World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- Western Front; World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, Canadian
Judge then of our condition for a twenty-five mile march. The
beginning of our march commenced by doubling us out between batteries
of roaring seventy-fives and sixty-pounders. The awful din was the
finishing touch and our nerves went snap. At last we were clear and
we settled down to a steady hike. The Warwickshire Regiment, which
took our place on the banks of the canal, was there about twenty
minutes when a fearful bombardment burst upon it. Poor gallant
Midland lads; God rest you where you lie! Next morning a few
survivors still hung to their positions, but, alas, the gallant
Warwicks were almost decimated.
Who was it first published the scurrilous lie that the British
sacrifice their Colonial troops and save their own? No fouler slur
on those quiet tenacious warriors of the Old Land was ever cast. If
Tommy Atkins fails in taking or holding a position, no other nation
on God's earth can take it or hold it.
On, on, we tramped! God! Would we never halt? One after the other,
exhausted men would fall and sleep, sleep, sleep. On and ever on
till legs moved mechanically, all sensation of movement having left
them. Men dozed as they walked, fell as they dozed, lay where they
fell.
True to my mighty vow that I would never fall out on a march, I
lurched on, but, God! the effort. At last, as day was breaking, they
took us into a field, and a hot drink of tea, some food and a rest of
one hour revived us somewhat.
I noticed that one of the officers was carrying a puppy in his arms.
It was only a few days old and I marveled at his wonderful heart in
forgetting his own troubles and caring for the poor little helpless
creature. Our curiosity was aroused and we asked him, "Why the pup?"
"Boys," said he, "that pup is worth a fortune. It was born at the
time of the very heat of the bombardment." I never knew what
eventually became of the poor little creature.
On again, all through the blazing heat of the day we hiked. Tommies
would walk with us, easing our lot in their rough, kindly manner.
They promised us Fritz should pay dearly for his dastardly gas attack
before they were through. On, on, till we entered Bailleul. Thank
God! Rest, we thought. But no, ever on.
And then the men, the limit of endurance reached and mad with
disappointment, began to get in an ugly mood. Discipline was sorely
strained, and we openly shouted our opinion of the officers to their
faces.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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