World War, 1914-1918 -- Canada; World War, 1914-1918 -- Nova Scotia
In the winter of 1917 the Unit moved back to their old front at Vimy. In
March, 1918, the Battalion put on a raid of 250 men. Lieutenants Gillis
and Young of the old “D” Company took part in this, and were both
awarded the M.C. for their work. Gillis in particular had done some very
fine work during the second attack on the Somme. He had come back from
hospital with an unhealed wound in his arm, and although it was too late
for him to secure a rifle and the necessary equipment, he took a
pick-axe handle and joined his Company in going over the top. He brought
back the prisoners, sixty in all, taken on that occasion.
After a pleasant spring spent in reinforcing different parts of the
line, in August the Unit once again took the road south for Amiens. The
work done by the Company during this attack was spectacular. One of
their accomplishments was the capture of a 5.9 Battery in action at
point-blank range. One of the old 6th men was awarded the D.C.M. for his
work on this occasion and Lieutenant Barnstead was awarded the Croix de
Guerre for his leadership.
Lieutenant Smith was very seriously wounded during the next scrap in
front of Arras, called the Second Battle of Arras. He had been a
stretcher-bearer-Sergeant with the old Company and was awarded a
commission in the spring of 1917. He was given the M. C. for his work at
Arras in the taking of Monchy. He afterwards died of wounds in London.
His work all the time he had been with the Battalion had been
exceptional and the award of his M.C. was very popular.
The next fight was for Cambrai, which as far as this Company was
concerned consisted of a hunt for Huns through the ruins, collecting
souvenirs by the way. The Company had a brush with the Bosche on the
other side of the town, but they were merely scouts left behind and
pulled out as soon as fired upon. The Company was sitting down having
dinner when the English troops came through. As there had been no
barrage they did not know that the town had been taken. From here the
Company went to Valenciennes and then on to Mons. Lieutenant Gillis was
wounded at Valenciennes and invalided to England.
[Illustration:
CAPT. L. C. EATON.]
[Illustration:
CAPT. H. H. PINEO.]
[Illustration:
LIEUT. G. N. D. OTTY.]
[Illustration:
LIEUT. GEO. MORRISEY.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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