The 116th Battalion in France

onths, it fell to the lot of each division to be withdrawn ent

is merely an existence, it can be readily appreciated that the

ttalion would go to. At the beginning of August, the 3rd Canadian Division was withdrawn from the line, and it fell to our lot to get the Village of Auchel, conceded by many to be the Queen of billets in the Corps area; but unfortunately for us we did not arrive there until about the 15th of the month, being held up at Camblain L'Abbée (Corps Headquarters) on account of manoeuvres.

s such as the R.C.R. and P.P.C.L.I., the victory reflects the

which was afterwards known as the Battle of Hill Seventy. And so, on August 20th, amid the cries of "Bonne chance" from our friends in Auchel, we marched away with considerable reluctance, arriving the same evening at Gouy Servins, which was a reminder of the early days of the Battalion in France. Even then some of us had marched in high spirits

4

ins-en-Gohelle, another curiously descriptive name, but more commonly known as Fo

to make a quiet meal possible. Fossé 10 was really a staging camp to the front line, and there was natural

party consisting of the C.O., the company commanders of "A" and "D" Companies who were to take over the front line, the sc

e splendid progress, but that owing to the difficulties of communication, due to intense artillery fir

f Cité St. Pierre that Captain James Moore, our gallant and popular

their recent losses, in fact the R.S.M. of the 27th Battalion remarked that the artillery concentration on such a small frontage was heavier than

lished trenches and shell holes running through a portion of the ruined Cité St. Elizabeth to the outskirts of the City of Lens proper. Our final dispositions were in the front line right sector "D" Company (Captain Prat

tful awakening after ou

lief was in progress, for during the next forty-eight hours, we

y in carrying out the all-important work of consolidation;[44] whilst the support and reserve companies were

ualties of no less than twenty O.R's. killed and two officers and ninety O.R's. w

ion, having been constructed by the Bosch, was excellent, if somewhat dirty, and with the exception of one or two working parties we had nothing very much to worry us. Now and again Fritz would take it into his head to land a few salvos into the artillery positions in Vimy Village, about 300

h 5.9's on the right sector, now occupied by our "B" Company. This information was rather disconcerting, especially for the posts in that neighborhood. Anyway, a strict watch was established by the lookouts, and on the evening of the 16th, Company Commanders were called hurriedly to a conference at Battalion Headquarters. Information was that small partie

S.O.S. must be sent up until it was absolutely assured that the enemy was attacking had been recently impressed on us, and that is probably the reason why only one Company put

tion with 12th Ave. communication trench. They left the trench immediately, having captured Pte. Dewes of "B" Company, who had been wounded by the barrage, and was ev

ttacking party (seventy-three in number) was composed of "Stürm Truppen" (storm troops) who had been rushed up to the line that night in automobiles especially for this little entertainment. He also presented us with the photo of his company-published in this book. In

z had timed his raid just 24 hours too soon!!) and marched to Thélus Caves, from where we w

4

e battalion up to the present time, or for seven months' active service, numbered e

of the battalion actually doing duty in the trenches, and no mention has been ma

talion Headquarters, and they were jointly responsible for supplying to the battalion each day, food, clothes, ammunition, rum, etc., in fac

one the less arduous and none the less dangerous. Every night rations must be carried to the battalion in the line, and the roads and pathways along which the transpo

raser Camp our Quartermaster, who was riding towards La Targette Corners, was chased by an enemy plane. His own description of his feelings when he realized the relative speed of his horse on the gallop and the German plane, is beyond words, an

e Corps Commander personally decorated a number of our N.C.O's. and men who had distinguished themselves in the raid of July 23rd. The proceedings were slightly marred by the activities of a German aer