The Project Gutenberg eBook, Nova Scotia's Part in the Great War, by Various, Edited by M. S. Hunt

Arms granted to the colony of nova scotia
BY KING CHARLES I

HIS HONOUR THE HONOURABLE McCALLUM GRANT, LL.D.
Lieut.-Governor of Nova Scotia.

NOVA SCOTIA’S PART IN THE GREAT WAR

COMPILED AND EDITED

BY

M. S. HUNT

(Captain R.O.)

ILLUSTRATED FROM HALF-TONES

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA:

THE NOVA SCOTIA VETERAN PUBLISHING CO., LIMITED

1920

All Rights Reserved

Copyright, Canada, 1920, by

M. S. Hunt.

To

The Immortal Memory

of

Our Fallen Comrades

PREFACE

Two years have passed since the last gun was fired in the Great War on the Western Front and hitherto no attempt has been made to place before the people of Nova Scotia a comprehensive history of the various Military Units and Patriotic Organizations which won for the Province imperishable fame.

Anyone who makes an impartial investigation of Nova Scotia’s response to the call of duty will concede that the sturdy little Province by the sea achieved an enviable record. In some respects it surpassed the other Provinces of the Dominion in promoting the successful conclusion of the great conflict—not only by the number of splendid troops it supplied in proportion to its population, both for Overseas and Home Service, but also because it had in its capital city, Halifax, the Naval Base of the British Empire on the Atlantic Coast, and from its spacious harbor sent many hundreds of ships Overseas laden with Canadian and Allied troops and received them after the Armistice when they were employed in returning the victors to their homes. From Nova Scotia ports, chiefly Halifax and Sydney, were also shipped munitions, supplies and equipment required by the Army in the field. The appreciation of the troops and their dependants on their return from Overseas of the welcome given them by the representatives of the citizens of Halifax, and the comforts and kindnesses bestowed upon them, has been attested by many grateful letters received from homes scattered over the North American continent. The patriotic work of the Nova Scotia Branch of the Red Cross Society, with its country auxiliaries, was magnificent. All other patriotic societies and organizations gave equally valuable service. In fact, Nova Scotia played a role in the conduct of the war which will redound to her glory for all time. May the same sense of unity and spirit of self-devotion, which characterized her people during the war, be retained undiminished and be used wisely in time of peace.

In giving a review of each of the Military Units which were mobilized or organized in Nova Scotia for service in the Great War, narrative has been adhered to as far as possible. Official war records were consulted in so far as they were available, but a great deal of information had to be gathered from personal war diaries and interviews. The book contains as complete a history of Nova Scotia’s part in the Great War as could be compressed into a single handy library volume. And it has several unique features. It contains many engraved portraits of Nova Scotian officers who made the supreme sacrifice, of officers commanding Units, leaders of patriotic organizations, and groups of special persons and events, and a reproduction of the authentic Nova Scotia Coat of Arms, granted by Charles I—all of which will be of great interest to readers of this history.

Before closing this preface special recognition should be made of J. D. Logan, M.A. (Dalhousie Univ.), Ph.D. (Harvard Univ.), formerly Sergeant in the 85th Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders, for his patient, keen, and thorough reading of the entire manuscript, with important alterations and corrections.

I am also deeply indebted to Major J. G. Johnstone, R.O., for his indefatigable assistance in the compilation of this volume.

For information and assistance my thanks are also due to: Colonel W. E. Thompson, Colonel Thos. Cantley, Lt.-Col. S. G. Robertson, C.B.E., Lt.-Col. H. Flowers, Lt.-Col. Joseph Hayes, D.S.O., Lt.-Col. D. H. Sutherland, Lt.-Col. R. B. Simmons, Lt.-Col. A. W. Duffus, Lt.-Col. T. M. Seeley, Lt.-Col. J. L. McKinnon, Lt.-Col. E. C. Dean, Major C. E. McLaughlin, Major G. B. Cutten, Acadia Univ., Major A. A. Sturley, Univ. of King’s College, Major J. F. Taylor, Major M. D. McKeigan, Major W. G. McRae, Major D. A. McKinnon, D.S.O., Major P. O. Soulis, Capt. G. C. McElhinney, M.C., Capt. Angus L. McDonald, Hon. Capt. Clarence McKinnon, Capt. B. M. Beckwith, Capt. F. G. Kingdon, Capt. G. T. Shaw, Lieut. W. H. Whidden, Dr. H. P. McPherson, St. Francis Xavier University, Professor Fraser Harris, Medical School, Dalhousie University, Principal F. H. Sexton, Nova Scotia Technical College, Mr. A. A. Campbell, Mr. F. A. Crowell, Mr. McI. Miller, Mr. Stuart McCawley, Mr. Wilfred Hearn, Mr. J. McL. Fraser, Mr. J. A. Walker.

M. S. Hunt,

Capt. R.O.

Halifax, N.S.

Armistice Day, 1920.

CONTENTS

SIR ROBERT LAIRD BORDEN,
Premier of Canada during the Great War.

HON. G. H. MURRAY,
Premier of Nova Scotia during the Great War.

Nova Scotia’s Part in the Great War

CHAPTER I
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DISTRICT No. 6.

Upon the opening of the World War the following were the principal Staff Officers at Halifax, the headquarters of Military District No. 6:—

Col. R. W. Rutherford, G.O.C.; Col. W. W. Humphrey, A.O.C.; Major R. J. Hayter, G.S.O.; Major A. H. W. Powell, D.A.A. & Q.M.G.; Major W. Gibsone, D.A.A. & Q.M.G. Fortress.

Military District No. 6 then embraced the Maritime Provinces, but later in the war, when Compulsory Service came into force, New Brunswick was made into a separate District, No. 7.

The aforementioned Staff bore the brunt of this sudden change from peace to war, and met and overcame the resultant many new problems with great credit to themselves.

The sudden deluge of work included the calling out and recruiting up to strength of the Halifax City Regiments, viz.: 1st Regiment Canadian Artillery, 63rd Regiment Halifax Rifles, and 66th Regiment Princess Louise Fusiliers, as part of the War Garrison of Halifax; supplementing this Garrison later by a Regiment styled the Composite Regiment, called up by Companies from other Militia Regiments in Nova Scotia and from the 82nd in P. E. Island; calling out the 94th Argyll Highlanders to guard the cable and wireless stations at North Sydney, Marconi, Louisburg, and Canso, and detachments of Artillery from the P.E.I. Heavy Brigade to protect the Harbors of North Sydney and Canso; the provision of guards for the wireless station at Newcastle, N.B., for the International Bridge at St. Leonard’s and Vanceboro, and the calling out of the 3rd Regiment Canadian Artillery and the 62nd Regiment Infantry for the defence of St. John, N.B.

This meant that the immediate necessities of war called upon the Maritime Provinces to furnish, equip and train and keep supplied some 3,000 officers and men, of whom almost 2,600 were supplied by the Province of Nova Scotia; and of these more than 1,500 men from the City of Halifax.

This accounts for the fact that in the mobilization of troops for the first contingent at Valcartier there were not so many men reported there for duty from the City of Halifax or from rural Cape Breton as might have been expected. The officers and men, though keen to enter this larger sphere, were compelled to do this guard and garrison work, and were only relieved and permitted to join Overseas Battalions as new men could be found willing to take their places.

In addition to equipping this force the further pressing duty upon the H. Q. Staff was the working out of a system of recruiting to take care of the thousands of young men anxious to get into the Overseas Battalions as they were authorized, and to train these men and officers.

The first change in H.Q. Staff came in December, 1914, when Major W. E. Thompson was called in from his Regiment, the 63rd Halifax Rifles, then doing duty on McNab’s Island, to take over the work of Inspector of Outposts and Detachments throughout the District, with the rank of Lieut.-Colonel.

This officer succeeded, upon the retirement of Colonel Humphrey in March, 1915, to the appointment of Assistant Adjutant-General and Officer in charge of Administration. He remained at H.Q. throughout the war and until October 1, 1919, having succeeded to the command of the District in December, 1918, upon the retirement of Major-General Lessard. He was promoted full Colonel in May, 1916, and during the summer of that year he acted as Commandant at Aldershot Camp in addition to doing his work as A.A.G.

Every officer at H.Q. was continually on the watch for an opportunity of proceeding overseas. The chance came first to Major Hayter, who was offered the position of Brigade Major at Valcartier and was permitted to accept in September, 1914. A careful, most painstaking officer, always at work, always thinking about his work, he left his impress; and at Valcartier, in England, and in France the same qualities marked his value. His great modesty may have somewhat retarded his promotion, though he won the rank of Brigadier-General before the war closed.

For some time the work of G.S.O. was rather perfunctorily performed by officers awaiting their chance to go overseas and was not again severely faced till it was taken on by Major A. N. Jones on his being invalided home from France after service with the 25th Battalion. He carried on till his health broke down in January, 1917, when Major Soulis acted temporarily till the arrival of Col. W. R. Lang, who arrived in this station with General Lessard, remaining till May, 1918, when he was succeeded by Major W. G. Haggarty.

There was a bit of a struggle between Major Gibsone and Colonel Thompson for the command of the 40th Battalion, the second Overseas Battalion to be raised in this District, but the prize fell to the former, and his place was taken by Major R. B. Willis, who filled the duties of D.A.A. and Q.M.G. Fortress for the balance of the war with great credit.

Early in 1915 Major Powell was promoted to the rank of Lieut.-Colonel. His special work was responsibility for recruiting and the organizing, officering and equipping of Units for Overseas Service. He brought great energy and ability to this work, and when New Brunswick was converted into a separate District he was detailed to that District as A.A.G., February, 1916.

Lieut.-Colonel Powell was succeeded by Lieut.-Colonel B. R. Armstrong, of St. John, N.B., who came out with his Regiment, the 3rd C.A., at St. John upon the outbreak of the war, and who in addition to this command was the representative of the Officer Commanding the District in New Brunswick, and had a special supervision over recruiting in that Province. He carried on the duties of D.A.A. and Q.M.G. for District No. 6 till demobilized in September, 1919.

His work was of a very high order, his grasp of details was unusual, and his knowledge of shipping and business affairs was of great assistance, particularly in connection with the very important work of transporting, embarking and disembarking troops.

This latter work assumed such dimensions that it was found necessary to provide him with an assistant. Major W. D. Tait served in this capacity for a time till he assumed command of McGill Heavy Battery for service Overseas, when, in June, 1916, he was succeeded by Major P. O. Soulis, who came out on the outbreak of war with his Regiment, the 1st C.A.

Major Soulis was given the special department of Statistics and Documents, and the supervision of all embarkations and disembarkations. The combination of these two officers made this most important work proceed so smoothly that hundreds of thousands of men went through this port with the bulk of the citizens not realizing that anything unusual was going on.

It should be mentioned, however, in this connection, that the work of H.Q. could not have met with the success it did, were it not for the very efficient executive work of Major A. P. Lomas, the executive head of the Department of Transport and Supplies during the rush-time of this most important work. Nor could the work of H.Q. have met with success in this matter had it not been for the energy and co-operation which the Clearing Services Command, represented here first by Lieut.-Colonel H. F. Adams and later by Lieut.-Colonel Cram, brought to its work of passing troops going and coming through its depot at Pier 2.

When after Compulsory Service came into operation the necessity became evident for an officer to be detailed to give exclusive attention to the compilation and care of soldiers’ documents, the choice most naturally fell upon Major Soulis. He made a close study of the work, and his system met with so much approval that many of his ideas were adopted by Militia Headquarters and were put into general operation. Major Soulis continued to hold the appointment of District Record Officer till demobilized in July, 1919.

Both Colonel Armstrong and Major Soulis were South African Veterans, the former having lost a foot in action there, and the latter having been mentioned in despatches.

In December, 1914, Colonel Rutherford was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, and in October, 1915, was given his step to Major-General. He was an officer of much more than ordinary attainments, and filled well the office of General Officer Commanding, always carrying the confidence and respect of his Staff. A noticeable increase in defective hearing shown during a conference of General Officers at Ottawa led Militia H.Q. to bring about his retirement, and in November, 1915, he was succeeded by Major-General Thomas Benson.

