Police Officer With Brilliant War Record Sees Royal Couple

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; OF the thousands of people who viewed Their Majesties j here Wednesday, one man perhaps obtained a better

chance to see the King and Queen than any other. He was Corporal G. H. Soles, Agassiz detachment of provincial police,

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and a man with a distinguished war record.

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Cpl. Soles' task It was to keep a. struggling, weaving group of press correspondents and photo graphers in line. As such, the young looking war veteran had a front row seat for the proceedings.

The Agassiz police officer had seen His :Majesty once before, ln London, shortly after the war, watching the ceremony of cha.ng-ing the guard.

Corporal Soles' war record is outstandin g. He was thrice award-ed the Distinguished Conduct med-al, next award to the Victoria Cross. He wears the D.C.M. and two bars. He enlisted with the 48th battalion, third pioneers, a few months after the war started, He was wounded at Vtmy and after recovering from his injuries transferred to the Seaforth High-landers on July 1, 1917. He served with them until September 28, 1918, when he was wounded at Cambrai.

He was. awarded the D.C.M. first at Pasch end ale in October, 1917, when, with six other men, he cap tured three German machine guns and took eighteen prisoners. His second .. award was secured at Amlens. This time e. tank was firing lnto British troops. Corporal Soles stopped lt before any con siderable damage was done, there I by preventing e. major tragedy.

On the third occasion when he was awarded the D.C.M., Corporal Soles, acting as sergeant-major of "A" company, with others, re-pelled a German counter attack. He had 17 out of 120 men left at the Ume.

Recalling the unpleas&.ntness at Pa.schendale, Corporal Soles states that Major Hamllton, now a well

. known figure in B. c. commercial life, was In command at the time. The officer called for volunteers to bomb the German machine gun ne:rs out of their positions. Cor-poral Soles and one other man got through the swamps surrounding the Get'Illan position, threw their bombs, killed several Germans, and took the me.chine gull.9 and the prisoners. "They told me we couldn't get through those swamps, and I said that It wouldn' t be any thing as bad as duck hunting in British Columbla," Corpol"al Soles reports.

He joined the B. c: game depart ment In 1922 and served with it until 1928, when he joined the pro-vinclal police. He has since been 1tatloned at Prince George, Prince

~upert and Hope.

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not ronsidcrcd dc:oir~b lr It) rcmlin1~ on the coursr . I Lht11 clrnn;:ccl 1011nr a nd hc:idc;; Lill!, ta.:c the ~c:is bl'llkt continuous ly on dP.d'-l then decided LO make Victory 5 n n.nd Lie up for the 111gh1. owlne1 to me l'fSk of Che bO!LL l)Clng ICCd down, :111d make a n attcmpL aL daybreak next day." ~.

1. S. \\'. PARSOXS NotwlLhstuncl lng Lho.L Lhc COllSLab!~'s ~K

report ncxL morn ing communleklCd: " heading h1to same eondlllon$ ns ihc Ort.cd i1nd helped Iv r1gnL ":; raveynrd of the Pacific." p uttlnit to for~t Cire~. . ~en imder conditions when no 1>th~1 , 'I hey pro 11decl c.>corts 1rnd lr>lll~ "Cs.~I ol i.lm1l;\r 1onm1gc: would da:c I portatlon for llu::ncc departme11~ venture out. audit.ors :111\1 ror r1u1O'V1lu1ray's ~nows.hoes broke. A tcm- for the fedeml mines deparLmen~. porary repair was effec ted. but wilh REVENUE SOURC1'S

_..u t> u1 1,~uou :-.car\!HCO h1:' 1tre1ni~~

l ~ ntl found 11:1 rl n( lhc i.lnlcn GOOd~. li e eH fe!l~cd. , rhro1tRho111 thr 1ep01 t are mMy : ci.~mples of tin~ kine! nf drlcienL , v.l)rk c~ 1r1cc1 1)111 111 pla1:ei; \\'hCrt'. one

do~:; n) the B. C. PoJtce Force not one bas l'\': r n&kcd Lo withdraw and ioca t press comment. some or Y.hlch 1s quou:d tn the rcporl. i$ mo.~l com-

mrndator~-. 1 x1-: w s r 1\rims t'R.\l SE j The Pentlc~on Herald Iii t>arLlcu ior

commen~~ on t.h~ freedom from IOC:ll influence~ :h:H ha:; chnmctcrlzcd the work or lhe ron:c In rhaL 111u11lcJpality.

