and Departments, including the Y.M.C,A"
which by untiring work, often under the most trying circumstances, made
possible the achievements of the fighting troops.
With a heart full of pride and gratitude, as well as with the most real
sorrow, I say goodbye to you, and wish you all happiness and prosperity
in your future homes. I trust that in the days to come I shall have the
privilege of meeting many of you at gatherings where we shall be able to
recall some of the great days we have spent together.
(Signed) H. E. BURsTALL, Major-General,
Commanding 2nd Canadian Division.

GERMANY, ENGLAND [:ï HOME 271
Fron1 their Majesties, the King and Queen, we received a
brief note of farewell:

(ROYAL CREST)
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
The Queen and I wish you God
speed, and
a safe return to your homes and dear ones,
A grateful Mother Country is proud of
your splendid services characterized by un-
surpassed devotion and courage.
(Signed) GEORGE R. I.
In respect to the above note, we recall that some of the old-
timers of Otterpool days read it and smiled. "The King was
pleased with you - but I wasn't!" some "original" remarked;
and the minds of those nearby turned to thoughts of the 1915
review at Beachboro Park and to the Old Man's speech before
he dismissed us back at Otterpool Camp.
The voyage to Canada was rather uneventful. There was but
little regret in our hearts as we steamed into the outer Southamp-
ton harbor, passed Portsmouth and headed for the open sea. Every
craft we passed, large and small, signalled a farewell greeting and,
by the time the shore lights had receded into the darkness, most
of the men were in their bunks and fast asleep.
How different were our Olympic quarters from those which
we occupied in the old Northland about four years before!
Now every man had a good comfortable berth or hammock
and the meals served to us were fit for a prince. We fed like
quartermasters!
One of our pleasantest memories of the Olympic is of the
sing-songs we used to have in the evenings - when the fellows
gathered on deck and sang the old favorites: "Just a Song at
Twilight," "In the Evening By the Moonlight," and other songs
that spoke of home. Who could ever forget, too, our friends
from Quebec Province, when they sang their old French chor-
uses: "Viens Poupoule, Viens," "En Roulant Ma Boule,"
and that best-of-all group song, "Alouette," in which we, too,
were able to join:
Alouette, gentiZZe Alouette, Alouette, je te plumerai.
Je te plumerai la tete, je te plumerai la tete,
(Leader) Et la tete (Everybody) Et la tete, 0
Alouette, gentille Alouette, Alouette, je te plumerai.

272 GERMANY, ENGLAND [:ï HOME

AZouette, gentiZZe AZouette, AZouette, je te pZumerai,
Je te pZumerai Ze bec, je te pZumerai Ze bec,
(Leader) Et Ze bec (Everybody) Et Ze bec
(Leader) Et Za tete (Everybody) Et Za tete, 0
AZouette, gentiZZe AZouette, AZouette, je te pZumerai,
AZouette, gentilZe AZouette, AZouette, je te pZumerai,
Je te pZumerai Ze nez, je te pZumerai Ze nez,
(Leader) Et Ze nez (Everybody) Et Ze nez
(Leader) Et Ze bec (Everybody) Et Ze bec
(Leader) Et Za tete (Everybody) Et Za tete, 0
AZouette, gentiZZe AZouette, AZouette, je te pZumerai.
(For additional verses add separately Le Dos, Le:s
Partes, Le Cou.)
Except for the sighting of a few floating German mines and
SOme icebergs, there was little to distract our attention from
the games of craps, poker, five hundred and crown-and-anchor
that went on, day and n
ght, throughout the trip. The first real
thrill we received was when on April 16th, we glimpsed, many
of us for the first time since the Spring of 1915, the shore
line of Halifax harbor. Hard-boiled as we considered ourselves,
there was moisture in our eyes and tremors along our spines at
this first sight of Canada - that Canada which most of us had
despaired of ever seeing again, during our many dark and weary
months in France and Belgium. Even at this moment of rap-
ture it all seemed too wonderful to be true. Something would
surely happen before we really got ashore, or perhaps we should
wake up and find it just one more of those mocking dreams which
used to come to us as we slept in some funkhole or cellar in
Flanders.
But, YES! There was Halifax, all right! We were not dream-
ing, after all! Then we began to wonder whether we should
be able to see any evidence of the terrible explosion which
had brought disaster to the city in the Spring of 1917. But look
as we might, we saw very little trace of the damage done by
the catastrophe.
Soon we were being warped into dock where thousands of
wa ving, shouting citizens and several uniformed brass bands
were waiting to welcome us. As we stepped ashore many of
the lads were met by friends, sweethearts and relatives who had
come east to greet them. Joyfully hysterical groups formed on

GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME 273
every side and it was a long time before they could be separated
and the men ushered into waiting trains,
Here again we were to have another sample of official bung-
ling. Instead of keeping our unit together on one train, it was
split into sections and we were mixed with other troops on twO
separate trains. No intimation of this change was given to
the men and, consequently, we never afterward saw nor heard
from many of the comrades with whom we had chummed
and served ever since joining the army. Had we known of the
entraining arrangements in time we could at least have ex-
changed addresses and shaken hands with those who had become
closer to us than blood-brothers.
From Halifax to Toronto the people of every city, town and
village through which we passed turned out to welcome us home.
Wherever the trains stopped there were kindly, generous and
grateful folk waiting to greet us and give us hot tea, coffee,
sandwiches, tobacco, cigarettes and chocolate. Where the stop-
overs were long enough, one of our lads played his mandolin
while the rest of the fellows entertained the home folk with
spirited renderings of "Mlle. from Armentieres," "Apres la
Guere Fini," and other old overseas favorites they requested.

Bad{ to Where We Started

At last, after a journey we feared might never end, our trains
pulled into Toronto an hour or two before dawn, May 19th.
Kits were hurriedly turned in and we received the discharge
papers we had been looking for for years.
Modesty and respect require that we draw a kindly veil over
the delirious welcome we received when we were at last amongst
our loved ones and back within our family circles. And we
haven't the necessary ability to describe our relief and reactions
when we once again found ourselves free men and finished
for all time (we hope!) with the blankety-blank army. It was
a hell of a war, and if any reader wishes to know more about it
there are dozens of excellent books which will supply the desired
information - particularly the formal and technical aspects
of the affair. We warned you that this wasn't to be a statistical
history! And if you want books that glorify war and militarism,
you will find plenty of then1.

274 GERMANY, ENGLAND E7 HOME
As for joining the army and going through similar experiences
in the event of another war breaking out - well, we've had
enough! For one thing, we hope we shall be too old - even
for a Home Guard job. Furthermore, we feel we should step
aside in favor of some of the many fire-eating honorary colonels,
bellicose clerics and professional jingoists who seern intent on
doing their utmost to create strife, discontent and race-hatred.
We are quite willing to let them go to war, but, we are for peace
- at almost any price. And, if war does break out, more than
one of us will be satisfied to remain within our family circle,
keeping the home-fires burning, making big money, sending
useless Keating's powder, rag-weed cigarettes and rancid meat
cubes to the boys at the Front; and unashamedly singing, to all
who will listen, the old conscientious objector's song:
Call up the Army and the Navy,
Call up the Rank.. and File.
Call up Reserves and Territorials-
They'll face danger with a smile.
Call up the Boys of the Old Brigade
That set old England free.
Call up my brother-
ì1y sister and my mother -
But for gosh sake don't call ME!

9

CHAPTER NINE

Old soldiers never die, never die, never die -
Old soldiers never die, chey simply fade away.

1919 - 1927
DURING the
first few months
following demob-
ilization very little
effort was made to
keep in touch with
comrades of over-
seas days. We all
wanted to forget
the war - as if we
ever could forget
something which is printed so indelibly under our eyelids! At
least we all wanted to try to forget. There were, too, more
important things to be taken care of:
First of all was the change to civilian clothing. A grateful
government allowed each man sixty dollars for outfitting him-
self as became an ex-member of His Majesty's Canadian Ex-
peditionary Forces. How far the money went may be imagined
when it is remembered that in the Spring of 1919 a very ordinary
suit cost about sixty dollars; shoes, fifteen; a shirt, three; socks,
two; a hat, six to eight; and every other item of clothing ac-
cordingl y. To make things worse, almost every article was
of the shoddiest material. The dependability we knew in pre-
war days was missing and the styles current at the time were
entirely unsuited to the demands of energetic, well-developed
outdoor men. The suits were form-fitting, with tight-waisted
coats, and trousers that hugged the legs with alnlost puttee-like
snugness. Shoes were narrow, pointed and thin-soled - totally

POST - W AR ACTIVITIES

(May 20, 1919, to January 1, 1936)

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"No opening just
now, Atk.ins!"

276

POST
WAR ACTIVITIES

unfit to encase feet broadened and developed by thousands of
miles of tramping over cobbled roads and rough highways.
Green was the fashionable color and when we recall the effect
the sun's rays had on our first civvy hats and suits we find it hard
to feel charitably disposed towards those who planned and
produced our 1919 raiment.
As soon as the novelty of being back in so-called civilization
somewhat wore off we commenced scurrying around, looking
for jobs or making arrangements to recommence school or college
courses thrust aside when we enlisted. To those searching for
work came the big surprise of finding somebody else filling the
job we had left to go overseas - somebody who had held it
throughout the war and, apparently, had no intention of giving
it up voluntarily. Of course the bosses were very friendly, glad
to see us back, and all that sort of thing, but except in a very few
instances, they "couldn't offer us anything just at the moment."

Nearly Everything Seemed Different

Gradually we realized we had come back like unwanted ghosts
and to a new world - a world entirely different from that
which we left in 1914. Everything had changed - or was it
we who had altered? Certainly it was not the world we had
pictured ourselves returning to so many times while in France,
Belgium and Germany. Those of us who did get jobs, found
working conditions less congenial than before. We found our

selves "clique-ing up" with other returned men in the esta-
blishment, and out of harmony with co-workers of military
age who hadn't worn khaki. Almost invariably the boss,
manager, superintendent or foreman was not an overseas man
and seemed to resent the bond which held together the returned
men under his control.
Even amongst veteran co-workers strange and disturbing
adjustments were often necessary. Many discovered that their
civilian status was in inverse ratio to their rank in the army.
In not a few instances, ex-colonels found themselves working
for, or under, ex-privates and former noncoms. More than
one ex-batman had the rather embarrassing experience of being
waited upon by an ex-officer. In the cold, calculating, unsenti-
mental business world to which we had returned, war-time

POST - W AR ACTIVITIES

277

valuations had no place. It was not long before most of us
realized that the war years and the post-war conception of dem-
ocracy had swept many men's minds clean of veneration for
caste and the privileges of birth. About us we sensed the evap-
oration of whole philosophies of politics, morals and codes
of living. Those of us who possessed a sense of humor readily
"fitted into" the new conditions. For others the readjustments
were slow and painful. Then there were the remaining veterans
for whom temperaments and experiences prevented any sort of
compromise with the changed conditions and people in civilian
life. For these men demobilization brought tragedy, despair and
defeat.
We shall not elaborate on the plight of the man discharged
"burned out" and physically unfit. A description of his trials
and tribulations requires a more practised pen than ours. Let us
hope that before it is too late a Zola or a Hugo may appear
and place the case for this type of ex-soldier before the general
public in a manner befitting the terribly tragic subject.
Judging from what many ex-soldiers have told us, they
are not sorry they went to war. Under the circumstances there
was, they say, no other honorable course open to them. Cer-
tainly not one of us would trade places with any able-bodied
man who could have gone to the Front but didn't. Tucked
away in the pigeonholes of our memories, however, are many
very poignant and bitter thoughts and we often find ourselves
asking rather disturbing questions. Some of the questions upper-
most in our minds are:
What can be said in justification of the political intrigues,
national greeds and so-called "diplomacy" that led up to the
war?
One celebrated historian called diplomacy & & an art which has
resol ved itself into a process of exalted haggling conducted with
amazing disregard for the standards of morality." He considers
that "the greatest single underlying cause of the war was the
system of secret alliances in which the diplomats of each nation
sought to preserve the 'balance of power' by deftly playing off
one neighbor against another, at the least possible risk to thell1-
selves." Lloyd George has recently declared that U in 1914 the
cabinet was never informed of these agreements until we were
so deeply involved in the details of military and naval plans

278

POST - WAR ACTIVITIES

that it was too late to repudiate the inference. Thus we slith..
ered over the brink into the burning cauldron."
Was Britain's chief concern caused by Germany's disregard
for Belgium's neutrality, or did she declare war simply because
she saw her own world-domination threatened?
A rather interesting sidelight on the causes leading up to the
war was supplied by President Woodrow Wilson in a speech
he made in 1919: "Peace? Why, my fellow-citizens, is there
any man here or any woman -let me say, is there any child-
who does not know that the seed of war in the modern world is
industrial and commercial rivalry? The war was a commercial
and industrial war. It was not a political war. The reason that
the war we have just finished took place was that Germany
was afraid her commercial rivals were going to get the better
of her; and the reason why some of the nations went into th
war
against Germany was that they thought Germany would get the
commercial advantage of them. The seed of the jealousy, the seed
of the deep-rooted hatred, was hot commercial and industrial
rivalry. "
Were the excuses given by the British cabinet as Britain's
reason for taking up arms genuinely honest statements of the
case or were they, for the most part, sheer hypocrisy and jingoism?
Was the propaganda employed to encourage recruiting in
Canada founded on facts, or was it manufactured for the sole
purpose of appealing to the baser instincts, hates and fears
which were products of wartime hysteria? Weren't some of our
leading educationists, clergymen and bankers aware of the lies?
Were our troops sacrificed needlessly in the "nibbling" assaults
in the Salient during the fall and winter of 1915-1916? Were
they also ruthlessly sacrificed during the Somme battles? Was
Passchendaele worth the price paid for it? Were any of the high
officers who were responsible for several very obvious and costly
staff blunders ever courtmartialled and shot - or was their
criminal incompetency considered unimportant -less important
than the desertion of some poor shell-shocked infantryman who
was shot for an act his shattered mental and physical powers could
not control?
Discussing British operations of 1916, one of Britain's most
eminent historians states: "Newly trained British armies were
made to advance in close formation by generals who, unless they

POST - W AR ACTIVITIES

279

were imbeciles, could have had no doubts of the fate to which
they were sending their men. If they were not imbeciles they
were criminally unwilling to learn and soul-blind to suffer-
ing and waste. The mentality of these men is still a matter
of discussion. The poor boys they commanded were marched
forward shoulder to shoulder in successive waves of attack, and
so advancing, they were shot to pieces by enemy machine-guns.
Out of battalions of six or seven hundred, perhaps a hundred
would struggle through the defensive fire and come to bomb-
throwing, bayonet-thrusts and surrender in the German trenches.
Small isolated groups of them in shell-holes and captured pos-
itions fought on for days. So perished the flower of an entire
school generation, collected from hundreds of thousands of homes,
l110re or less loved, more or less cared for and more or less educa-
ted; it had been enlisted, trained, sent out to the battlefields at
enormous cost, to be left at last in the desolated spaces between
the armies, lying in heaps and swathes to rot and be rat-eaten.
For months afterwards, as war photographs show, thousands
of them were to be seen sprawling in formation as they fell,
just as if their ranks were still waiting to leap again to the attack.
But as the observer drew near he realized their corruption. He
discovered bony hands, eyeless sockets, faces far gone in decay.
"The British Comn1ander-in-Chief in his despatches did not
fail to extol the courage of his lost battalions and to represent
this monstrous exploit as a victory! Some mile or so of ground
had been gained in that offensive and only a few thousand pris-
oners had been taken. Twice as many British prisoners were left
in German hands, but this the despatches ignored. The appalling
nature of this particular disaster leaked out only very slowly 'The
British censorship at least was efficient and the generals, however
incapable in other respects, lied magnificently. The Channel cros-
sing made it particularly easy to hide events from the British
pU9lic. And it had a peculiar effect on the British trOOps; it gave
them a feeling of being in another and different world from

home,' a war-world in which such cruel and fantastic things
could be natural. This monstrous massacre was indeed contrived
and carried through, not simply without a revolt, but with
scarcely an audible protest on the parr of either the parents,
relations, friends or surviving comrades of those hosts of wasted
. . "
VICtimS . . . . . .

280

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

Why were the known defeatists at London and Ottawa not
brought to trial and punished?
Why were some of the profiteers who supplied uneatable food,
dud munitions and shoddy war materials given knighthoods
and other high honors instead of being sent to prison?
Why was it possible for the Government to conscript a man's
life - but impossible to conscript the money of the wealthy
who were battening on the war?
Ha ve our federal, provincial and civic governments treated
returned men in a manner befitting the sacrifices they made
overseas? Haven't we too many "professional patriots" and
flag-wavers exploiting our veterans?
Has not the total amount spent in the administration of pen-
sions, ete., been out of all proportion to the amount of assistance
which has actually reached the very men it was intended to help?
Truly these are disturbing questions - and we despair of ever
hearing them answered satisfactorily. Our questions betray the
fact that we are distrustful of the past and fearful of the future,
but our concern is not for ourselves. We are thinking of our sons
and grandsons. Most of our young men of military age are now
too young to have participated in the Great War. Very soon
that powerful present argument against war - the recollection
of its horrors, abuses, propaganda and exploitations, by the men
who took part in it - will no longer be valid. What will happen
then? Will the world be plunged into a war which will, in com-
parison, make the last war seem like a mere skirmish?
But we who soldiered overseas have Something we would not
exchange for anything else in this world - a Memory of com-
radeships dearer than any which peacetime could have brought;
a Memory of experiences, trials and moral victories which are
almost beyond belief; a Memory of sacrifice and self-abnegation
of which we never dreamed ourselves capable before the war.
Oh no! We wouldn't trade our army days for anything -even
though we were, in a sense, robbed of our boyhood, plundered
of our youth, and flung deliberately into a hellish testing furnace
before we were old enough, many of us, to know the ordinary
ways and pitfalls of a peacetime world. Many of us came out
of the war burned-out wrecks, possessed only of tragic disillus-
ioned minds and broken bodies to carry us toward an old age
from which we will, thank Heaven, be mercifully spared.

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POST-\VAR ACTIVITIES

281

A Most Fortuitous Meeting

One morning in April, 1919, Lieutenant-Colonel Kappele,
who had returned convalescent to Canada the preceding Decem-
ber, had occasion to go to the C.P.R. station in Hamilton, to
say goodbye to a departing relative. \Vhile he was at the station
a Toronto train arrived. To his surprise and delight, he saw his
old Commanding OfficLr, Colonel Farmer, alight from it, he
having arrived without notice to anyone, and consequently hav-
ing no one there to meet hin1. Lieutenant-Colonel Kappele's
pleasure and personal gratification at being able to welcome his
beloved Commanding Officer, and being with him to celebrate
his home-coming in Ancaster may easily be imagined. That the
Old Man was equally pleased goes without saying.
Most Old Grievances Forgotten

An interesting feature of early post-war days was the rarity
of fisticuffs on the part of erstwhile army associates. During
the war many of us promised ourselves the sweet satisfaction
of seeking out some officer or noncom. enemy as soon as we
were in civvies again, and committing upon his person assault,
battery, mayhem and every other sort of abuse within our power.
It speaks well for the make-up of men who served at the Front
that there was very little attempt to payoff old scores - that the
fellows could, in most cases, forgive if not forget the animosities
of army days.
\Ve know of only two instances of post-war revenge on the
part of former Fifth men : Two majors who had often run foul
of each other "over there" met in Toronto on Christmas Eve,
1919, The Prince of Peace was forgotten. "Goodwill Toward
All Men" meant nothing as soon as the two ex-officers met,
Like a pair of terriers they flew at each other . To the horror of
a red-coated Santa Claus standing on the corner of Queen and
Y onge streets, and totally oblivious of the hustle and bustle of
gaping shopping crowds, they battled away. Christmas bundles
and packages flew in all directions, and, when it was all over,
neither scrapper had won. Perhaps they were too full of synthetic
Christmas cheer to put up much of a fight. Hostilities ended with
honors even, without arrests, and with the two battlers well on
the way to a friendship which still exists.

282

POST -WAR ACTIVITIES

The second instance had to do with an ex-captain. He was
walking along a roadway near Burlington, one dark night, when
an automobile swerved directly across the road and put him into
hospital for a few weeks. The driver of the car was never identi-
fied but the ex-captain was heard to remark that there was only
one man in Canada capable of such an act, and that man was a
certain reckless, harem -scarem Irishman who served in the Motor
Transport Section at the Front.