HEADQUARTERS STAFF, M.D. 6.

General Benson brought a long training in military affairs, a broad outlook, an attractive personality, and good judgment to cope with the many questions arising in the District. He gave up his command in February, 1918, to the regret of his Staff and of citizens who had been wont to do business at Military Headquarters. He was given leave till July 1st of that year, and his valuable services were recognized by investment with the order of C.M.G.

General Benson’s successor was Major-General T. L. Lessard, who retained command till December 28, 1918, when he was succeeded by Colonel W. E. Thompson.

The work done by the Garrison at Halifax during the war was most arduous, exacting and valuable. From August 7, 1914, when Canada entered the war till final demobilization, the work was kept up continuously, and upon the strictest laws of military discipline.

Only such officers whose places could be filled by volunteers were permitted to proceed Overseas, and no man was relieved for this broader field of action unless there was a man ready to take his place. This being so, it was the exception for an officer once on the Staff or for any well-trained officer of the Units out, particularly of the Artillery, or for good non-commissioned officers and specialists to get a chance for Overseas. They all knew that should the war terminate without their getting over they would for the rest of their lives be compelled to explain that they were not permitted to go and felt keenly how flat such an explanation would fall. They had, however, the consolation that they were doing a necessary and valuable work and were buoyed up with the hope their chance would yet come; and if not, the State would at least recognize their voluntary services as at least equal to the services of those, many of whom were draftees, who had not proceeded further than England or St. Lucia. Up to the time of writing, however, no such recognition has been forthcoming.

The above sets out in most skeletonized form the ordinary duties of H.Q. consequent on the Country being at war, and the Port of Halifax being the only port of embarkation and disembarkation for Canadian troops and supplies of war during the most strenuous months of the year.

In addition were the extra responsibilities of caring for troops awaiting embarkation. These troops were not only Canadians but also troops from United States, Australia, New Zealand and some 50,000 laborers from China.

When a contingent passed through the port, either coming in or going out, from illness or other causes some were left behind, and these had to be cared for, often taxing the facilities of the barracks and hospitals to their utmost. In the summer of 1918 when we encamped at Aldershot, some 5,000 United States troops and a whole shipload was suddenly disembarked at Sydney suffering from the “flu.”

The temporary derelicts from Canadian troops passing through the City of Halifax were taken care of by being attached to the Composite Battalion, under Lieut.-Col. H. L. Chipman. When ready for Overseas these were attached to another unit going through. The records show the number of such exceeded 10,000 men. Lieut.-Colonel Chipman deserves special mention for his splendid administration of the Composite Battalion and for his wise handling of many difficult problems not to be met in an ordinary Garrison Battalion.

Again, the awful catastrophe which befell the City of Halifax on December 6, 1917, when a ship loaded with high explosives exploded in the harbor, spreading death and devastation broadcast, placed a great burden upon the Garrison and proved its great value in a sudden emergency. Every officer and man of every Military Unit and Department, with all the military facilities of the Garrison were rushed into the work of removing the dead and wounded, fighting fires, preparing shelters, transporting and feeding the destitute, doing police duty and the hundred and one things that came to the hands of a willing, well-trained body of troops.

The Ordnance, under Lieut.-Col. Arthur Panet, opened wide its doors, and one of the first orders issued from H.Q. was for every available man of the 63rd from McNab’s and the 66th from York and also every artilleryman of the 1st C.A. from the forts to be rushed to the city and, proceeding to the devastated area by way of the Ordnance Yard, for each to carry with him a blanket for the wounded and destitute. This order was fully carried out, Col. Panet, though himself wounded, travelling continuously to and from the area of most suffering to see that as many as possible were cared for.

Major H. P. Lomas, then at the head of the Department of Supplies and Transport, met the necessities of the sufferers with the same breadth of judgment, bigness of heart and broad interpretation of regulations which marked his most successful administration throughout the war of this the essentially business department of the Service.

Elsewhere in this publication will be found articles dealing with specific work done in this District during the war, so that in this article it is only attempted to give a general idea of who sat at Headquarters during these strenuous times and a general idea of the work they were called upon to originate and supervise; and it must be borne in mind as the detail of this specific work is studied and admired or condemned, the responsibility and the direction was always with that often maligned, seldom praised or congratulated, but nevertheless patient, long-suffering, faithful, headquarters.

This article cannot properly close, however, without mention of the other heads of Departments in addition to those specially mentioned above because of their close association with the matters dealt with, who so heartily and with such great self-sacrifice performed their various duties, each in their turn:

Lieut.-Col. J. A. Grant, Lieut.-Col. McKelvie Bell, and Col. H. S. Jaques as Assistant Directors of Medical Service.

Lieut.-Colonel Houliston, Lieut.-Colonel Benoit, Lieut.-Colonel Van Tuyl, and Major Pringle, Commanding the Royal Canadian Engineers.

Lieut.-Colonel Dean, Assistant Director of Transport and Supplies.

Col. S. J. R. Sircom (Brig.-General upon Retirement), Assistant Director of Pay Services.

Col. J. F. Macdonald, Senior Ordnance Officer.

Major J. A. Proudfoot, District Signalling Officer.

Lieut.-Col. H. F. Adams and Lieut.-Colonel Cram, Clearing Services Command.

CHAPTER II.
THE 6th CANADIAN MOUNTED RIFLES.

The 6th Canadian Mounted Rifles was recruited from the different Maritime Provinces Militia Cavalry Regiments—“A” Squadron from the 8th P.L.F. (headquarters Sackville, N.B.), and 36th P.E.I. Light Horse (headquarters Charlottetown, P.E.I.); “B” Squadron from the 28th N.B. Dragoon Guards (headquarters St. John, N.B.), and “C” Squadron from the 14th King’s Canadian Hussars (headquarters Canning, Nova Scotia).

The establishment of officers and warrant officers consisted of the following:

O.C., Lieut.-Col. R. H. Ryan, South African, Russian-Japanese, American-Mexican Wars; 2nd I.C., Lieut.-Col. A. E. Ings, Militia Long Service Medal; Capt. and Adj., Capt. B. W. Roscoe (later Capt. J. W. Long); Q.M., Major R. A. March; O.M., Major Colin Macintosh; Chaplain, Capt. G. A. Kuhring; M.O., Capt. F. A. R. Gow; Sig. Off., Capt. H. R. Emmerson; Asst. Adj., Lieut. E. M. Arnold; Vet. Off., Lieut. J. S. Roy; R.S.M., L. W. Long.

“A” Squadron—O.C., Major A. J. Markham; 2nd I.C., Capt. B. W. Roscoe; Lieut. A. T. Ganong, Lieut. G. N. D. Otty, Lieut. G. R. Barnes, Lieut. W. D. Atkinson, Sqd. Sgt.-Major N. Dawes.

“B” Squadron—Major C. H. McLean; 2nd I.C., Capt. M. A. Scovil; Lieut. E. J. Mooney, Lieut. E. A. Thomas, Lieut. H. S. Everitt, Lieut. Geo. Morrisey, Sqd. Sgt.-Major J. M. Lamb.

“C” Squadron—Major T. A. Lydiard; 2nd I.C., Capt. J. C. Gray; Lieut. H. H. Pineo, Lieut. J. P. Knowlton, Lieut. W. J. Brown, Lieut. H. L. Bowness, Lieut. B. M. Beckwith, Sqd. Sgt.-Major George Gill.

Colonel Ryan and many of the officers and other ranks had volunteered at the outbreak of the war but owing to the expected necessity for the employment of mounted troops in the Maritime Provinces (the 14th K.C.H. having actually received orders for mobilization) their services were not accepted. It was also intimated to Colonel Ryan, who was at Valcartier, when the First Division was mobilized, that in the event of the Maritime Province Cavalry not being mobilized as Militia Units for home service he would be permitted to raise a Cavalry Regiment from these Units and would be given command thereof, owing to his previous service and experience in the field.

Accordingly Colonel Ryan returned to Nova Scotia and in December, 1915, received orders to recruit the Regiment.

AT AMHERST, N.S.

The Regiment was mobilized at Amherst, N.S., mobilization dating from March 17, 1915.

The period during which the Regiment was quartered at Amherst was spent in perfecting the organization, taking on recruits and training the latter, owing to restrictions being largely confined to setting-up exercises, arm drill and route marching with inspections by various Generals.

While at Amherst a draft of two hundred volunteers was sent as reinforcements to the Infantry Regiments in England to make up for the losses sustained by the Canadians in the Second Battle of Ypres. These were replaced by new recruits.

AT VALCARTIER CAMP.

In May, 1915, the Regiment was moved to Valcartier, being brigaded with the 4th and 5th C.M.R.’s, under command of Colonel (later Brigadier-General) C. A. Smart.

Training at Valcartier was intensive and performed on foot, as horses had not been received, the Cavalry formation being however retained. Here the Unit received instruction in musketry and rather prided themselves in their ability in this line.

While at Valcartier and also when at Amherst they were asked if they would volunteer to serve as dismounted troops, and the answer was always that “we will serve in any way we are needed.”

IN ENGLAND.

The 6th C.M.R. left Valcartier early in July for England, embarking at Quebec on the slow South American cold storage boat Herschel. Naturally the accommodations were not of the best, as there were six hundred men and four hundred horses on a boat without practically any passenger accommodation. Their eleven days’ voyage ended at Devonport, where they got a great reception. At Exeter they were met at the station by the good ladies of that town and given bags of food and fruit, and had their water bottles filled with hot coffee and tea. Many times since has this been spoken of in grateful words by the men, who were hungry and cold from the long train journey. On arrival at Camp in Dibgate they found themselves once more camping in the sand. As active service in Egypt had been spoken of, the Unit thought the authorities must be trying to accustom it to its future surroundings.

While at Dibgate the Unit received a draft of officers and men from the 8th C.M.R., under command of Lieut. T. D. Johnstone (later Capt. in Command of “B” Co., 5th C.M.R., wounded): second in command, Lieut. H. N. Bate (transferred to R.C.D.’s, when Regiment was broken up). Many of the men who had been sick, owing to the strenuous training, had been transferred to hospital, and when convalescent were sent to the Cavalry Reserve Depot. These had been replaced by the draft of men from the 8th.

IN FRANCE—PLOEGSTEERTE—MESSINES.

The Regiment proceeded to France on October 24, 1915, the Brigade being attached to General Seely’s Cavalry Division, operating as Corps Troops in the areas of Ploegsteerte and Messines.

The following officers and warrant officers went to France with the Regiment and saw service at Ploegsteerte and Messines during the fall and early winter months of 1915.

O.C., Lieut.-Colonel Shaw (later O.C. 1st C.M.R., killed in action June 2, 1916).

2nd I.C., Lieut.-Colonel Ings: Adjt., Capt. J. W. Long: Q.M., Major R. A. March (later to 4th C.M.R. Battalion); P.M., Major C. McIntosh (later to Can. Artillery); M.O., Capt. F. A. R. Gow (later to Can. Artillery); Sig. Officer, Capt. H. R. Emmerson (later Major 219th Infantry Battalion); Vet. Officer, Lieut. J. A. Roy (later to Fort Garry Horse).

“A” Squadron-Major A. J. Markham (later to Fort Garry Horse), Capt. B. W. Roscoe, Lieuts. A. T. Ganong, G. N. D. Otty, G. R. Barnes, T. D. Johnstone; Sqd. Sgt.-Major N. Dawes.

“B” Squadron—Major C. H. McLean, Capt. M. A. Scovil, Lieuts. E. J. Mooney, E. A. Thomas, H. S. Everett, George Morrisey; Sqd. Sgt.-Major J. M. Lamb (all later to 4th C.M.R. Regt.).

“C” Squadron—Major T. A. Lydiard (later to R.C. Dragoons), Capt. J. C. Gray, Lieuts. H. H. Pineo, J. P. Knowlton, B. M. Beckwith, H. N. Bate; Sqd. Sgt.-Major Geo. Gill, D.C.M., later R.S.M. 5th C.M.R.