/\ sub:nanllal S!:Ctlon or the r l'pon deals "Ith the work or Lhe Molor Vl.'hlclPs Br;rnch. whlrh not only t.SSuc.s rrom 85.000 to l00.000 mot.or c,v licenses I\ ~car. m11h1tain., a registry Of I he LILlei o( nll C..'\J'S In the Pl'OVlnce, l)ut !sues 130.000 Lo 140.000 drl,;ers chAuffeurs and other special kinds or licenses each yea r.

J . 1'. srEEr. OIF.:S /\T QUM .. lCUM N/\NAIMO. July 7.-John Young

steel, 64. retired mcrch:m~ rroin Van-couver. died In hls home 111. QuR!lcum Friday.

He had res ided I.here JO year&. He Is sur \'l\cd by l\\'O sl.sters. Miss Annie Steel, Vancou1er. and Ml$-~ Mary SLeel Q11allcum. :rnd a brother In SC'oUand .

F'uneral ;;ervlccs will be In the hom11 Sunday nt 3 C. Flnn11more 0Cflc!ntll1g. i11 Qualicum ccr.iet.ery.

conducted p.m .. Rev. rnt.crmcnt

Thousands or people still belh?\'C in lhal superstition ha\olng Its origin tn a ncien t Eg,pt. 1.IJR.t. the nspen lcM quivers bec~rn$C of horror. since Christ was supposed t.o h1we been cruclrled u pon a cross made or aspen wood.

One o! the sensaLional aerlallsf.s with the Shrine Club Circus at the Auditorium next week is dainty Gladys L:l.Toumeau who will per-form her dc:1lb-dcfyinir mid-air heel catch. one of the mosL th:rllllnt of aerial stunts. Proceed$ of the circus will be devoted to the Shrine Club'.; Crippled Children' Fund.

the he:ny going ll became l\J>pnrenl H i- t h the shoe would nol s lnnd the journ~y. ere 15 a "'" 0 l c he:ictings under I

which they co!lcctcd re,cnucs for the

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In addlLlon, I.he persplrallon rro7.e govcmmcnl. . Murrny's fee~. Reluctantly they turnerl Amusement lax s l,l!~ O bnck lo Pf .Englllnd- Sons of l!lnglnnd cream .wlll be provided. The com- b

Oon~l.nblc.s SA.tes cnllsl.cd the ::crv- I Gnmc tnx t,;,os lod"'e. Merrie Enghmd. No. 266. will mitLee In c harge expects a rcco;d s 11.n or a vol1111t~~ '"tide nan1cd J~ Police court finr~ . . . . . . . . 2S,~ lS ,, s: bl I 'h ~ ~~ "' ~ P 11 t meeL In Red Rose dC?grce in Lhc n sem Y w lCJl e program com- a llondrea.u and continued the expcC:1- I 0 ce cour iost~ ~.~a~ mences nt I :30 p .m. g tlon. . l'oll tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '.l.!1ll:. MRsonic Temple. Twenty-:;eveoth d

Some Idea or whaL they were UJ) I Pool room liccnseio ~.96 1 , Avenue and Victoria Road, Tuc:;day Easl AngUa anll l\tercil\ Association P' :ina il1sl. Is comeyed In lhOllce The annual plcnlc will be held on lsltl. 't'~ 0.,.._ ' Sus.sex Fellowship errands or mercy for .lsal.llt.l>d settlers work discharged by oCilcers In ~he Sunday. July 15: to Bowen Island. bea ~ ... -q.,ach, July 18; ru1d Issue the motor Jlcen.'lcs. but tJ1cY more remote portions o! the p1ovln~P. SS. Lady Cyntllla will leave Union S t~'lt~ 11nd games, are pressed Into service by every other The manner In which Crowley, StcnmshJps Co. pier at 9:30 a .m. Tea, f ...J,. ... ~ ~ '"laughters department of thr. Government. Fer11.lns and Smith were traced M ~~~.. "'tung

T hb lime they we1c asked t.o dclhcr lasL November Is llluinlnatlng. 'O' ~ ~ ,~ Qer I.he ballot boxes lo Telegraph Creek During the night o! Dec. 14 Ash- Cornwa ll . n ovon a nd SonicrH~ ~} ~~~ ~\ ~.: , . 'c, 1or the last Provincial ele.cLlon. The crofl People 1-:elll'd thP. era.sh of a .:ar. Association-Tho annual picnic an1 ~ .. ~ $> .c., ... .;).,,._ ll~l',r~th;c Is found In the diary or Con- Jnvl'~lf!'Atlnn hn,,.n,. llv ~- "'" '- -- ' - - -

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A able be MW abl< mot to I ls c sere lrlne t1111.1 at!