We Begin to Miss the ((Old Gang"

It was not until about four months after demobilization that
there developed a comparatively strong desire for fraternization
with former war-time comrades. As near as we can remember,
the first steps for a reunion of Fifth men were taken in the autumn
of 1919 and originated with Pier Morgan, Dean Wilkins, Fred
Noyes and one or two others. It was decided to hold a meeting
in Toronto. Advertisements were placed in local newspapers
and a personal canvass of local ex-members was made by the
originators of the idea. The result was a meeting in an upstairs
room of the Central Y.M.C.A. in the Fall of 1919. Pier Morgan
was Chairman. About fifty men turned out and the evening was
spent in discussing the formation of a permanent association.
By unanimous vote it was decided to hold a reunion in a few
weeks' time, when the question of a permanent organization
could be discussed by a more representative gathering.
Notification of this First Reunion was sent to everybody whose
address was known to the committee in charge. The meeting
was advertised in Toronto newspapers. The response was very
gratifying. Over one hundred were present, the majority from
Toronto but a goodly representation from the Hamilton area.
For this occasion we were given the use of the library and reading
room of the Y.M.C.A. Dean \Vilkins was Chairman and the
evening was a complete success. Perhaps the outstanding event
was the arrival of Colonel Farmer and the vociferous ovation
with which he was received as he made his way across the "Y"
lobby. The old man was simply stunned by the cordiality of his
reception. He admitted afterwards that the spontaneous and
hearty greeting given to him on this occasion by "'his own boys"
was the greatest surprise he had ever experienced and had

POST - WAR ACTIVITIES 283
provided him with the most cherished thrill of his whole life.
As cheer after cheer shook the building the Colonel stood before the
remnants of his old command, tears of happiness trickling down
his flushed cheeks and his whole body shaking with the emotion
stirring within him. We were told afterwards that the Old
Man had been very reluctant about coming to this first gather-
ing. He felt that some of the boys might be resentful of his
war-days' disciplinary methods.
Colonel Kappele, Major Elliott and several other ex-officers
were also present and reed ved cordial greetings. Refreshments
were served, followed by speeches and various forms of enter-
tainment. Finally, a business session ensued. In the prevailing
excitement no definite plans for a permanent association or
future reunions were made. Evidently the war was too recent
for the successful launching of such an organization. There
was, however, a definitely expressed conviction that we ex-Fifth
men should keep in touch with each other somehow; but the
matter was left entirely in the hands of the little coterie respons-
ible for the calling of the first meeting. Business affairs took
Morgan to England, Noyes to the U.S.A., and Wilkins to North,
ern Ontario, so, during the ensuing few years the old Fifth was
more or less dormant.
Of course, there were occasional parties, composed of various
small groups of former comrades. The nine lads of Tent Nine,
for instance, had arranged in Otterpool for a reunion after the
war. In the Spring of 1920 Carl Hill treated the nine old tent,
mates to a banquet at the Walker House, Toronto. After the
banquet, Mike Bicknell gave them a theatre party at Loew's
Theatre.
From time to time small parties were held at the Walker House
and Elliott House, Toronto, to celebrate the presence in town of
some out-of-town Fifth fellow, or to mark the anniversary of
some outstanding army-days incident. Max Kelso moved to New
Zealand and about sixty of his buddies gave him a smoking
outfit and a send-off party in Hamilton Armories. This affair
was arranged by Jack Shepherd, and Jack Williams had charge
of the meeting. Jim McGillivray was the object of a celebration
at the Elliott House on the occasion of a visit east. A few other
get-togethers similar to these resulted in a re-birth of desire for a
permanent Association and a reunion of the whole oudit.

284 POST - \V AR ACTIVITIES
The First l{eal Start

During the winter of 1926-27, Jim Henderson, Ben Case, 51
Taylor, Pick Bridges, Baldy Rutherford and a few others rut
their heads together and made plans for a Reunion Dinner. By
means of advertisements in the press, radio broadcasts, post-
cards and personal calls, a goodly number of ex-Fifth n1en were
contacted. The reunion was held in the \Valker House, Toronto,
in the Spring of 1927. Pier Morgan was Chairman and over
one hundred were present. In addition to our Toronto, Hamilton
and Owen Sound groups, men came from the United States
and remote points in Eastern Canada. After an excellent dinner
a short business session was held, followed by musical entertain-
ment and fraternization until long past midnight. Ernest Morgan,
at that time one of Canada's outstanding baritones, was the chief
attraction. Ex-bugler Frank T emperton, who lost an arm shortly
after the war, commenced his duties as our Association's official
accompanist and, from that night on, has presided at the piano
in a manner that would never lead anyone to think he was
playing under a handicap.
This, our second reunion, was an unqualified success, and it
was decided to hold another get-together in about six months'
time at Hamilton and on the most suitable date nearest to Sep-
tember 15th, the date of our departure from Otterpool Camp in
1915. The idea was to have a semi-annual reunion, with T or-
onto and Hamilton alternating as the place of meeting.
About the middle of September, 1927, we celebrated our
Third Reunion. First of all, the fellows met in the Sergeant's
Mess of Hamilton Armories, where T ep Richardson, Jimmy
Bell and some other Hamilton lads had a busy half-hour serving
refreshments. Then the gang adjourned to a banquet hall in
another part of the building where we were wined, dined and
entertained for the rest of the evening. It was very evident that
these reunions had hit a responsive chord in the hearts of ex-Fifth
men and that our Association was well on the road to becoming
a permanent institution - as long as enough were left alive to
carryon.

1928
On Saturday, April 14, our Fourth Reunion was celebrated
in the Walker House, Toronto. Owen Sound lads came by train.

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

285

The Hamilton contingent chartered a bus, and several fellows
came from places in the States and Eastern Canada. About one
hundred and ten, in all, sat down to dinner. Fred Noyes was
Chairman. Vocal and piano music was supplied by Ernest Mor-
gan (Pier's talented brother) Frank T emperton and others. Our
old training-camp days songster, George Brookes, was present
but, because of a heavy cold, was unable to sing. The feature
of the evening was an illustrated lecture by ex-Staff Deadman.
His war-time experiences in Mesopotamia were the subject of
his address. During his long stay in the East he took hundreds
of photos, covering a wide range of territory and activity. These
pictures were thrown on a screen and rounded out a very fascinat-
ing and informative lecture. During the short business meeting
which followed the dinner it was unanimously decided that only
one reunion a year would be held thereafter, and that this annual
meeting would take place on the second Saturday in May. There
were, too, several expressions of opinion that steps should be
taken to compile a unit History; but nothing definite was done
toward that end.

The "Old Man" Answers the Last Call

This was the last reunion at which our beloved original
Officer Commanding was present. On Monday, May 7, came
the shocking news that Colonel Farmer had died suddenly at
his home in Ancaster, Ontario. He had been failing in health
for some time, but none suspected his condition was so serious.
We will quote what the Hamilton Spectator said about the
Colonel's passing:
Colonel George Devey Farmer,C.B,E.,M,D.,C.M.,was born inAncaster
in the year 1866 and had resided in his Ancaster home practically all his
life. During the many years in which he practised his profession as doctor
he won a large circle of friends who deeply grieve his death, which will
bring to a close the career of a man, not only of wonderful personality
and character but one who had served his country at the Great War, from
the outset to the last.
When Colonel Farmer first started his practice in Ancaster, conditions
for transportation were not as favorable and efficient as they are now,
but the beloved doctor has been known to travel for miles through stormy
weather and at much inconvenience to himself to administer relief to
suffering patients, His kindly words and genteel manner, not only endeared

286

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

him to many as a family physician, but as a friend in need, winning him a
place among his patients and men of his profession.
Following his private education at Ancaster he entered Hamilton Cen-
tral Collegiate and after his graduation attended the Trinity Medical
College at Toronto, In the year 1891 he received his M,D., C.M. Colonel
Farmer than took up his practice in Ancaster, the town of his birth, and
with the exception of the time served in the Great War, he resided and
carried on his practice in Ancaster.
Previous to joining the Canadian Forces for the Great War, Colonel
Farmer had been the Commanding Officer of No. 12 Field Ambulance of
Hamilton. In that capacity he had carried on a very beneficial work in
passing his extensive knowledge of medical work on to his younger
charges in the corps.
In November, 1914, Colonel Farmer enlisted with the Canadian Ex-
peditionary Forces as a Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding No.5 Canadian
Field Ambulance, Second Contingent, going overseas after his training
period at the military camps in this country were completed in April, 1915.
He was with No. 5 Field Ambulance for two years in France, taking
active part in the Ypres and Somme battles. He was later Commanding
Officer of No, 2 Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, In the year 1918 he
was promoted to the rank of full Colonel and made Commanding Officer
of No. 5 Canadian General Hospital at Liverpool, England. For his
services he was awarded the C,B,E. Colonel Farmer was twice mentioned
in despatches for his outstanding work and on many occasions distin-
guished himself with deeds of self-denial in his tireless work of helping the
wounded and inmates of hospitals under his charge,
In politics he was a staunch Conservative. He was a member of St.
John's Church, being a lay representative to the synod and holding many
offices in connection with church activities, He was also a Past Master of
Seymour Lodge, A,F. &. A.M., of Ancaster.
Left to mourn his demise are his mother, Mrs. G. D, Farmer; two
daughters, Mrs. P, McCormack, of Ottawa; Miss Eleanor Farmer, at
home; two sons, Tom and Dr. G. E. D. Farmer, of Hamilton; two
brothers, T. D. Farmer, of Acton, and W. E. D. Farmer, of Toronto;
also two sisters, Mrs. Hughes, of London, England, and Miss A. Farmer,
of Toronto.
The funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon, at 2,30 o'clock,
from his residence in Ancaster to St. John's Church. A military funeral will
be held and men from the units of which he was Commanding Officer and
outstanding military officials will attend. Interment will be made in the
cemetery adjoining St. John's Church.
\Ve shall also quote the Spectator's report of the Old Man's
funeral, adding only that the village of Ancaster is very much
like a typical English village in appearance. The weather on

POST - \V AR ACTIVITIES 287
the day of the funeral was very much like that which we had
shortly after the Fifth arrived at Otterpool in the Spring of 1915.
Paying reverential regard to one who had strongly endeared himself in
their affections, a vast crowd assembled in the quaint old church of St.
John's at Ancaster for the very impressive funeral service of Colonel
Dr. George Devey Farmer, C,B,E. Numbered in the gathering which more
than filled the church were people in all walks of life, who through one
means or another, had come into contact with his remarkable personality.
There were those who had been administered to by his hands in sick-
ness and sorrow, fellow members of the church where he was an active
worker and a devout worshipper; those of his political and fraternal asso-
ciates and others of opposite beliefs; fellow members of the honored
medical profession, and lastly, but not least, "his own boys" of the Fifth
Field Ambulance, Second Division, C.E,F, The original Commanding
Officer of that unit, its organizer and just administrator during training
and on active service, no one was more truly entitled to the oft-heard and
endearing expression, "the grand old man."
E vidence there was on all sides of the deep-rooted esteem in which
Colonel Farmer was held, Scores of beautiful Boral tributes arranged
about the casket at his home' bore mute testimony of the high regard
which was his, but even more striking was the fact that close to thirty
men of his overseas unit attended from Toronto, while a similar number
came from Hamilton. Others of his old command came from WeIland
and other points in the Niagara peninsula, Surely a strong pronouncement
of loyalty and respect, was this.
Besides the large detachment of veterans in mufti there was a fine turn-
out of men of the present Fifth Field Ambulance in command of Líeut.-
Co!. W. F. Nicholson, M,C., who, also, was an original officer of the over-
seas medical unit. The active pallbearers were N.C,O.s of the First Went-
worth Regiment, as were the members of the firing squad.
Full military honors were accorded this sterling soldier-physician. His
body was borne on a gun carriage from his old colonial home in the centre
of the village to the church and following behind was a black charger,
boots reversed in stirrups, Atop the casket, draped with a Union Jack,
was placed the deceased's belt and military cap, and escorting the bier
were men in khaki. Following the burial service the customary three
volleys were fired; then came the piper's lament.
Services at the church and grave in the adjoining cemetery were con-
ducted by Major Rev. W. E. Kidd, M,C" rector of St. John's Church; His
Lordship, Right Rev, D. T. Owen, Bishop of Niagara; Captain, the Yen.
Archdeacon A. C. Mackintosh, and the Rev, Canon S. Daw. Rev. Mr,
Cook, former pastor of the Ancaster Presbyterian Church also attended,
Honorary pallbearers were men of military rank and all veterans of the
Great War, as follows: Major-General J. T, Fotheringham, C.M.G., who

288

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

was assistant director of medical services of the Second Canadian Division
and a fellow-student of the deceased at medical college: Colonel Forde,
C,M,G.; Colonel Wallace Scott, C.M,G., of Toronto; Lieut.-Colonel
1- E. Davey, 0.5,0.; Lieut.-Colonel D. P. Kappele, D.S.O.; Colonel
John I. McLaren; Colonel A. E. Clifford, D.s.O.; Colonel George Black;
Lieut.-Colonel N. V. Leslie; Lieut.-Colonel F. 5, L. Philip; and Lieut.-
Colonel O. A, Cannon,
After the funeral was over, refreshments were served to those
who had come from outside points. This very thoughtful ges-
ture on the part of the Farmer family made a deep and lasting
impression on ex-Fifth men. It was just like something the Old
Man himself would have thought of, and we came away from
Ancaster with the feeling that, even though the Colonel had
passed on, the kindliness and understanding which were his
had been transmitted to his children and kin.

1929
During the Winter of 1928-29 ways and means of compiling
and publishing a Fifth Field Ambulance History were discussed
by several of the fellows. A meeting for further consideration
of this matter took place in Hamilton armories, a few weeks
later. About fifty were present and selected a committee of four
men: Case, Noyes, Patterson and Rutherford, as editors of the
proposed volume, subject, of course, to the approval of those
present at the next reunion.
On the second Saturday of May our Fifth Annual Reunion was
held in Dynes' Hotel, Burlington Beach. Colonel Kappele and
Andy Patterson shared the Chairmanship duties. Over one hundred
were present. After a very enjoyable dinner, a short business
session was held. The chief subject of business was the unit His-
tory. After considerable discussion the publication of the book
was enthusiastically endorsed and the committee named at the
preliminary meeting was unanimously elected. Appropriate enter-
tainment and refreshments followed the business meeting and it
was a happy and harmonious gathering that broke up in the early
hours of the morning.

1930
This was the Toronto Branch's year to put on the annual get-
together. On Saturday, May 3rd, our Sixth Annual Reunion was
held at the Carls-Rite Hotel, with Carl Hill as Chairman. There

POST - WAR ACTIVITIES 289
\.ve had one of our most successful gatherings. Although we had
the usual banquet, speeches and musical entertainment, the fea-
ture of the evening was the presence of the Mayor of Bully
Grenay. Over one hundred and twenty-five ex-Fifth fellows were
present to welcome the man who had once been head of affairs in
the little tumbledown town of Bully, where our unit had spent
momentous days - and perilous nights - during the year im-
mediately following our trip north from the Somme. But perhaps
we had better let a newspaper account of the Mayor's memorable
visit tell the story:
ELUSIVE MAYOR OF BULLY GRENAY GIVEN OVATION

SPADE BEARDED JEAN BOUCHER RECALLS HAPPY DAYS WITH C.E.F.

VETERANS' LEGS PULLED

Grab or no grab, Toronto's amateurs in the mendacious art need look
to their laurels. A greater than them all is in Toronto - none other than
M, Jean Boucher, Mayor of Bully Grenay. The news came to the Globe
office by telephone late Friday afternoon - something like this:
"Yes, the Mayor of Bully Grenay - M, Jean Boucher, the one that
stayed in office, and in what the Boche shells left of the Mairie, all
through the war. His daughter Marguerite married a Canadian fellow in
the Twentieth Battalion.
"That'd be some time in '17. The Fourth Brigade was in and out of
Bully most of that winter. Anybody who was with the Twentieth Bat-
talion then can tell you about it, Just forget the fellow's name now, but
he and his wife are living out the Danforth some place. The old boy's
come out to visit his daughter. Dropped in at my office today to talk
over old times Remembers a lot of the fellows in our lot, especially the
officers. Our Commanding Officer had a good deal of business with M. Ie
Maire. The Fifth Field Ambulance - that was us - had a dressing
station a couple of doors from the Mairie for a long time. He's promised
to come down and talk about old times at our reunion tomorrow night.

HARD TO FIND
"Oh, yes, sure to be there. Come down and hear him, Sorry I've for-
gotten the son-in-law's name. But you'll be able to find him all right.
Anybody who was with the Twentieth in '17 can tell you who he is, and
he lives out the Danforth some place. That's all right Don't mention
it. Goodbye!"
The search for the son-in-law of the Mayor of Bully Grenay began at
5 p,m, Ah, to be young again! It lasted until 11.30 p.m, At 5.45 there

290

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

was a man named Chamberlain lived on Crewe Avenue, whose wife was
a French girl. At 6,08 Mr. Chamberlain was an Imperial and he hadn't
married a French girl. At 7 there was a man named McKenzie who
might be the fellow, only his wife died two years ago and, anyway, she
was from Paris. A French family named Boucher lived on Dundas East
at 7.40. But they knew nothing of Bully Grenay and they were from Trois
Rivieres, P.Q., at 8,05. Three Field Officers of the Twentieth Battalion
remembered the wedding distinctly at 8.10, 9,17 and 10.03, Unfortun-
ately, none of them could recall the name of the private soldier who
married the Mayor's daughter in Bully Grenay.

"OLD HATcHETFAcE"
One major had "stayed three times at the Mairie in Bully." But all he
could remember at 11.15 was the pet name of the lady Mayoress: "Old
Hatchetface." Four hours and a half of phoning drew every cover blank.
The Globe went to press Saturday morning without the great news of the
presence in Toronto of M. Ie Maire de Bully Grenay.
Faint, but pursuing, the faithful newshound took up the chase on
Saturda y. It led at last to an upper room in the Hotel Carls-Rite and the
Sixth Annual Reunion of the Fifth Field Ambulance. Doubt lay buried
deep in the newshound's breast, It was soon dug up again and cast forth.
M. Jean Boucher was a little late in arriving at the Fifth Field Ambu-
lance Reunion, but he came - a plump, ruddy little man in immaculate
black. The coat was that quaint comprom.ise between a frock and tails,
which only a French Provencal tailor can achieve. A ribbon of the Legion
of Honor, Third Class, adorned the left buttonhole. A gray spade-beard
and gray moustache framed the smile on mobile lips.
THREE ROUSING CHEERS
The Mayor of Bully Grenay entered the banquet hall. "Everybody up!"
Led by Colonel Kappele of Hamilton, one hundred and ten members of
the Fifth jarred the ceiling loose with three cheers for M. Boucher.
M. Boucher smiled and bowed from the hips. He was accablé, he was
heard to say, by the reception of his amis de la Croix R....ouge. In deference to
Canadian custom, M. Ie Maire drank water at the banquet and kept his
napkin on his knees. He was all earnest attention for the speeches which
followed the food.
Major-General Fotheringham made graceful reference to happy mem-
ories of France, and expressed his faith in France and her destiny. M,
Boucher bowed in grave acknowledgement. Major-General Fotheringham
was sure that every man who served in France shared his feeling, (Ap-
plause). Mr, Boucher bowed again.
As the Mayor of Bully Grenay rose, every man in the banquet hall rose
with him, and the proud tempestuous music of the Marsellaise shook the
air. Everybody knew the tune, A surprising number knew the words. The

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

291

effect was magnificent, magnifique! M. Boucher was overcome, but he
recovered himself and spoke with eloquence and spirit.

HARD TO FOLLOW
The first part of his speech was a mixture of French, broken English
and applause, and hard to follow. "Quand a moi," the reporter caught,
and "I am happy to recall with you those days you have spent in my
country . . . some of which were spent in my own village . take upon
myself to be ambassador of all our old amis du Pas de Calais and extend
to you their salutations and expressions of extreme regard," (Cheers).
'eI shall like, if it is permitted me, to tell what things have become there
in the petit, broken
down village that you recall. All, I am pleased to say
to you, are now restored - the eglise, the mairie, the estaminets, the
little maisons, the magazins - are now as if the war had not been.
(Applause).
"Yet all is not forgotten, Many jeunes filles de Bully Grenay recall the
visit des Canadiens, There are some who wait encore for the promised
return apres la guerre . "
The Mayor of Bully Grenay spoke eloquently of the sadness of Mlle.
Julienne of the Officers' Estaminet; of une jeune fille who waits encore
for Sergeant O'Leary at the ferme behind the schoolhouse, He told of
diminished business in pommes de terre frittes on both side of the Belgian
border, He recalled, amid reminiscent laughter, towns with forgotten
names - Maroc, Lievin, Souchez, Bouvigny, Boyeffies and Dranoutre.
He spoke of fermes and estaminets and mairies; of "Marie," and "Julie"
and "Jeanne;" of whitewash and incinerators, and the bed-roll of
Staff-Sergeant Smith, "Particularly, we of Bully Grenay recall with affec-
tionate regard the Feefth Ambulance Croix Rouge," said M. Boucher.
"Merci, messieurs," and sat down, amid thunderous applause.
It was a great speech, Whether or not it was the one the Mayor of
Bully Grenay would have made, Dr. Joseph T, Irwin, of Bloor Street,
who made it, will not tell.
"Zeal, all zeal, Mr. Easy!" A junior reporter, who will never again be
as innocent and young as on last Friday afternoon, tenders heartfelt
apologies to: One general, two colonels, eight majors, twenty-seven other
ranks - all late of the Fourth Brigade, Second Division, C,E.F.
The same reporter begs forgiveness of: Two parish priests, one physi-
cian, two aldermen, one ex-alderman, one bank manager, one school-
board secretary, one cigar-store proprietor. (All of "somewhere out the
Danforth"). He prays the French Consul in Toronto to accept of his
regrets the most profound. He prostrates himself at the feet of the Toronto
and District Command, Canadian Legion. And he beseeches the Toronto
police force to believe that he did not do it on purpose,- Toronto Globe,
May 5, 1930,

292

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

From the foregoing account it will be appreciated that the
press, the police, the military authorities and the great Toronto
public were hoaxed. And that isn't all! Ninety-five per cent of
those at the reunion were taken in. Carl Hill, even though he was
chairman, had no idea that the celebrity he introduced was not
the genuine article. Carl even went so far as to suggest to Officer
John McRae that there would be sure promotion and a merit
mark for the constable clever enough to locate the elusive Mayor,
and suggested that he should phone the chief at once. Captain
Parker sat next to His Worship at the head table and did his best
to carryon a conversation with Monsieur Boucher: "How are
the crops in your country?" he asked, in his best war-time French.
"Ah, M'sieur," replied the Mayor, "Les grappes sont detruies.
Trop de la pluie, malheureusement!" "And how is your good
wife?" continued the captain. Ah, mon cher Capitaine, die est
mort depuis longtemps," sighed M. Boucher and there was a hint
of moisture in his eyes. "Mais, c'est triste," consoled the sym-
pathetic Parker, in his best accent.
Even Chief Constable Draper was gulled. He ordered every
returned man on his force to "spare no efforts to locate this man."
Draper was a general in the Third Division; and knew Bully
Grena y! Reporters were at the Carls-Rite Hotel several hours
before the meeting, buttonholing every Fifth man they could find
and doing their utmost to get some definite news of the distin-
guished guest.
As for the Fifth men, very few of them knew when the meeting
broke up that Joe Irwin was hiding behind the spade beard, the
frock coat and the quaint accent of M. Boucher. Joe gave a perfect
performance. How he ever kept his face straight throughout the
affair is a mystery. He was the one man in our unit capable of
doing the thing in just the right way, and the act went over big.
Even Piccadilly Bridges, Si Taylor, Jim Henderson and dozens of
fellows who knew Joe well in war days, were fooled. They stood
close to him and joined in singing the Marsellaise with all the
voice and wind at their command. It was not until we saw the
Monday papers that most of us learned the truth. Captain Parker
and Carl Hill, for instance, met Joe in the hotel washroom shortly
before the meeting broke up. Joe was busily washing the makeup
off his face. "Just got off the train," explained Joe. "Washing
some of the soot out of my ears." The Captain and Hill looked

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

293

at him. "Well, my friend" declared Carl, "you've missed the
time of your life! We've had the Mayor of Bully Grenay with us
all evening. He just left."
Where the idea for the stunt originated we aren't sure. We do
know, however, that for many nights prior to the reunion, Joe
Irwin and Orvil Elliott had their heads together, and that the
ex-Major did a lot of mysterious telephoning on the Friday pre-
ceding the meeting. \Ve remember, too, how anxious Frank
O'Leary was to turn over inquisitive reporters to Fifth men who
had nothing to tell. One thing we are sure of, and that is this: The
affair had all Toronto by the ears for two or three days; it pro-
vided us with an excellent night's entertainment and set a very
high mark for future reunion committees to shoot at.
Newspaper clippings about the affair were mailed to the real
Mayor of Bully, over in France. Here is a translated copy of the
letter we received in return:

Bully-Ies-mines,
July 3, 1931.