Lieut.-Colonel Ryan transferred to the Artillery, in which he served with distinction to the end of the war being decorated for conspicuous gallantry in the field.

REORGANIZED AS INFANTRY.

The Division was withdrawn from the trenches in December, 1915, and orders were subsequently received that the 1st and 2nd C.M.R. Brigade should be reorganized into the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, consisting of 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Battalions of Mounted Rifles. The junior Regiments in each Brigade, namely the 3rd and 6th C.M.R., were split up between the two senior Regiments, thus forming four Infantry Regiments.

The ostensible reason for this was the necessity of relieving infantry in trenches and the unsuitability of the cavalry formation for that purpose. The change in formation necessitated the transfer to England of officers of senior rank.

The command of the reorganized Brigade was assumed by Brig.-Gen. V. A. S. Williams on January 1, 1916, and training in infantry drill and tactics was gone at in dead earnest by all ranks.

This training continued both in the line and out and the Brigade occupied the Ploegsteerte area until March, 1916, when it was moved to the Ypres Sector as part of the newly-formed 3rd Division, commanded by General Mercer, and took over the Hooge-Hill 60 Sector.

The disposal of the various Squadrons of the 6th C.M.R. was as follows:

“A” and “C” Squadrons were formed into “D” Company of the 5th C.M.R. Battalion, the company officers and warrant officers being:

Captain B. W. Roscoe (later Major, D.S.O., 2nd I.C. 5th C.M.R. Battalion, wounded June 3, 1916, at Sanctuary Wood); 2nd I.C., Captain H. H. Pineo (later killed in action at Mt. Sorrell, Ypres Sector, July, 1916); Lieuts. A. T. Ganong, G. N. D. Otty, G. R. Barnes; Lieut. J. P. Knowlton (later to record office at Rouen, and received promotion there to Captain); C.S.M. George Gill (later R.S.M. 5th C.M.R. Battalion); “B” Squadron was formed into “D” Company of the 4th C.M.R. Battalion, the company officers and warrant officers being: Major C. H. McLean (later 2nd I.C. 4th C.M.R. Battalion); Capt. M. A. Scovil; Lieut. George Morrisey.

SANCTUARY WOOD.

The first serious engagement in which the Brigade was concerned was the Battle of Sanctuary Wood, which began June 2, 1916.

The disposition of the Brigade was: 1st and 4th C.M.R., front line and close support; 5th C.M.R., Battalion H.Q. and three Companies in support at Maple Copse; one Company in reserve at Zillebeke Bund; 2nd C.M.R. in Brigade reserve near Poperinghe.

The morning of June 2nd was clear with good visibility. About 8 a.m. the Hun started a heavy bombardment, which grew in intensity, and information was received that an attack was in progress on the sector held by the 7th and 8th Brigades. The bombardment continued unabatingly, and about twelve o’clock mines were seen to be blown. The whole of the area held by the two Brigades was being systematically and furiously shelled, and communication with the forward area was impossible.

About 2 p.m. Captain Roscoe received orders to reinforce with his Company, the remainder of the Battalion at Maple Copse. There was no route specified, the officer conveying the order remarking that he hoped they would get through.

The only other officer with the Company at this time was Lieut. G. N. D. Otty, but it developed that the N.C.O.’s had the requisite requirements of leadership and judgment. The Company, led by Captain Roscoe, advanced to the support of the remainder of the Battalion, and in full view of the enemy, through an extremely heavy barrage of fire, reached Maple Copse with few casualties, reporting to Lieut.-Colonel G. H. Baker, then commanding the Battalion.

Orders were then received to connect up with the 7th Brigade on the left, to dig in and hold the Copse to the last. Then it was that the N.C.O.’s showed those qualities of leadership and judgment, which later were to be recognized in a substantial manner.

C.S.M. George Gill, with twenty men was ordered to occupy and hold a strong point whose garrison had been killed. This he did with great bravery, showing much skill in defending the position. Sgts. George Chase, H. McGarry and T. W. Martin led detachments through the Copse and dug in on the edge next the enemy. Lieutenant Otty was absolutely fearless in assisting in the disposition of the Company, refusing to avail himself of anything that looked like shelter. He remarked to the Company Commander that if he was to be killed that would happen and that his men were his first consideration. Unfortunately he was hit and killed within a short time after arrival at the Copse.

The enemy made several ineffectual attempts to break through the line, and at each repulse his artillery fire became more severe. There was absolutely no shelter from his fire, and the Copse was like an inferno. The Company held the position, and were reinforced the next morning by the 2nd C.M.R.’s. After this things quieted down and the remnants of the Company marched out that night.

At the roll-call on relief only one officer (Lieutenant Barnes) and twenty men answered their names, the remainder of the Company which went into action 130 strong, having been either killed or wounded.

Captain Roscoe had been wounded on the morning of June 3rd, after the 2nd C.M.R.’s had arrived, and the command of the Company was taken over by Lieutenant Barnes, who was the Battalion Bombing Officer, and with his bombers had been active in the defence of the position. Lieutenant Barnes made several very daring patrols, practically between the posts of the enemy, who had attempted to push down hill in the long grass. It was through his efforts that the Unit was able to concentrate its rifle fire on the dangerous places and dislodge several machine guns. Lieutenant Barnes afterward got the M.C. for his work on this occasion.

The Battalion, reduced to some 300 all ranks, moved into rest billets, and the losses were filled by a large draft of officers and other ranks from England.

In the reorganization of the Battalion Major D. C. Draper (later Brigadier-General Commanding the Brigade) became O.C. (Lieut.-Colonel Baker having been killed in the engagement); Captain Roscoe was promoted to be second in command, awarded the D.S.O. for his work on the occasion and mentioned in despatches. The command of “D” Company was taken over by Lieut. H. H. Pineo (later promoted Captain), with Lieutenant Barnes, 2nd I.C.

Sergt. Harold McGarry was promoted to C.S.M. in place of George Gill, who was awarded the D.C.M. and promoted to be Regtl. Sgt.-Major for his meritorious services and bravery evinced during the battle. Sergt. Geo. Chase, who was severely wounded, was awarded the Military Medal and slated for a commission.

The 4th C.M.R. Battalion also lost heavily in the battle, and “D” Company of that unit thereafter practically lost its identify as a Maritime Province Company, owing to the casualties suffered.

The command of the Brigade was taken over by Brig.-General J. H. Elmsley, D.S.O. (afterward Major-General), replacing General Williams, taken prisoner in the battle, while the command of the Division devolved upon Major-General Lipsett, D.S.O. (later killed in action), the Divisional Commander, General Mercer having been killed during the action.

The Brigade, and incidentally the Company, under the new command had another very strenuous period of training, and after an initiation trip for the new men the whole Company moved up again to take their place in the line. While in training they had the benefit of the advice of a C.S.M. from the Welsh Guards, which was a great help, especially to the N.C.O.’s. This training showed later on the Somme.

THE BLUFF—MOUNT SORELL LINE.

On the first trip in after the June fight, the Unit took over the line on Mount Sorell. The first night in, the Hun started his regular trench mortar strafe. One of the first of these landed on the signallers’ dugout, next company headquarters, and buried the men on duty there. Captain Pineo and Lieutenant Barnes, together with some of the men, started in to dig them out. At that time they could still hear the men groaning. Almost immediately afterward the Hun threw over another trench mortar. The men saw it coming by the trail of sparks, and all scattered up and down the trench. Captain Pineo was struck and instantly killed. The work of rescuing the men who had been buried need not have been performed by him. It was his anxiety for his men that cost him his life. Lieutenant Barnes at once took over the command of the Company. Word was here received that the Hun had dug some mines under the trench occupied by the Company, and to be on the lookout. During the night a party who were digging out in front uncovered a mine sap and on pulling up some planks from the roof saw a man with a lighted candle passing under the lines. Explosives were immediately obtained and the sap blown. This evidently put the “wind up” the Hun for he blew the remaining mines, some of which were hardly clear of his wire.

AT THE SOMME.

Shortly after this the Unit left for the Somme, arriving in Albert on September 1st, after a long, hard march, and severe training. They moved up in support and were selected as one of the two Companies to be first over the top. In this engagement, owing to previous officer casualties, the sergeants had to lead Platoons. The attack on September 15th between Moquet Farm and Courcellette was the first occasion in which the Tanks were used. The Unit had wonderful success on this day, losing very few men in the attack. Afterward, out of one hundred and twenty, forty were killed and sixty wounded, holding the trench. Lieutenant Barnes was awarded the bar to the M.C. and his majority for his work on this occasion. No one could speak too highly of the way in which he led his men, and it was largely due to his dash that the attack was so successful. Mention should be made here of Sergeant Lowther, who was left behind with a party of ten men to garrison the trench until relieved by incoming troops. He lost a leg and several of the men were killed and wounded before the relief was accomplished. Sergeant Lowther was awarded the M.M. Sergt.-Major McGarry, who had been recommended for a commission, was killed in this action.

The Unit’s next attack was on October 2nd when “D” Company was in support. The objective was Regina Trench, strongly held by two divisions of German Marines, who had just been brought from Ostend to try and stop the Canadians. This was one of the stiffest hand-to-hand fights the Company ever had, and naturally the casualties were very heavy. Several times the Company managed to bomb several hundred yards of trench clear, but each time the Hun would come back with reinforcements. At daybreak, with bombs and ammunition completely exhausted, the few survivors were forced to withdraw to the jumping-off trench. Every officer engaged was either killed or wounded. Sergt.-Major Holmes, who led the Company on this occasion, after the officers were knocked out, was awarded the M.M. Captain Beckwith, who had been detailed as O.C. of the 8th L.T.M. Battery, and had joined the Company for this occasion was wounded in the face. His leadership and energy were of great assistance, and it was largely due to him and his battery who were carrying ammunition that the Company was able to hold on as long as it did.

The remainder of the time at the Somme was spent in relieving and holding front-line positions. The Battalion was complimented by the Army Commander for its fine work while at the Somme, a personal visit being paid by him to Battalion Headquarters for that purpose.

In addition to the decorations mentioned as being won here, many of the officers of the Battalion were cited for bravery and gallantry in the field. Sergeant T. W. Martin was awarded the M.M. and slated for a commission for a daring reconnaissance of the enemy line under artillery fire.

ON THE VIMY FRONT.

The Unit’s next move was to the Vimy front, where it was soon apparent that preparations were being made for a terrific onslaught on the Hun. Some time was spent here in assisting in the work of preparation, after which the Unit was withdrawn with the rest of the Brigade for a period of intensive training in attack over a taped layout of the enemy trenches. The Unit was then moved up to its part of the line, being in close support to the 4th C.M.R. Battalion.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge will live in history as the great achievement of the war, owing to the position being considered impregnable and the fact that it was captured with inconsequential losses, mainly due to a well considered plan of attack, absolute co-operation between all branches of the service and thoroughness of preparation.

The Company carried on with the usual steadiness during the engagement and rendered valuable assistance, its losses being negligible.

ON THE DOUAI PLAIN.

For some time after the capture of Vimy Ridge it was found impossible to bring up the artillery within range, as the Hun had retired to a line on the outskirts of Lens and Douai. The Company, with the rest of the Battalion, pushed over the Ridge and were in position as a sacrifice Battalion to fight to the last man, in the event of a counter attack being launched to retake the Ridge. Trenches were constructed, deepened and strengthened, but the expected did not happen, and finally the guns were able to get up within range, from which time ordinary trench routine was resumed.

During a tour in the trenches on this front a raid was attempted by the Hun on the Company front. It was unsuccessful, the enemy being repulsed with heavy loss.

Lieutenant Holmes was awarded the M.C. for his work on this occasion, displaying great coolness and gallantry in holding off single-handed, until reinforced, a party of Huns.

The Battalion at this time was under the command of Major Roscoe, D.S.O., who the day following the attempted raid received a message from the Divisional Commander complimenting the Battalion on their steadiness during the attack. A few days after the Brigade was withdrawn from this sector.