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I congratulate you on the gallantry and devotion to dutt for w~ich you have been awarded

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!2nd Canadian Inf'.~ntr.r Batta lion,. KS/990.

Decemoor 23 ; 1918 .

430337 SSt..! G . H. Soles ;1 D. C. i'.t . 72n~ Caw.o_fa..~ In:f.'.1.:Yi:.ry 3 e.::.t;;.li1on, -rJ/~ 3rd. C. C. D. )!

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near Se rgeani Solea : ,-It gives me ve ry _great r>leasure indeed to

advise you that you have been awan~ed a Se c0n~ Be.r t o your Distinguished Conduct, Medal.- The ~ autho;ri ty fo~ this ,Award la 4th Cr-1.nf!.dln:n D~.v:i. :"!.l .i."JJ1

~ . . A. 42-33211c1~ted . 1 9.-1 2.-18 .. : The J . :mntl w:tll ;,c publishe d in 'the LonGl.on- Gazette in d'4e course . - ~~---'Please ac~epit-my-hearty 'consratule,ti cms . ! ~ . ' Yours sincerely~

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1.t give r, ::le very gr-ea~, iileo.s , J_:i!.~> .i.11l dtld to advise you that you he:l/P- lx~:'m e.wa.n.'i..ed. ...~ ~ ... 0 1n 2

n~~.,.. ~-r> : ;" ) '.},P :n.: .. 1 t, Ln.~uish.e.i Ckr-1):'.lC'I:. 31fod"1.l. The J. \ ! "f,~ j~,9\J,,J. ;.,2i :t .: },"', i ~-f }_.,,-.: .. : )~l . .: 1f.::,~ ' .:;, :J i. '. ~ :. i.. . ~~ I.. )i:~.=- 1 . :~. 4. ): .. ... ' A">-': -:-: ) ' _,_., '. t'"'-1 . ..,-1 ;_, ""'- . _~ ! ''.:: '-1- - ,.~_ ... , _ ' 1, }

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SEAFORTH ASSOCIATION OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, 4ZS WEST 23rd AVENUE, VANCOUVER. BBmSH COI.UMBIA

COL. T H C HON. E', W . H AMBER LT.-COL. C. C. M&:RRl1T, V.C .

J...L P AST PRES. . . E. H . LV1'LE 1ST VICE- PRES. , , . 0 . M U RPHY 2.ND V ICE-PRES . R. ARMSTRONG TREASUR ER , J. S . P ATERSON SECRITTARY J A M ES W ELL.B URN

2837 ,r.6tb , a.vo. Vancouver, J .c. Sept . 12th, 1944

Guy lI. K1rkpatriok, Ltt . Ool Seaforth JJ r riourics, v,.noouver, D.C .

Doar Col. :-

W1" ~-- ., .. JOV eqal that I -Ste 111' 111114'10M ot tu Oul>rQ. aot ion toqb' fl'olll s~ 2'f'Jl \o. 19'11. l9JB whon I ... ~ . .

I must say that I donot remember a ereot deal about t ho 27th and 28th , ot so~t . but I do romoribor somo of t he action on ~ept . 29th t

"An Company at t ho ti mo oi' jurilpi ng off on s opt. 29th , at 8 a . m. had only about 60 man ol.l toln undor t ho oomand of Capt. Gray. Thoro was ono otlicr Ott1cer a young Liont-oncmt , I boliove that h1a narao was Dond but coul d not say for auro as ho had juot oam.e to the 60. Our n.c.os . -rroro vory- short .corpl . Willian E. Dorkoloy waa put 1n chnrco of tho right half of t ho 60. tUldor t be Lientonant and I was i n ohor ee o~ t ho lof't half , L/sgt . Goorge Shortt woa in obargo of the machine oa-

- wo jum.red off at 8 c . m. ricbt bohind tho barnago and believe mo the seine wos tough , Soco of _..... own ohells uoro droppinr short. Ca'Pt Gray was afraid._,._. gott1ng t oo for bohintl tho barrage nnd ho ~opt tell-ill6 as to movo up faater but Dorkoley ond I know tbot wo W.01'0 closo enongh so wo kopt all the mon wo oould book , but about 8 1n t ho

oontor with Oapt.Gnay got *8o ~ ahea.4 aa4 S ia.,. ,,_.. all killed by one ot .r OWA a,_,,Ja ~ on lnm4l."96 yards ranher OJI - I'm ti#