Dear Sirs:
It was indeed with pleasure and surprise, as you may suppose, that I
learned of my presence in Toronto in May, 1930.
I am particularly pleased that you have retained such a good memory
of my dear home town and, to begin with, I must tell you that I have
been mayor of the town of Bully since 1929 and that, during hostilities,
I was on active service.
A native of Bully, a widower and the father of three children, I had to
close my drug store on the fifth day of mobilization and do like my com-
rades - defend the invaded soil; and I did not return home till February,
1919, so that I did not know very well the English or Canadian troops
who sojourned at Bully, But I have a vivid recollection of a leave spent
here at home with some Canadians, the impression of which is still
pleasant to recall, Also I have on my cellar door a notice put up by those
gentlemen which reads:

OUT OF BOUNDS
by order
3RD CANADIAN DIVISION, A,P.M.
April 12
You see, therefore, that among the recollections you mention, I have some
which I guard very jealously.
I had your letter and newspaper articles translated and I was very glad
that you interpreted in such an original, cordial and amiable manner

294

POST -WAR ACTIVITIES

the sentiments that I myself should have expressed if I had had the
pleasure of being in your midst.
So I ask you to transmit to all the members of the 5th Canadian Field
Ambulance my best wishes and, as Mayor of Bully, my congratulations
and thanks.
I am glad to tell you that since then, Bully, as well as the other places
you mention, has recovered from the ravages of the war. The ruins were
numerous, the losses cruel, but all have succeeded in re
establishing their
property and with tears in their eyes and despair in their souls have re-
newed what the older ones built and what the young ones hope for.
Life has thus resumed its normal course. Troubles are soothed and now
hardly more than the horrible and always poignant memory remains of
that slaughter which is without parallel in the annals of history. Just after
the war, life was rather easy, business rather good; but now we are suffer-
ing from the crisis which for so long now has brooded over the world.
The lowering of wages and strikes have intervened and embarrassed our
very industrious and courageous population.
As for myself, Mayor of Bully, my duties are hard, for the receipts
from the budget are meagre and there is so much to be done in this
populous place.
Many other less-affected municipalities have found, in England, Canada
and elsewhere, godmothers who have helped them recover from their
losses,
I regret not having been invested with my duties in those troublous
times, for I should have pleaded the cause of my municipality and, perhaps,
should have found the sister town which would have bound up our
wounds, helped us to rebuild our ruins and would today be a useful aid
to us in completing this great work. However, as I have said, I am
none the less happy at the good memory you have preserved of Bully
and its inhabitants.
Rest assured that for the most part they reciprocate the sentiments you
express with regard to them, for the Canadians were especially appreci-
ated for their friendliness, their devotion, their spirit of sacrifice and their
honor; and if in the course of your wanderings chance leads you to Bully,
be sure that the welcome that will be given you will be no less sincere,
no less cordial than that which you would reserve for me if I went to
Toronto.
Now to all the members of the Fifth Field Ambulance, and to yourself,
in the name of my citizens and myself, I extend the expression of our
gratitude for the services you rendered us during the terrible nightmare of
the war and we wish you the best wishes:
HEALTH, HAPPINESS, PROSPERITY
Yours very sincerely,
L. Baillot, Druggist, (Signed) L. BAILLOT.
Mayor, Bully-Ies-mines.

POST
WAR ACTIVITIES
1931
Our Seventh Annual Reunion took place on the second Satur

day in May, 1931, and was held in Murphy's Restaurant,
Hamilton. Colonel Kappele was Chairman, and Mayor John
Peebles was the guest-speaker of the evening. Immediately before
the dinner those present fell in and in charge of Sergeant-Major
Jack Williams marched to the cenotaph, where Larry Kelly
deposited a wreath and made a brief and suitable speech. A piper
then played a Lament, after which a bugler blew Last Post,
followed by the Reveille. To the skid of bagpipes the parade then
marched back to Murphy's for food, refreshment and entertain

ment. About one hundred were present and at our short business
interlude decided to deposit the Red Cross Flag carried by our
unit overseas, along with a memorial Union Jack, in St. John's
Church, Ancaster, on Sunday, June 14th.
The presentation of flags took place as arranged. About 150 of
the old Fifth, and a goodly number of the Continuing Fifth
(Militia unit) paraded to the church and took part in the cere

mony. The Rector, \V. E. Kidd, M.C., officiated. St. John's
Church had been for a great many years the Farmer family place
of worship and it was eminently fitting that our flags should be
there deposited. Following is the Order of Service:

295

ORDER OF SERVICE

The congregation being assembled in the church and the doors dosed, the church
authorities await inside the main door the arrival of the Flags with escort. The
Adjutant advances and knocks thrice on the door with his sword-hilt.
On the door being opened, he says:-
Sir: I have been commanded by Lieut.-Colonel K, E. Cooke, M,C., commanding
the Fifth Field Ambulance, to inform the authorities of this church that he has repaired
here to-day with the Red Cross Flag carried by the Fifth Field Ambulance, British
Expeditionary Force, during their service overseas 1914-1918, and with a memoria I
Union Jack and desires admission to prefer a request that they might be deposited herein.
The Rector shall answer:
Sir: Inform Lieut,-Colonel K, E, Cooke. M,C., commanding the Fifth Field
Ambulance, that every facility shall be afforded him in executing his most laudable
purpose.
Upon this being communicated to the Commanding Officer the procession is
formed and will proceed up the aisle to the singing of the hymn.
HYMN: "STAND Up, STAND UP FOR JESUS."
On arrival at the chancel steps the Officer Commandrng shall thus address the
Rector:
Sir: On behalf of the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men of the Fifth
Field Ambulance British Expeditionary Force, [ have the honour to request that this
Red Cross Flag, carried by them during their service overseas 1914-1918, and also

296

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

that this Union Jack given by them in memory of their original Commanding Officer,
the late Colonel George Devey Farmer, eB.E., M,D" be deposited here for safe
keeping as a token of their gratitude to Almighty God for His providential care and
benediction granted them in the discharge of duty, In so acting they desire to provide
a memorial to the service of all the members of this unit who served for King and
Country so faithfully and to afford an inspiration for patriotic service and sacrifice to
those who may worship here for all time to come.
The Rector shall answer:
In the faith of Jesus Christ we accept these Flags for the Glory of God and in
memory of those who were faithful, many of them even unto death, in the sacred
cause of King and Country and deposit them for safe keeping in this church to be a
memorial before God and man and in the confidence of the inspiration they will afford
to all who behold them, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost.

NATIONAL ANTHE!>'.

At the close of the National Anthem the Flags will be handed to the Wardens
who in turn present them to the Rector,
The l{ector - "In the n.lme of our God we will set up our Banners."
l{esponse - "The Lord is our strength, we will not be afraid,"
The l{ector - "Now know I that the Lord saved his annointed,"
l{esponse - "He will hear Him from His Heaven with the saving strength of
His right hand."
The l{ector - "Some trust in chariots, some in horses."
l{esponse - "But we will remember the name of the Lord our God,"
The Flags will be placed upon the altar and the following prayer be said:
"Almighty Father, who dost ever call thy people to faith and sacrifice, vouchsafe
we beseech thee to accept these offerings, the emblems of Thy servants' fidelity and
unselfis,
devotion to the Glory of Thy great name through Jesus Christ Our Lord,
Amen.
"Oh, God, from everlasting to everlasting, the same who didst set up memorials
in the name of thy people Israel, to be a constant reminder of their duty to thee, gr.lnt
that all who worship here, by the contemplation of these memorials, may be stirred
to the fullest sense of their relations to Thee and to King and Country. May the remem

brance of the courage, loyalty and self sacrifice of the men who fought under these
emblems, in the defence of our Empire, so fire us with patriotic zeal, that we shall
ever be ready to venture all, even life itself, in the same Holy cause. Above all may
our minds be lifted toward heavenly things that we may be conformed to the image
of Thy dear Son who was obedient unto Death, and to whom with Thee and the
Holy Ghost be all Honour and Praise and Power, world without end, Amen."
"Oh, Almighty God, who has knit together thine elect in one communion and
fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son Christ our Lord, grant us grace so to follow
thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living. that we may come to those un

speakable joys which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee, through
Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen,"
THE ABSOLUTION.
THE LORD'S PRAYER,
PSALM 46.
HYMN: "0 GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST."
THE GENERAL CONFESSION,
Almighty and most merciful Father, We have erred and strayed from thy ways
like losr sheep, We have followed toO much the devices and desires of our own hearts,
We have offended against thy holy laws, We have left undone those things which we

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2. Restivo - reaching for his hanky!
4, "Turk" Elliott (extreme left) talks Turkey with General Allenby. Corps Reunion,

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1. Headstone at Colonel Farmer's grave, 2. Refreshments after the unveiling.
3, Monument in Bully Grengy to those of the community who fell in the war, (Photo sent by Mayor of Bull}

POST - WAR ACTIVITIES

297

ought to have done, And we have done those things which we ought not to have done,
And there is no health in us: But thou, 0 Lord, have mercy upon us miserable offenders;
Spare thou them, 0 God, which confess their faults, Restore thou them that are peni-
tent, According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord; And
grant, 0 most merciful Father, for his sake, That we may hereafter live a godly,
righteous, and sober life, To the Glory of thy holy Name. Amen.
THE LESSON.
THE TE DEUM.
THE ApOSTLES' CREED.
PRAYERS.
HYMN: "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. II
SERMON.
OFFERTORY. ANTHEM.
LAST POST.
REVEILLE.
BENEDICTION.
RECESSIONAL - HYMN: "FOR ALL THE SAINTS WHO FROM THEIR LABORS REST."

After the service, an adequate supply of sandwiches, coffee, and
other refreshments was served in the Farmer home and on the
beautiful grounds surrounding it. We believe that Miss Farmer
and Mrs. Albert Armes had much to do with this very thoughtful
provision. It certainly was very timely and much appreciated by
those present.
1932
A gathering of about forty Fifth lads took place in Spadina
Armories, Toronto, on January 20th, 1932, when a committee
was appointed for Toronto district "to plan reunions and give
all possible assistance to those seeking pensions, and to help those
who for the time being have been harder hit by the depression
than others." The committee elected was: President, Orvil
Elliott; Vice-President, Ben Case; Sec.-Treas., l im Henderson;
Members, Harry Fryday, Roy Skilling, and al other Toronto
members of the unit.
Charles (Dick) Whittingham died very suddenly at HamIlton
on January 26th. A large turnout of members from Hamilton,
Toronto and vicinity attended the funeral, two days later, when
interment was made at Woodlawn Cemetery Hamilton. Dick
was an "original" and one of our best. He was generally popular
and took a great and active interest in matters concerning the
unit. His quiet drollery, obvious sincerity and unassuming manner
had endeared him to all. Dick had no relatives locally, but
blood-relations couldn't have loved him more than we.

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The Communiqué is Born

On March 29th, 1932, the first Fifth Field Ambulance (Over-
seas) Communiqué was published. The initial number consisted
of three foolscap pages of typewritten matter pertaining to the
activites of ex-Fifth men. The first editorial informed us that the
object of the Communiqué was ' 'To maintain closer touch than
can be afforded by a yearly get-together, we are going to issue
periodically a news bulletin dealing with whatever interesting
items can be gathered about members of the unit. In order that
this may be as complete as possible, everybody's co-operation is
requested. If you have any news which you believe will be of
interest, telephone or write the Secretary of Toronto branch. We
want news from Hamilton, Owen Sound, Detroit, Toronto, or
wherever you are."
The idea of a news-sheet was born in the brains of Case and
Henderson. Mysterious ways and means were found for the pub-
lication of the first number. Approximately three hundred and
fifty copies were sent out and the Communiqué's success was
assured. Eight numbers in all have been issued and our miniature
newspaper has grown considerably and become an established
institution to which all Fifth men and their families look forward
with lively and appreciative interest. Baldy Rutherford and Andy
Patterson shared the editorship of the first few editions. Pat still
looks after the Hamilton news. Baldy moved from Toronto,
so the Toronto editorial duties have been taken care of by others.
Mrs. Taylor (wife ofSi) does the typing and cuts the mimeograph
stencils. Two or three volunteers attend to the stitching, folding
and mailing.
The Eighth Annual Reunion was held at the Carls-Rite Hotel,
Toronto, on May 7th. One hundred and six members from near
and far sat down to dinner. Baldy Rutherford occupied the Chair,
The guest-speaker of the evening was Captain Kidd, of Ancaster,
who was Chaplain of the Twenty-First Battalion overseas. The
padre was accorded a good reception and gave a very interesting
address. A brief business meeting was held, after which those
present adjourned to an adjacent room where Messrs. Busst and
Rigby dispensed without fear or favor an ample supply of malt
extract. With refreshments, fraternization and music the balance
of the evening passed very quickly and pleasantly.

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299

At this reunion Larry Kelly proposed our most important
toast; "To Our Fallen Comrades." Here is what he said:
This fellowship and companionship we here enjoy is ennched by a
beautifully sad and profound memory. It has been bought with a price-
not alone that price of transformation and vicissitude which the war im-
posed upon each of us, but with the lives of those who paid unto that
"last full measure of devotion," The price they paid adds the deeper note
to our rejoicing together, Our thoughts of them are encompassed with
an abounding hope which may be couched in the words of one who, with
them, passed on:
"To every created thing God has given a tongue which proclaims
resurrection. If the Father deigns to touch with divine power the cold and
pulseless heart of the buried acorn and to make it burst forth from its
prison walls, will He leave neglected in the earth the soul of Man made
in the image of his Creator? If He stoops to give to the rose bush whose
withered blossoms float upon the autumn breeze the sweet assurance of
another springtime, will He refuse the words of hope to the sons of men
when the frosts of winter come? If matter, though mute and inanimate,
is changed into a multitude of forms and can never die, will the spirit of
man suffer annihilation after paying a brief visit like a royal guest to this
tenement of clay?" No! We can be assured that they live! They have laid
"in dust, life's glory dead," but from the very ground there shall blossom
red a life that shall fuller, fairer be.
The names of those who paid their all in France with the added
name of one who has passed on since our last reunion will be read.
After the reading shall we stand a moment in silent communion with
our immortal comrades.
Another very interesting feature of the evening was Joe Irwin's
reading of the letter from the real mayor of Bully Grenay.
On Sunday, June 19th, a goodly number of Fifth veterans froin
Toronto, Hamilton, Owen Sound and elsewhere visited Ancaster
and l araded, along with the militia unit of the Continuing Fifth
Fie! Ambulance, to St. John's Church, where Captain Kidd con,
ducted a Memorial Service for fallen Fifth men. After the service
tribute was paid to the memory of Colonel Farmer and other
fallen comrades at the colonel's gra veside.
1933
Early in 1933 word was received of the deaths of P. G. Doug-
lass and Edward Brazendale. We were informed only of their
passing and regret that more definite information as to date, ete.,
was not forthcoming. News was also received of the death of

300 POST-WAR ACTIVITIES
Robert Jell, formerly of the Divisional Train and for a time
attached to the Fifth.
On May 13th our Ninth Annual Reunion was held at Roberts'
Restaurant, Hamilton, when approximately one hundred turned
OUt. Under the able co-Chairmanship of Colonel Kappele and
Andy Patterson the gathering enjoyed a first-rate dinner and a pro-
gram of musical and humorous entertainment. Sam Manson,
famous as one of Canada's greatest football players, was the star
of the evening. Sam told about the experiences of the Canadian
sports contestants at the Los Angeles Olympiad. He also told
some pretty fair stories about well-known Fifth characters, and
had his audience roaring in laughter. Dean Wilkins, K.C., Crown
Attorney I of Sudbury, sat at the head table and also made a neat
little speech. Ex-Staff S: R. Smith also expressed himself very
fittingly when obliged to respond to a vociferous welcome. This
was Reggie's first appearance at a reunion and he was given a
great reception and sympathetic hearing. The usual business
session was held, but nothing of particular moment came up for
disucussíon.
During the Summer of '33, Jimmy Lickley and his good wife
went on a motor trip to Great Britain, France and Belgium. They
had a great time in the old land. Jimmy reported part of his ex-
periences as follows:
Crossed from Dover to Calais on 5.5. Auto Carrier. Sea was so smooth
some people were bathing from a yacht in midstream. All military camps
gone from Calais.
Drove through Dunkirk and Poperinghe to Ypres, through the flat
lands of Flanders, with Mont des Cats and Mont Noir away off on
the right.
The day in Ypres - rebuilt with the exception of the wings of the
Cloth Hall. A clean inviting little town with many English-speaking
residents. Met a pilgrimage of Scottish mothers and wives to the ceme-
teries, conducted by an Edinburgh V,C,
Visit to Zonnebeke, Passchendaele, Tynecott Cemetery, the graves in
Ypres of C. C, Jones, Bill Bateson, Max Odessky and Percy Moyer. The
Menin Gate Memorial with its thousands of names of the missing.
Zillebeke, Maple Copse and Sanctuary Wood Cemeteries, and the mem-
orial on Hill 62 at the head of Maple Avenue, from where Fritz could
look straight down into Y pres.
The trip down to Arras by the old Brasserie, Oíckebusch, La Clytte
and Dranoutre; then by Armentieres through Lens to Vimy, up the old
road by Petit Vimy to Arras, with the huge Canadian memorial looking

POST - WAR ACTIVITIES

301

down on Lens. Finally, Arras, all rebuilt, but rather grubby and dis-
appointing,
A day spent driving around the Ridge, Bully Grenay, Four Winds,
Mont,St-Eloy, et al. Billy Plowright's grave at Ecoivres where four of
us laid him; and the names of Canadian Missing on the monument,
including some of "ur own fellows. Cemeteries everywhere beautifully
cared for,
The final day's trip down through the Somme, Courcdette, the Sugar
Refinery and Pozieres - all rebuilt. The Virgin of Albert on her feet
again; the graves in Albert of McFarlane, Finch and Terrio,
On to Paris for a couple of days' fun dodging taxis; then a four-hour
drive to Calais and back to Blighty.
During this same Summer a party of Toronto lads spent an
entertaining week-end at Harry Fryday's summer cottage, near
Rice Lake, Ont. Details of the jaunt were withheld from the
editor. The only information obtainable was to the effect that no
fish were caught. Perhaps the snapshots shown in this volume will
explain.
Late in December we received the shocking news that Tommy
Windsor had passed away suddenly in Toronto. Not one of the
local fellows knew that Tommy was unwell, and it was only by
chance that his death notice was seen in a newspaper. A few of
his former comrades were hurriedly rounded up and attended the
funeral.
1934
Early in February Joe Spruit died at his home in Long Branch,
Ont., after a long illness which developed into pneumonia. Joe
was one of our old-time lads and a menlber of the Horse T rans-
port Section. His health was very poor during his last few years
and although efforts were nlade to obtain a pension for him they
met with no success. Joe left a wife and one child. He was
buried in Prospect Cemetery, Toronto, many of his war-time
comrades from Hamilton and Toronto being at the gra veside.

