From the News

Dated: November 26, 1917

FORT GARRY HORSE MADE FINE CHARGE AT CAMBRAI

Canadian Cavalry Took Prominent Part in Cambrai Offensive - Fought Way Two Miles Beyond Masnieres, Cutting Communications and Gathering Information.

HEWED THEIR WAY BACK WITH BAYONET, BRINGING WOUNDED AND PRISONERS.

By Walter A. Willison.

Canadian Army Headquarters, in France, Nov. 26. -- Canada was splendidly represented in the great British advance of November 20, which broke the Hindenburg line and drove the enemy back on Cambrai.  For the first time since the German retreat from Bapaume last spring, the Canadian cavalry went really into action with their horses.

Operating from the right centre, opposite the village of Masnieres, the cavalry behind the line waited at dawn for the signal which would send them forward after the tanks and infantry had opened a way.  The anxiously awaited signal came, and the hell-for-leather Fort Garry's galloped to the attack.  But Masnieres was not clear.  The bridge over the river in front of the village had collapsed under the weight of a British tank and the approach to it was swept by enemy rifle and machine fun fire.  For an hour and a half, while patrols reconnoitered the country the Fort Garry's waited under enemy fire.

Another bridge took them across the river, but they were confronted with the Escaut canal on the other side.  Finally, under a concentrated enemy machine gun fire, the troopers working side by side with the splendid British infantry, bridged the gap.  In single file the dismounted men and their horses got across the canal.  It was 3.30 p.m. when they penetrated he enemy's country through the wire cut by the British troops, who were south of the town, and galloped on "into the blue."

Charged Enemy's Battery.

What follows equals anything in cavalry exploits in the history of the Empire.  A single squadron found itself alone.  Racing forward, with the enemy to the right and left of them, the Fort Garry's galloped in section over the crest of the hill concealing the enemy's guns.  Charging down the slope, they found themselves facing a hostile battery of four .77 light German field guns.  Charging straight or the battery, sabreing everything as they came, the officers and men raced to the guns.  In line of troop columns they advanced, coming on so quickly that the enemy had no time to man two of his guns.

One other was cut off and put out of action.  The gunners attempted to blow up the fourth pieces of the gun hitting our men as they went on.  With the sword the cavalry wiped out that battery.  The majority of the enemy's gunners attempted to fly, and others lay flat on the ground.  Only a very few brave men stood to attention behind their cannon.

The retreating enemy's infantry were engaged.  Unchecked, our horse went on until dusk found them two miles inside the enemy's territory, commanded by a lieutenant. A defensive position was essential.  With the sword the horsemen fought their way through to a sunken road.  There they dismounted.  Two messengers sent back to report their position had their horses shot under them, but struggled back to our lines.

Bayonetted a Way Back.

Darkness was falling.  The gallant band was isolated.   Stampeding their horses to divert the enemy's machine gun fire, what was left of the squadron prepared the return.  As they had charged forward sabreing everything so now they fought their way back on foot with their Lee-Enfields bayonetting their path.

The retirement started about five.  It was a succession of hand-to-hand struggles. Four times the little party met enemy working parties with the bayonet and dispersed them.  For two hours these spent and weary men slept in the enemy shell holes in the enemy's country, surrounded by Germans.  They up and on again.  Midnight had passed when they reached Masnieres again and fought their way through the enemy infantry into the town, to the wrecked bridge, where they crossed to safety, wading in water waist deep.

Forty-three of the men came through unwounded.  But they brought their wounded back and over a dozen prisoners.  One of their lieutenants wounded in the throat, had led his section back hundreds of yards to safety and then refused to give up his prisoners until he had a proper receipt for them.

Gathered Invaluable Information.

In addition to the putting out of action of a battery, the killing of a large number of Boches in the fighting between Masnieres and the sunken road, three main lines of enemy telephone communications had been cut and invaluable information had been secured of the enemy's dispositions.

These are the bald facts of a great story.   It is impossible to over-estimate the great service of this single squadron in disorganizing the enemy defences, and the smashing of his communications.