, some enemy strong po1n'ta which ba4 to be bombed out.. some prtaoners ware "taken and a number ot machine suna put out ot action, bot th1a held tts baok an4 onr barrage got mm ahead o't as.so we bad to work our way ahead without the barrage and there were some verr strong positi~na to attaok,but we maneged to work torward until we reaobed the :rail-way- just south F.eat of senoonrt where the railway turns to run to Cambrai, This WBs as tar aa we could go the Enemy was massed 1n the railway out for a countar ataok ao we took cover in a small d1toh on the top of the railway out. At this t1me the work ot Cpl. 1PrllD1c c. SlaT1n and his section wee wounder:t'ul they sat their maohene gun tlP on the side ot the ra~lwey and f'ired j.nto the massod enemy hilling at le&&t f1:tty. Frank r1oul d not got down ant11 he had tired three pans . I am sorry to say Frank' was severely wounded at h1e time and I bel..-Ve he died when t bey were carrying him out.

Co~. Berkeley was wounded also the Lieu t enantts:s by this 1i1me. there was only L/sgt. Shortt 15 men and myself. 'l'he enemy wu tn-ing to oroas the railway to' get at a but we hel4 them back tor 211 hollr8 with r1.f'le and maohene 'gttn fire.

The Batt. on our right tailed to ohle np so onr right w11s in the air. Also we could not t1n4 our "C" Coapany on our left, b11t it there were no more o-r 'han. than thm.-e were on "A" Comp&J17 1' waa no wonder. We set up a J!aohena gan at both ends o:r t,10 ditch, and t he r ost o~ us wato ed t ho front , t he enemy made u nD'iber ot attacks but wero dr1von back each time. At som\l time botwaon elav0n and t wel ve oclook I was wonnded in the head and was anoon soioae tor some time when I oame to we dec1de4 that we oonld not bold thia position 1t we ooald not get retrltoroementa so it was 4eo1de4 that I woold go baok tor help I had not gone

vory for when I rrui into our Latt . 6 inch New-ton trench nortar seotion and gavo thom the poa 1t1on of tho enemy in tho rcilway cut and tbey openod f1re oausing a lnr~o nambor o~ oasnaltiE on the anomy.

Aftor loavine the newton tronch mortar soctio I worked my way back into Sancoart . On entering the South East oornor or Sanoourt I turnod into a sunken rood ond saw a Gorman sentry standing l ookittg back tovrorda uhoro '10 bad jnmpod ott 1dI that norni~ I crawlod Ill> behind him t nd told him to put UJ' his hands , wbioh ha did. Ho t old mo that thoro wore 40 Gormans in tho Dugout thot he was guarding, I told him t o toll t hem to come up whitholt their gona,wh1ch ho d1u , it was a hoadquartors dugout f\nd the Offioar was a Br 1ead1or , and spoke vory good Engliab. He nos vory muob disappointed to bo taken prisoner os ho bud only beon ma~ e a Dr1gadier tho day beforo I took those prisoners book until I ran into 1llll oo J0 Streto ler Doorora who wonted them to carry \loundedJ

Thia is all os I waa on my way to England . bat I must eo.y tllat this action frort tho 27th , to t"1e 29th , of Soptembor uos tho worst I Aa\v i 'l my: 30 mont lls 1A J!lre1lee.

Toan u.al7.-Ceorge L soi.

GRANVILLE STREET 12 !5U5 - ,.,;1 ~ VANCOUVE~, a . C .

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Jimnie Well.burn~ Mr. Hatnilton St.

455 Vancouver, B.C.

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SEAFORTH HIGHL.tlliDERS OF CANADA

NEWS IEI'TER

1st Bn

MOVES - Le.ft, Vancouver for overseas in December, 1939. Equipped and trained in Englani as part of 2nd Brigade, 1st Canadian Division. First Active Service -Invasion Of Italy, loth Ju1y, 1943.

CASUATir IES - During the actual beach 1nvasion casualties were very light - being 3 K.IoA. and a f'e11 'vound.ed,. Casualties continued. light for first 10 days, unti1 Germans were encountered. just before Leon Forte - then became heavier. Landed in Italy in August, casualties continued light until 8th Jti~my developed heavy fight-fug up Adriatic Coast a Under the of fic5..al system of reporting casualties it is impossible to obtain correct v.nit figur-es ar.d as a rule, officers are more easily identified than OoRs .... possibly due to their Sm9.ller numbers. The best casua.lty figut"es I can give are believed correct - as to K.LA. and a fair estimate as to wounded bub neither list is up to date. Here are the figures as I have them.

