Private Peat

the Motherland. Judging from the wonderful reception given us, it was eas

Plain and were immediately ordered to march across the Plain another ten miles to Pond Farm, I knew I shouldn't be able to do it, and confided my troubles to Bill and another fellow named Laughlin. After we had gone about four miles we came to an invitin

we slept until early morning. Thus I passed my first night on English soil. Two days later we landed in camp, after visiting Devizes, Laving

he country told us that never before in their lives had they seen such rains, but this must be characteristic of people the world

unfortunately I had to go alone. Personally, I think the English people made too big a fuss over us. The receptions we got at every turn of the way were stupendous; and I

o not blame them. Never in their lives had they seen soldiers like us. They had been used to the fine, well-disciplined, good-looking English Tommy. Of course I will admit that we were good-looking all right, but as far as disci

nd. With a band of young Canadians on pass, I assisted once in giving Nelson's Monument in Trafalgar Square the "once over" with a monocle in my left eye. A few h

ut to us by the Britishers. If there ever was a possibility before this war of Canada's breaking away from the Motherland, such a possibili

ital part of a soldier's up-bringing was absolutely forgotten by our officers-discipline! As I've said before, a

rous yet caustic, it seemed to me, was of an English soldier on guard at a post just outside of London. His instructions were to stop all who

s there?" dema

usiliers," w

Fusiliers;

ome more step

Who goe

ndon Re

ndons; al

Who goe

your own dam

adians; al

brigadier-general from Ontario, since killed in action, while reviewing the sol

d for once in your lives, men, I want to see you act like real soldiers. When they get here, fo

ities probably looked on us as a bunch

rrow blue stripes; the artillery, scarlet, and the medical corps, maroon. I was told that these lapelettes were given to distinguish us from other contingents. To-day there ar

ning at all. The rain was almost continuous, we were constantly being moved from one ca

ts sometimes in the middle of the night. If any minister of the gospel-except our chaplain-had been standing around on these occasions he might well have thought from the sulphurous perfume of the air that every soldier was doomed to everlasting Hades. But

unless under extraor

under a downpour of rain, seeing your comrade shot, or getting coal oil in your tea. As a ma

talion were enthusiastic and did their best to keep fit. However, we all went to pieces when we w

when after a long march we would come in with our feet blistered, he would not detail a sergeant to look after us. He would, himself, kneel down on the muddy floor and bathe our feet. If at any time we were "strapped" and wanted a one-pound note, we always knew where to go for it. It was always Captain Pa

s made into a Reserve Battalion. The men were so greatly discouraged

stance we all did fairly well, except Number One, who missed completely. For the sake of Number One the sergeant moved us down to four hundred yards, and at this distance every man got a bull's eye except Number One. He was off the target al

ng it mildly. Nevertheless, Number One missed. Then, something that never happened before on a rifle range on this earth electrified us

in bold yellow letters. It was they who had to leave horses behind and travel to France to fight in what they termed "mere" infantry. To this day we know them as

was obvious that somebody had to be kept in reserve, and we were the unlucky dogs. We cursed our fate, but that didn't mend matte

battalions came from Ontario. The Second Brigade was made up of men from the West, including Winnipeg, Regina

h Battalions. This last brigade included such splendid old regiments as the Forty-Eighth Highlanders of Toronto, the Ninety-First

The unit lying next to us, the Seventeenth Battalion, was quarantined with that terrible disease, cerebro-spinal-meningitis. For a few days we buried our lads by the dozen. Speaking for myself, my nerves were absolutely unstrung,

alion, ordinarily known as the "Dirty Third." This battalion was made u

n a few hours. He told me that I needed a complete change of equipment. At this news I rejoiced, because so far we had all worn, in o

ttalion; there were some three hours in which we had to get our equipment and learn to adjust it. As it was, many of the extreme greenhorn type marched away garbed in mos

his is of strong-the strongest-black leather. The soles are half-inch, and they are reenforced by an array of hobnails. These again are supplemented by tickety-tacks, steel or iron headed nails with the head half-moo

we cleaned camp, and then we had a fine speech from our new commander, Colon

st secrecy. We dare not sing as we marched; we dare not speak to a neighbor. On and on, it seemed endless, through mud and wate

broke over us; the thunder roared and the lightning split the sk

d on His Majesty's