The Company, which up until now had been practically all Maritime Province men, under the new reinforcement scheme drew their men from Quebec, and for a while the Company was made up almost entirely of French-Canadians. After Passchendaele, during which the Company gave its usual assistance to the Battalion, the wounded men began to come back as well as some of the N.C.O.’s who had been granted commissions, and once again it became a Maritime Province Company. It was at Passchendaele that Capt. L. C. Eaton was killed, just before going over the top.

In the winter of 1917 the Unit moved back to their old front at Vimy. In March, 1918, the Battalion put on a raid of 250 men. Lieutenants Gillis and Young of the old “D” Company took part in this, and were both awarded the M.C. for their work. Gillis in particular had done some very fine work during the second attack on the Somme. He had come back from hospital with an unhealed wound in his arm, and although it was too late for him to secure a rifle and the necessary equipment, he took a pick-axe handle and joined his Company in going over the top. He brought back the prisoners, sixty in all, taken on that occasion.

After a pleasant spring spent in reinforcing different parts of the line, in August the Unit once again took the road south for Amiens. The work done by the Company during this attack was spectacular. One of their accomplishments was the capture of a 5.9 Battery in action at point-blank range. One of the old 6th men was awarded the D.C.M. for his work on this occasion and Lieutenant Barnstead was awarded the Croix de Guerre for his leadership.

Lieutenant Smith was very seriously wounded during the next scrap in front of Arras, called the Second Battle of Arras. He had been a stretcher-bearer-Sergeant with the old Company and was awarded a commission in the spring of 1917. He was given the M. C. for his work at Arras in the taking of Monchy. He afterwards died of wounds in London. His work all the time he had been with the Battalion had been exceptional and the award of his M.C. was very popular.

The next fight was for Cambrai, which as far as this Company was concerned consisted of a hunt for Huns through the ruins, collecting souvenirs by the way. The Company had a brush with the Bosche on the other side of the town, but they were merely scouts left behind and pulled out as soon as fired upon. The Company was sitting down having dinner when the English troops came through. As there had been no barrage they did not know that the town had been taken. From here the Company went to Valenciennes and then on to Mons. Lieutenant Gillis was wounded at Valenciennes and invalided to England.

CAPT. L. C. EATON.

CAPT. H. H. PINEO.

LIEUT. G. N. D. OTTY.

LIEUT. GEO. MORRISEY.

The following other ranks of the 6th C.M.R. Regiment, who went to “D” Company of the 5th. obtained commissions with the Battalion for gallantry and devotion to duty on the field: J. W. Lewis, M.C. (later Capt. 8th Bgd. Light Trench Mortars); L. C. Eaton (later Capt. O. C. “D” Company, killed at Passchendaele); A. C. Wiswell, wounded June 2, 1916 (later Div. Bombing Officer, Bramshott); W. O. Barnstead, Croix de Guerre; C. G. Dunham, M.C., wounded June 2, 1916; H. A. Smith, M.C., died of wounds received at Monchy, Aug. 28, 1918; L. J. Young, M.C., wounded June 2, 1916, and at Monchy, Aug. 28, 1918; A. E. Gillis, M.C., wounded three times; A. H. Weldon, wounded June 2. 1916; T. W. Martin, M.M., wounded Aug. 9th at Vimy; W. J. Holmes, M.C., M.M., wounded at Lens, 1916; F. I. Andrews, M.M., wounded June 2, 1916, and November, 1918; Gordon Campbell, wounded twice; C. W. McArthur, M.M., wounded twice; A. H. Whidden, wounded June, 1916; A. Desbrisay, wounded June, 1916, died since returning home.

Cadets undergoing training when Armistice was signed: Duncan Chisholm, Campbell McLellan, Wm. H. Graham, M.M., J. A. Cameron, D.C.M., Walter Anderson, D.C.M.

The following were gazetted to other Regiments: A. Rogers, N. Rogers, D. B. Holman, Stuart Roy, B. Elliott, Geo. Morrison.

“B” Squadron and Headquarters, 6th C.M.R.’s, went to the 4th C.M.R. Battalion and formed „ D „ Company of that Battalion under the command of Major C. H. McLean, D.S.O (later 2nd i/c 4th C.M.R.’s); Capt. M. A. Scovil, 2nd i/c (seriously wounded and taken prisoner June 2, 1916). Lieut. H. S. Everett, bombing officer 4th C.M.R., was wounded at Sanctuary Wood, May, 1916. Lieut. E. A. Thomas was killed in action at Sanctuary Wood. Lieut. Geo. Morrisey, Intelligence Officer of 4th C.M.R., was killed in action June 2nd, 1916, while attempting to save a comrade’s life.

The following N.C.O.’s received commissions from the 4th for gallantry and devotion in the field: C. W. Hicks, wounded June 2, 1916 (afterwards bombing officer, 34th Reserve, Seaford). J. H. Craigie, gazetted to the Imperial Infantry; N. McKenzie, commission with the 85th N.S. Highlanders; J. O. Spinney, commission with the 52nd Battalion; H. B. Fenis, Lieutenant R.A.F.; J. J. Rowland, 4th C.M.R.; J. H. Harris, Depot Battalion, St John; W. C. Wetmore, 236th Battalion.

CHAPTER III.
9th CANADIAN SIEGE BATTERY, C.E.F.

The 9th Canadian Siege Battery was composed of officers and men belonging to the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery. Most of the N.C.O/s and men came from Nos. 1 and 2 Companies, R.C.G.A., at Halifax, N.S. A small number came from No. 5 Company at Esquimalt, B.C. All the officers of the original Battery came from the strength of the R.C.G.A. at Halifax.

For months the R.C.G.A. had been mobilized in the Forts for the defence of Halifax; and because the defence of these Forts was a prime necessity, and no other troops being available, it was impossible, in the view of Headquarters, to relieve the R.C.G.A. for service Overseas.

The possibility of an attack from German ships at first kept up excitement, but as the War progressed this soon diminished and the men looked down from the Forts at transport after transport bearing troops Overseas. These were trying days for men keen themselves to go, and it was difficult to make them believe, as they were constantly told, that their duty was here. Volunteers for Overseas were asked for more than once but nothing happened.

Eventually during the summer of 1916 a definite proposal, made by Lieut.-Col. S. A. Heward, then acting C.R.C.A. at the Citadel, to raise a Siege Battery from the R.C.G.A. was granted, on the understanding that men to replace those taken away should be found and trained. This was soon done, and the Battery sailed for England on Sept. 27, 1916.

After a long delay in England the Battery was equipped with six-inch howitzers, and landed in France on March 22nd. The subsequent moves of the Battery after its arrival at the Front is best set forth by the following list of Battery positions:—Mont St. Eloy—Battle of Arras or Vimy Ridge; Hill 131 (Cabaret Rouge): Angres; Hill 70; Frizenberg Ridge—Battle of Passchendaele; Thelus; Calonne; Maroc; Petit Vimy; Les Tilluels; Souciiez; Lievin; Villers Cagnicourt—Battle of Canal du Nord; Barrelle Wood; Sauchy Lestree—Battle of Cambrai; Blecourt; Bantiguy; Marquette; Escaudain; Wavrechain-sous-Denain—Battle of Valenciennes; Herin; Valenciennes; St. Saulve; Onnaing; Mons.

During the incessant fighting of all this period it is not known which will be considered as major operations, but the Battle of Arras or Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Passchendaele, Canal du Nord, Cambrai and Valenciennes will be considered as such as far as the Canadian Corps is concerned, and in all of which the 9th C.S.B. did its part.

After the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Group Commander showed his appreciation of the work of the Battery by a special letter of recognition for good work done. It had been a very strenuous time. The Battery arrived there only on April 5th. The position was in an open muddy field. There was not much time to get ready. Gun platforms were constructed and camouflage erected, ready to move the guns in at night. All material, as well as the ammunition, had to be carried a long distance. For three nights there was no sleep, but guns were registered on April 7th and the Battery took part in the bombardment on that and succeeding days.

After Vimy the Battery moved forward to a position between Angres and Cité du Caumont. It had a long and memorable stay here during the protracted fighting round Lens. The position was a very forward one for a six-inch Battery, and the Hun machine guns at night seemed very near. Our infantry front line at first was rather uncertain just here and German snipers and posts used to occupy empty houses at night not very far from the Battery. It was a good position. The guns were just behind a hill which screened their flash and were well concealed from aeroplane observation. The men off duty had good deep Hun dugouts, some 600 yards in rear. But the place was shelled continually.

The Battery had wonderful luck, shells day after day dropping all round the guns and B. C. Post. Funk pits were soon constructed near the guns for men to take cover when necessary. It was during one of these enforced cessations of fire that a little episode occurred. The No. 1, on looking out, saw an old gunner (Gunner Forde) calmly sitting on the trail of his gun and quietly using most abusive and lurid language against the enemy. On being asked by him why he did not obey the order to take cover, he said, “There is not a blankety blank Hun living who will make me take cover.” It then transpired that he had habitually stayed behind in this manner on such occasions.

One of the chief dangers was from splinters. In trying to get our guns many of the Hun shells exploded on the top of the ridge in front of them, which sent showers of splinters for 800 yards, so that the daily relief going and coming from dugouts to guns had an anxious time. During the stay at Angres many other batteries came to the locality, but did not stay long, leaving for sunnier climes.

It was during one of these visits that the first decoration was awarded to the 9th C.S.B., Gunner Makin getting the M.M. for pulling some gunners belonging to another battery out of the debris in which they had been buried by hostile shell fire. But many others deserved a decoration as well as he and were frequently recommended for it.

In May the Battery had their most unlucky day, one chance shell killing seven and wounding six.

It was in June that a Staff Officer informed the Battery that for the time it had been in France it had (a) fired more rounds than any other Battery, (b) had received more shelling than any other Battery, and (c) was the most advanced Battery on the front.

In October the Battery left Lens area for the North with the Canadian Corps, which was to relieve the Australians in the operations against Passchendaele. It remained in the Ypres Salient till Dec. 13th. The Battery relieved three R.G.A. Batteries in turn, going further forward each time. By a merciful providence the ground was soft, and in consequence many enemy shells were “duds”; otherwise nothing could have prevented heavy casualties. Constant shelling and bombing; the enemy’s aeroplanes everywhere; ours not in sight.

The Ypres Salient is the abomination of desolation—one big graveyard. A peculiarly depressing place, nothing can describe it; it has to be felt. A complimentary letter was published from 2nd Division describing the Heavy Artillery’s work in the taking of Passchendaele as the “perfection of Heavy Artillery barrage.”

The Battery moved South again, and for the first time in eight months went into rest at Ham-en-Artois, arriving at that place on Dec. 15th. It seemed almost too good to be true. Jan. 11th found the Battery back in the line again at Petit Vimy. Then followed uneventful moves to Calonne (Feb. 3rd) and Maroc, where there were good cellars for the men.

About this time there was a change in Brigade Commanders. On the new one asking the former one which was the best Battery in the Brigade, the 9th was given a reputation it might well be proud of.

On Feb. 25th the Battery was back again at Petit Vimy position with one section in rear near Les Tilluels. Preparation for the expected Hun offensive was the order of the day. Successive defensive systems were prepared. Batteries were issued with Lewis Guns and were ordered to wire their positions. Many battery positions were prepared and camouflaged. It was hard work for the men who had heavy days and nights of firing to carry out at the same time. Again the Battery found itself the most advanced in the Brigade, and was always being called upon to fire on the most distant target in consequence. In case of a successful Hun attack the position would have been impossible to get out of with the steep Vimy Ridge immediately in rear and all the roads registered and under observation by day. It seemed that the role of the Battery, under such circumstances, was that of a sacrifice Battery. Gradually the infantry in front were drawn in until the line was held by little more than machine gun posts. The field guns took up positions behind and one woke up one night to the unusual sound of our own field artillery shells passing over our heads.

