THE YPRES TIMES
Brigadewere lined out on a field, on a bitterly cold night nearly at midnight.
Then came the news, and very solemn hews too, for we were told that our efforts
were regarded as practically hopeless and that our work was to be in the nature
of a sacrifice charge. At midnight, without bombs, machine guns or artillery
support either at the time or previously, we started to advance. We had about two
fields to cover and to pass, I think, two hedges in which the gaps were not too
many. Presently a bullet whistled past, then another, and before you could close
an eye enemy machine guns opened about as hot a fire as could be imagined.
Bullets tore through the air like a hail storm and men fell in hundreds, but some
of them got there, and, faced by bayonets, the Germans were soon beaten. Those
who were not killed escaped as fast as they could. We ran behind them through
the wood, bayoneting as many as could be caught up with, and eventually we found
the wood cleared of live Germans. Very few, I believe only one German officer,
was taken. The guns were there and rendered useless. The prisoner stated there
were 7,000 Germans against us; among them were the 2nd Prussian Guards. In
order to deceive the enemy in regard to our numbers, we were instructed to make
the greatest noise possible. The shouting, swearing, cursing at the top of our
voices was terrific; this, added to the firing and the groans of the wounded, made
the night hideous. The effect worked, however, and the handful of men who did
reach the enemy were able to drive him before them with the bayonet. Then came
the digging in on the near side of the wood. We worked for dear life to get cover
by daylight. Fortunately for us it was a little misty in the morning, and that gave
us another hour or so to burrow into mother earth. It is hard graft digging with
an entrenching tool, especially after the exciting fight and when hungry too, but it
was managed at last and we were well out of sight when Fritz dropped a few
shells amongst us next day. Our roll call whilst in our self-made trench was about
360, which means our battalion alone lost about 740 men, all in about two minutes,
and we suffered further casualties before we really got away to reorganize.
All that day we hung on to our little trench, with no rations, but that night
they managed to get each man three biscuits, a small piece of roast meat and a tot of
rum. The next day we were relieved, and this was also a difficult job. To with
draw we had to go along a ditch full of wet, muddy slime, and bent double. No
easy job at any time, but worse when nearly famished and weary for want of sleep
and rest. To get out of the ditch, as some did, meant a bullet, as snipers were on
the look-out. We were under rifle fire for about two miles from our trench, and it
was a relief when we found ourselves at last out of range. We thought we were
in for a rest, but were told to fall in and go to relieve a battalion that had been in
the trenches but had had to retire. However, the village at which we reported
was suffering severely from shell fire and several houses were on fire. To enter it
was impossible. We hung about for two hours before being told to retire.
That is really the tale of our retaking the four guns, as I, personally,
experienced it.
In conclusion, I would refer you to the London Evening News of Tuesday,
July 22nd, 1919, in which Marshal Foch, who was in command of a portion of the
Salient at the time, is reported to stateI think the finest act in the war was the
counter-attack of the 10th and 16th battalions of Canadians after their division had
been frightfully punished by the gas. This counter-attack so amazed the enemy,
who counted on their gas demoralizing or killing the Canadians, that they slowed
down their advance to the coast and Calais was saved."
It is far from my wish to make the above appear as though our work was
unequalled by other troops. I know that what we did would have been done by
any British battalion. It just happened that we were on the spot and were on
hand for this particular job.Late 17092, 16th Bn. Canadian Scottish.