K.I.A. and D.o.w. Officers - 16 o.Rs . -235

Nounded - All Ranks - Actually traced - over 350 Tot.al, believed correct- over 500

Missing - All Ranks 33 There are of course many casualties subsequent to the 768 r eported above.

OFFICE..'R.S - Of' the officers who went overseas with, or shortly after the lst Bn. no f'ewe.-r th.an 18 have attained the rank of Lt. Col.. or better. One of these is a Ma.jqr-GeneraJ.. and three are Brigadiers~ N. C. Os. AND ~N - Their quality is r eported as being outstanding in every respeot an:i second to none. DECOR.AT IONS (App.) - D.s.o. - 7; M.C. - 4; D.C.M. - 5; M. :M. - 15; plus several. mentiions-:--These figures are believed to be conservative and do not include Lt. Col. Merritt1 s v.c. which was won with the South Saskatchewa.ns ., PJl'E BAND - 9 pipers , 7 drums::1 headed by Pipe Major Esson who is .famous for wearing a beard"l'aJ.lcnved by regulations) and who has made his barn outstaming in the C anactia:n A:r:my.

SPORTS - The Bn .. won the Divisional Sports in Italy - Septel2lher, 194:;. SEAFORTH REUNION - Same of you may not know that at Cata.."lia, Sicily in August, 1943 there was a splendid r eunion between olF l st Bn .. and the 2nd and 5th Seaf'orths, both of the 5lst Division and tho 6th Seaforths of the 5th (British Division).

2n.d (Res,) Bn. Sl'R"SNGTH & ENLIST?ENI'S - P.cesent strength - 504; Took to Camp, 1944 - 298; Total Enlict.ments during war - 171:3; Recruits supplied to Active Arrey - 807.

OFF:n:::ERS - 2.nd Bn. has supplied 22 Officers to 1st Bn. PIPE B.A:tm - Strength ... 26, very keen.

N. c. Os. - Average age - ;7 yea.rs. Cl'JJJP - 1944 at Gordon Head, V. I. Training was very good - comprising range firing .fen" rifles and 1.,M.Gs. also .3" Mortar. Ca.l"!'iers - Signals ~\Tireless). Bno Cooks were excellent - 15 of them being trade tested.

Cadet Bn .. STRENGTH - Annm.1 Inspection May, 1944; 251 on parac:le, 209 uniformed & 42 recruits.

Is starling new yea:r with approximately 200 boys in uniform and over 50 reoru:i..ts .

ENLIBTMENl'S - For year ending M9.y 31st, 1944 73 Cadets enlisted voluntarily for Active Ser-nee.

~ - July, 1944 - near Sardis, very successful - 186 cadets attending, PIFE BAND - Really e.xoeJ.lent, ll pi pers and 9 drumners. In open competition ranked second f or stewart Trop!i..y by half a point and f:irst :in dr~g. GENERAL - Has been cons:!..stently in denmrl for displays of drill and training,

To all Old Seaforths:

IT 1D BE A GRAND IDtA IF WE (OULD swrRH Tut$\: FILES

MATERIAL FOR NEW REGThENI'AL HISTORY

Since I virote to you all in July last, our History has been doing better - but not well enough. I have now received about 25 written communications containing personal recollections - all of them written in di.fferent styles~ Some are 1C1ng , some short, some humorous, some serious and straight ahead, but all very interesting and well worth while. I have shown some of these to a f gr,'l of your old comrades who are within easy reach of me and they were all greatly interested and most of them have started to vvrite their own memoirs . I personally lmoYf of at least twenty more "recollections" yet to come in. But all put together these are not 10% of our merri!:>ership. There should be at least 200 men amongst you nho have sorothing interesting to tell - perhaps a long story - perhaps only a short one. If you want to see ;;hat others are 11vrit:i.ng, then take the t roubl e to write to me and say so and I Ydll send you a copy of someone elser s story so a s to give you some ideas.

In my last l etter I told you all to wake up and get busy and those w-ords still go for all of you, except the t wenty-five or s o who have v~ritten to me and to whom I am very grateful. If you are not yet completely dead then prove your existence by writing to ~, even il it is only t o ask me to stop bothering you.

I enclose a l ist of 11Addresses Wanted" and shall be gl ad of any help anyone can give me in this matter. I also enclose a short 11News Letter'1 re our first and second, and Cadet Battalions.