The G.O.C. paid the Battery a visit after a worse than usual “strafe,” but he found the men with their “tails up.” He said they were doing good work and that was why they were being kept in that position. Three distinct times was the B. C. confidentially warned that the attack was expected on the morrow and three times nothing unusual happened.

March 21st passed and the Huns’ great attack which was to last nine terrible days commenced. It was to the south of us, and not till the 28th did it reach our neighborhood. But Arras remained firm, and there was no advance worth speaking about on our front. At 3 a.m. the enemy started shelling the Battery with gas. He attacked persistently with heavy gun fire till 12 noon and again in the afternoon. At night every half hour he put down bursts of harassing fire and concentrations, but the fire of the Battery was kept up in spite of it and gas. The next day the enemy continued his tactics; not a half hour but Battery, billets, roads and railway received his attention. Two of the signallers (Dickey and West) did noble work in repairing our telephone line, nearly a mile, through a regular barrage of high explosive and gas, their job being made more difficult by some defensive wire entanglements which had been recently placed over our line.

Now succeeded several months when the enemy’s chief energies were directed to other parts of the Front, and the British Army was recovering from its wounds, filling up its ranks and organizing for the coming glorious advance which was to end the war. During these months the Battery had positions at Souchez and Lievin, neither of these being pleasant spots, but where life was more or less normal; that is, daily and nightly tasks of firing, sometimes counter battery shoots, sometimes destructive shoots, or harassing fire, to all of which the Hun replied in kind. At Lievin he gave us two bad gas bombardments, but the results, had he known them, would have been bitterly disappointing to him, to such an extent had we been educated by this time in anti-gas measures. At Villers Cagnicourt Chère was some heavy firing and obstinate fighting before the enemy was driven across the Canal du Nord. At Barelle Wood the Battery was a day, and at Sauchy Lestree, during the fight for Cambrai, which was very severe, several days were spent. At this place the Huns’ night bombers were very active.

But it was now moving warfare in earnest. Blecourt and Batigny were hot places for a day or two. At Marquette and Escaydain a night only was spent in each. Wavrechain-sous-Denain was easy. At Herin the Battery took part in the very fine artillery preparation for the taking of Valenciennes, and at St. Saulve on Nov. 4th it had its last casualty of one man killed.

During all this moving warfare, conditions were a great contrast to the previous trench warfare. Guns sometimes took up positions in fields almost untouched by shell-fire. The laborious gun pit was nearly unknown. The woods and trees were no longer shot to pieces, and occasionally one walked into billets to find cut flowers still fresh on the window sill, or table, left there by the retiring Hun the day before or by its civil occupants who had been forced to leave with him.

9th CANADIAN SIEGE BATTERY.

Authority for organization. H.Q. 1–36–129. Names of original officers with rank: Major (Lieut.-Col.) S. A. Heward, Capt. H. R. N. Cobbett, Lieut. D. W. McKeen, Lieut. D. A. MacKenzie, Lieut. W. E. B. Starr, Lieut. C. B. Thackray, all of R.C.A.

Reinforcements: Lieut. E. S. Hoare, Lieut. H. R. Gunter, Lieut. R. Cruit, Capt. C. MacKay, Lieut. M. A. Wilson. Lieut. E. T. Chesley, Capt. J. E. Lean, Lieut. T. S. Millar, Lieut, W. A. F. Fairchild, Lieut. F. C. Harding, Capt. H. T. Seaman, Major W. G. Scully, all of C.G.A.; Lieut. Warren (Portuguese Interpreter); Lieut. P. Moyara, Portuguese troops; Lieut. J. C. Fraser, C.G.A.

Numerical strength: Officers, 6; W. O. and S. Sergeants, 8; other ranks, 144. Total all ranks, 158.

Date of sailing for Overseas: 27th September, 1916.

Date of return to Canada: May 9th, 1919.

Commissions: Gunners Young and S. Smith to R.O.C. training school for commissions.

Honors: Military Cross, 2: Dist. Conduct Medal, 2; M.S.M., 3: Military Medal, 13; mentioned in despatches, 3.

Total number of battle casualties: Officer, 1; other ranks, 67; total, 68.

CHAPTER IV.
THE 10th SIEGE BATTERY.

The proposal to recruit a purely Nova Scotian Artillery Unit originated when four young officers had just completed their training with the Royal School of Artillery at Halifax. These young officers were: Lieuts. Wm. Henry L. Doane, 1st R.C.A.; Frederick H. Palmer, 1st R.C.A.; Robert Parker Freeman, 1st R.C.A.; Robert Edward Jamieson, 1st R.C.A.

The proposal was laid before Major J. M. Slayter, R.C.A., and after discussion he agreed to undertake to obtain the necessary authority and to take over, at any rate temporarily, the work of the Battery, if such was approved.

On August 1, 1916, authority was applied for from the General Officer Commanding Military District No. 6 for leave to raise a Battery of Siege in Halifax for service Overseas. On August 12, 1916, the organization of No. 10 Draft Siege Artillery Battery was approved, and on October 1, 1916, authority was received from headquarters for the appointment of the following officers: Major J. M. Slayter, R.C.A. (in Command); Lieuts. Wm. H. L. Doane. 1st R.C.A.; F. H. Palmer, 1st R.C.A.; R. P. Freeman, 1st R.C.A.; R. E. Jamieson, 1st R.C.A.

Barrack accommodation was found for the proposed Battery in South Barracks, and at once the work of active recruiting was taken up. By the end of November, 1916, the Battery was raised to a strength of eighty-five officers and men. Preliminary examinations were completed and as quickly as the men completed their preliminary training, they were passed on to Instructional Courses to qualify as Battery Commanders, Assistants, Signalling and Gun Laying, and all the various specialties that go to make up a Siege Battery. On December 11, 1916, Lieut. W. H. L. Doane was promoted to fill the vacancy of Captain in the Battery. This completed the establishment of officers.

In accordance with orders received on December 16, 1916, Lieut. Crosby and fifty other ranks were warned to hold themselves in readiness to proceed Overseas. They embarked on the S.S. Scandinavian on January 23, 1917. Recruiting continued steadily and on March 26, 1917, Capt. W. H. L. Doane with fifty other ranks proceeded Overseas on the S.S. Missinabie.

Capt. F. H. Palmer being now the senior Lieutenant of the Battery was promoted to Captain, March 27, 1917. On April 12, 1917, Lieut. M. B. Archibald, 1st R.C.S., and Lieut. R. D. Lacon, 1st R.C.A., were appointed to the Battery. Lieut. R. P. Freeman and fifty other ranks were warned on May 17, 1917, to hold themselves in readiness to proceed Overseas. They sailed on the Olympic on the 28th of May.

On November 5, 1917, warning was received that three officers and two hundred N.C.O.’s and men would proceed Overseas. As the Military Service Act was now about to become law, organizations which had previously handled voluntary recruiting would now completely change their character. Ample man power being available, it would only be necessary to outfit and start preliminary training of men raised under the Act.

In view of this the Draft embarked for Overseas service on November 23, 1917, on the S.S. Metagama, consisting of Major J. M. Slayter, Captain Palmer and one hundred and fifty N.C.O.’s and men. Lieutenant Archibald and fifty other ranks proceeded Overseas on the S.S. Olympic. Lieutenant Lacon, and some forty men, the latest joined recruits, were left in Halifax to carry on the Depot under the Military Service Act.

As the personnel of the detachment who made up this sailing were of an exceptionally high character, and had had considerable training in specialties, it was hoped that they might be retained as a Battery for service Overseas.

On arrival at Witley, Surrey, England, it was found that there were such heavy demands for reinforcements for Batteries and Brigades already authorized, that it would be impossible to retain the organization as it landed at Witley. Specialists were sent for extra courses, and as these were completed were drafted very largely to the newly-formed 10th, 11th and 12th Siege Batteries, and to the 3rd Brigade of the C.G.A.

The Depot of the 10th Siege Battery at Halifax continued under Major George Oland, with Lieutenant Lacon, Lieutenant McNair and Lieutenant Baird, sending forward drafts and having raised and equipped and sent forward some ten officers and about eight hundred N.C.O.’s and men. The Depot at Halifax was finally absorbed after the Armistice in the 6th Artillery Depot.

These are the bare facts as taken from records, which do not signalize the splendid self-sacrificing work of such officers as Captains W. H. L. Doane, R. P. Freeman, F. H. Palmer, and R. E. Jamieson; and such N.C.O.’s as Jenkins, Fultz and Holmes.

From beginning to end this Unit was marked by the high standard of the men that it drew, the remarkable lack of crime of even the pettiest sort, and the earnestness and whole-hearted manner in which all ranks endeavored to qualify themselves for their duties Overseas.

CHAPTER V.
17th BATTERY (6th BATTERY, C.F.A.)

BY WILFRED HEARN SYDNEY.

The 17th Battery had the unique distinction of being the only combatant Militia Unit in Nova Scotia to be accepted as a Unit of the Canadian Expeditionary Force for service Overseas in the First Canadian Contingent. On the day that war was declared between Great Britain and Germany, the Department of Militia and Defence wired its acceptance of Lieut.-Colonel H. G. McLeod’s offer of the 17th Battery, C.F.A., as a Unit for service Overseas.

The mobilization of the Battery was purely a matter of selection, for many more than the required number applied for enlistment. On August 28, 1914, the Battery left Sydney with the full war strength of 141 officers and men, four guns and 123 horses. The trip to Valcartier was uneventful. Shortly after our arrival there we were disappointed to hear that the Unit would have to be split in order that the new war establishment of six-gun Batteries might be completed. The right section of the 17th was to be amalgamated with the 19th Battery from Moncton and Woodstock, while the left section went with the 21st Battery of Westmount, Montreal. Thus Major McLeod was to command the new 6th Battery, C.E.F., keeping with him Capt. J. Geo. Piercey, while Capt. J. A. MacDonald, our own “Johnnie Angus,” was lost to us, and went to the new 5th Battery in the same Brigade.

The two weeks spent in Valcartier Camp were pleasant. The getting used to military routine, drill and ceremonials was not at that early date a hardship. The novelty had not even begun to wear off then. The reviews held by Sir Sam Hughes first and His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught subsequently, had a certain amount of pleasure for all of us, despite adverse weather conditions. Yet it was not without a certain degree of impatience that we awaited the word to set sail for England.

Eventually, after many false alarms, the word came, and we donned full marching order to set out for Quebec and the waiting transports. What a memorable sight was that Armada congregated at Gaspe Bay! Thirty-three of our largest ocean greyhounds in full steam, ready and anxious to hasten to the assistance of our Mother Country in her hour of need. The order was signalled from the flagship to set out—last letters of farewell were hurried aboard waiting tenders, a lingering last look was taken at the shores of Canada, and the First Canadian Contingent bade farewell to the peaceful land of the Maple Leaf and set its gaze to the East where lay discord and strife.

Ocean trips generally are never very much out of the ordinary, and with the exception of one or two submarine scares, absolutely without foundation, we steamed our uneventful, out-of-the-way course to Merry England—and war. The monotony was relieved by routine, athletic competitions and musical entertainments. It was in the organization of the latter that the popular Canadian composer of present times, Gitz Rice, closely related to the Cape Breton Rices, Brent and Walter, first secured prominence in musical circles. However, if the trip was uninspiring, such could not be said of our reception at Plymouth. Bands playing, throngs cheering, the shores of the city blocked with thousands of people—England certainly did its duty that day in welcoming to its shores her Canadian sons.

Disembarkation lasted a week, but finally the “Old 17th” landed at Devonport and were soon en route for Salisbury Plains. Detrained at Amesbury we were greeted with a downpour of rain, and it was very little else we saw in the weather line during the whole of our stay on that historic plain. Mud, mud, mud, and then more mud; drill, drill, drill, and then more drill, sums up Salisbury Plains, relieved only by brief leaves to London and provincial towns. How we cursed the mud! Finally, however, we were moved into comfortable quarters at Urchfont, where we enjoyed real English hospitality and good cheer. Even the Plains had its pleasant side, though. Our first Christmas away from home was spent there, and royally did Major McLeod and his fellow officers endeavor to give us a real Christmas.

