BEST O’ LUCK BY ALEXANDER McCLINTOCK, D. C. M. “The Distinguished Conduct Medal has been awarded to Sergeant Alexander McClintock of the Canadian Overseas Forces for conspicuous gallantry in action. He displayed great courage and determination during a raid against the enemy’s trenches. Later he rescued several wounded men at great personal risk.” _Extract from official communication from the Canadian War Office to the British Consul General in New York._ BEST O’ LUCK HOW A FIGHTING KENTUCKIAN WON THE THANKS OF BRITAIN’S KING BY ALEXANDER McCLINTOCK, D. C. M. Late Sergeant, 87th Battalion, Canadian Grenadier Guards Now member of U. S. A. Reserve Corps NEW YORK GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO MY MOTHER MAUDE JOHNSON McCLINTOCK CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I TRAINING FOR THE WAR 11 II THE BOMBING RAID 43 III “OVER THE TOP AND GIVE ’EM HELL” 75 IV SHIFTED TO THE SOMME 101 V WOUNDED IN ACTION 121 VI A VISIT FROM THE KING 151 BEST O’ LUCK CHAPTER I TRAINING FOR THE WAR I don’t lay claim to being much of a writer, and up ’till now I never felt the call to write anything about my experiences with the Canadian troops in Belgium and France, because I realized that a great many other men had seen quite as much as I, and could beat me telling about it. Of course, I believed that my experience was worth relating, and I thought that the matter published in the newspapers by professional writers sort of missed the essentials and lacked the spirit of the “ditches” in a good many ways despite its excellent literary style, but I didn’t see any reason why it was up to me to make an effort as a war historian, until now. Now, there is a reason, as I look at it. I believe I can show the two or three millions of my fellow countrymen who will be “out there” before this war is over what they are going to be up against, and what they ought to prepare for, personally and individually. That is as far as I am going to go in the way of excuse, explanation, or comment. The rest of my story is a simple relation of facts and occurrences in the order in which they came to my notice and happened to me. It may start off a little slowly and jerkily, just as we did--not knowing what was coming to us. I’d like to add that it got quite hot enough to suit me later--several times. Therefore, as my effort is going to be to carry you right along with me in this account of my experiences, don’t be impatient if nothing very important seems to happen at first. I felt a little ennui myself at the beginning. But that was certainly one thing that didn’t annoy me later.