Captain Silcox Passes On

Late in February Captain Silcox passed away in Hamilton.
Death was attributed to heart trouble. Burial took place in
Hamilton. An exceptionally large turnout of ex-Fifth men were
present at the funeral service at the Captain's home and also at
the cemetery service. Many civic dignitaries, prominent Hamilton

302

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

medical and professional men, and representatives from almost
every local welfare and fraternal body were at the graveside, where
a very impressive Masonic and military burial service took place.
Captain Silcox was with the Fifth from mobilization until
1916 when he went to take charge of Advanced Medical Stores
in France. Many of our men will remember him for his excellent
work in the La Clyne schoolhouse during the heavy bombardment
of December 29, 1915, when he carried on with his duties, quite
indifferent and apparently unconcerned about his own personal
danger. The Captain was a hard, conscientious worker, rather un-
military in bearing but absolutely honest and frank in his relations
with the personnel of our unit. He had many little idiosyncracies
that brought smiles to our faces on several occasions, but we are
safe in saying that he had the respect and trust of every man in the
unit. We have many times heard of how he invariably knelt by
his bedroll and prayed every night before retiring, regardless of
how many roistering fellow-officers might be near him. That
took courage ! We understand, too, that he undermined his health
by going out on cold, wet, blizzardy nights to help some poor
unfortunate family which would have gone without medical help,
food and clothing if Captain Silcox had not looked after them.
His great philanthropic work was carried on so quietly and un,
ostentatiously, even many of his close associates didn't know until
after his death that he had lived mostly for others. The sick, the
poor, and the needy of his native city lost one of their best friends;
and the Fifth lost one of its outstanding officers. Up to the time
he died, he never missed a reunion or get-together. We shall miss
him greatly.
In the early Spring, word was received of the death of Major
G. A. Ings, of Fort McMurray, Alta. Major lngs spent some
time with the Fifth when we were at Auchel and for a few weeks
after we left that town. We do not know the date of his death
or the cause of his passing. If memory serves us correctly he was
with a Forestry unit before or after he was with the Fifth. We
remember him as a kindly, somewhat elderly officer who was
more concerned with the human aspect of the war than with the
military side.
Our Tenth Annual Reunion took place at the Ford Hotel,
Toronto, on the evening of May 12th. One hundred and forty
were present and had a very good time. Doc Van Nostrand, one

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

303

of our standbys at Christie Military Hospital was Chairman.
Souvenir menu cards and programs were provided by Pier Mor-
gan. Bob Turner had the honor of proposing the toast to "The
King." Mike Bicknell, in proposing the toast to "Our Departed
Comrades" made one of the most thought-provoking speeches
ever heard at our dinners. Herbert Gilbert, once of A. Section,
but now a Missionary-Doctor in China, responded to the Visitors
toast and told about some of his experiences during a civil war
waged near his home in China.
After the dinner came an old-time sing-song. Frank T enlperton
walloped the piano and we sang all the old favorites: "Mlle. from
Armentieres," "0' ye ken Old Restive and his comrade Covell,"
ete. Then came a picture show made up of photos Jimmy Lickley
took while on his trip to the battlefields; and snaps showing the
activities of the Fifth from Exhibition Camp in 1914 to demobil-
ization in the same grounds in 1919. Interspersed with the photos
were many slides of wisecracks and sayings unique with our unit.
Frank O'Leary explained the pictures and supplied running com-
ment on the slides. A recent change in the law made it possible for
the gathering to partake of somewhat more potent refreshment,
so the lads made the best of their opportunity and celebrated
accordingl y.

The Corps l\.eunion

1934 was Centennial Year for Toronto, and part of the celebra-
tions was a reunion of the whole Canadian Corps. The Exhibition
buildings were set aside for the billeting of out-of-town veterans
and for the entertainment of all those who cared to come. The
affair was advertised all over America with the result that ap-
proximately 85,000 ex-service men and women were present
when the reunion took place. From every corner of the American
continent they came, and for four or five days Toronto presented
a picture that reminded us of war days in London. From the
night of August 2nd, until August 7th the remnants of the Corps
celebrated. Night and day the merrymaking continued. Sports,
games, banquets, parades, picnics, open-air dancing, races - in
fact, every imaginable sort of entertainment went on. The old-
timers had entire possession of Toronto. Street car traffic was
blocked by bereted veterans who chose the city's busiest street

304

POST
WAR ACTIVITIES

intersections for their crown-and-anchor, crap and poker games.
The local police - many of them war veterans - indulgently
humored the celebrants and the reunion went off without any
untoward incidents.
In the Exhibition grounds a large model French Village was
erected, complete with epiceries, estaminets, open-air comfort
stations, and all the other things peculiar to a typical village back
of the Line. On Sunday, August 5th, a monster drumhead service
was held in Riverdale Park where over 250,000 people assembled
to take part in the service. Our old beloved padre Canon Scott -
or, to give him his full title, Venerable Archdeacon (Lieutenant-
Colonel) Frederick George Scott, C.M.G., D.S.O. -preached
the sermon. On the Monday night a monster military tattoo was
held in the same park. Over three hundred thousand spectators
crowded the vast amphitheatre to witness torchlight parades,
fireworks, and countermarches in which twenty-three of Canada's
leading bands took part. It is estimated that nearly seventy-five
thousand automobiles were parked in streets near the park and
it was long after midnight when the traffic was untangled and
the crowds dispersed.
On Sunday night a Concert was put on in the Coliseum by a
composite company made up of fellows from our old troupes such
as The Dumbells, C
Twos, Y-Emmers, and others. Red New-
man, Pat Rafferty, the Plunkett boys, Gitz-Rice, Jimmy Good
and many other stars of war days sang the old favorites, put on
the old skits and capered about in the style that used to "bring
down the house" "over there."
On Monday a Sports Day was held. This was reminiscent of
those well remembered days at Tinques, Hersin, and Camblain
l'Abbe. There were tugs-of-war, sack races, bayonet scraps, tent-
pegging contests, boxing, wrestling, and all the other sports that
used to go to make up our field days. The Fifth's share in Corps
Reunion activities can perhaps, be told by quoting our own
Communiqué's account of our doings:
Our orderly room, 147 Arras Road, was opened on the night of
August 2nd, and for the following four days (and most of the nights!)
the boys made it their rallying point, Here they registered, received berets
and badges; and billets were arranged for all requesting them, Here, too,
old comrade met old comrade, while food and drink seemed to spring
from nowhere - although it was noted that many escorting parties

POST - WAR ACTIVITIES

305

were kept very busy, guarding bulky cartons during the perilous journey
from the French Village,
On the very ground where we had mobilized in 1914, we gathered to
celebrate and further cement the imperishable bonds of a comradeship
born of war-time experiences, It was fitting, indeed, that, after a score of
years, we should come back to our starting place; and it was most natural
that our thoughts many times turned toward all the fellows who had
passed on during the twenty-year interval. If only they could have been
with us in the flesh!
Official registrations were: Fifth, 132; Sixth, 25. At dinner (held
Saturday night) we were joined by twenty-four of the Fourth boys,
making approximately 180, all told. The Hamilton and Owen Sound
fellows were very much in evidence.
Our dinner was a most informal affair, We had specially-made Scotch
meat pies (Forfar bridies), roast beef, cheese, pickles, onions, bread,
butter, crackers, ete., all arrayed on a long table. One could help himself
to a meat pie or make whatever sandwich he liked best, take a bottle of
beer or ginger ale and seat himself at a table with his own chosen cronies,
He could fraternize to his heart's content, for there were tables and chairs
for everybody, He could eat when he was hungry and drink when he was
dry, There wasn't even a chairman in charge. It was a free-and-easy meal,
and how it did go over!
The old Fifth was well represented in the official activities of the
Corps. Frank O'Leary was one of the medical officers in the camp hospital.
Frank Beatty was on duty as first-aid sergeant, and our old friend Art.
Lansdowne acted as casualty for the stretcher-bearer contestants before the
grandstand. We also provided one or two patients for the emergency
hospital, but - no names, no pack-drill!
Danny Kappele and Orvil Elliott were on deck early and late, mixing
with the gang and contributing greatly to the conviviality of the occasion.
We are not telling what they were mixing, for their well-known capacity
in this connection needs no explanation on our part, Two rather sad
accidents occurred during the festivities: Pier Morgan got hopelessly lost
in the French Village and missed the dinner. And someone invited Harry
Allen to have a drink - and Harry didn't hear him, 'Stew bad, boys.
Better luck next time,
The Border-Cities Star carried on its front page a six-column cut of
General Allenby. In earnest conversation with the distinguished general
was our one and only Lance Elliott. Turk, no doubt, was telling the great
leader how he and Teddy Blair won the battle of Estree-Cauchie,
Toots Meisner isn't very big, but it's a safe bet that he made more
rumpus than any ten other veterans, His voice gave out Friday night
and he spoke in whispers - but got wonderful results in spite of the
handicap,

306

POST - WAR ACTIVITIES

Ben Case was unable to get to the dinner, owing to his duties as secre-
tary of the 43rd Battery Association. We understand that several times
Ben started over to our orderly room, but succeeded in failing to arrive.
Low visibility, heavy traffic, Scotch mist - or sumthin'! We certainly
missed him but knew that Ben was with us in spirit,
Ed Thurber came from New York City. You'll recall that he left the
Fifth at Mont-St.-Eloy, went to a battalion and had some very remark-
able experiences. Since the war he has been adventuring around, and
all over America,
Another long-absent laddybuck who put in an appearance was our old
genial friend, ex-Corporal Alf. Pountney, from Owen Sound. AlE's shoes
got dusty cOIning through the Exhibition Grounds and there was a lot of
good-natured kidding about it, for Alf, if you remember, had about the
shiniest shoes in France.
A. B, Smith pleased everybody by his presence in the orderly room, at
the dinner, and with the gang at the Ford Hotel. A. B, and Mrs, Smith,
Curly and Mrs, LeRoux, Toots Meisner, Turkey Elliott and some more
of the Fifth just about took possession of the Ford rotunda, Any further
information on this topic must come from them - or from the hotel
manager.
Captain Wyatt, our old paymaster, also registered, Remember how we
used to welcome him in France? Well, our welcome to him this time was
just as sincere,
Among the many who registered were: Major Pentecost, Toronto;
Harry Lang, Brentwood, L.I.; Claude (Curly) LeRoux, Belmont, Mass;
Albert Somers, Blyth, Ont.; Crown Attorney E. D. Wilkins, K.C" of
Sudbury, Ont.; Fred Trollope, Toronto; Captain Paul Poisson, ex-M.P.,
Tecumseh; Elgin Sears, Waterdown, Ont.; Bill Scott, M.D., Cookstown,
Ont.; Dr, Walter (Bruce) Barnes, Toronto; Irvine Dyment, Toronto;
Tommy Hardcastle, Galt, Ont.; Jim Erskine, Guelph, Ont.; Bert Mead,
Toronto; Erland Field, Niagara-on-the Lake, Ont,; Wes. Ivory, Toronto;
Joe Riley, Toronto. There were, of course, the old standbys who come
out to every reunion. They joined heartily in welcoming those we have
particularly mentioned - fellows who find it impossible to be with us
as often as they would like to be.
We should like to mention many other fellows who were more or less
prominent, and also some other outstanding occurrences that took place
during the great celebration. However, prudence, as well as lack of space,
suggests that it were better to say no more. We must, however, thank
Jimmy Lickley, Len Stephens, Orvil Elliott, Jim Henderson and all the
others who worked so hard to make the Fifth's part of the reunion such
a rousing success. They did a swell job.
The Fifth was not formally present at any of the public parades
or ceremonies. Many of the boys joined in the official affairs but

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

307

fell in with other Second Division troops. This arrangement per-
mitted each and every man to suit himself as to how he spent his
time, and no man was forced to parade who didn't want to do so.
Following are some commemorative verses written by one of
our own men and featured by the Toronto Star Weekly to cele-
brate the Corps Reunion:

I WONDER

I wonder - oh, a thousand things, whenever I'm alone -
About the days spent "over there," from Calais to Colognc,
Across the years that intervene comes Memory as guide
And once again I'm on the march, ghost comrades at my side,
I wonder do the roses climb the walls of Vlamertinghe?
Are ruddy poppies blowing in the fields near Elverdinghe?
Do nights at Hell Fire Corner ever give a hint or sign
Of the many lads who fell there as they foot-slogged up the Line?
1 wonder if the children romp their happy way to school
Along those often-shelled pavés we trod afront Bailleul?
And does some happy peasant sing atop his creaking load
Where the bullets used to whistle out along the Vierstraat Road?
Do larks still sing ascending from the meadows near La Clytte?
Are cat-tails in Lake Dickebusch where we laved our aching feet?
Do birds build nests in Ridge Wood, or wildflowers scent the breeze
Where men once choked with chlorine and whizzbangs slashed the trees?

1 wonder are there workers in the vaults of Chaudiere?
Are crimson kiln-fires burning in the brickfields of Albert?
Is Mont Noir's windmill watching over valleys tilled in peace?
Are slag-heaps growing higher near Coupigny and Fosse Dix?
Are Pernod glasses clinking in the brick estaminet
Where sturdy comrades gathered, at the edge of Pont Grenay?
1 wonder if the flax now sprouts, and do the wild bees hum-
Are clover blossoms blooming by the stream at Ouderdom?

Do silvery ground mists shimmer in the Flanders morning chill
When the sun first peeps at Locre from the edge of Kemmel Hill?
Do village priests hold service in the stone church in Westoutre?
Does black Messines hide sunrise from the folk in poor Dranoutre?
1 wonder if a nightingale still serenades Auchel;
And if a dog now treads the mill outside St.]ans Cappel?
Do aproned urchins cross themselves before quaint wayside shrines?
Are puffing engines hauling coal from Lens' long-flooded mines?

308

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

Is Cherisy built up again - and Vis-en-Artois bridge?
Is gray chalk. being quarried in the caves of Vimy l{idge?
Are old Lievin's tumbled walls now free of camouflage?
Do foam-topped combers thunder up the sands of Paris Plage?
Do bent old women fashion lace in tiny Hallebast?
Are roulette wheels awhirl again outside Neuville St. Vaast?
Do stagnant cesspools spread their reek. o'er breezy Quatre Vents 7
Do miners crowd the cinema in Citç St, Laurent?

Do Flemish farmers' threshing flails whine through chaff-laden air;
And dog-drawn bread carts clatter o'er the cobbles of Lillers?
Do thirsty men in l{eninghelst crowd Jeanne's estaminet;
And buxom women pour "van blong" in Pierre's "Pot-au-Lait?"
Do percherons drag wooden plows outside Neuville- Vita sse;
And picnick.ers roam Farbus Wood where once reeked mustard gas?
Has someone found the S.l{.D. three wanglers hid too well-
In holes they couldn't find again, in front of Mercatel?

Does lame old Henri carve sabots in drab Villers-au-Bois?
Do crows still guard the ruined tower atop Mt,-St,-Elay?
I wonder are there sugar beets piled high near Courcelette?
Do summer suns still bleach the chalk. of ruined La T argette?
Do lovers stroll near Ypres? Do ghosts march Menin l{oad?
Are there dugout rats in Spoilbank, or in Bedford House abode?
Do people live in Zillebek.e and whip the lak.e for carp?
Does Arras boast a carillon? Do boys splash in the Scarpe?

Do red-tiled roofs in Willerval gape up at Vimy Height?
Are Bruay, Cambrai and Bethune now gay and bright at night?
Has Passchendaele now peaceful farms where men once drowned in mud?
Do walnuts drop in Bourlon Wood where gas-shells used to thud?
1 wonder - oh, a thousand things! I'm never quite alone-
Old friends are with me as I march from Calais to Cologne.
When memory summons back. the Past, and hallowed scenes unfold,
The rambling thoughts that come with them have not their price in gold,

The Corps Reunion was the last occasion on which the Fifth
had a gathering in 1934 - except in November, when about
twenty of the lads met at the home of Mike Bicknell's folks,
Toronto, to see the movies Mike took on a recent three-months'
trip to England, Belgium, France, Russia, Germany and Poland.
Mike is a very earnest humanitarian and his talk on what he saw
during his travels provided an engrossing entertainment and

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES

309

thought-provoking evening. Mike has developed into a very
effective platform lecturer. His obvious sincerity, unassuming
attitude and tolerantly expressed opinions disarm those who think
differently from him. He gets his great message across very effect-
ively and bids fair to go a long way in his work of making this
world a little better place for the underdog.
1935
Our Eleventh Annual Reunion was the first noteworthy event
in 1935. On May 12th, about ninety gathered at Roberts'
restaurant, Hamilton. Considering that times were what they
were and that the great Corps Reunion was not so very long past,
the attendance was good. Dr. W. J. Deadman was Chairman and
succeeded in conducting a very entertaining program. The guest
of the evening was Mayor Wilton, of Hamilton, (now M.P.)
and he made a very interesting and enjoyable speech. To Pier
Morgan fell the honor of reading letters and reports from those
who, through illness, too great distance or pressure of business
affairs, were unable to be present in person.
Jimmy Bell was felicitated on his receipt of the King's Jubilee
Medal. Jimmy made a brief response when he voiced his opinion
that the medal was not a personal decoration so much as it was a
favor reflecting the good name of the Fifth as a whole. It was
learned later that Carl Hill, Arthur Hogg and Doc. Deadman
were also recipients of this much coveted decoration.
Others who spoke briefly were Major Elliott, Carl Hill,
Colonel Nicholson, Colonel Kappele, Bob. Tillotson, Bill Jones,
Harry Hutchinson, George Graves and Francesco Restivo.
By an overwhelming majority the meeting voted in favor of an
amendment to continue the policy which has made the annual
reunions so successful in the past, rather than establish a monthly
membership fee. The latter motion was advocated by Harry
Fearnall, but the amendment introduced by Bert Busst carried.
After the formal part of the meeting and dinner, many of the
fellows gathered about the piano and had a real old-fashioned
sing-song. Old half-forgotten songs came tumbling to their lips
from the musical storeroom of the Past - old gladsome, rollick-
ing refrains we had sung so spontaneously "over there. JJ And
while many sang, others collected in small groups to talk over the
days that were.

310

POST..WAR ACTIVITIES

It was not until the wee sma' 'ours that the gathering dis..
persed. The Hamilton fellows put on a real show. The meal
served was one of the best we have yet had at a reunion; and the
whole affair was a credit to the committee which arranged it.
Captain Clark was present at this reunion - the first time he
had been with us since the war. He was glad to be with us and we
were glad to have him. Of course he had to put up with several
wisecracks about the Otterpool dogcart, his Fosse Ten experiences,
rum issues, rations, ete., but he took all the banter in good part.
On July 30th, Corporal A. B. Smith died of Arterial Throm..
bosís Obliterans, the same disease which necessitated the amputa..
tion of his right leg a few years ago. About fifty of his former
comrades attended his funeral service in Toronto. His burial took
place in Mt. Forest, Ontario. Surviving him are his widow,
whom he met in Belgium, and five children. While with our
unit most of A. B.' s activities were confined to the Motor T rans-
port Section but the whole unit will always remember him as a
great big, easy-going fellow who was ready for almost anything.
During August, Bill Sowden visited Toronto, having come all
the way from Los Angeles. About a dozen ex-Fifth men were
rounded up and put on a corn-roast for him. He was just about
the same as when demobilized - a little stouter, perhaps, but
the same in spirit as when he and Slim Russell put on their variety
skits away back at Godewaersvelde in 1916.
On September 4th, Percy (Yorky) Coates passed away, after
one of the gamest fights for life ever made by one of our members.
Y orky' s ailment was diagnosed as Muscular Atrophy, and in
spite of our tireless, energetic and persistent efforts to obtain a
pension for him, his application was repeatedly turned down by
the Pensions Board and the Tribunal. Burial took place in Pros-
pect cemetery, Toronto, after a funeral service attended by many
Fifth fellows. Six of his Hamilton comrades were the pallbearers.
Mrs. Coates and two young sons are left to mourn their loss.
Poor old Y orky was a great favorite, particularly in A. Section,
where he was a stretcher-bearer for a long time.
On Saturday, September 14th, about a dozen of the lads
motored to Lion's Head, Ontario, where they joined some of the
Owen Sound fellows in what was to be a fishing trip. Inclement
weather prevented fishing, but the boys had a great time, as may
be imagined from the snapshots shown in this volume.

POST..WAR ACTIVITIES

311

On the evening of October 26th, about sixty of the oldtimers
gathered in the Blue Room of the King Edward Hotel, Toronto,
to hear an illustrated lecture on developments in Russia. The
speaker was Dr. N. J. (Mike) Bicknell, who spent three months
in the Soviet Union and took a half-dozen reels of very interesting
movies. Mike was quick to admit that Russia is not a Utopia,
but the pictures he showed and his story of that nation's achieve-
ments during the past few years, would suggest that there are
many good features there which we could well embody in our
own body politic. Dr. H. R. Skilling, a 1914 member of the
Fifth was Chairman on this occasion; and Dr. Carl E. Hill, an
old..time Section-mate of Mike's, moved a very unanimous vote
of thanks to the speaker at the close of the meeting.

æ!{j

This, then, is the history of our Past. As for the
future - undoubtedly we shall continue to have our
annual reunions, occasional get-togethers, and im-
promptu parties. Then we will have the usual tongue-
strafes, refight the war all over again and argue to
beat hell about the details. It is futile to ask us to
forget the war, We'll go on looking over our shoulders
and back into the adventurous past forever, As long as
there are two or more of us left to get together we'll
travel, in memory, the old roads, visit the old scenes,
discuss the old characters, tell the old yarns, and argue
the same old arguments: Who was in the dugout at
such-and-such a place? Is that village spelt St.-Eloy or
St, Eloi? Who was the oldest man in the unit? And the
youngest? Where did most of the rum go? Who had
the softest job? Did we do more than our share of
time up the Line? Ete., Ete.
We know full well that we'll never get these argu-
ments settled satisfactorily, but they're our arguments
and we're going to stick with them. Outsiders may
look at us askance, but they can't stop us. For us
"there is no hope!" The war was the big event of
our lives and we're going to go on fighting it to our
heart's content.
We are well a ware that this book is going to add
many new arguments and revive several of the old
and half-forgotten ones. Every old soldier is a his-
torian himself and will have his own version of how,
when, where and why such-and-such occurred; so
perhaps, to the unquenchable fire of war-
days reminiscence, our rather ram-
bling narrative will add
some welcome fuel.