I kn0';1 that most of us have trouble v-d.th our memory ;1hen it comes to happenings of 25 years a go , so I am enclosing a short ''Table of Events 11 whi ch may be of . some help. In the earlier years the 0 1'abl e11 is :in greater detail for the benefit of the older men. When I send out my next l etter, I hope to bring the ''!'able of Events" up to the com-mencement of the present viar.

Seaforth Armouries, Vane ouver .... B. C October 2nd, 1944,

GUY H. KJRKPATRicK, Lt. Col.

72ND REG ThiEN1' - SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA

- Dr. COL. R. G. E. LECKIE, COMMANDING -

TABLE OF EVENI'S - 1910 - 19J.4.

24th Nov. 1910 - Authorized as "72nd Highlanders of' Canada".

27th Mar. l9ll - Approved as tt72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada" (Alliance sanctioned by the War 0.ffice) .

22nd June 19ll - (Coronation Day) - First Public Parade. 29th July 1911 - Ca.ledonian and st., Andrews Games - Brockton Point.

1st Aug. 1911 - lst Inspection - Col .. Wadlnore, D.o.c. lst Aprll. 1912-lst Church Parade - St. John's Church. 28tih April 1912-Tacoma Trip Proposed,.

11th June 1912 - Inspected by Major Gen. Colin McKenzie. lst July 1912 - March from Cowichan Bay to Victoria, B.C. v:ia Gold.stream. Battle

of Colvrood and Parsons Bridge.

4th July 1912 - Trip to Taco:rm, Wash.

13th July 1912 - 2nd Annutl Inspection - by Col. Wad.more.

21st July 1912 - 39th Annual Meeting B.C.R.A. - Lt. R.M. Blair wins Lt. Governor s Cup and Medal, Seaforths win Laurie Bugle.

l8tih Sept.1912 - Duke of Connaught; arrived in Vancouver, 2 Guards of Honour -D.O.O.R. - C.P. Station; S. H.. of C. - Court Housee

19th Sapt.1912 - Seafortha :inspected ey H.R.H. Duke of Connaught - Pipe 1&3.jor GjJ,lies honoui>ed.

llth Jan. 1913 - Military Ba.ll given by Seaforth Officers at the then New Hotel Vancouver.

15th A].lt'il 1913-0hUI'ch Parade - Seaforthe and newly farmed Hiehland Cadets um.er command Lt. Colo Leckie - St. Jol:ms Church.

9th June 1913 - Sham Bgttle attack on Shaughnessy Heights by Seaforth Higbla.nd.ers.

23rd June 191:3 - Annual Inspection of Seaforths - Complimented by D. O. c. Col. Roy.

26th June to . 1st Jul 1913 ... Seaforths m Camp at Sid-ney, B. c. Offically named 1st Bn. 72nd Y Ref.,-'t ., s. H.. of o. (A.llied with The Seaf0rr.h HigllJ.a..Jde:r.s). 28th Jme 1913 - Seaforlhs ir.spected in Camp by Gen. Sll' Ian ff..'"JllL:!J.ton. 14th Aug. 1913 - Midnight - troops off to Na.:r~dmo to scene of riots. Major J. S,

Tait in commar.d of Seaforths - 250 strong.

14th Aug. 1913 - Seafortha :in pea.cefu1 possession of Cunber:L:lnd M;i.nes . 29th Aug, 1913 - Troops come home from Nana.:lmo are complimented by Prenrier w. J.

BOWBer.

October - 191' - Canadian Militia. Of~cers at,tend .Arrrr.y Manoeuvers in Switzerland, France and Engl.am. Lt. Col. Leckie attends for Seafoi:-l.::..ha.

lst June 1914 - Battle of Reds aJ'ld Blues at Vernon. Seaf~ths took part.

June - 1914 - Major H. s. 'robin of Sea.forths appointed Brigade Major. 4th Aug. 1914 - War. Over 500 all ranks leave for Valca.rtiers at am of August. August - 1914 - Regtt 1. Colors deposited in St. Johns Church (per taxi cab). 4th Sept. 1914 - 72nd Seaforths first contingent arrive at Valcartier. ,Remainder

carries on as Hee;:i.mental Depot Hqrs. a.t Hoffmeister Building, Pender Street, under Major J. S. Tait.

Deoember 1914 - Hqrs. moved to old Vancouver Club, 901 Ha.stings Street w. Regilllen-ta.J. Depcrt performed &ll'rison duties and recruited trained and forwarded reinforcements to the Front.

