From the News

Dated: March 1, 1917

Exploding A German Mine

A Canadian Sergeant’s Gallantry

Interesting details of recent raids by Canadian troops are contained in the communiqué issued yesterday by the Canadian War Records Office:–

Several parties from a Manitoba battalion attacked the German trenches at different points along a 500 yards’ frontage. The objectives were successfully reached, all opposition was overcome, and for 10 minutes our men quickly and effectively carried out their allotted tasks. Nine dug-outs which were evidently occupied, but from which the enemy refused to emerge, were destroyed.

On mine shaft was discovered in which an engine was heard and in which several Germans were working or had taken shelter from our artillery fire. Sergeant Lloyd placed a large portable charge of explosives at the head of the shaft and, despite the danger which he knew he must himself incur, he lit the fuse and then sought to escape. But the terrific upheaval which followed was not only the explosion of the charge, but of the German mine itself, in which evidently a great quantity of explosives had already been placed. Masses of earth, some of which must have weighed several tons, were thrown into the air. The gallant Sergeant Lloyd was unfortunately buried beneath this avalanche, but the German front line at that point was blown to pieces and many of the enemy were killed.

Twenty German dead were actually counted in the trenches and three unwounded prisoners were captured and brought back to our lines. These men were singularly small and of a very low order of intelligence. One of them had a glass eye. They belonged, indeed, to the "Bantam" Company of the 11^th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. Our own casualties amounted to only 13.

Hardly was this raid accomplished when, in the afternoon of the same day, we struck again–a little further north–across the shattered trenches which we had entered so successfully on the 13^th. A Saskatchewan regiment furnished the storming party, consisting of nearly 100 men. All objectives were reached and the work of wiping out the garrison and destroying the trenches was most expeditiously performed. Twelve dug-outs were bombed and their entrances blown in. In one of these two Germans came to the door, but would come no further. They were dealt with. From another one 12 Germans suddenly emerged and attempted to run away. Four of them escaped. Four sniper posts, two machine-gun emplacements, and one machine-gun were destroyed. Many dead Germans were seen in the trenches. Our own casualties were seven men slightly wounded.

An Ontario Battalion, in cooperation with another party from the Manitoba Regiment already mentioned, again raided the enemy trenches on Thursday afternoon. The Germans were manning their trenches more heavily than usual and made a stout resistance. They had evidently received orders to show greater resolution in the defence of their line. All of our parties, however, except one which was hold up by the fire of three machine-guns from the left, succeeded in entering the German trenches. Four occupied dug-outs were treated in the usual manner, and some 35 of the enemy were killed. Within 24 minutes of the beginning of the raid our men were safely back in their own lines.