We spent about a month at Urchfont before the call came for which we had been impatiently waiting. On February 8th, 1915, we left for France. Embarking at Avonmouth we set out for the scene of war. The Allies at that time were being pressed from all sides. The Bases of Calais, Boulogne, and Rouen were seriously threatened. So it was to St. Nazair, a port in the Bay of Biscay, that the Canadians were sent. On February 13th we first set foot in France; on the 16th we detrained within hearing of the guns, at Hazebrouck, marching further in to billets at Borre.

From Borre the 6th Battery moved up into action and took its first position at Fleurbaix on March 1st. The first round was fired into the German front line by Captain Tom Kitchen, then Bombardier, and we took it as a good omen that the second round was observed to have sent our enemy’s field kitchen skyward. While at Fleurbaix the Battery played its part in the mix-up of March 10th at Neuve Chapelle, and it was in this same position we underwent our baptism of fire—fortunately with no serious casualties.

On March 29th, the Brigade to which the 6th Battery was attached, was withdrawn to rest—billets at Watou. It was here, on Easter Sunday, that the first intimation of the hardship and danger to be expected at Ypres was given us by our Commanding Officer, Col. J. J. Creelman. The Easter Service was conducted by Rev. Canon Almon, and a feeling of intensity was apparent as he impressed upon us the sad fact, that of those who heard him that day, many would, before long, make that greatest sacrifice. And so indeed it proved. Yet when, on April 18th, we first caught a glimpse of the city of Ypres, then with a population of about twenty thousand, with its shops, estaminets and business places generally in full swing, it was hard indeed for us to believe that our padre could be correct. Little did we foresee that in four short days this city, beautiful, even after its first bombardment, would be a mass of ruins, its population fleeing to safety with a miserable handful of personal belongings, its Cathedral and historic Cloth Hall and invaluable treasures forever lost to posterity. Yet such was to happen.

The bombardment of the Second Battle of Ypres commenced on the 21st, and on the 22nd the Hun let loose his devilish fumes of poison gas. The French to our left fell back, exposing our flank, leaving a gap of over a mile. Our own boys held, but at what a price! Reinforcements from our own reserves were hurriedly sent up, and all that was left of our First Division was spread over the whole of a three-mile front. But they held on for that day and the next. On the 23rd, from our position near St. Julien, we took part in what I firmly believe to have been the most dramatic action that the Battery was engaged in during its stay in France and Flanders. Our infantry had fallen back to reform for a counter-attack. The enemy advanced after them at a range of about 1,200 yards from our guns. Two of our latter were immediately switched to the left at an angle of 45° from their original line of fire. The remaining two were galloped over clear country under heavy shell fire to take up a new position.

With approximately only 100 rounds of ammunition, exposed to the heaviest shell fire, we waited until the enemy were sufficiently advanced to come under our “open sights” so that every round might count. So on they came until 600 yards separated us. The order came for us to retire. This Major McLeod ignored, but instead gave the word to open fire. The 7th Battalion charged at the same time, with the remnants of the Kilty Brigade. Round after round we poured into the still oncoming enemy until at last they were held and finally swept back through Langemarck wood. Three new positions were taken up by the Battery that night, and finally we were settled at Indian Hill, near Wieltje, and to the side of Potijze. What a hell-hole it was! Our casualties were fast mounting up, both among the personnel and horses, and unfortunately a number of these were deaths. On May 1st we took up a position on the banks of the Yser Canal, and remained there until the Division was withdrawn for reorganization at Hinges.

On May 19th we were again, as part of the “Flying 7th Division” hustled into hot action at Festubert, and in the following month at Givenchy. It was at the latter place that a gun from the 6th Battery was placed in action in the front line trench, a “stunt” subsequently acknowledged by the General Officer Commanding. From the “Orchard Position” at Givenchy the Old 17th was sent into action at Neuve Eglise, where for a long time they enjoyed comparative peace, with only occasional casualties, and nothing more than “raiding” work, which was first commenced on this front, to relieve the monotony. It was while here that the 2nd and 3rd Divisions came over and the Canadians became an Army Corps. It was here, too, that we lost our Major.

LT.-COL. G. H. MCLEOD.

Major McLeod was of the type of officer most beloved by the Canadian rank and file. Quick, alert, a thoroughly skilled Artillery Officer, he surely would have forced early recognition from headquarters had he been spared to attain it. Terrible was the blow to his “boys,” when his body was found in a small pond not many rods from the gun position. His was not even the glory of the death from bullet or shrapnel. Yet his duty had been well done, to his God, to his country, to his fellow officers and men. This brief outline of the Old 17th would be even more inadequate were the writer to omit this humble tribute to a dear friend and beloved Commanding Officer.

Christmas, 1915, was spent at Neuve Eglise, and again we had to thank our officers for providing the usual Christmas trimmings. Conditions were not as they had been in England, and, unfortunately, many of the old faces were missing. Such were the fortunes of war, and we who had been raw recruits one short year before were beginning to look at things as philosophic veterans.

In the latter part of January the Battery was withdrawn to Caestre for a brief rest, being relieved by one of the Units of the 2nd Division. Early in February we went to Lederzeele, and about March 20th found ourselves in action once more at Neuve Eglise. Just about this time rumors, hitherto vague, became more certain that the Battery was once more to move Ypresward. Rumor became a definite fact on April 4th, and we found ourselves in position at Railway dugouts, a trifle to the south of Ypres City. Here we remained in complete quiet until the 20th, when in the Hill 60 scrap we received our first taste of gas shells.

It was during the month of May that the organization of three Howitzer Batteries was undertaken and sub-sections from all the Batteries in the Division were utilized to form these Batteries, and subsection “C” was separated from the 6th to help form the D, 48th Battery of 4.5’s. The complete organization of this Battery had not been consummated before the German hordes again attacked in force, this time at Soisele Hill and Sanctuary Wood. All sub-sections reported back to their own Batteries for duty, and the 6th Battery again played its important part in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the morning of June 13th the Canadians counter-attacked and regained the ground lost in the 2nd of June scrap.

The remainder of the month of June was passed quietly in the Ypres Salient, as was also the month of July, with the exception of a little excitement at “The Dump.” About the middle of August the Battery went into billets for rest and tactical drill at Polin Cove and on the 26th entrained at Audruicq for the Somme.

On detraining at Aix la Chateau on the 27th, the Battery, after one day’s forced march, went into action at Mesnel on the 28th. On September 3rd the Old 17th supported the attack of an Imperial Corps on Thiepval, which was unsuccessful. We then moved into position at La Boiselle on ground won from the enemy during the fighting there in the early part of July. Glad we were to see at long last ground won from the Hun. Seemingly we were now engaged in driving him back, steadily and surely. The Germans were retreating—the end of the war was in sight—so we thought.

On September 15th the attack on Courcellette was commenced. Who of us that were there can easily forget the glory of that early sunlit September morning! The writer was fortunate enough to be one of a party of Artillery Signallers to “go over” with the second “wave” of infantry and was forward when the signal—dropped from one of our air craft—came to advance. The intensity of the bombardment was overwhelming. It was impossible to hear the loudest shout of the man adjoining you. We were all frantic—cheering, yelling, jumping up and down in our excitement. It was pandemonium let loose with a vengeance—and we were winning. We were advancing. The Sugar Refinery was reached and our Battery was advanced. Courcellette was taken by the 25th and 26th Battalions—and again we were moved forward until we were practically within two hundred yards of where the German front line had been on the morning of the 15th. This position—Pozieres Wood—had been won by the Australians at a terrible cost some weeks before.

From the 15th until the 26th of September we were kept busy consolidating the ground won from the enemy. On the 26th we were again called upon to take part in a glorious action which won Thiepval for us. We were also successful in our first attack on Regina Trench. Such heavy action was not successfully won without our paying the price, however, and the 6th Battery of October, 1916, little resembled the Old 17th that left Valcartier in September, 1914. Heavy had been the toll of lives and casualties.

It was on October 20th that the last remaining gun brought from Sydney, was condemned after firing 20,010 rounds of ammunition. From this on, the writer (having been wounded at the Somme sufficiently to keep him out of action for the remainder of the war) must depend, not on personal observation, but on information derived from divers sources.

Early in November Desire Support Trench was taken, and a little later on in the same month our wagon lines were again situated at Albert. The march along Bouzincourt, Varennes, Raincheva, Frevent, St. Pol, St. Michel and Marquay was uneventful. On the 30th the Battery stopped at Pernes, for a well-earned rest. Our 1916 Christmas dinner was held here, and mighty well was it celebrated. On January 6th we started out for Bruay, Ruitz, Hersin to Fosse 10 and finally into action at Bully Grenay.

On February 13th the first landing of the Canadians in France was suitably celebrated at noon, by the firing of “Battery cheers” and “Brigade cheers.” From then on is merely a series of names, Hersin Wagon Lines, Maisnil-les-Ruitz, Camblain l’Abbe, until the E2 position behind Neuville St. Vaast. On the 25th the Battery was again changed from a four to a six-gun Unit. From Neuville St. Vaast the Old 17th went to Vimy. Who will forget Bentata Tunnel? Who will forget the morning of the 13th when two guns of the old Battery went to form the composite Battery at Bois Carre, to the right of Thelus? On the night of the 16th the Battery went over the Ridge, and from there on the story of the 6th is the same as that of the other Nova Scotia Units that took part at Vimy. From Vimy to late in July was uneventful. On the 22nd of that month our wagon lines were established at Les Brebis. On the 23rd we went into action behind Loos Crassier. Things remained quiet until August 15th when the Hill 70 scrap for Lens commenced. On September 9th we were at Lievin, and remained in that vicinity for about one month.

Around October 1st a move was made to Boyeffles, where the wagon line was established. On the 6th the Battery took up a position behind the cemetery at Lievin, where we remained for some time. On the 24th of October we were again en route for Ypres, our old hunting ground, via Bethune, Morbecque and Godewaersvelde. On the 29th our wagon lines were settled at a spot just south of St. Julien, and on the 1st of November we took up a position, which shall ever be consecrated in memory of our First Canadian Contingent, for the Passchendaele show. On the 23rd we were again en route south, via Bailleul, Strazeele, Haverskerque and Vendin-les-Bethune. On November 26th the Battery was again at the Old Lievin cemetery. Christmas Day, 1917, was celebrated at Haillicourt.

On January 24th the Battery took up a position behind Loos Crassier, where they remained in comparative quietness until March 22nd, when a new position behind the double Crassier was taken. On the 29th we went into action at Ronville Dump between Arras and Achicourt, and from there to the Old Mill at Achicourt on April 1st. On the 8th we were out at Anzin, on the 9th at Musketry Valley position, in front of St. Laurent Blangy. The Battery was withdrawn for rest at Hermanville on May 25th, and on June 1st was inspected with the other Batteries in the Brigade by the Corps Commander. On the 10th Divisional Sports were held, in which the old Battery won its quota of prizes.

On July 15th we went into action at St. Laurent Blangy, and on the 24th were back again at Achicourt—Old Windmill position. August the 1st saw the Unit at Berlincourt, and on the 3rd they entrained at Frevent for Amiens. We detrained the following day at Prouzel and left for Bois de Boves. On August 5th we took up a position at Bois de Gentelles, and on the 8th took part in the “kick off” for the Amiens show with a night position in front of Cayeux. From the 9th until the 16th is simply a sequence of names that spells the hardest action; Caix Valley, Warvillers, Le Quesnoy, Warvillers. On August 21st the Battery was en route back to Saleux, via Cayeux, Domart and Boves Wood, where they entrained for Aubigny and Dainville Wood.

The “kick off” for the Drocourt-Queant line came on September 2nd. On the 3rd our position was taken up just east of Villers Cagnicourt, and on the 6th the 6th Battery was at Bainville on rest, where they remained for about three weeks. On the 26th the Battery went into action at Buissy, and on the 27th took part in the attack on Canal du Nord and Cambrai. The Old 17th had the honor to be the first Battery to cross the Canal at Inchy, and immediately after took up position just east of the Canal beyond Inchy.