September 1914 - C. Os. were as follOifS - Major J. s. Tait joined, promoted to Lt. Col. - 29th Bn. C.E.F. November, 1914.

Navenber l9l4 - Major G. H. Kirlcpatrick, until he took conuna.nd of llth C. N. R., C E. F., February 15.

February 1915 - Major J. A. Clark - until he took canma.nd of 72nd Bn. C. E. F. July - 1915 - Major F, E. Leach, until he took ccmmand of 23lst Bn. C.E.F.

March 16.

!pr~ l9l61t

1 - Major R.H. Tupper, until tha Regimental Depot was merged in the

ueu.'.:lu - 9 7 1st Depot at Hastinr;s Park um.er Lt. Col. H. st. J. Montizambert, Major Tupper acting as 2 i/c, Disbanded early 1919.

March - 1920 - 72nd Ree:il!lent s.H. of c. officially reorganized as ''The Seaforth Highlanders of Cauadan. lst Bn. - (72nd Bn. C.E.F.) 2nd Bn. (Res.) - (23lst Bn. c.g. F.)

CHRONOLOOICAL TABLE OF EVENI'S

- Ill'. COL, J. A. CLARK, COMUANDING ...

72nd Battalion C .E.F.

July - 1915 - 72nd Bn. C. E. F. aul:ihorized. Aueust 1915 to April - 1916 - Hastings Park. April - 1916 - ottawa - Inspected and Complimented - Halifax. May - - l.916 - Liverpool - Bramahott - Inspected - Watson - French. July- - 1916 - Inspected - The King, IJ.oyd Gear8e~ Hue;hes. Guard of Honour. AuguErt - 1916 - Le Havre, Front line instruction Kemmel. September 1916 - First Raid - March to Somme. Oct.-Nov, 1916 - Somme - Regina Trench - Jfiaroh to Vj,Jey. December 1916 t,... April 1917 - V:i.nw Ridge - Raids ("B11 Co.) Sports (Brigade ,, eto.)

Mc>~Jh - 1917 ~Gas Attaok. Apr U - 1917 - Vimy Ridge Capture and later.

-3-

May to June - 1917 - Ra.Ul.s - La. Coulotte1 23lst reinforcements,. Corps Sports,, 1st Army

horse show. July - l9l 7 - Tug of War Team - Paris Avion front. August l.917 to Septenber 1917 - Raida and counter raids. Corps Sports - pi.a.no dugout:.. Ociiober - 1917 - Passcherrlaelo - Crest Farm. NC11.re1rber- 1917 - A\U3hel. December 1917 to April 1918 - La. Goulette am Avion Raids. (Loughs,, Hmsonts,, etc.) May, June & In reserve - Auchel etc. Carps Sports at Tinoques. Highlani July - l.918 - gathering at T incques. Farnpoux: front raid (McDonald). August - 1918 - Allliens and follow up, move to Orange Hill. SapteDiJer 1918 - Drocom+ti - Queaut; (Dury Hill) Lt.Col. Clark promoted Brig. Gen.

- Ill' COL. KIBKPATRICK ASSUMED' COMMAND -

September l.918 - Bourlon Wood (C&nbrai). Ootober - 1918 - Move Fcrwa.rd. November- 1918 - Valeneiermes - Armistice. Move Forward. January to April - 1919 - Ohain - Colors presenl;ed, King Albert, Left for Le Havre.

May - - 1919 - Southampton, Victory Parade, Bramahott. June- - l9l.9 - s. s. 11 0lympic11 home and disbandment. September 1919 - H.R.H. Prime of Wales visited Vancouver and ex-members of "1'2nd

Bn. G.E.F. volunteered as Guard of Honour.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF EVENI'S

- Irr. COL. F. E. LEACH, COMMANDING -2,'?l.SI' BN. C. E. F.

Ma.rob - 1916 - Officially authorized. June - 1916 - 11A11 , 1'B 11 & "D 11 Companies in Camp at Sidney. 110 11 Company at

H:l.stings Street Hqrs. to carry on recruiting - very success.:f'ul.

August .... 1916 - ''C 11 c ompa.ny joined Bn. at Sidney. October- 1916 - Bn. moved from Sidney to Hastings Park, to carry on training.

March - 1917 - Left for overseas / passing through otta.wa..

April - 1917 - Ra.lifax, England - Seaforths inspected by Col. Gardiner.

May - - 1917 - General leave for Bn. Draf't of 400 to 72ni Bn.