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642
1562
782320
1572
536023
2791
523223
400200
404334
1637
522926
1642
1645

504169

CHAPTER TEN
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, sdU bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below,
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high,
If you break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
- Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae

ROLL OF HONOR E:ï NOMINAL ROLL

PTE,
SGT.
PTE,
PTE.
PTE.
PTE,
PTE,
PTE.
PTE.
PTE,
PTE,
PTE,
PTE.
CAPT,
PTE,

November 11, 1914 to January 1, 1936

Donor QoH
+

DIED DURING THE WAR
BARRON, JOHN, K. in A" 7/3/16,
BATESON, WILLIAM HENRY, K. in A" 6/11/17,
BLACKWOOD, JAMES ALEXANDER, D. of W., 6/11/17.
BROOKES, RONALD BAINES, K, in Pi., R,F.C.
COWIE, WALTER, Missing, Presumed Dead, 27/6/18.
CUMBERLAND, ANDREW JOHN, K, in A., R.F.C., 3/1/18,
ELLIOTT, WILLIAM BERTRAND, D. of W., 10;11/17,
ELLIS, ROBERT MEREDITH, K, in A., 4/5/17.
FINCH, LEWIS MELVIN, D. of W" 16/9/16.
GILMER, ERNEST RICHARD, K. in A., 12/10/16,
GRANT, HERBERT, K, in A., 16/9/16.
GRINDLEY, GEORGE HENRY, K. in A., 16/9/16.
HANNEY, WILLIAM, K, in A., 16/9/16.
HARRIS, WEBSTER H. F., D. of W., 4/5/17,
HOGLE, CLAUDE LEROY, K. in A" 23/9/18,
313

314
1669

461093
527506
1679
536017

526674

1695
526544
55901
1691
1650
408975
528898
1703
1704
26235
1712
1715
1716
1729
536215
1759
522814
1761
1766
526702
1783

50502 PTE.
1559 PTE.

ROLL OF HONOR E:ï NOMINAL ROLL

PTE,
MAJOR
PTE.
PTE.
L/CpL.
PTE,
CAPT.
PTE.

PTE,
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
S/SGT.
PTE,
PTE,
PTE,
PTE.
PTE,
PTE,
PTE,
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
PTE.
PTE,
CPL.
PTE.
PTE.
SGT.

JONES, CECIL CHARLES, K, in A" 12/11/17.
JONES, HERBERT, Died, France, 5/3/17.
KELLY, ALFRED, D. of W., 13/10/17,
LAFLIN, FRANK, K. in A., 26/8/18.
LUMSDEN, JOHN GORDON, K. in A., 9/5/16,
MACDoNNELL, SHIRLEY JOHN, K. in A., 19/5/18.
MACNEILL, JAMES G., M,C., K. in A" 12/10/18.
McANALLY, FREDERICK LEo, Drowned, Llandovery
Castle, 27/6/18.
McFARLANE, WILLIAM, D, of W., 16/9/16,
McKENZIE, WILLIAM, K, in A., 12/5/18.
MICHENER, LEO, K. in A.
MITCHELL, RICHARD ARTHUR, K. in A., 15/9/16.
MOTT, JACOB ERNEST, K. in A., R.F.C.
MOYER, PERCY, K. in A., 6/11/17,
MULLIGAN, GEORGE VINCENT, D, of W" 18/11/17,
NICHOLLS, JOHN JEFFREY, M,S,M" D, ofW., 12/10/18.
NICHOLSON, ANDREW GEORGE, K. in A" 16/9/16.
ODESSKY, MAx, D. of W., 6/11/17.
PARKER, ANDREW, K. in A., 16/9/16.
PENDER, THOMAS PATRICK, K. in A., 16/9/16.
PLOWRIGHT, WILLIAM NEWBORN, K, in A., 29/4/17,
ROE, ALFRED CHARLES, D. of W., 23/4/17.
SAMUEL, ALEXANDER, Died, France, 16/11/18,
STAGG, CHARLES, K. in A., 9/4/17.
STANLEY, WILLIAM, D. of W., 13/10/18.
STEWART, JOHN MALCOLM, D. of W., 6/2/17.
TERRIO, FRANK, K. in A., 2/10/16.
THURSTON, HARRY, D. of W., 6/11/17.
WARTMAN, ALVIN EDMUND, D.C,M., D. of W.,
16/10/16.

DIED SINCE THE WAR

ANDERTON, JOSEPH, 1935.
BANKS, JAMES SAMUEL, 1935.

PTE. BEEMAN, RAY S., 1930.
CAPT, BELL, WILLIAM JOHN, 1920.
PTE. BRAZENDALE, EDWARD, 1932.
PTE. COATES, PERCY, 1935.
PTE. COVERLEY, JOHN ROBERT, 1923.
PTE. DICKINSON, WILFRED, 1931.
PTE, DOUGLASS, PETER GERALD.
PTE. DRISCOLL, JOHN (JIMMY).
CAPT. DUNLOP, DANIEL ROLSTON, 1927.
LT.-COL. ELLIOTT, HENRY C. S., a.B,E" 193.5.
COLONEL FARMER, GEORGE DEVEY, C.B.E., 1928,
34606 PTE. GILMORE, ALBERT EDWARD, M,M.
2081 S/SGT. HALLIGAN, WILLIAM.
3105736 PTE. HANES, EARL, 1935,
PTE. HANSON, E. G.
PTE. HUSBAND, ARTHUR CLIFFORD, 1920.
MAJOR INGS, GEORGE ARTHUR,
PTE, LEGARY, WILLIAM, M.M,
PTE, LUDLOW, ALFRED MILFORD, 1921.
PTE. MATHERS, JAMES EDWARD, 1927.
CAPT. MATHESON, JAMES RENWICK, 1922,
PTE. MERCER, ALFRED]., 1919.
PTE. MORIN, JOSEPH, 1924.
PTE. PETERS, CHARLES H" 193.5,
PTE, RALPH, ALFRED, 1925.
PTE. ROSTRON, ERNEST.
SGT. SHARKEY, JAMES, 1923.
PTE. SHAW, HERBERT, 1922.
CAPT. SILCOX, WILLIAM LOGAN, 1934,
297 CORP. SMITH, ARTHUR BERTRAM, 1935.
405428 PTE, SPRUIT, JOSEPH, 1934.
CAPT. ST, LAURENT, ALEX. ENDORE, 1934.
LT.-COL. TRELEAVEN, GEORGE WILLARD, D,S.a., M,C,
S/SGT, TRUSWELL, WALTER DAVID, 1919.
PTE. WHITTINGHAM, CHARLES (DICK), 1932
PTE. WINDSOR, THOMAS, 1933.
PTE. YATES, WALTER, 1927.

191

195008
527763
527826
400065
50894
1608

1663

536027
1678
86742

511671
1752
1720
1731
142492
400379

1773
1790
1797
1804

ROLL OF HONOR E7 NOMINAL ROLL 315

NOMINAL ROLL

Every effort has been made to make our Nominal Roll as complete as
possible, Absolutely complete records, however, are not available. We are
in touch with those men whose addresses are marked with an asterisk (*).
The other addresses are those shown on file at Ottawa and are, doubtlessly,
somewhat inaccurate,
We are very desirous of contacting every man and of putting his name
on our mailing list, Therefore, if you can supply any information which
will help make our Nominal Roll more correct and up-to-date, please
forward it to our Secretary, James Henderson, 307 Wychwood Avenue,
Toronto, Canada.

C.B.E.-Commander
British Empire
D.C.M.-Distinguished
Conduct Medal
D.S.O.-Distinguished
Service Order
D. of W.-Died of
Wounds

K. in A.-Killed in Action
M,C.-Milirary Cross
M.I.D,-Mentioned in
Despatches
M.M.-Military Medal
M,S,M.-Meritorious
Service Medal
B,-Bar

O.B.E.-Officer British
Empire
P. of W.-Prisoner of War
(W)- Wounded
M.D,E.-Medaille des
Epidemics
S,O.S.-Struck Off
Strength

No. Rank
1551 Pte.
1552 S/Sgt.
1553 Pte.
55362 Sgt.
1554 Pte.
50502 Pte.
526726 Pte.
813 Pte.
523194- Pte.
1555 Sgt.
510845 Pte.
524278 Pte.
523807 Pte.
527140 Pte.
1556 Q,M.S.
79246 Pte.
1557 Sgt.
1558 Pte.
525049 Pte.
534738 Pte.
521006 Pte.
529036 Pte.
1559 Pte.
922625 Pte.
520193 Pte.
1560 Pte.
73326 Pte.
527780 Pte,
33822 Pte.
1561 L/Cpl.
Capt.
642 Pte.
Capt.

Name Honors Remarks, Last Known Address, etc.
Adshead, Frederick (W), , ,. ""..... 308 Province St., Hamilton
Alden, Frank., ""..,..', ....,.'" *18 Somerset St., Hamilton
Alder, William Henry, . . , ., ,....".' *50 Fermanagh Ave., Toronto
Allen, Henry.", '..' '" . ., .'.,....' *201 Wineva Ave., Toronto
Allen, John." ,. , , , , . . ,. .' .,..,..,. *Box 263, Fort Erie North
Anderton, Joseph,. , . . , , . " ...,....' Deceased, 18/11/3,5
Andrews, Harold William... .'...,.,. 324.J. Park Ave., Montreal
Apps, Carl A very, , . . , , . .. .'.,..." 40 Victoria St., Montreal
Archibald, James Little. . . . l\LM. *215 Seventh St. W., Calgary
Armes, Albert Spooner. , . ., ,..,.,.,. *90 Sussex St., Hamilton
Armstrong, Alex. McM., . " .......,. P.O. Box 297, Vermillion, Alta.
Ashton, A. W.. , , , , , . . . . .. .,.,....'
o Information
Astwood, Harold Frith.. ,., ,..,.,.,. P,O. Box 42, Winnipeg
Ashley, 0.. , , , .. " , , , , , . ., "'...,,,
o Information
Atkinson, William James. " ".,.'", *138 Sanford Ave, N., Hamilton
Avery, Wilfred. , .. " . .,. , , l\LM. 505 Lancaster Bldg., Calgary
Badeau, Leo Joseph, , . . . " 'I.M. *Apt. 406, 2611 Gladstone Ave.,
Detroit, Mich.
Bailey, George.. " , . , , , . ,. ".,.".' 6 Tiddicross, Wrockwardine, Well-
ington, Salop, England
Bailey, Herbert Lytton. . . .. """.,. 1201 Harwood S1., Vancouver
Baker, Albert Lynn".. ,.', .,.".'" Lakeside,Ont.
Baker, Gerald 'Walter, ,. '" ,....,." No Information
Baker, Roland Garfield"", ....,...' *131 Bingham Ave., Toronto
Banks, James Samuel. .., ". .. . ,Deceased, 1935
Barber, John Edwin. . . . . ,. ..",..,. *401 Whittaker St., Sudbury
Baré, Philippe.. , ...',.", ,..,.,." 1138 Union Ave., Montreal
Barker, Arthur Henry (W).. .".,.." *527 Northcliffe Blvd., Toronto
Barker, Leslie Alfred", , , " ,..,...., Port Arthur, Onto
Barclay, J......., .., ..,'.".' No Information
Barnes, Clifford, . . , . , , , , " .....,.,. 288 Queen 5t., Sarnia, Onto
Barnes, Walter Bruce.".,. ...,.'". *1247 King St. West, Toronto
Barnett. John Woo , , . . . . , ., ..'.,.." 456 Danforth Ave., Toronto
Barron. John. . . . . . . . . . . '. ... . . " Killed in Action
Barton. Newton James (W). , , , ,. . , , , *Bairowden, Stamford, Lincs, Eng.

No. Rank
2045 Cpl.
Major
1562 Sgt.
240233 Pte.
1563 Sgt.
523,')73 Pte.
512627 Pte.
Capt.
1564 Pte.
488889 Pte.
191 Pte.
527330 Pte.
1565 Pte.
Capt.
435527 Pte.
50518 Pte.
7014 Pte.
1566 Pte.
525243 Pte.
782320 Pte.
528534 Pte.
Major
50417 Pte.
1567 Pte.
760995 Pte.
36 Cpl.
527371 Pte.
1927 Pte.
524889 Pte.
1568 Pte.
527543 Pte.
19,')008 Pte,
Capt.
1569 Bugler
1570 Pte.
73323 Pte.
30 Sgt.
1571 Pte.
1572 Pte.
5235HO Pte.
1573 Pte.
210114 Pte.
1574 Sgt.
524030 Pte.
1575 Pte.
1576 Pte.
5356,')2 Pte.
Capt.
Major
527753 Pte.
524207 Pte,
1577 Q,M,S.
1578 LjCpl.
1579 Pte.
IG25 Pte.

to;ame Honors RemarJ.-s, Last Known Address. etc.
Batcheler, George Hensley.. ,.,....., c/o War Veterans Allowance Dept.
I of P. & N. H., Ottawa
Bates, H. Kendall.".,.." .....""
o Information
Bateson, William Henry. . .. ...., . , " Killed in Action
IBaxter, Frederick William,. ..,'..." 335 :\Iain St. W., Hamilton
Baxter, Samuel Joseph. .,. M.S.M, *YIinnicog Hotel, via Penetang, Onto
I Baxter, William. .. .., . . . " ",.,.", 281 Washington Ave., E. Kildonan.
Man,
I Bayle y , Roy,..".,.,.,... '.,...". *17 Ferndale Ave., Toronto
Bayley, Benjamin :\Ioore, '. ".'. ." *210 Hammond Bldg., Moose Jaw
Beattie, .Frank Thomas 'Ym. . . *,Forward News, Postal Station "A."
I Toronto
Beazley, James Harold. . . .. ..."'.., White Lake, Halifax, N,S.
Beeman, Ray S,. , , , , , , , . .. .....,'., Deceased, 1930
Beliveau, Walter, , . . . . . . " .',."", Nipigon Paper Mills, Nipigon, Onto
Bell, James. . , , , , , , , . , . , , , IVLM *24 King William St., Hamilton
Bell, William John.., '.'.. ..,.,.", Deceased, 1920
Benzie, Charles Angus, , . " ".."." 7 .Fletcher Apts., 2nd St., E. Calgary
Berrett, Walter Thos.. . , . .. "".".. Church St., Steeple Ashton, Wilts..
England
Beven, Arthur Henry..". .. .,.",... No Information
Bicknell. Nathan J. (W), , " ..,.",.. *10508 W. Chicago Blvd., Detroit
Black, Robert Alexander. " '..'".., No Information
Blackwood, James Alexander, , . . . . , ,. Died of Wounds
Blair, Edward Gerald, '" .. ,'... *2535 Benjamin St" Saginaw, .:\Iich.
Blair, John Freeman, . ,..' , D.S,O. *241 Queens Ave., London, Onto
Bland, William.., . . ... . . .. ,'.,..... 22 Geneva Ave., Toronto
Booth. Austin Edgar., , , . .. ,."".,. *1056 Lake Shore Rd., New Toronto
Bowell, George Thomas, , .' '...",., 134 Alberta St., New Westminster
Boyd, Thomas. . . . , , . . , . . . 489 West Marion St.. Toronto
Bradfield, Robert (Buckle).. ."""" lOl6 20th Ave. East, Calgary.
Brady, }<'rank, ... . . , ., . . ,. '..."", 90 Can. Legion, B.E.S.L., Ottawa
Braidwood, Thomas, . . , . .. ",...... 83772 10th Ave. East, Vancouver
Brailsford, Sidney Charles., ,..'.'..' 50 Magdalen Yd. Rd,. Dundee, Scot.
Braithwaite, William,., , . . 1230 JacksonSt.,San Francisco, Calif.
Brazendale, Ed ward, , . . . .' "..,.." Deceased
Brault, Raoul. . , , ,. , , " , . , l\I.D,E, No Information
Brett, Arthur Walter. . . . '. ....",.. *21st St., Owen Sound, Onto
Bridges, Charles William, ,,'.' . , , , . *216A Hallam St., Toronto
Bridges. Sidney, . . , ,. .,... ......,.. *11 Chingford 1\'1t, Rd., London Eng.
Brine, Albert George. . . , . .. '........ 30 Finchley Rd., Ipswich, Suffolk,
England
Brookes, George Eric. . . ... ........' *R.C.A,F. Station, Trenton, Ont.
Brookes, Ronald Baines. . .. ........' Killed in .\ction
Brown, Charles Thomas..., .,....... 238 Belmont Ave., Kildonan, 'Ian.
Brown, .Tohn, ..... . .. . . ., ,.,'.'.', Ko Information
Brown, .Joseph, . . . . , . . , . " '.....". P.O, Box 14, Vineland Station. Onto
Brown, Leslie Owen. . . . , , . M.M. *34 Egerton Rd., Bishopstone, Bristol.
England
Brown, Percy Arthur, . , ... ,.,..'", 304 Dease St., Fort William, Onto
Brown, William. , , , , , , . . ., "....... *86 Rude Ave., }<'airbank, Onto
Bryant, William John. . . . .. ..,....', *729 Cannon St. E., Hamilton
Buchan. J." , .. ,......,. No Information
Buck, Harold. . , . , . . . . . . . . M,C. *4R8 Talbot St., St. Thomas, Onto
Burgess, John Frederick (\V) O,B.E.
:\1. I. D. *475 Cote des Nieges, Montreal
I Burridge. Ernest William. " ..,.....' *72 Prescott Ave., Toronto
Burrill, John Newton (W)., .. ., ., Langbank. Sask.
Busst, Albert George.... , " ........, *Post Office. Ad{'laide E., Toronto
Byrne, Cecil. , . . . . . . , . . . ., .... , . . , . *78 Robins Ave., Hamilton
Byers, Douglas Hallway,. . . *58 Lakeview Ave., Toronto
Campbell. Allan Harold. , " .." "" 211 Duke St., St. John, N.n.

No. Rank
'Capt.
523996 Pte.
1580 Sgt.
124564 Pte.
1581 Pte.
1582 Sgt.
Capt.
1584 Cpl.
1583 Pte.
1586 Pte.
1585 Pte.
1587 Pte.
2631852 Pte.
1588 Pte.
524824 Pte.
1589 Pte.
159506 Pte.

Pte.
Pte.
Sgt.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Capt.
Pte.
Capt.
527868 1 Pte.
1590 Sgt.
526756 Pte.
528681 Pte.
528539 IPte.
1591 Pte.
329888 IPte.
522916jl'teo
527763 Pte.
Pte.
Capt.
Pte,
Pte.
180735 Pte.
55981 Pte.
1593 Sgt.
ICapt.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Cpl.
Capt.
33307 Pte.