October was merely a repetition of names. The Battery took part in the general rout of the enemy, until November 7th found them at Crespin, in action for the last time. On November the 10th the last round was fired from the Battery in this position by Gunner Malcolm MacDonald of “B” subsection, the very same subsection that fired the first round on March 1, 1915.

At 11 a.m. of November 11th hostilities ceased and the fighting was finished. The “Old 17th,” however, marched into Germany as part of the Army of Occupation and completed the work that the original had set out to do. Very few, however, of the original members were left by that time. Yet those of us, who were unable to share in the glorious hour of Victory, were recompensed by knowing that our successors nobly carried on in our places equally as well as, if not better than, we ourselves could have done. The Battery embarked at Southampton on S.S. Olympic, and arrived at Halifax on April 21, 1919. It was demobilized the same day and consequently its home city, Sydney, was deprived of the pleasure of welcoming it as a Unit.

CHAPTER VI.
23rd AND 24th FIELD BATTERIES.

LT.-COL. T. M. SEELEY.

In November, 1914, Lieut.-Col. T. M. Seeley, of Yarmouth, N.S. (O.C. 11th Brigade, C.F.A.), was commissioned to organize the 23rd Battery of Field Artillery, to represent the Maritime Provinces in the 6th Artillery Brigade, C.E.F. The temporary headquarters were at Fredericton, N.B., but recruits were to be drawn from any part of the Maritime Provinces. Many were furnished by the 3rd, 4th and 11th Brigades of the Militia Artillery. An important factor in the new Unit was a group of twenty-five or thirty students who joined from the University of New Brunswick and other universities.

The recruiting proceeded at such a rate that Lieut.-Col. Seeley soon found himself with fifty or sixty men over strength. He appealed to headquarters for authority to have a second Battery formed, which was granted. Lieut.-Col. B. A. Ingraham, R.O., of Sydney, C.B., was commissioned to organize the 24th Battery, also at Fredericton. He took over the surplus from the 23rd, and in addition brought a large detachment of fine men from Cape Breton.

These Batteries trained side by side until February 18, 1915, when they were mobilized with the 21st Battery of Kingston and the 22nd Battery of Montreal, and sent Overseas February 22nd on S.S. Megantic, under Lieut.-Col. E. W. Rathburn.

The Mayor of Fredericton, the Premier of New Brunswick, the Earl and Countess of Ashburnham, and the citizens generally were very kind to the artillerymen during their sojourn in Fredericton.

Just previous to sailing there were several changes made in the personnel of the officers. Lieut.-Colonel Seeley was detailed to organization duty in Canada, and Major J. K. MacKay was placed in command of the 23rd Battery. On sailing the staff was: Major MacKay, O.C.; Capt. E. A. Chisholm; Lieuts. J. E. Read and J. N. McEachern. The Staff of the 24th Battery was: Lieut.-Colonel Ingraham, O.C.; Capt. A. T. MacKay (of P.E.I.); Lieuts. G. St. C. A. Perrin and O. Mowatt.

Arriving in England the Batteries received a brief training at Shorncliffe, after which they were drafted to the Second Brigade, C.F.A., and Divisional Ammunition Column in France. A large proportion of the N.C.O.’s and men of these Batteries won commissions and distinctions on the field.

CHAPTER VII.
THE 36th BATTERY, C.F.A.

BY MAJOR D. A. MACKINNON, D.S.O.

MAJ. D. A. MACKINNON D. S. O.

The 36th Battery was formed in Sydney in September, 1915, Major Walter Crowe being the organizer and leading spirit in it. The rush of applications for positions in the Battery was so great that over one hundred had to be turned away. Major Crowe selected his men with great care; and the subsequent achievements of the Battery is evidence that his judgment was good. To Major Crowe must be given a great deal of credit for the splendid record which the Battery achieved Overseas. He remained with it as its Commanding Officer and supervised nearly all its early training, took it Overseas in March, 1916, but on account of being very much over age could not accompany the Battery to France; so the command was given to Major D. A. MacKinnon, of Charlottetown, P.E.I.

The Battery arrived in France on July 14th, 1916, and was almost immediately placed in action on the Ypres Salient, which was a very “hot” spot. They were in action only twenty-four hours when they received quite a heavy shelling from the enemy. They remained in this position for about a month, firing day and night, and their quick response to all calls from the infantry was remarked upon. The next move was to Kemmel, which was a nice quiet spot, and the boys enjoyed themselves very much while in that vicinity. Early in October the march for the Somme commenced. It occupied a week; and about the 12th of October the Battery went into action about one thousand yards in the rear of Courcellette. They received considerable shelling but returned one hundred rounds for every one they got. After the Battle of Regina Trench they moved forward in front of Martinpuich, with the expectation of another great battle which never materialized. While in this position they were constantly shelled, the discomforts were terrible, mud and rain preventing any kind of decent accommodation; but the gunners were better off than the drivers at the wagon lines; there the mud was two feet deep, and the trials and sufferings almost unendurable. Nearly all the ammunition had to be carried to the guns by packing it on horses’ and mules’ backs, taking it up over trails, inasmuch as the roads were death traps, on account of enemy fire. Notwithstanding this the Battery kept up its reputation for activity, having fired on several occasions well over one thousand rounds in a few hours. They were highly complimented for their splendid concealment and for the brave way in which they carried on under very discouraging difficulties. On the 20th of November the Division pulled out of the Somme, greatly to the relief of all.

A week’s tramp to the Ecuri Front commenced, the first two days being teeming rain and bitter cold. It was during this march that Sergt. Sam Wilson, one of the most popular men in the Battery, contracted pneumonia and died in a few days, mourned by all. During the following months the Battery stayed in position doing garrison duty, but in February they were forced to leave and made three shifts of positions in three days. The bitter cold, it being the coldest winter in forty years, and the shortage of fodder for the horses, coupled with the hard work which so much moving entailed, caused the death of a great many horses and mules. The hardships of the drivers were also particularly severe, shelter was at a premium, and the winter of 1916 and 1917 will ever remain as a very disagreeable memory.

Early in March preparations commenced for the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the drivers being constantly employed at night hauling vast quantities of ammunition to forward points. The month was very rainy with high winds, and all night the men would be exposed to the rain and winds and return at daybreak tired and exhausted, cold and wet to the skin. The sufferings which they experienced that winter, and the grim determination with which they carried through their duties will never be forgotten. On the 25th of March the 36th was changed to a six-gun Battery, absorbing one-half of the 29th Battery. It was a splendid consolidation, the newcomers proving very excellent gunners and drivers, and brave men. About the 1st of April, 1917, the Battery moved forward to a little hollow near the Arras road, facing Vimy Ridge. Rude pits had to be constructed for the guns, and these they soon fashioned into a home for the Battery. The Batteries were as thick as flies in this hollow, and we had neighbors on all sides of us. The 2nd of April saw everybody registering on targets in the enemy lines, and one had almost to crawl about to prevent being hit by our own guns. As the enemy had observation of this position they very quickly began to use it, shelling the area with gas and high explosives. It was a most uncomfortable position, and had the battle been delayed a few days longer and the enemy been given a chance to get more heavy artillery, there is no doubt that they would have given us a bad time.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge started at 5 o’clock, April 9th. It was the biggest battle we had ever been engaged in, and every one was quite interested to see how it would pan out. It was a great success, and we quickly got orders to move our position forward so as to be able to range on the retreating enemy. This was accomplished very speedily. The battle practically ended on April 10th, and no further move was made forward. On the 14th we took our guns down into the village of Vimy being, we believed, one of the first Batteries to enter that much shelled village. We were lucky in getting in and lucky in getting our teams out, as the roads were shelled most terrifically. It was three weeks after that before we could bring a wagon of any description down the roads to the Battery. All ammunition and supplies had to be brought on pack horses and mules along trails leading over the ridges, but by the exercise of great care they managed to keep up our ammunition supplies and prevent casualties.

The first two weeks which followed in our position were memorable for the amount of gas which the enemy hurled at us. We wore our masks practically all night. Thanks to a sufficient gas drill and gas protection our casualties were slight. With the energy and resource which characterized our boys they set to work and built a position which was the envy of all. It was so constructed that it was impossible to detect it by aeroplane or other observation. Speaking tubes connected all the gun-pits with the command post, and each pit had a tunnel leading into the other; so that if one was severely bombarded, an escape could be made through the other. The walls of the pits were nicely decorated with captured German material, and the appearance was such as to strike an inspecting officer most favorably. The greatest attention was paid to strengthening each defence, as the shelling was intense both by day and night. It was lucky that all these precautions were taken; for on the 24th of June, just as the Battery had completed firing a trial barrage, the enemy opened up with four batteries of heavy artillery. The bombardment was terrific, and almost all varieties of shell were used, including armor-piercing shell, which went down ten feet in the ground and then exploded. It was marvelous that there was anything left of the Battery, the whole position was covered with shell holes. One of the shells passed through the shelter in which Corpl. John McVicar, of Sydney, was with his gun detachment. The shock instantly killed Corporal McVicar and dazed some of the others. At the same time others had become casualties. The day will be long remembered as one which inflicted great sorrow on the remaining members of the Battery. While we were in this position Corporal Jack and Gunner Wheatley were also wounded, and there were several regrettable casualties among the drivers at the wagon lines.

CAPT. F. H. TINGLEY, M.C.

Early in July the Battery moved to a forward position near Vimy and, while there, was subjected to another terrific bombardment in which they had nearly one thousand rounds of ammunition destroyed. Several of the officers had close calls, and those who are alive will never forget the experience. About the 31st of July the Battery moved to Hill 70, and took up a position behind the double crassier. They constructed a good position in a very short time. The place was alive with Canadian Field Batteries, and it did not take the Hun long to discover the fact. Nearly all the Batteries were silent; that is, they were not to do any firing until a battle commenced, but the 36th and a few others were selected to do all the firing, including the heavy task of demolishing the wire in the German trenches, so that our infantry could get through. This the Battery did to the entire satisfaction of the infantry, although it was at quite a heavy cost to themselves, as they were constantly shelled day and night, and the position was a most trying one. The battle, which took place about the 14th of August, was one of the bloodiest of the whole war. The Hill was the key to Lens, and the Hun determined to retake it at all costs. In one day there were fourteen counter attacks made by the Hun, and on every occasion the field artillery responded, instantly killing many thousands of Germans. The work of the 36th throughout this engagement was commented on and needs no mention here. In one day they brought up from the ammunition dump and fired over five thousand rounds of ammunition. For two weeks the gunners had practically no rest, while the drivers that could be spared from the wagon lines came up and assisted in getting ammunition ready. So active had the Battery become that the Hun determined to destroy it and made several attempts but without success. However on the night of the 24th of August, while the Battery was firing an S.O.S., in response to a call from the infantry, they were subjected to a very intense shelling with a new gas, afterwards known as mustard gas. This gas is very much of the nature of sulphuric acid, and the burns made by it are very similar. In a short time several men were struck by the shells, some wounded and some killed; others going to the assistance of their suffering comrades got the gas on their hands and were terribly burned. It was an awful night, and some very gallant deeds were done. The returns next day showed three killed, three officers and twenty-five others gassed. Some of the men who were gassed on that occasion never recovered from it. The effects will be with them as long as they live. It was a very bad night for the Canadian Artillery. Other Batteries suffered, some even more severely, but they received unstinted praise for the gallant way they stuck to their guns. Besides the above, the Battery suffered a great many other casualties while in the Hill 70 Sector. In addition to Lieutenants Teed and Fleet being gassed, Lieutenant Longworth was severely wounded. On the night of the 29th of August we were relieved by a British Battery, but the relief could not be completed in quiet, the Hun shelling the position very severely with gas.

