Letters From the Front

Dated: June 1, 1915

“It was a good job we were handy for any reverse as the gas is sent over mostly in the evening as it was this time, on April 22nd. It caused the French to retire and abandon the 4-7 guns you hear of. These were not Canadian guns our colonel says, but what the British lent to the French, and were left at the mercy of the enemy, not captured.

We made the attack, driving back the Germans and so saved on 4-7 gun. I don’t know exactly where they were as the horseshoe [salient] extended four miles to our right front, and we were at the left heal so to speak. We had word that the Germans had broken through by eight p.m., April 22nd and we had orders to have everything ready for a “stand to” ready to move at any moment.

The order came at 1:10 a.m. Friday, April 23rd. we marched to the scene about five miles, crossed the canal and dug ourselves in up the side of the road. I went out scouting and felt a few stray bullets whizz past, but did not know we were anywhere near the Germans. We moved up again and rested.

The fourth Battalion lined up and made an attack. Then we followed. They certainly gave us a warm reception, with bullets and shrapnel and shells. How we got to our support trench without being killed is only a miracle. The fumes from the shells nearly choked me. I never had such a parched throat. I had two drinks of water from my bottle, but it didn’t seem to touch it.

At last we reached the support trench (a wide ditch one foot of water in it) Our order were to dig in the bank and get comfortable and await orders, ready to check any reverse that may occur. Come on East Yorks one officer shouted as he made rapid strides for our ditch and take cover here. They came dashing up with fixed bayonets, had a rest for a few minutes. Advance East Yorks and out they got and on they went! Not many live to tell the tale.

They were thinned out pretty much by the time they got there. Our other battalions were to our right and further up and we couldn’t see what they did, but they had it just as bad as we did. We didn’t fire a shot and didn’t see a German, but they saw us and it was out bold frontal attack that made them retire.

It is really awfully to see so many wounded, dead and dying and so dangerous to get to them. If we could advance three miles a day the casualties could all be picked up, but as it is some have to lay until it is a bit quiet. The stretcher-bearers and R.A.M.C. [Royal Army Medical Corps] dropped in for some hard work this time.

I hope next time we are called and there is something doing we get a chance to shoot a German when our blood is up. We want get even as we have some old scores to rub off yet and don’t look for us to take prisoners.”