524702
524320
74304
522915
523178
527926

629

1592

25022
83751
177871
1594
527738

1596 Pte.
1597 LjCpl.
1598 Pte.
527826 Pte.
1595 Pte.
5360'23 Pte.
2059 Pte.
515088 IPte.

Name Honors Remarks, Last Knol1:n Address, etc.
Campbell, John G. A.., . . ., ...'....' 164 Metcalfe St., Ottawa
Campion, J. C.." " " . " '. ..,....,. No Information
Camps, Edwin Charles A... .....,... *283 East Ave. North, Hamilton
Canniff, John Daniel... . , .' .., ....' *23 Hawthorne Ave., Hamilton
Cardwell, Percy. " ., ,. . , . , . , *48 Wexford Ave. North, Hamilton
Carlisle, Andrew M. (W), .' ."...... *Grande Prairie, Alta.
Carlisle, Arthur. . . . . , . . . " ..,...,.' *1440 Union Ave., Montreal
Carr, James Ewart. . . ,...' ........' 918 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver
Carruthers, Walter Little,.. ...'..... *l\1ount Albert, Ont.
Cascaden, Douglas (W). . .' ."..,.., *Hands Fireworks Rd., Dixie, Onto
Case, Benson Simpson. . . ,. .,.'.,.', *198 Grenadier Road, Toronto
Cass, Frederick 'William, , . , *Newmarket,Ont.
Cataford, Hector Alfred. . . .'. , . . . . . .. St. Johns, P.Q.
Cavey, Ernest James. . , .., .....".' No Information
Chadwick, Percy. .. .', , . . , .M.M,&B. *7869 Windsor St., Vancouver
Chadwick, Roger. . " , .., .' ...',,'.' *!Wl Kenilworth Ave. N., Hamilton
Chalmers, Francis...".,. ....'...' . *Nickel Refining Plant, Port Col-
borne, Onto
Chambers, John.,. , . , .. " , Marigold P.O., Victoria, B.C.
Chanin, Robert, . , . , , . . , .' ...,...,. P.O. Box 102, Roland, Man.
Charlesworth, Charles D.." ."..,.', W.V,A. Com., Daly Bldg., Ottawa
Cheer, James. . , . . , , . , . . .. .....,..' 225 West Gore St., Stratford, Ont.
Cheeseman, Percy William., ...'....' Erskine, Alta.
Cheeseman, Henry G. (W).. . *242 Annette St., Toronto
Churchill, Lewis Piers" , , . , M.C. *Shelburne, N.S.
Cinq Mars, Benoit...,.. . ,. .....,.', 3716 Laval Ave., Montreal
Clark, Fred (W), . .. . . . ' . " .'."..,. *c/o 51 Herkimer St., Hamilton
Clark, Charles Henry, . . .., .,.,...,. P.O. Box 91, Cayuga, Onto
Clark, Ernest William",... .,...,.', *48 Westlake Ave., Toronto
Clark, Hector Herbert. . . .. ".'.,.', 395 Mountain St., Montreal
Clark, Percy James.. ,.., .' ...'.,.,. 72 Hamilton Ave., London, Ont.
Clark, Reginald, . . . . . . , , .' .,."...' 46 Walnut St" London, Ont.
Clark, William George. . . ,. .",."" *177 Gage Ave. North, Hamilton
Clark, William Herbert. . .. ..,..'..' Plaza Apts., Dorchester Ave.,
Winnipeg
Clarkson, Herbert, . . , , . , " ",.."., ('larence St., Strotton, Flintshire.
North Wales
Coates, Percy. , , . . , . . , . . ., '" ..... Deceased
Coates, James L., . . , , , . , ,. .",....' ::;,O.S., Toronto, 1915.
Colbeck, William Kirk (W), ....,..', *Colbeck Clinic, WeIland, Ont.
Cole, Harry. , , . , , , . . . . . . ., ...'...,. *684 Brock Ave., Toronto
Colgate, W. G.. ,.......,. ......,.' *60 Robina Crescent, Toronto
Coles, Selby..".,..,.,.., .......,. 1265 Pembroke St., Victoria
Colley, Richard. . . . . , , . . ,. ........' 20 Cardwell St., Bolton, Lanes., Eng.
Collinson, George James",. ...'....' *Chapleau, Ont.
Colville, Cyril Pritchard, . .' .."..,.. l>rince Albert, Sask.
Connelly, Daniel, , . , , .. " ....."" .No Information
Connolly, Joseph Alexander. . . , . , , 58 Cumberland St., Torontu
Cooke, Arthur, . . . . , . . . . ., '....".' "'Box 113, Hudson, P.Q,
Cooke, Ralph, , .', " , .' , " .."'..., *33 Constance St., Toronto
Cooper, H. R...., , , . , , , . .' '.,.."..
o Information
Côté, Antoine Edmund..", ..,.."., *Fahler, Alta.
Couder, Valere Ferdinand.. ,...,.... Villa Columbia, 360 Rue Leopold
Jette-Ley, Brussels, Belgium
Coulter, Allan" , , , . . . . , . .' ....'".. *113 Vaughan Road, Toronto
Courtice, John Thomas, , ,. .,'....', *3317 Danforth Ave" Toronto
Covelli, Leonardo, . , , . , . '. . ,
o Information
Coverley, John Robert.. , .. ."""" Deceased
Cowan, George \Yestney.. , , , . , *Londesboro, Ont.
Cowie, Walter. . , , , :\lissing , . , , , . , " Presumed dead on or since 27/6/18
Cox, Frank Albert. , . , . . ., " 513 Second St., New Westminster
Coy, Charles Leonard.. . . ,. ""..". rpper Gagetown, Queen Co., N,B.

No. Rank
535956 Pte.
Pte.
Capt.
Pte.
1599 Pte.
1600 Pte.
1601 Pte.
2791 Pte.
Major
2109975 Pte,
35381 Sgt.
1602 Pte.
1603 Pte.
1604 L/Cpl.
400029 Pte.
77004 Pte.
Pte.
34688 Pte,
524873 Pte.
527229 Pte.
414305 Pte.
186082 Pte.
532684 Pte.
532681 Pte.
527208 Pte.
1605 Pte.
528547 Pte.
1614 S /Sgt.
2699 Pte.
527883 Pte.
51020 Pte.
527354 Pte.
1606 Pte.
528678 Pte.
400065 Pte.
73772 Pte.
1644 Pte.
524732 Pte.
Pte.
52776R Pte.
1607 Pte.
50894 Pte.
1608 Pte.
1615 Sgt.
1609 Pte.
1610 Pte.
Capt.
Capt.
1611 IJte.
Pte.
1612 Pte.
524782 Pte.
1613 Pte.

Name Honors Remarks, Last Known Address, etc.
Coyles, William James, . . .. .....'". 50 Smith St., Winnipeg
Creasby, William B., .. . ... ......... S,O.S., Toronto, 1915
Craig, Edward, , , , , , , , , , " ",.",.' St. Lambert, P.Q,
Cramp. Howard. "..,. S.O,S., Toronto, 1915
Crompton, William. . , . . . ., "...",. No Information
Croston, Herbert. .. , , " ", "".,.', 11 Venture St" Bolton, Lanes., Eng.
Cubbon, Thomas. , , . , , , , , ' I ' , ' . , , , . , *40 Ley ton Ave., Toronto
Cumberland, Andrew John.. , . . , , , , " Killed in Action with R.F.C.
Cummings, Herbert Ernest. l\I,C. 93 Shepherden Walk, London, Eng.
Cumming, Kenneth Wm..., ".'.'..' l\1fgs. Life Ins. Co., Lindsay Bldg.,
Winnipeg, Man.
, . , , . , , .' 245 Sherbourne St., Toronto
, , . . . . . .. 10 St. Clarence Square, Toronto
. , , , . , . " Hamilton,Ont,
,
, , , , . , , *139 Belmont Ave., Hamilton
, . " , , . ,. 55 Jefferson Ave" Brooklyn, N.Y.
. , . . . . , .. 2319 Fernwood Rd., Victoria
S,O.S" Toronto, 1915
, . , , , , , " 138 St. James St., Ville St.-Pierre,
Montreal
Dalton, Thos. Edmonstone.. M.M. Lavington, Vernon, B.c.
Darlington, Ernest Phillips. "....... 2947 A Drolet St., Montreal
Davidson, Henry, . . . . , *Pathological Lab., Camp Hill Hos-
pital, Halifax, N .S.
, , . , . . . .. 241 9 Ridge View Ave., Eagle Rock,
Los Angeles, Calif.
. . . "., '. Kitchener, B.C.
. , . . . . . " c/o H.Q., M.D.13, Calgary
.. . ., " .. 100 34th Ave" Lachine, P.Q.
. . . ., . , , , *279 Wortley Road, London, Onto
. . . . . . . . , c/o J. F. Hartz & Co., 22-26 Hayter
St., Toronto
Deadman. William .James.., ,.."".. *91 Delaware Ave, E., Hamilton
Dear, F.. . . , . , . . . , , , . , , , " ,...", .' 11 Sussex Ave., Toronto
Dell, Robert John "".." .. *21 Palmer Ave., East Toronto
Denovan, Howard John (W) , , . . . . . .. 1021 Cook St., Victoria
Desarmia, William. . . . . . ,. .......', No Information
Dick, William." , . , , , , , ,., '.,...", No Information
Dickens, Lloyd Rowland, .. ......... 2 Manning Ave., Stratford, Onto
I Dickinson, Wilfred. . . . . . .. ........' Deceased
Dix, Arthur Joseph. , . , . .'. ....,.." 37 Clifton Gdns., Maida Vale,
London, .England
Dodd, Herbert G, , . , , , , , " ..,.,.,.. 5 Vishart St., St. John, N.B.
Dodd. John George, . . . . . ., .....'... Colwell South Farm. ßarraforts,
Northumberland. England
Doherty, G,D..",........ .'.'",., S,O,S., Toronto, 1915
Donahoe, J. A.. .. ,. .,.,.. No Information
Donaldson, Alec", . . . . . . .. ......... Dollar, Clackmannanshire, Scotland
Douglass, Peter Gerald . . .. '..'. . . .. Deceased
Driscoll, J... ..' . . . . . , . , , .' ......,., Deceased
Dudley, Albert., , , , ., , , , ,. .,.. . . , *1293 Cannon St. E., Hamilton
Duffey, Christopher, . . . . .. ..'".." *27 Archibald St., Hamilton
Dumont, Stanley Frederick. l\f.M. *2 Boston Cottages, Vale Rd" St.
Sampson's, Guernsey, Channel Isles,
Dunham, Franklin F.. . . . . . M,(', & B. !\ 0 Information
Dunlop, Daniel Rolston, . .. . ' Deceased
Dunn, Alexander Stanley, .. ...'.'... *Kapuskasing. Unt.
Durkin, J.. . . . , . , , , , . . . . .. ......,., S.O.S., Toronto, 1913
Dyke, Albert Samuel, . , . " ",.,.... Lincoln Cottage, Acocks Green,
Birmingham. England
Dykes, Arthur William,., .. . 114H Oscar St., Victoria
Dyment, Irvine (W). , , , , " .'""." *124 Langfortl .\ve., Toronto

Cunningham, George Clark,
Cunningham, Henry, , , , , , .
Cunningham, Thomas, . . . ,
Curbishley, Stephens"" , , .
Currie, Gerald Duncan. . , . .
CuU, Leslie Ernest. . , . . . . .
Cutting, L. , . . . . . . . , . . . , . ,
Dael, Emil, , , . , . , . . . . . . . .

Davies, Charles. .

Davies, John, , , , . . . . . . . . .
Davis, Harry. . , . . , , , . ,
Dawes, James Powley"".,
Dawkins, Jesse Wm. (W), . .
Dawson, James William,.. ,

No. Rank
2498 Pte.
5
7685 Pte.
1615 Pte.
Pte,
1617 Pte.
L/Col.
Capt.
529094 Pte.
Major
5
3

3 Pte.
1618 Pte.
400
00 Pte.
1619 Pte.
602432 Cpl.
72141 Cpl.
16
0 Pte.
536354 Pte.
536278 Pte.
528549 Pte.
400003 Cpl.
16
1 Pte.
Colonel
528708 Pte.
400419 Pte.
1622 Pte.
874795 Pte.
470030 Pte.
16
3 L/Cpl.
74
773 Pte.
1015019 Pte.
5
2740 L/Cpl.
1624 Pte.
404334 Pte.
1625 Pte.
5
9302 Pte.
1626 Pte.
16'27 L/Cpl.
174073 Pte.
527800 Pte.
2098898 Pte.
16'2
Pte.
1629 Pte.
536283 Pte.
1631 Sgt.
Capt.
540104 Pte.
877366 Pte.
S.M.
1630 Pte.
1281 Pte.
1632 Pte.
1633 S/Sgt.
1634 S.M.
1685 Pte.
5'24529 Pte.

Name
Eaton, John Henry, , .. . , "
Edington, William James.. ,
Edminson, Joseph, , . . . . , . .
Edwards, E,. , , . , . , , , , . . . .
Eldridge, Cecil. . . , . . . . . , . ,

Honors Remarks, Last Known Address, etc.
, , , . . . , .' Rathwell, Man.
, . . , .', .. 4'2 T.D.S. Hornston, Middlesex, Eng.
. , . , , . . " No Information
. , , , , . , ,. Beamsville, Onto
, , ' . . . . . . * Kings Head Hotel. Braintree, Essex.
England
Elliott, Henry C. S.. . , , , . . , O.B.E. Deceased
Elliott, Alexander Smith. , ., ..,..,..' *229 Y onge St., Toronto
Elliott, Lance. , . . . . . , . ", . , , , . . . . *280 Lennox Ave., Detroit, Mich.
Elliott. Orvil A, (W). , . . . , . D.S.O.&B
M.I.D, (2) *229 Y onge St.. Toronto
Elliott. Wm. Bertrand. . . .. ........, Died of Wounds
Ellis, Reginald, , . , , , . . , . .. ...,..,., No Information
Ellis. Robert Meredith, , , ., ".,...., Killed in Action
Elmer, Arthur. . . . , , , , . . ., ",..',.. 94 Seaton St.. Toronto
Erskine. James" , , . , . . . . , . M.1\1. *127 Strange St., Guelph, Onto
Erskine, James E. K,. '.,.. ....,...' No Information
Eshelby. William,., . .. ,. ., ...,.,." *140 Campbell Ave.. Hamilton
Essency, .Murray. " .. ,.., ,.,....., No Information
Estey, Herman." , .. , , ,.., ,..'",.. Marys
:ille, York Co., N,B.
Etherington. Edward Thos.. ,'.',,'.' R,R. 4, St. Esmonds, Brick St..
London, Ont.
Eyre. Reginald Francis". ., ,.,..".. 24 Beaver Rd., Toronto
Falkingham. Percy. . . . . . ., ,'..,...' *1262 Main St. E., Hamilton
Parmer, George Devey,..., C.B.E. No Information
M,I.D, (2) Deceased
Faryon, Reginald Richard,. '.....,.' *c/o Lord & Thomas, Toronto
Faulkner, Frank L.. , ...' ,. .'....." 1506 13th Ave. West, Vancouver
Fearnall, Harry. " ...,.., . , , *876 7th Ave. W., Owen Sound. Onto
Featherston, Lyle 0.., , , . ., ,.,..'... Lyleton, Souris, :Man.
Fenton, Harry John.".. . '. ,........ *Immigrat'n Dept., Terminal, Halifax
Perris, William" , . , , , . , , ., ...'...,. *133 Barons Ave" Hamilton
Ferris, Walter Allen. . , , , ., .'...... , Wolfville, Kings Co., N .S.
Fiddes, Herbert. . ., , .. .. ...' Box 714. Kamloops, B.c.
Pield, Erland. , . , , . . , , , , '. .'.'...,. *Niagara-on-the-Lake, Onto
Field, Harry"",."....,. .'"",.' *69 Hillyard St., Hamilton
Pinch, Lewis Melvin. ... .., ,., .. . .., Died of Wounds
Pinn, William Alfred, . , , , ., ".",..' No Information
Fish, Robert Duncan, , . . , , , . . , . . *215 Goetz St,. Saginaw, Mich.
Fitzgerald, Edmund (W). ., ",..',.' 456% Cannon St. E.. Hamilton
Fletcher. Frank, . , .. . , . , ., ....,..', 56 Mora Rd.. Cricklewood. N.W.'2,
London, England
Fletcher, Samuel Thomas... ,.",..', No Information
Flewwelling. Claude E. . , " .'.,.'.', Colborne. Onto
Flinn. Robert Stanley, . . ' .. ,....',., *Goodrich Clinic. 910 Professional
Bldg., Phoenix, Arizona
Flynn, Roy, . . . . . . . , . . . , . . M.M. *8 Ridley Gardens, Toronto
Forrest. Joseph, . , . . . ' , . ., ...',..', *115 Foxwell A ve.. West Toronto,
Foster, William Henry. . ". ..,..',.. 57 Stanley St., St. John, N.B.
Fountaine. David George,.. ...'....' *152 Oakwood Ave., Toronto
Fowler, Claude Horace.. ... ......,.. Huntsville,Ont.
Foy, Norman Franklin. , ,. ,....'..' *IOA Bloor St. E., Toronto
Estey, Walter S. F.... . . ,., .........
ew Ross, Lunenburg, N.S.
Franklin, Robert G., . . . . ,. ,.,...... *4'2 Spadina Ave., Toronto
Fryday. Harry George. .... M.d'Hon, *2 Norman Ave., Toronto
Furze. Cedric. . .' , , .... ... ......... Gen. Del., Timmins, Onto
Gammon, Arthur William.. ,.....", 18 Water St, E., llrockvilIe, Onto
Gane, Leslie Arnold, . . . . . .. ,.,...... *1126 Dallas Road, Victoria
Gardner, John Rennie, . . . . . M.I.D. *888% King St. E., Hamilton
Gay. Edwin Edward,. .. ... ........' 11 Belvedere Rd., Sunderland Co..
Durham. England
Gibb, E.. . , . . , . . . , . . . . . . .. ,.......' No Information

No. Rank
2173373 Pte.
522923 Pte.
1637 Pte.
34606 Pte.
536205 Pte.
1636 Cpt
523705 Pte.
1638 Pte.
Major
51580
Pte.
Capt.
1639 Pte.
522926 Pte.
1640 Sgt.
522924 Pte.
Capt.

00035 Pte.
529102 Pte,
1641 Pte.
35 Pte.

Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
S/Sgt.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
3105736 Pte.
16
5 I I

:

Pte,
164ü Pte.
55103 Cpl.
52
91 Pte.
1647 IPte.
R92.-j5 I Ptc.
5
6(j!6 Pte.
Capt.
Pte.
Capt.
536275 Pte.
536345 Pte.
1031062 Pte.

1642
525314
52
053
195
400118
1644
524000
2081
59413
1643
214248
536176

1648

136475
528912
1649
1650
16.'H
424153
220345

:\lajor
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Sgt.
Pte.

lYame Honors Remarks, Last KnO'wn Address, etc.
Gibson, William." " , , " ,. ".. ., . The Gardens, Lessendrum, Huntly,
Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Gilbert, Herbert Henry. . ., .,'.,.,.' "'St. Paul's Hospital, Kweiteh, Honan,
China
Gilmer, Ernest Richard. . .. ,.,."", Killed in Action
Gilmore, Albert Edward,. 'I.:\LM. Deceased
Gilmore, Harry Thomas"" .,...', .' Stanley, York Co., K.B,
Gilpin, John, , , , , " , " " " ..'",'.' 17 Cottage Rd., London, England
Goodman, Ralph Allen. . ... ..... .. .. 313 21st St., Brandon, :\lan.
Gordon, William (W) . , , . ,. '...'...' *26 Gordon St., Woodbridge, X.J.
Gorssline, Raymond Meyers D.S.O. *S.M,O" l\1,D. Xo. 6, Halifax
Gow, James Wilfred Colin.. ........' Victoria, B.C.
Graham, Grattan Clifford. . .',.....' *Fenelon Falls, Ont.
Graham, Thomas,......, .. ,.'""" *15 Harrison St., Hamilton
Grant, Herbert. . . . . . . . . . .' ..'" . , ,. Killed in Action
Graves, George . ,M.M, .:\f.
,.:\L *233 Province St. South, Hamilton
Gray, Robert F.." , , , .. ... ",'.'.,. 165 Wharncliffe Rd. S., London, Ont.
Greaves, Aubrey Vernon.. .. ,...."" *Col. Med. Serv" Hong Kong, China
Gribbin, Thomas Joseph. . , .:\LM. The Avenue, Egerton St.,
ew Brigh-
ton, Cheshire, England
Grieve, Stewart Hume. . . .. ...,."., 79 Ontario St., Guelph, Onto
Griffiths, John William, , , .. .',..'.', 833 Carlaw Ave., Toronto
Griffiths, Owen Ross, , . . . ., """", Myncholme, Clarence Road, Gorles-
ton-on-Sea, Norfolk, England
Grindley, George Henry. ., Killed in Action
Grubb, Robert Newsome, ,. ,."."" 1528 Camosum St., Victoria
Gruggen, Charles ::\Iark. . , , No Information
Gunter, G. H..".. ,. . , . ." ...'....' S,O.S., Toronto, 1915
Hall, Bertram La\\rence.... "".,..' *1410 'lOth Ave. N. W., Calgary
Hall, Thomas Ingram.. . . *161 Wood St. East, Hamilton
Hall, Wm. Stanley. . . . , ", ".....',
o Information
Halligan, William. , . . , , . . . Deceased
Hamelin, Joseph. . , . .. .. . . Front St., Aylmer East, P.Q.
Hamer, Arthur,. '. , " , "., ......... 2344 La Salle Ave., Montreal
Hamilton, Andrew James.. , 1020 Lillian St., Windsor, Ont.
Hamilton, Willard Errol. , " "",.". Pembroke, Onto
Hand, William. . . . . . . . " . , . , . , .. 8,O.S., Toronto. 1915
Hanes, Earl. , . , . , , , , , , , .. .....'.', Deceased
Hanney, William, , . , , , . . , . .,.'"", Killed in Action
Hann, J., . .... .. ...' S,O,S., Toronto, 1915
Hanson, E. GOo , . . . . . , . , ., .,......' Deceased
Hardcastle, Thos.. . . . . . . ., "",'.', *25 Elgin St" Galt, Onto
Harding, Robert Gordon, . , :;\I..M. 138 Shuter St., Toronto
Hare, Robert. . , . . . , , , , , ,. ..,. , , . ., No Information
Hare, Robt. B. (P. of War). ....,.." *Simcoe, Onto
Harford, Joseph Phillip, . .. ,.......' 49 Eastwood Ave" Birchcliff, Onto
Hargreaves, Harold" ., . .,. .....'.,. 10 Melrose Ave., Hrantford, Onto
Harris, N. l\IacL. ",.. . . .' .....,...
o Information
Harrington, William. , , , , , , , *564 Dundas St. E., Toronto
Harris, Webster H. F..... .. ..,.'"., Died of Wounds
Harrison, Eldridge... . . .. . ,.......' Box 136, Marysville, York Co., N.B.
Harrison, Thomas. . . . . . , ,. .....'", Marysville,
,B.
Harrison, Thomas...,..... .,.. ..... 35 W. French Ave., New Bedford,

lass.
Hart, Hugh........ , .. . . l\LC. & B. *Listowel, Onto
Hart, William Stanley. . . .. ........, Lymenge, Folkestone, Kent, Eng.
Harvard, Ferrell..., . . . . . .' .,.......
o Information
Harve)', Sydney Harry". '. ..""'.. *327
. Bernadotte St., New Orleans,
Hawkey, Thomas,......... ,..""" *526 Logan .\ve., Toronto
Hay, John, . . , . . , , . . . . . . .. ........' *New Liskeard, Ont.
Hearn, Edgar Lewis. , . . . .. ........' Quill Lake. Sask.
Hearns, Isaac Benjamin. . ,. """". East St., 1'\apallee, Ont.

