World War, 1914-1918 -- Canada; World War, 1914-1918 -- Nova Scotia
The Battle of Vimy Ridge started at 5 o’clock, April 9th. It was the
biggest battle we had ever been engaged in, and every one was quite
interested to see how it would pan out. It was a great success, and we
quickly got orders to move our position forward so as to be able to
range on the retreating enemy. This was accomplished very speedily. The
battle practically ended on April 10th, and no further move was made
forward. On the 14th we took our guns down into the village of Vimy
being, we believed, one of the first Batteries to enter that much
shelled village. We were lucky in getting in and lucky in getting our
teams out, as the roads were shelled most terrifically. It was three
weeks after that before we could bring a wagon of any description down
the roads to the Battery. All ammunition and supplies had to be brought
on pack horses and mules along trails leading over the ridges, but by
the exercise of great care they managed to keep up our ammunition
supplies and prevent casualties.
The first two weeks which followed in our position were memorable for
the amount of gas which the enemy hurled at us. We wore our masks
practically all night. Thanks to a sufficient gas drill and gas
protection our casualties were slight. With the energy and resource
which characterized our boys they set to work and built a position which
was the envy of all. It was so constructed that it was impossible to
detect it by aeroplane or other observation. Speaking tubes connected
all the gun-pits with the command post, and each pit had a tunnel
leading into the other; so that if one was severely bombarded, an escape
could be made through the other. The walls of the pits were nicely
decorated with captured German material, and the appearance was such as
to strike an inspecting officer most favorably. The greatest attention
was paid to strengthening each defence, as the shelling was intense both
by day and night. It was lucky that all these precautions were taken;
for on the 24th of June, just as the Battery had completed firing a
trial barrage, the enemy opened up with four batteries of heavy
artillery. The bombardment was terrific, and almost all varieties of
shell were used, including armor-piercing shell, which went down ten
feet in the ground and then exploded. It was marvelous that there was
anything left of the Battery, the whole position was covered with shell
holes. One of the shells passed through the shelter in which Corpl. John
McVicar, of Sydney, was with his gun detachment. The shock instantly
killed Corporal McVicar and dazed some of the others. At the same time
others had become casualties. The day will be long remembered as one
which inflicted great sorrow on the remaining members of the Battery.
While we were in this position Corporal Jack and Gunner Wheatley were
also wounded, and there were several regrettable casualties among the
drivers at the wagon lines.
[Illustration:
CAPT. F. H. TINGLEY, M.C.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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