Produced by Graeme Mackreth and The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) FROM THE ST. LAWRENCE TO THE YSER _Frontispiece._ [Illustration: LIEUTS. KLOTZ, STRATHY AND CURRY AT AMESBURY.] FROM THE ST. LAWRENCE TO THE YSER WITH THE 1st CANADIAN BRIGADE BY FREDERIC C. CURRY LATE CAPTAIN 2ND EASTERN ONTARIO REGIMENT WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS McCLELLAND, GOODCHILD & STEWART, PUBLISHERS ... TORONTO. _Printed in Great Britain._ To LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR SAM HUGHES, K.C.B., M.P., MINISTER OF MILITIA, TO WHOSE EFFORTS THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CANADIAN CONTINGENTS IS LARGELY DUE. PREFACE In presenting this little work to the public the writer wishes to thank those of his fellow-officers and others who brought to his notice incidents that did not come under his personal observation. Valuable assistance has been gained from the official accounts of Sir Max Aitken, and from the historical writings of Mr. John Buchan with regard to the parts played by other brigades and divisions with which we were co-operating. In spite of these attempts to broaden its outlook, the book stands in the main a personal account of the actions of the 1st Brigade, Canadian Infantry. As such, however, the writer hopes it will be accepted, and not as a detailed history of the events chronicled, though every attempt has been made to check the accuracy of the facts stated. One fictitious character has been introduced, that of Begbie Lyte, in order to make the tale impersonal. In all other cases the true names of persons mentioned, or initials, have been used. To Dr. Shipley, Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, the writer owes much for his kindly criticisms and encouragement in this work. F.C. CURRY. _October, 1916._ CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. ANTE-BELLUM 1 II. PETEWAWA 11 III. MOBILISATION 24 IV. VAL CARTIER 31 V. THE CONVOY 37 VI. IN ENGLAND 44 VII. INTERIM 49 VIII. YPRES, 1915 54 IX. WITH THE DRAFT 63 X. THE BREAKING IN 72 XI. RESERVE BILLETS 80 XII. BAILLEUL 88 XIII. THE TREK SOUTH 95 XIV. FESTUBERT, 1915 103 XV. CARPE DIEM 110 XVI. GIVENCHY, 1915 117 XVII. NORTHWARD AGAIN 126 XVIII. NIGHTS OF GLADNESS! 132 XIX. IN FRONT OF MESSINES 140 XX. MINE WARFARE 145 XXI. MYTHS, FAIRIES, ETC. 152 XXII. THE WINTER MONTHS 160 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS LIEUTS. KLOTZ, STRATHY AND CURRY AT AMESBURY _Frontispiece_ _Facing page_