No. Rank
5'2'2927 Pte.
165'2 Pte,
1653 Pte.
510557 Pte.
1655 Pte.
895,149 Pte.
1654 Pte.
524'208 Pte,
1656 Cpt.
51039 S,1\1.
1659 Pte.
1657 Pte.
1658 Sgt.
504169 Pte.
510599 Pte.
33328 Pte,
1660 Pte.
536179 Pte.
Sgt.
1661 Pte.
166'2 Pte.
782 Pte.
525321 Pte.
2005085 Pte.
1663 Pte,
3'204 Cpl.
Capt.
52'29'29 Pte.
1664 Sgt.
Pte.
526581 Pte.
Major
1667 Pte.
'200214 Pte.
1665 Pte.
1666 Sgt.
5'2'2930 Pte.
Capt.
47511'2 Pte.
1668 Pte.
14 Pte.
Major
5'27588 Pte.
Pte.
'2745 Pte.
1669 Pte.
Major
1670 Pte.
5'27815 Pte.
5'26592 Pte.
1671 Pte.
Lt.-CoI.
167'2 Pte.
5'26648 Pte.
461093 Pte.
536'250 Pte.
Capt.
5291'23 Pte.

Name Honors Remarks, Last Knov:n Address, etc.
Heidman. Norman. , , , . . . . j " . , . .. . ' 1 *108 Douro St., Stratford, Onto
Henderson. James (W)..... ... ...' *307 Wychwood Ave,. Toronto
Hewitt, WilJiam Edward. . . 'M.I.D. *Box 35, Coleman P.O" Toronto
Hill, Allan (W)"."".,... ......... *101 Helena Ave.. Toronto
HiJI, Carl English (W), . . . , . . *Lansing, Ont.
Hill, Lawrie, John. " ,. , , ,. ",.."., Hasways St., Vancouver
Hill. Sidney, . , , . , ., . . . , . . . , *73 Nairn Ave., Toronto
Hillier. Thomas, , . . . .. , . " ...'"." 359 Cumberland Ave., Winnipeg
Hines, Ernest. , . , , , , , . . , ,. ",...',. *1'22 Sanford Ave. N., Hamilton
Hodder. Charles Victor",., ."...,.. *326 Warren Road, Toronto
Hodges, Edwin,., , '. , . .. .' '..".,.' No Information
Hodgkinson, Robert E. (W). . . , , .. .' *Spectator, Hamilton
Hogg, Arthur. , . . . . , . , . . . . :\L
I. *97 Murrie Ave., .:vlimico. Ont.
Hogle, Claude Leroy" . . , .. ..... , , " Killed in Action
Holmes, Harold Percy. . . " .,.,...,. Brampton. Ont.
IHolmes, William, . . , , . , , . . ,. 23 Wyre St., Fleeh\ood. Lanes., Eng.
Hooper, Thomas Henry.., ...,..... *151 Humewood Ave., Toronto
I Hopper, Eldon Cecil. , , ,. , , ., ,. William St., Pembroke, Onto
Howard. Peter James, , . . " '..',...' 849 Grosvenor Ave" Winnipeg
Howell, William" .' , .. ., ,. ".'.'". *1366 Cannon St. E.. Hamilton
Humphreys, Sidney. . . . , , . , Stornmouth, Westmead Rd.. Sutton,
Surrey, England
Hunt. Frederick Harry., , .' "....", 862 Weston Rd., Mt. Dennis, Onto
Hunter, Laun James, . , , . .' '..',.,.' 172 Park St., Dundas, Ont.
Huntley. John S. B., , . , , " '.',,'.', 9 Dominion St., Truro. N.S.
'Husband. Arthur Clifford". ..,..',., Deceased
' Hutchinson, Henry Joseph., M.I.D. *c/o Blachford & Wray,
Iain St.
East, Hamilton
Hutton, William Lorne"... '.. " . , . , *'221 Nelson St., Brantford. Onto
Imeson, ('olin Marshall. , ., ", , , . , , , *Box 696, Leamington. Ont.
Ineson, William Frederick,. ..,...,.. *182 Weston Rd. S., Toronto
Inglis, D.", . , . . . . " ...., '...,..', S,O,S. Toronto, 1915
Ingles, Walter., , , . . . , , . . .. ..... . , .. 16'2 Drolet St., Montreal
Ings, George Arthur, . . , , .. '...,.... Deceased
Irvine, Harold John, , . . .', .".. .., Brigden,Ont.
Irving. John, ., .. ",.... ".,,'..' '27 Mayfield Ave., Newburn-on-
Tyne, Northumberland. Eng.
Irwin, Edward".,.""." '....'..' *Keith St., Hamilton
Irwin. Joseph Thomas, . . .. .",..,.. *Medical Arts Bldg., Toronto
Ivory, Herbert Wesley. .... M.S.M. 682 Queen St. W" Toronto
Jackes, Harvey Lee,.. .. .., ......... *810 McCallum Bldg., Regina, Sask.
.Jackson, Laurance Wm.. . " ",'.'..' '2236 15th Ave" W. Vancouver
.Jacobs, Samuel. , , . , , . . . . . , M,M. 15 Blenheim Crescent, London, Eng.
James, George Henry. ,.. ,. .".,., . 43372 Towne Ave., Los Angeles, CaI.
Jenkins. John Stephen ..,. D,S,O. *Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Johnson, Clarence A. (W). , M.M. *Apt. B, 81 Wilson Ave., Toronto
Johnson, James. . , , , . . , ... .....,.', S,O.S., Toronto, 1915
Johnson, Norman, . , . , . . ,. .".,..', 601 Corrigan Ave., "'innipeg
Jones. Cecil Charles. . . . . .. ... ,Killed in Action
Jones, Herbert ... ..,. .. :",."., Died, France, 5/3/17
Jones, William. , , , . , , . . , ., ."".,.. *194 l<'erguson Ave. S., Hamilton
Jordan, E. H.,., , . . , , , .. ., "....,.' No Information
Joyce, Peter. , . , , . , , . , . . " '.,..'.', Cherry River, P.Q.
Joycey, Douglas (W) . ' , . .. .""...' *Rabual, New Guinea
Kappele, Daniel Paul (W). D .S,O.&B
l\1.I.D. (2) *504 Main St. E.. Hamilton
Karkruff. John. . . , . , . , . . ,. ..,.,.,.' 58 Applegrove Ave., Toronto
Keiller, Richard Johnston.., '..,...., *Pointe Claire, Montreal
Kelly, Alfred..., , , , , . . , . " Died of 'Vounds
Kelly, Carcey Bliss, . . ... ,. ..', ." Cumberland Bay, N.S.
Kelly, Ernest. . , , , , , , , , . ., .....'.,. No Information
Kelly, Lawrence M. (W), .' ",.'",. *931 N. Pleasant, Royal Oak, :\fich.

No. Rank
1673 jSgt.
2109915 I S g t.
Pte.
Capt.

524144 Pte.
Capt.
429644 Pte,
Capt.
529053 Pte.
527506 1 Pte .
1674 Pte,
50612 Pte.
7571H Pte.
1675 Pte.
524344 Pte.
50958 Pte.
Capt.
463930 Pte.
421 Pte.
Bugler
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.

526582
536027
522933
83462

471 088 Pte.
126744 Pte.
201 Pte.
17'2013 Pte.
1676 Sgt.
1677 Pte.
528976 Pte.
Capt.
Lt.-Coi.
529113 Pte.
6575 Pte.
1678 Pte,
1679 LjCpl.
Pte.
50067 Sgt.
551032 Pte.
74343 Pte.

415777 Pte.

jSgt.
675951 Pte.
l6HO Pte.
526H17 Pte.
'2005041 Pte.
523056 Pte.
1681 Pte.

45'2467
8674'2

Pte.
Pte.
Capt.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Ptc.

.')36263
40()218
104
5'2909J

Name Honor8 Remark8, La8t Known Addres8, etc.
Kelso, Max. . .. . . , , . . , . .. .1
I.l\L *Athenree, Kati-Kati, New Zealand
Kemsley, Charles Clyde. . .. .'....... '244 '20th St. N., Lethbridge, AIta.
Kennedy, A."".,.,...", .,,".... S.O,S., Toronto, 1915
Kenney, Randal Young, . . . l\I. C. *67 Bedley Rd., N ew Walden, Surrey,
England
Kent, James Sorton."..... ....,.", Happtree P.O., Sask.
Kirby, Walter James"" ", ,........ *689 Danforth Ave" Toronto
Knight, Edward.,., . " , ", ." ,..., c/o C. E. Brooks. ll.ll. 1, Otler, B.C.
Knox, John., . . . . , . . , , , , ., St. Stanislaus Inst., Guelph, Ont.
Kunder, John. . . . . , . . . . . " ..,.,'..' '248 Front St., Stratford, Onto
Laflin, Frank. . . , , , . . . . . ., .....,'.' Killed in Action
Lang, Harry Beckett, , , , . .' ......... *Pilgrim State Hosp., Brentwood, L.I.
Lang, Wilfred B. 1\1., . . . . . . ' *63 Frederick St., Hamilton
Lang, William Turner, , , , ., "....... *63 Frederick St., Hamilton
Lansdowne, Arthur L."". . M.M. *55 Fenning St., Toronto
Laraway, Harley. , , , , , . . .. ..,.... , 116 Harriett St., Winnipeg
Latimer, George Henry. . .. .,......, Buena Vista, Burnaby, Vancouver
Latta, Ethelbert Elijah.,... ......... *243 Albert St., Kingston, Ont.
'Lauderbach, Victor, , , . . . .. ......". Ladysmith, B,C.
ILawton, C. G.. . . , . . .. .... ,.....,.' 48 Sydney St., Hamilton
,Ledger, J.. . . ..., , , , . '.... ...',..', *49 Highland Ave., Hamilton
.LeI<"rancois, Frank." " '... .',.."" R,C.M,p. Barracks, Brandon,
lan
Legary, William", '.,..... M,l\I. Deceased
'Leigh, Willoughby J. (W)... ....,.,.. Harvey St., Hespeler, Ont.
Leith, Jack, , , . , . . . . . . . . ., .,......' *Old Age Pension Commissioner,
City HaIl, Hamilton
LeRoux, Claude Herbert. .. "'" . , 40 Oliver Road, Belmont, Mass.
Lewis, Alec. James, . , , , , .. ".."", 133 Ontario St., Stratford, Ont.
Lewis, Frank. . , , . . , . . . , .. ......,.. l'io Information
'Lickley, Hugh Mackay (W) ...','..' Peterboro,Ont.
\Lickley, James T. F.., . . . " ......,.' *57 Astley Ave.. Toronto
Lickley, William Fraser, . ., '.,...... *New Liskeard, Onto
ILimburg, Samuel Arthur. ., ,..'....' 87 Grays Inn Rd., W.e. 1, London,
I England
'Logie, Ii'rederick George. . ., ....,".' *3357 W. 26th St., Vancouver
Lomer, Theodore Adolph, , , D.S.O. *11 Linden Terrace, Ottawa
Lucas, Guy Ivan,......... ... .... . Wyoming R.R. '2, Onto
I Luce, John Rudolph. , , . . .. .......,. ll.R. No. '2, 5t. Mary's, Onto
Ludlow, Albert :\Iilford, . . . .....'..' Deceased
ILumsden, John Gordon, . ., """,., Killed in Action
Lusk, David" ........... .., ..... No Information
'Lynch, Maurice Edmund.., ...,.'", 535 Percy St., Ottawa
I Lyne, Harold, . .. , '. .. '.., ......... llelvoir Vale Farm, .Muston near
Battesford, Notts, Eng,
I Lyne, Vernon Harris (W).. , D.C.M. 142 Ladbrooke Grove, N. Kensing-
ton, London, Eng,
Lyons, William Wilson, , , ., ... . . . . .' 24 Salem St., \Vakefielrl,
rass.
'Leleu, F. II., . . . . . . . . ' . . . . ...'...', *97 Flatt Ave., Hamilton
I
Iabee,
Ivah lIen
y, . , , .. .".,.", IIarr:is St., Ingersoll, 9nt.
)Iahy, I...dmund (\\). , , , , " ...',.". *97 Llghtbourne Ave., foronto
'
Iann, Frederick, , . , , , . , , . ...'"... 47(iA Seigner St" \Iolltreal
'Marriott, William Alexander. . . . . , .\rmdale P.O., lIalifax
1 )larSh, George Curtis. . , . " '" . , " Winnipeg, Man,
.Marsh, William John, . . . ., .'.'...', 1'2 St. Johns Rd., Portsmouth, Hanls,
England
Mason, Joseph William, . , .. ... . . ., Xo Information
1 )lathers, James Edward, , .. ... ' . . . " Deceased
:\latheson, .James Rf'nwick" ......... Deceased
Matthews, Wesley Bradford. , , . ' Perroboquis. Kings Co., N.H.
':\Iead, Hubert Lionel. , , . , .
!)(j Erskine .\w., Toronto
':\Ieehan, Frederick Arthur., . ' Woodstock, Ont.
':\Ieisner, Arthur" , " , , , . ,. ",'..... *607 Ouellette .\ve., 'Vindsor, Ont.

.Vame Honors Remarks, Last Knou'll Address, etc.
Mercer, A. J., , , . . . .. ,. ", ......,.' Deceased
Meredith, .John T,., , ., . , ,. . . , , , . , , , *133 Queen St. S., Hamilton
Meridew, John,."..,.. .' M,8.M. *604 Harvie Ave., Toronto
Metcalfe, J3mes Edward, ., ,.."".. 141 28th Ave., N. E. Calgary
Michener, Leo, . '..".',.. " '.. Killed in Action
Middleton, W, A., . . , . , , . , , S,O.S., Toronto, 191:;
Miller, George Russell, . . , , , . , *159 Silverthorne Ave., Toronto
Mills, William, . , . ISI Woodstock St., Hull, Yorks.,Eng
Mintie, Ashley.,.,.,...,.. ..."" . Hudson Bay Junction
Mitchell, Richard Arthur, ,. .'.,...,. Killed in Action
Mofford, Reginald Adolphus , , , , , . . ., 46 Cortes St., Boston, Mass.
Montague, Frederick Wm..., .. , .., 559, Srd S.W. St., Miami, Fla.
Moore, Charles Howard.. " , .. , *414 Medical Arts Bldg.. Winnipeg
Moore. William, . . , . , . , . . . M.M. No Information
Morgan. Thomas, , , . . . , . " ,.,.,.." *57 Gifford St.. Toronto
Morgan, William Ewart.. ., M.S.M. A. & P. Head Offiice, Toronto
Morin, Joseph. . , , . , . , , , .. ,......" Deceased
Moses. Harry Clarke.,.., M.C. & B. *Prattsburg, N.Y., U.S,A.
Moss, John Henry., . , , " " ",."" . Cons. of Music. Bay & State. Ottawa
Mossman, James Kilburn.., M.C. &
Serb, O. St. Sava *184 East 75th St., New York City
1690 S/Sgt. Mott, Jacob Ernest.. , , , , " ,.,..".. Killed in Action
408975 Pte. Moyer, Percy, , . , ,. , " ... .', , " Killed in Action
Capt. Muir, Walter Lawson, . . , , . M,C. *240 Jubilee Road, Halifax
2098953 Pte. Muise. Peter Joseph. . , , , ,. ".,..',. 415 Gloucester St., Ottawa
528898 Pte. Mulligan, George Vincent.., ","".. Died of Wounds
Pte. Murch, William. . , , , . , ' . " ",'.,." S.O.S., Toronto, 1915
Pte, Murphy, Wm. Joseph (W).. 128 East Ave. S.. Hamilton
A/S,Sgt Murray. S, .Moo.,. .. , , ...' .'......, No Information
Pte, MacAllister, Lewis S.. , . ". .','.,... No Information
Pte. McAnally, Frederick Lee. .' ,.",,'.' Drowned,Llandovery Castle,'27/6/18
Pte. McCallum. Finley. , . , , , . .' .','.,." 911 Somerset Bldg., Winnipeg
Pte. McLure. Thomas Do. , , ., " ,.,....,. Gunningsville, N,B.
Capt. McCusker, Emmet Andrew. M.C. *McCallum Bldg., Regina
Pte, McDonald, Gerald, . , , . . .' .'.',...' 41'2 Bartlett Ave.. Toronto
Pte. MacDonald, J. A.. , , " " .. .,.',,'.' No Information
Capt. MacDonald, John Howard.. ".'.',., Prospect St., Wolfeville, N,S.
536017 Pte. MacDonneII. Shirley John,. .'.., . . " Killed in Action
1695 Pte, McFarlane, William. . . , . .. .',....,. Died of Wounds
Major McGill. Chester Wm.. . '" . M.C. *Dept. Indian Affairs. Ottawa
5'27776 Sgt. McGillicudy. T.. , , . , . . . . ,. ..,....,. *576 Balliol St., Toronto
1696 Pte. ,McGillivray. James Edward. M.M. *Weyburn, Sask.
('apt. McGillivray. Ronald c., . .' ,..,..,., *"Star of the Sea". Pictou, N.S.
5'2398'2 Pte. 'MacGlashan. David (W). ,. ,..',..,. No Information
173'2 Cpl. IMcGowan, Edward Patrick, ..,...", 404 St. Georges St.. Moncton, N.B.
Lt.-CoI. I McGuffin, Chester Fish. , . , D's,O. *2'20 l'2th Ave.. Calgary
Pte. McKenzie. Alexander FOo'" ., . Hamilton Hotel, Dauphin, Man.
Pte. MacKenzie, Gordon Alex.. . "..,.." McAdam, N. B.
Pte. IMacKenzie. William, ., '..' ..' " , , " Killed in Action
L/Cpl. McKenzie, Wilfred LOo,. .., ,....,." No Information
Pte. I McKerror, Cathcart, , . , . .' .'.'..,.' 6 Moor Park Rd. K, Stevens ton,
Ayrshire, Scotland
Bugler McKillop, Horace. , . . . . . . " . . . . . . . . , *25 Southview Ave.. Toronto
Pte. 'McLaren, James (Patrick).. M.I.D. No Information
Capt. / McLaughlin, Charles EOo' .' .,....... No Information
1700 Pte. Maclean, James, , ". ,. . . ., '" ..'.' *c/o United Cigar Stores, London
1693 Pte. 'MacLean, John Ogg. . . . . ., .,....... *20 Preston Rd" Toronto
104441 Pte. 'McNair, Charles, . , . , , .. .. '.'""., 445 Moy Ave., Windsor, Onto
'2005045 Pte. I McNeil' James.. .. ... .' . .' , , , . ". ,. c/o R.C.M.P., Regina. Sask.
Capt. MacNeill, James Grant. , . . M,C. Killed in Action . .
Capt. McQuay. Russell B. . .,.... . , . . ,. (i24 Crescent Rd., Portage la Prame
170'2 Cpt. . McRae, John Gordon, , , , ,. ,.,."", *506 Glenlake Ave., Toronto

No. Rank
I Pte.
1683 Pte.
168'2 ' Pte,
5'23090 Pte.
55901 Pte.
179 Pte.
1684 Pte.
1695 Cpt.
'210'2 Pte.
1691 Pte.
536239 Pte.
1686 Cpt.
Capt.
Pte.
L/CpJ.
Sgt.
Pte.
Capt.
536117 Pte.
Capt.

1687
1689
1688
511671

681317
500591
169'2
5'26674
5'2353'2
69629

1694

5'24091
17'26
5'26.544
1697
535548

1698
1699

Pte.
Pte,
SjSgt.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
Pte.
),fajor
5
751O Pte.
1752 Pte.
Capt.
Pte.
529096 Pte.
Pte.
Lt.-Col.
Pte.
Major
Pte.
S,M.
LjCpl.
Cpl.
Pte.
Cpl.
Pte.
Pte.

6318{)5 Pte.
83035 Sgt.
1721 Pte.
17

Pte.
529089 Pte.
1723 Pte.

No. Rank
1701 I Pte.
Pte.
Capt.
.51064 Pte.
144979 Pte,
Capt.
1703 Pte.
170-i Pte.
Major
83198 Pte.
1705 Pte.
528999 Pte.

529368 I Pte.
5
4276 Pte.
1706 Sgt.
210 Pte.

6235 Pte.
5
7357 Pte.
1707 SjSgt.
1708 Pte.
1710 SjSgt.
1709 S jSgt.
1711 Cpl.
17,14 Pte.
1712 Pte.
Capt.
6931

Pte.

