World War, 1914-1918 -- Canada; World War, 1914-1918 -- Nova Scotia
While at Amherst a draft of two hundred volunteers was sent as
reinforcements to the Infantry Regiments in England to make up for the
losses sustained by the Canadians in the Second Battle of Ypres. These
were replaced by new recruits.
AT VALCARTIER CAMP.
In May, 1915, the Regiment was moved to Valcartier, being brigaded with
the 4th and 5th C.M.R.’s, under command of Colonel (later
Brigadier-General) C. A. Smart.
Training at Valcartier was intensive and performed on foot, as horses
had not been received, the Cavalry formation being however retained.
Here the Unit received instruction in musketry and rather prided
themselves in their ability in this line.
While at Valcartier and also when at Amherst they were asked if they
would volunteer to serve as dismounted troops, and the answer was always
that “we will serve in any way we are needed.”
IN ENGLAND.
The 6th C.M.R. left Valcartier early in July for England, embarking at
Quebec on the slow South American cold storage boat _Herschel_.
Naturally the accommodations were not of the best, as there were six
hundred men and four hundred horses on a boat without practically any
passenger accommodation. Their eleven days’ voyage ended at Devonport,
where they got a great reception. At Exeter they were met at the station
by the good ladies of that town and given bags of food and fruit, and
had their water bottles filled with hot coffee and tea. Many times since
has this been spoken of in grateful words by the men, who were hungry
and cold from the long train journey. On arrival at Camp in Dibgate they
found themselves once more camping in the sand. As active service in
Egypt had been spoken of, the Unit thought the authorities must be
trying to accustom it to its future surroundings.
While at Dibgate the Unit received a draft of officers and men from the
8th C.M.R., under command of Lieut. T. D. Johnstone (later Capt. in
Command of “B” Co., 5th C.M.R., wounded): second in command, Lieut. H.
N. Bate (transferred to R.C.D.’s, when Regiment was broken up). Many of
the men who had been sick, owing to the strenuous training, had been
transferred to hospital, and when convalescent were sent to the Cavalry
Reserve Depot. These had been replaced by the draft of men from the 8th.
IN FRANCE—PLOEGSTEERTE—MESSINES.
The Regiment proceeded to France on October 24, 1915, the Brigade being
attached to General Seely’s Cavalry Division, operating as Corps Troops
in the areas of Ploegsteerte and Messines.
The following officers and warrant officers went to France with the
Regiment and saw service at Ploegsteerte and Messines during the fall
and early winter months of 1915.
O.C., Lieut.-Colonel Shaw (later O.C. 1st C.M.R., killed in action June
2, 1916).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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