We were all pleased to leave that vicinity, and our next position was on the Vimy Front, which was nice and quiet; and everybody had a very pleasant time until the 10th of October, when the Canadian Corps marched to Passchendaele, a trek that was undertaken with anything but light hearts, for its reputation as a death trap was known to all. On the 21st of October we took over from an English Battery, who were in a very bad way, having been practically shot to pieces. Everything was in very bad shape, only two guns being in action; but with great courage the boys set to work and very soon had the best position in the Salient. They protected their guns and themselves by the use of sand bags; and in that way saved many valuable lives. Conditions were such as to be almost impossible of description. The mud was up to one’s knees, and the place seemed to be nothing but shell holes filled with water. The enemy had perfect observation on us from the village of Passchendaele. On the 24th of October we registered our guns on its church, and the battle started on the 26th. During the progress of the battle we were severely shelled, Gunner Ira Stewart, of Charlottetown, being instantly killed. All the gunners carried on very heroically notwithstanding the shelling, and the day ended with a great victory for the Canadians.

A few days later we had moved forward to a position in front of Kansas Cross, and in a short time had prepared a very fine position considering the materials at hand. The artillery programme was a very extensive one, firing starting at 5 o’clock in the morning and continuing at intervals several times through the day and night. The daily expenditure of the Battery ran well over one thousand rounds, and this had to be transported by pack mules a distance of eight miles from the ammunition dump. While on their way to the guns they were subjected to scattered shelling and to bombing by overhead planes. At night they got no rest either at the guns, or the wagon lines, heavy bombing planes circling over the area and dropping their contents indiscriminately. The casualties of the Canadians in these terrible battles are well known, their sufferings are beyond description. No words of mine can adequately portray the courage, fortitude, cheerfulness and devotion to duty exemplified by the officers and men of the 36th Battery in the terrible battles which culminated in the capture of Passchendaele Ridge. Among the officers it would be unfair to particularize, for all did their part nobly; but I believe that I could speak of Lieut. Andrew Livingstone’s three weeks’ experience as a forward officer as being the most awful of the lot. Words could not picture the things he saw and what he went through. To Lieut. Chas. Shrieve, of Digby, I always gave the greatest credit for the resourcefulness he displayed in building the positions. For his gallant conduct he was awarded the Military Cross. Lieutenant Teed had previously received the same decoration for similar conduct at Hill 70.

On the 14th of November the most awful experience the Battery ever had was encountered. The night before the enemy had attempted a counter attack but the signal from the infantry had met with such instant response from the field artillery that his ranks were practically decimated. In retaliation he turned every gun he could command on the Batteries of field artillery in front of Kansas Cross. There were probably twenty English and Canadian Batteries within an area of three hundred yards; and on these at 1.30 in the afternoon was placed a bombardment that for intensity has probably never been excelled. Guns and ammunition were blown up at every volley, one entire Battery being wiped out, with all its personnel. The 36th received their share of the shelling, their dugouts being blown up and the gunners and officers buried beneath them. They had, however, suffered very few casualties considering the terrible ordeal passed through; but those who were placed at the guns on that day will never forget the experience.

On the 21st of November they moved out of Passchendaele, the Hun shelling the position just as they were leaving, and the succeeding Battery being practically annihilated within a few days. A period of recuperation ensued, which did much to recover the morale of the Battery. In January they moved down into the Vimy Front, suffering the ordinary run of casualties, but without any very serious troubles. On the 21st of March, 1918, the Hun put on his famous offensive, and it was feared that he would attempt to take Vimy Ridge. As there was very little chance of getting the guns out if he broke through our infantry lines, it was decided to move the Batteries from the plain to the top of the Ridge, where they were put for defensive purposes. The 36th Battery was selected as a sacrifice Battery and were left in their position in front of Vimy. Their task was to harass the enemy as much as possible, their daily expenditure of ammunition running from a thousand to two thousand rounds. This activity of one Battery did not escape the alert attention of the Hun; and on the 28th of March, when he made his famous attack on Arras, a little to the south of Vimy, he took on the 36th Battery in great style. In three hours it was estimated by observers on the Ridge that over two thousand-rounds were fired into the Battery. Guns and dugouts were blown up and a tremendous lot of damage done. Some brave deeds were carried out by members of the Battery, and among the decorations received for this affair were Military Medals by Sergeant Cashen, of Sydney, and Signaller MacKenzie and Bombardier Peter Laforte. All the members of the Battery acted most heroically. That night orders were given to retire the Battery from this untenable position, and in the new one they carried on with much more comfort.

About the 1st of May the Battery went into training for open warfare, and remained in training until July when they went into the line for a few weeks. On the 28th of July they were drawn from the line, and on the first of August started on the famous march to Amiens. The greatest secrecy was maintained regarding the destination of the Canadians, and it was not until the night of the 4th of August that we knew our destination. The nights of the 5th, 6th and 7th were utilized in bringing up thousands of rounds of ammunition and getting ready for the big battle which started on the 8th. The Battle of Amiens was the hand-writing on the wall, so General Ludendorff has told us. On that day the 36th Battery occupied six positions, giving the most splendid aid to our glorious infantry. At half past four in the afternoon a German aeroplane swooped down on the Battery and killed several horses, wounded some of the men and Lieutenant Manning. The casualties would have been greater but for the bravery and coolness of the machine gunners, who poured a constant volley into the Hun and actually killed him, his plane crashing in a few minutes.

The Battle of Amiens continued for several days with constant advances. On the night of the 13th we were ordered to place three thousand rounds of ammunition in an advanced position for another Battery. Sergt. J. W. Boutillier was given charge of the unloading. While waiting for the arrival of the ammunition his party was subjected to heavy shell fire. Sergeant Boutillier and Sergeant Swift were killed and several others were wounded. Sergeant Boutillier was one of the most outstanding men in the entire Battery and his loss was very keenly felt. For his bravery on this occasion Corpl. A. J. McGillivary was awarded the Croix de Guerre.

LIEUT. D. L. TEED, M.C.

On the 19th of August the Battery started on its march for the Battle of Arras, arriving at Arras on the night of the 23rd of August and going into position that same night. The night of the 24th was utilized in bringing up ammunition. On the 25th they rested. On the morning of the 26th the famous Battle of Arras opened. It was a day full of stirring incidents, the 36th Battery suffered severe casualties. The following days were very busy, the Battery constantly moving into new positions, shelling the enemy, and being shelled in return. On the morning of September 1st orders were received to cut wire on the Hindenburg line, and to expend upwards of four thousand rounds for that purpose. The position which the 36th Battery occupied was a very exposed one, and under observation by balloons and other means. The Battery had about completed one task when the enemy started to shell us very severely. At first the rounds fell short. Lieutenant Teed was at the telephone, and thinking that I did not receive the orders at the guns ran down to shout an order to No. 2 gun in charge of Sergeant McKay. Just as he got there an enemy shell landed, instantly killing Sergeant McKay, Gunner John Cornfoot and Lieutenant Teed. These were three of our very best, and the blow was one of the saddest in the 36th Battery’s whole experience. Lieut. Lionel Teed was from St. John, and had been with the Battery from its commencement. He was a brave officer, an extremely clever one, and loved by all. Sergeant McKay and Jack Cornfoot were also very popular. The wire cutting was completed. Notwithstanding the shelling the brave boys of the 36th carried on as though nothing had happened. The battle which took place the next day broke the Hindenburg line, the strongest trench fortification ever utilized in warfare.

A succession of moves forward was then made. The Batteries kept close behind the infantry in their pursuit of the Hun. On the 14th a halt was made, and the Batteries transferred to another section of the Front. They took up a position in the village of Sudemont, which was a very “hot” place, being almost constantly under shell fire. A number of casualties occurred when we were in this position, notably Corpl. John McSween, who lost a leg, and Sergeant Philpott and others. On the 17th the Battery started for the Battle of Cambrai, arriving in that sector on the evening of the 18th. The nights of the 19th and 20th were used in bringing up ammunition to a position in the little town of Inchy, where a battery position had been selected. The ammunition could only be drawn up under the greatest difficulties, for the roads were under heavy shell fire. Some very gallant deeds were done by the drivers and those in charge of them. For one particularly gallant exploit Corpl. A. Morrison received the D.C.M.

CAPT. CHAS. D. SHRIEVE, M.C.

The morning of the 21st was beautiful and the battle was wonderfully successful. Before ten o’clock thousands of yards of enemy territory had been penetrated and Bourlon Wood captured. The enemy field artillery recovered and shelled us vigorously, and we suffered several casualties. The battle continued for several days, with constant gain of territory for us. On the night of the 28th, while Lieutenant Livingstone was unloading ammunition, his drivers and the gunners were subjected to heavy shell fire and we had many regrettable casualties; among the drivers, Frank Hughes, of Charlottetown, and Driver George McDonald, of Sydney. George was one of the most wonderful guides in France, and his loss was a severe one. The next few days saw several moves of positions, and on the 5th of October the 36th Battery was in a position at Raillencourt. On the evening of October 7th orders were issued for the Battery to move up to a position in the rear of St. Olle. The six guns with ammunition and ammunition wagons arrived at the position and were starting to unlimber when a volley of German shells landed directly in them. The casualties were terrific, over 50 per cent. of those present being killed or wounded together with twenty horses. The whole thing occupied only a few minutes, but it saddened a great many hearts. Lieut. Chas. Shrieve was shot through the chest and died instantly. Captain Craig was severely wounded through the hip. Lieutenant Livingstone was wounded in two places and his ankle broken. Twenty-eight N.C.O.’s and men were killed or wounded. Among the killed was the very popular Bombardier John Drysdale. The blow was a demoralizing one, but the undaunted courage of the remaining members of the 36th was equal to the task. Within three hours the guns had been transferred to new positions, and lines of fire laid out, and the Battery ready for action.

The Hill 70 gas episode and the shelling received the night of October the 7th were two of the worst experiences that any Battery had ever been called upon to endure, but the brave boys of the 36th met both with unflinching courage and proved themselves worthy of all the encomiums which had been bestowed upon them. For gallant work on this occasion several members of the Battery were decorated. On the 10th of October Cambrai was captured, the 36th Battery doing its share to make the battle a success.

LT. F. J. LONGWORTH, M.C.

From Cambrai they moved northward again, occupying various positions with various degrees of fortune until November 1st, when the march towards Mons commenced. This was one long succession of triumphs, culminating in the capture of the celebrated city on the morning of the 11th of November. On the afternoon of the 10th we were in position at Je-Mappes, about one thousand yards from Mons. At 3.30 in the afternoon orders were received to fire on the railway at Mons, and while engaged in doing that several enemy shells were fired into the Battery, one of which instantly killed Lieut. Fred Longworth, of Charlottetown, and wounded Sergeant Dickson and several others. Sergeant Dickson received thirty-two wounds but managed to pull through. On the morning of the 11th at 6.30 word was received that the Armistice was signed, and a March-Past was ordered to take place in the City of Mons. There was great rejoicing at the good news, inasmuch as the suffering of the last three months was beginning to tell on the remaining members of the “Old Guard.”

I cannot close this account of the doings of the 36th Battery without making reference to the wonderful qualities which the officers, N.C.O.’s and men displayed. It was easy to command a Battery like the 36th. They were everything that could be desired. Loyal, brave and good-humored, with the greatest devotion to duty, they cannot be too highly praised by me. Every man was a hero and every man deserved decorations many times over. I feel that it is but fitting that I should here mention the fact, when speaking about decorations, that the 36th Battery received a very large share of them, including one D.S.O., two Croix de Guerre, eight Military Crosses, one bar for Military Cross, ten D.C.M.’s and twenty Military Medals.

On November 21, 1918, Major D. A. MacKinnon, who commanded the 36th Battery from its arrival in France on July 14, 1916, and who took part with the Battery in all its battles, was granted sick leave to Canada.

The loss of so many brave officers and brave men had been a severe shock to him, and his nerves became greatly unstrung. It was with sincere regret that he parted with the boys after nearly three years of strenuous fighting. The Battery, after a short stay in Belgium, was transferred to England, demobilizing in March, 1919. On the 36th Battery’s return to Sydney, N.S., they were tendered a most notable reception.