528144
527876
1713
529084
1714
400843
400844
1715
737137

1716

529051
1991
1717
1718

1719
1720

Name Honors Remarks, Last Known Address, etc.
')'lcSkimming, William, '..' " ", . *481 King St. W., Hamilton
Mepham, E.. . . . . , , , , . . . .' ,..,.".. 5,0.:5., Toronto, 1915

eilson, Henry Kenneth, .. .,.,.".. *Medical Arts Bldg., Toronto

ewall, Edgar Cyril, . , , . .' ..,....', 1122 Arch St., Berkeley, Calif.
Newman, Wyndale, . , , . ' '. ,... 306 Ditchling Rd" Brighton, Eng.
Newton, Frederick Gilbert.. "",.,.. 188 South Brock St., Sarnia. Onto
Nicholls, John Jeffrey,. ,... :\1.5.::\1. Died of Wounds

icholson, Andrew George., . , . . . . . .' Killed in Action
Nicholson, Wm. Freeman, . :\fC,:\lID *69 Sherman Ave.
" Hamilton
Ni-<on, Harry. , , . . ' , . , . ' " , . " 62 Shannon St" Toronto
Noble, William G. (W)."., .,..,.,.' *3 Conrad Ave., Toronto
Norris, Charles E. J... , . . .' .,.""., 876
orfolk Rooms, Granville St.,
Vancouver

orthen, William Alonzo. . , . R,R. :So. 1, Sparta, Onto
Nowlan, John Baptist."... . _,. St. :Mary's, Kent Co., N.B.
Noyes, Frederick Walter. .. ,..,..". *R.R. No.5, Belleville, Onto
O'Connor, S. J......... ." ,..'...,. S.O.S., Toronto, 1915
Odessky, Max. . . , . . . . . . . ,. ...,.,... Died of Wounds
O'Grady, Daniel John, . . , ., ,.,..,.,' Almonte, Onto
O'Leary, Frank Joseph (W). M.M. *Medical Arts Bldg" Toronto
Osborn, Horace. . ......... ,..".,.. *R,R. No.4, Port Hope, Onto
Overend, Samuel Alexander, , ,. , , ,.. , *R.R. No.4, Hamilton
Overholt, Frank Whitney... ,..'....' *D.S,C.R., Hamilton
Palfrey, Douglas Edward" . . *Dundas,Ont.
Paradis, John, ,.',." ....' ,., 17 Orange St., St. John, X,B,
Parker, Andrew... , ' .. Killed in Action
Parker, Gilbert Pryor, " ". ..".,..' *817 Bathurst St., Toronto
Parrett, Charles" " , ., . " . . .. 639 Highland Ave., Benton Harbor,
Mich.
Parsons, Frederick.... . .' . ,..""" *85 Westmoreland Ave., Toronto
Paterson, John .McGowan. . ,. 347 Keewatin Ave., Toronto
Patterson, Andrew Forbes, . . , *110 Grosvenor St. N" Hamilton
Patterson, John Franklin. , . " 54 Brighton Rd" ßrantforrl, Onto
Pearson, Bernard., , , . . ' , *130 Kalmar Ave., llirchcliffe, Onto
Pell, Bertie,..,.,.... .,.'",.,., Ontario St., Sarnia, Onto
PeH, Joseph, . . . . . ' , , , . , , . . .' Ontario St., Sarnia, Ont.
Pender, Thomas Patrick,.,. . . ,. Killed in Action
Pennock, Richard D. G.. ,.. .',...',. Elnora, Alta.
Pentecost, Reginald S., . , ,. , . . . *143 Inglewood Drive, Toronto
Perry, Herbert Cecil. , . . , . . , , , . *1414 Royal Bank Bldg., Toronto
Peters, Charles H.. . . . ". . . . , . , .. Deceased
Petrie, Frederick :\IcGregor.l\I.C. Granger, Wash., U.S,A,
I Pettigrew, R. C.." . , . . ,. ,..
'l9 Balmoral Ave. 5., Hamilton
Pettitt, Arthur. . , . ,.... . .. " 158 Keave St., Guelph, Onto
Pickard, R., , ., " , , , S,O.S., Toronto, 1915
Philp, George Rowe . . , . ., . . , , 603 Sherbourne St., Toronto
Plowright, Wm. !\ewborn... ,.,., Killed in Action
Poisson, Paul. . , , , , , , , , , . . :!\1.C *Tecumseh,Ont.
Pole, Willard Harford., , . .. 153 Mitton St" Sarnia, Onto
Pollett, Alfred Charles. . , *1886A Queen St. E., Toronto
Poole, Albert Thomas,., ., 1407 Wellington, Verdun, 'Iontreal
Pountney, Alfred Luke,. ,. , ., , , *1116 Second Ave. W., Owen Sound
Precious, W. W..... , , . .. 180 Atlas Ave., Toronto
I Price, John Henry. , ' , *55 New St., Hamilton
Ralph, Alfred. . . Deceased
Rance, H. . . . , , , . . . , , " f;,O,S Toronto, 19I.

Raven, Arthur Keil. ' 316 Albert St., Kingston, Ont.
Reaston, Victor Wm" , ." 155 College St., Toronto
Reeves, Arthur Aubrev. . . . *11
2 Cannon St. E., Hamilton
Restivo, Francesco. . : . . . . . . ' . . . *43 Elm St., Toronto
,Rettig, Louis. ,."."....,. ...... 715 Broadway,
ew York City
Revell, William 0.... , . . , ,. "",.,., *574 Highbury Ave., London, Onto

No Rank
1724 Pte.
1725 Pte.
1726 Pte.
407036 Pte.
1727 Pte.
400230 Pte.
514558 Pte.
1728 Pte.
1729 Pte.
1730 Pte.
1731 Pte.
527364 Pte.
1732 Pte.
1733 Pte.
1734 Sgt.
513006 Pte.
1735 Pte.
Capt.
526631 Pte.
536215 Pte.
53965 Pte.
Capt.
1736 SjSgt.
528058 Pte.
1739 Pte.
1738 Cpl.
1737 Sgt.
Sgt.
Pte.
536354 Pte.
Pte.
1741 Pte.
1742 Pte.
1743 Pte,
1740 Pte.
528613 Pt('.
142492 Sgt.
1744 S/Sgt.
400379 Pte.
1768 Pte,
1751 Pte.
1745 Pte.
1746 Cpl.
Capt.
1749 Pte.
1748 Pte.
532695 Pte.
Capt.
1747 Sgt.
1750 Pte.
524387 Pte.
135570 PLe.
297 Cpl.
30937 Pte,
1752 Pte.
1753 Pte.
1754 Pte.
536177 Pte.
1755 S/Sgt.
2005137 Pte.

Name Honors Remarks, Last Known Address, etc.
Rice, Arthur Archibald, '. ,. ........' Brochenhurst, UnLland Rd., Nor

wich, England
Rice, Robert Samuel 0.. , .. ......... 428 UntIand Rd., Norwich, Eng.
Rich, Worthy Archibald R., ...'.'." *139 26th St., Kiagara Falls. N.Y,
Richardson, J<'rederick D.. ., ,.""", No Information
Rigby, Arthur. , . . , . , , , . ., "" . . *30 Lake Shore Drive, New Toronto
Riley, Joseph Francis. . . . .' .'.'..." *54 Queensbury Ave., Toronto
Robertson, Edwin Hubert., ......'" Oakville, Onto
Robinson, George Robert.., ......", 16 Monteith St., Toronto
Roe, Alfred Charles, . . , . . .. .'"..". Died of Wounds
Rosser, John Gordon.."". M.M. *1319 Newkirk Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Rostron, Ernest. , . . . . . , . " ......." Deceased
Rouleau, Joseph Ward. . . .. ...'..." Cannes P.O., Richmond Co., N.B.
Rowley, Harry (W). , . . . . .' ....,.,.. No Information
Russell, Norman H. (W) , .' ......." Timmins, Onto
Russell, Robert Stanley. . .. .'.','... No Information, S.O.S., Eng., 1915
Russell, Thomas Charles, . , M.M. Edward St., Prescott. Onto
Rutherford, Hugh R. (W)., ,.......' *40 Fairleigh Crescent, Hamilton
St. Laurent, Alexander E.,. ........, Deceased
Sampson, Thomas H. (W)" .' ..'..' 161 St. Catherine St., Montreal
Samuel, Alexander... . . . , .. .....,..' Died, France, 16/11/18
Sanders, Ernest. , . .. , . '... ........' *79 Bastedo Ave., Toronto
Sandwith, Bertrand A. . . ., .. . K 0 Information
Sayer, George.,.,..,.... ., .'""..' *20 Rospmount Ave., Toronto
Schuurkamp, John,.., ....' ........' *cjo Bearman House, 980 4th Ave. E..
Owen Sound. Onto
Scott, Charles Vincent. . . ,. ......... *Orillia, Onto
Scott, 'William John, . . .. ., ......... *Cookstown, Onto
Scowcroft, Charles,... .. " ,'...,." No Information
Scrivener, George, . . . ..'.. ... _. ,.. 362 2nd Ave.,Maisonneuve,l\1ontreal
Scupham, T... , ... . ,. , ",. ...'....' *74 Hastings Ave., Toronto
Scribner, Scott, Edward. . . , M.M. Box 51, Ashburnham, Mass.
Searles, C. S.. , . , , , . . . . . . ., ,...,...' S.O.S., Toronto, 1915
Sears, Elgin"... ... .., ,. .. '."..'.' *Waterdown,Ont.
Sellen, Charles WilJiam..." M,M. *72}1 Eaton Ave., Toronto
Sellen, William Thomas. . ., ..,.,...' *10 Patricia Drive. Toronto
Sergeant, Samuel. , , , . , . . . . l\I.
I. *Tillsonburg. Onto
Seymour, Frederick M...". ,......" 4 Adams Ave., Toronto
Sharkey, James, . , . . . , .. . ...'" " Deceased
Sharpe, Benjamin. . ., . ... , 1\1.:M. *10 Brighton Ave., Toronto
Shaw, Herbert. .. " . " . ." ,.,.."., Deceased
Sheehan, Charles, , , ,. . . . ., .'.,.',.. 21 Clarence St., St. John, N.n.
Shepherd, Robert John... ., .."...,. *Smithville,Ont.
Shore, Arthur"..,. ... . '" .,...".. *232 Broadway St. W., Hamilton
Shorrock. James"" , .., . . , :\-I,M. *141 Barrons Ave.. Hamilton
Silcox, William Logan", , " ....'..., DeC'eased
Simpkins, Sydney James, ., "'.,.'" *700 15th St., Owen Sound, Onto
Simpson, Ernest Lee. . ., ,...... . No Information
Simpson, Harry. . , , .. " ." ""..,., 490 Pine St., Nanaimo, B.C.
Sindair, William Ewing, , . . l\1.C, *705 Summerline St.. Orlando. Fla.
Sirett, Walter, . . , . , . , . . . . , M.I.D. No Information
SkiHing, Harold Ro)' (W)... ........, *1098 Queen St. E., Toronto
Skinner, John Gordon". ... . " ... , .. 628 Goulding St., Winnipeg
SmalJ, Joseph, . . . . ... .'". ,.."..., un Russett Ave., Toronto
Smith, Arthur Bertram. , . " '..,..,.. Deceased
Smith, Charles. . . , . , , , . , .. "".'.., 121 St. Patrick St" St. John, N.B.
Smith. Ernest., . . . . ., "M.M. *166 Stirton St., Hamilton
Smith, Frederick, . , . , , . . ., "".".. *993 Woodbine Ave., Toronto
Smith, John George. .. , , , ., ..."..'. 109 Arundel Ave., Toronto
Smith, Percy Willis. , . . . . " .....',.. Pembroke, Onto .
Smith, Seneca Reginald, . .. .'....... *86 Wellington St. S., HaIllilton
Snarr, Roy, . , , , , , . . . , , , .. ,...',.'. 48 Creighton St., Halifax

No. Rank
1756 Pte.
654681 Pte,
1757 Pte.
400384 Pte.
1758 Pte.
523865 Pte,
405-128 Pte.
1759 Pte.
522814 Pte.
228221 Pte.
1760 Cpl.
528615 Pte.
1761 Cpl.
859384 Pte.
219 I Pte,
1778 Pte,
1762 IPte.
2770516 1 pte.
536266 Pte.
2004283 Pte.
1000704 Pte.
523545 IPte.
1763 I Pte.
17M Pte.
Capt.
1765 Pte.
525189 / pte.
50683 Pte,
1767 Bglr.
176t.i I Pte,
1769 Sgt.
1770 IPte.
1771 I Pte.
1805 Pte.
526702 Pte.
50470 IPte.
1769 · Pte.
528666 Pte.
Lt.-Col.

34332 L/Cpl.
1772 ,Pte,
1773 f\/Sgt.
1774 .Pte.
177'; ::;gt.
Capt.
526703 Pte.
509 ](j Pte.
1776 Cpl.
528055 Pte.
21389'l Pte,
529110 Pte,
52901 I Pte,
5228'lO ('pl.
522821 Pte.
1777 S
t
1778 Pte.
1779 Pte.
1780 Pte.
1781 Pte.
40" Pte.

.Same Honors Remarks, Last Known Address, etc.
,Solley, Stanley Michael. . . *('Jarkson, :Mich., U.S.A.
Somers, Albert. , , .. """ *ß1yth,Ont.
lêowden, 'Yilliam. , . . . . . . . . . *8737
YJ: St., Los An
el
s, Cal.
,:'Iparks, "alter. '. .. . '.. .,,'..,.. 941 \\I1ham Ave., Wmmpeg
l.5paxman, James. . . , , , . , .. ".'", , *50 Brittania Ave., Hamilton
' Speed, Leslie Arthur. ' " . 757 William Ave., Winnipeg
Spruit, Joseph. , . . . . . . . . .. .."...,. Deceased
Stag
, Charles, . . . , , , , . . .. .'."..., Killed in Action
,Stanley, William,....."., .,..",'. Died of Wounds
l.staton, Frederick S.. . . . . .. ..,'..", No Information
IStephens, Leonard,., ., , , . . .. '...., *331 Bay St., Toronto
l .3tevens, Gordon Thomas. .. ......... 34 Kensington St., London, Ont.
Stewart, John Malcolm, . .. ".'..... Died of Wounds
' Stewart, Peter, . . . ., .., , '. ",,'.... *248 Perth Ave., Toronto
Stewart, R., . . , . . , , , . ' . . ., ..,'..." *99 Rogers Rd., Toronto

tewart, Wm. Clayton, . ,.. ,'.'"... Judique North, Inverness Co., N.S.
Stott, Samuel. .. .. , , " . ... .',....., *14 Newlands Ave., Hamilton
Strickland, Ralph, . , . , , . ,. .,.'..... Gilbert Plains, Man.
Sudsbear, Frank George, , .' ...'...'. 125 Victoria St., St. John, N.B.
Swarbrick, Herbert., .'.,.. .,. .., 127 Strachan St., Toronto
Tadgell, James"., .,., , , " ." " .... Swan River, Man.
Tait, George. , . , , . ' , . , . , " ...'"". Hulton P.O., Man,
Taylor, Ernest. . .. " . . , . ., ,.,'...', *60 McAnulty Blvd., Hamilton
Taylor, Lewis,. '..". .' , ., ",.,'.., No Information
Taylor, Walter Frederick.. , . *O'Leary Station, P.E.I.
Taylor, William.., , , . . . . " ..,'..", *196 Brookdale Ave" Toronto
Taylor, Walter George" .., , 1537 William St., Vancouver
Tearle, Edward, , , ,.", '.. ,......'. 231517 B St., S.W. Calgary
Temperton, Frank H.. . ..,. "....". *408 Sammon Ave., Toronto
Terrio, Frank, , , , , . , , . . . .. .',...... Killed in Action
Thomas, Richard John.... . M.:\I.& H *17539 Greeley Ave., Detroit, 'Mich.
Thompson, Albert R. 5., . .' ,.....,.. *1184 Danforth Ave., Toronto
Thompson, James. . . , . . . . . 1\1.:\1. No Information
Thurber, Edmund G. (W).. ..,.,.... *41 Park Terrace W., New York City
Thurston, Harry. . . . . , , . .' . , Died of Wounds
Thwaites, Frederick. , , ., .. . ., .. . . '. 115, 18th Ave., Calgary
Tillotson, Robert (W), . , . .. .., . . , . . . *119 Graham St. N., Hamilton
Torrens, .John, . . , . . . . , , . .. ,..',,'.' 31 H,vla St., London, Onto
Treleaven, Geor
e Willard., D.S,O. Deceased
'I.C.
Tribe, William John, , . , . " ........' *2 Sultan St., Toronto
'Trollope, Frederick M., , . ., ",'.',.. *22 Tichester Rd., Toronto
Truswell, Walter D. (W), ., ,..,. ". Deceased
Tucker, Arthur James", .,
1..
1. *60 Bellhaven Road, Toronto
Turner, Robert Richard, , .. "",." *1328 First Ave. W., Owen Sound
Turner, William George. , .. 'I.C. *.Medical Arts Bldg., :\Iontreal
Tyers, William" . . , , , . , . ., .,...,... 3120 Hutchinson St., Montreal
Tyre, Robert. . . , ." . . , . ,. .....",. 136 Crighton St., Halifax, N.S.
Vdell, Harold.. ".', ...,'. ...... No Information
Van Nostrand, Frederick H. . . . . , . . . . *Christie St. Hospital, Toronto
I'Tance, W, L..".,.. ... . , ., ......,.. No Information
"enable, Lawson. . . . , . , , .' ...."..' c/o P.O., Colonial Beach. Ya.
Vivian, Edward Lancelot. ., ,.. , . "Huron College, London, Ont.
Waddington, Geo. Wilfred., ,1.1\1. Middlesboro, B.C.
Waddington, Lionel C . . . . ' . . . ., Patricia Heights, Nanaimo, n.c.
Wa
er, Wilfred.", . . .. . . . . " *162 Symington Ave., Toronto
Waite, Alexander E.. , , .'. . , *3 Hiham Gardens, Winchester,
Sussex, England
Walker, .James. , , . . . , . . .. 6.) Graham Ave. S,. Hamilton
Wall, William Frederick, . . . :\1.1\1. *127 Chestnut St., Hamilton
Walters. John W. (W), . , .. ......... *73 Winnett Ave" Toronto
Ward, William. . . . , ' , . , , '. ......... S.O.S.. Toronto, 1915

No.
178

Rank
Pte.
Capt.
5
907 5 Pte.
526566 Pte.
1783 Sgt.
1784 Pte.
1016 Pte.
1785 Cpl.
1786 Pte.
1787 Cpl.
83
015 Pte.
1788 Pte.
50692 Pte.

8 Sgt.
1789 Pte.
1790 Pte.

152 Pte,
1791 Pte.
1792 Sgt.
1798 Cpl.

681871 Pte.
1794 Pte.
1796 S.M.
Pte.
S.M.
Pte.
Pte.
5/8:\1.
429611 Pte.
Pte.
1797 Pte.
1799 Pte.
1800 Pte.
1801 Sgt.
1802 Pte.
2692 Pte.
1803 Pte.
2018 Sgt.
84685 Pte.
348778 Pte.
1804 Pte.
2681872,Pte.

1795

1798

Name Honors Remarks, Last Known Address, etc.
Warden, Frederick Chas,. ,. .'..,..., *2012 Queen St. E., Toronto
Wark, David R. (W,), , , , ,. " , , ,. Vulcan, Alta.
Warner, Orton. . . . , . , , , , , . , . *321 Runneymede Rd., Toronto
Warner, William Thomas." "."".. 370 Bleury St., Montreal
Wartman, Alvin Edmund, , D,C.M. Died of Wounds
Webb, William Arthur, , , .. ""."" *1014 McBride Ave.,Los Angeles, Cat.
Webber, Henry. . , , " , . . . . , , , '. 251 Machray Ave., Winnipeg
Webster, Thomas,.., . . . , " ...""" 12 Claremont St., Toronto
Weiler, Cornelius (W)",. .. '.,.,'... 78 Ontario Ave., Hamilton
Wells, Thomas. . . . .. , *88 Richmond Ave., St. Catharines
Wheaton, Aubrey, , . , . . . " .,....", Windsor Hotel, Moncton, N.B.
White, Frederick (W). . , .,. ...'"", No Information
\Vhitehouse, Wm. Burnett., ..",.,., Point St. Charles, Montreal
Whitelock, Wm. Leslie, ., .' "..,.,.. 1
4 Emerald St., Hamilton
Whitmore, Wm. Frederick., ,M.M. *111 Duvernet Ave., Toronto
Whittingham, Charles.,., " .....'." Deceased
Wilcox, William James. , . ,. .,..,..,. 1349 St. Denis St.. :\lontreal
Wiles, Bert. . . . . . , , , . , , . .' ..,..'.,. 25 Addrossan Place, Toronto
Wilkins, Edwin Dean, . , , . , M.I.D. *Box 810, Sudbury, Onto
Wilkinson, Arthur,."." , ., *1
7 Victoria Ave., N. Hamilton
Wilkinson, Geo. Traverse.,. ...,.,.', 26 Sixth St., Kingston, Ont.
Willcocks, Walter,.. '.".. '..,...,. *12 Epsom Ave., Toronto
Williams, Harry Raymond., ."'..,,, No Information
Williamson, George. , " ,. .' "...',., 5.0,5., Toronto, 1915
Williams, John Charles,.. . . , *80 Ackman Ave., Hamilton
Williamson, E...,.,..,.,.. .'.'",.. S,O.S. Toronto, 1915
Wilson, James Williamson.. '.""". *612 14th St. W., Owen Sound, Onto
'Wilson, Olaf Olsen... , , . " , .:\1.5.1\1. No Information
Wilson, Wm. Edward, , . , .' ,'.','..' Qu' Appelle, Sask.
Wilson, William R... , " No Information
Windsor, Thomas, . . . . , , ,. .....'", Deceased
'Vise, Harold Ernest. . . , . .' ,....'.., *44 \Vanless Ave" Toronto
Wood, Arthur..",..,.,...
l.M. *878 Emerald St. N., Hamilton
Woodburn, Samuel. . , , , ..' ,.."'.', *180 Lottridge
t., Hamilton
Woods, Archibald Henry, .' .'.'..", *116 Oakwood Ave" Toronto
Woods, Herbert (W),..,... .'.,..,.. No Information
Woods, Peter. '.', ,.,..", ..."".' *508 Ferguson Ave. N., Hamilton
Worthington, Harry, . , . , .. ,."",., 19 Jutland St., Preston, Lancs., Eng.
Wyatt, Frank.. . , , . . , , , , ,. ...',.", 86 O'Reilly St., Hamilton
IWynne, Frank Dennison 83
Durocher St., Outremont, P,Q.
IYates, Walter,. . . . , , . , . , ,. ,'..,'.., Deceased
(Yates, William Alfred, . . . .. ...".." -19 Beverly St.. Kingston, Onto

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