World War, 1914-1918 -- Canada; World War, 1914-1918 -- Nova Scotia
The Hill 70 gas episode and the shelling received the night of October
the 7th were two of the worst experiences that any Battery had ever been
called upon to endure, but the brave boys of the 36th met both with
unflinching courage and proved themselves worthy of all the encomiums
which had been bestowed upon them. For gallant work on this occasion
several members of the Battery were decorated. On the 10th of October
Cambrai was captured, the 36th Battery doing its share to make the
battle a success.
[Illustration:
LT. F. J. LONGWORTH, M.C.]
From Cambrai they moved northward again, occupying various positions
with various degrees of fortune until November 1st, when the march
towards Mons commenced. This was one long succession of triumphs,
culminating in the capture of the celebrated city on the morning of the
11th of November. On the afternoon of the 10th we were in position at
Je-Mappes, about one thousand yards from Mons. At 3.30 in the afternoon
orders were received to fire on the railway at Mons, and while engaged
in doing that several enemy shells were fired into the Battery, one of
which instantly killed Lieut. Fred Longworth, of Charlottetown, and
wounded Sergeant Dickson and several others. Sergeant Dickson received
thirty-two wounds but managed to pull through. On the morning of the
11th at 6.30 word was received that the Armistice was signed, and a
March-Past was ordered to take place in the City of Mons. There was
great rejoicing at the good news, inasmuch as the suffering of the last
three months was beginning to tell on the remaining members of the “Old
Guard.”
I cannot close this account of the doings of the 36th Battery without
making reference to the wonderful qualities which the officers, N.C.O.’s
and men displayed. It was easy to command a Battery like the 36th. They
were everything that could be desired. Loyal, brave and good-humored,
with the greatest devotion to duty, they cannot be too highly praised by
me. Every man was a hero and every man deserved decorations many times
over. I feel that it is but fitting that I should here mention the fact,
when speaking about decorations, that the 36th Battery received a very
large share of them, including one D.S.O., two Croix de Guerre, eight
Military Crosses, one bar for Military Cross, ten D.C.M.’s and twenty
Military Medals.
On November 21, 1918, Major D. A. MacKinnon, who commanded the 36th
Battery from its arrival in France on July 14, 1916, and who took part
with the Battery in all its battles, was granted sick leave to Canada.
The loss of so many brave officers and brave men had been a severe shock
to him, and his nerves became greatly unstrung. It was with sincere
regret that he parted with the boys after nearly three years of
strenuous fighting. The Battery, after a short stay in Belgium, was
transferred to England, demobilizing in March, 1919. On the 36th
Battery’s return to Sydney, N.S., they were tendered a most notable
reception.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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