June - 1917 - All junior office.rs and O.Rs. to France as reinforcements to 72nd a.ni other C .E.F Bns.

July - l.917 - All senior officers volmrl;,eered to revert to lieutenants for service in Franoe.

- ADDRESSES WANI'ED -

Col. Go:lson~odson Lt. J. Atcheson, M.C. T. (or C ) Aitlrenhea.d, M. M. R. D. Arm.9trong, M.M. G. A-waJ.t, M .. M.. W. E. Bm'keley, M.M. (bar) Mljor s.B . Birds, n.s.o., M.c. J, Bond, M. M. Lt. C. H. Brook, D.C.M. , M.M. J, M. Gameron, M. M. T. Carmichael, M. M. H. G. Gordon, M. M. J. Gray, M. M. W. H. Graggain, M.M. W. C. Griffiths, M. M, T. K, Hall , D.C.M. M. J. H. Harris , 1-LM. Lt. O, L. Fiedler Lt. R. L. GaJ.e Lt. W. Harrison J, W. Hartley, M. M. c. Hawes, M. M. H, L, Heaton, M. M. R. E. Huison, M.M. S. Irwin, D .c .M. G. s. Kerr , M. M. Capt. C. G.R, Kilp;i.trick R. King, M. M. (bar) Lt. J, McK. Knight , M.C. L.c . Ma.bbath, M.M. Lt .. R . C, Major Lt. A. C. Macdonald N. McM:illa.n G. R. !~jar, M. M. A. '\i1f, Jl.'fartin, M. M. Alex MaAulay, M. M. F, C. McGalltun, M. M. A, McDonald , D.C,M, I. P. McDonald., M. M. Lt , J.A. McGregor, M.O,, M.M. O, A. McKay, M. M. J. A. McLaren, M.M. D. H. McLean, D.C.M, J. McLean, M. M. H, J. McMil.J.an, M.M. W. G. McNall, M. M. E. R, McPherson, M. M. Lt. S.J. Naisnti.th, M.O. T . G. Nicholson, M. M. A. Nob1e, M. M. G. Nihara, M.M. Lt. H. Qlg, M. M. R. G. Ol'en, M.M. Lt. E. V. Graham Lt. N. E. Gore-Langton

Lt, R. V, Leese Lt. G. Ogilvy Lt. H.L.L. Rosson Lt. M.L.G. Armstrong Lt. G. B. Benson Lt. G.A.L, Ellis Lt . W. S. Fernie Lt. F. B . &:r.ker-Thomas Lt. A. J .. Julian Lt . J. H., Kerr Lt, R..,Ko McCOU'.'thy Lt. W.L. wVray E. G. Paisley, M. M. A. B. Parrutt, D.O .M. E. W. Rich, M.M. E. E. Ryan, M.M. T. Saunders, M. M. H. Scott, M. M. H. Soulthorpe, M. M. F.J.A. Shaw, M.M. G. A. Shortt, M.M. G. E. Shove, M.M. J. S:imson, M. M. T. F. Sinclair, M. M. A. Sraith, M. M. (bar) Lt. J. W, Smith Lt. J. G. Smith Lt. J, H. M. Smith J. Sneddon, M. M. A. M, stewart , M. M. J. G. stewart , M.M. Lt . F.1.G. Switzer, M.M. R. H. Sweggert, M. M. s. A. Thomson, M. M. C. E. Torrey, M.M. W, D. Turnbull, M.M. A. Wa.rd, M., M. (bar) G, Warren, M. M. W. A. Wellband, D .C . M. Lt. H.o. Whittaker , D.s.o. Lt. H. G, Weed.man Lt. T, Raisbeck Capt-> R.A. McDonnell T . H. W:lJ..kinson, M.M. (bar) C.R.A. Wilson, M.M. H. Woodfield, M. M, G. A. Young, D.C.M. H, s .. Ashd.mm J. T. Bressee D. Brovm W. F . Calpha.m H. B. Dick.son, M. M. P. F. Henrickson P. L. King A. E. Milne G. A. Smith

~ Guy H. Kirkpatrick, It. Gol. Sea.forth Armouries, Vancower, B. c ..

Dear Col.1

Box 2001 Miles city, Montana.

J~ 12, 1944 ..

Ae Salvage Chair.man :for Custer County, Montana, I appreciate the Scottie picking up the overflow and getting it back in oi:rculation, so here we go.

I am at present - liquor vendor in State Liquor store, Miles City, Montana, (which position more or leas depends on whioh way the political wini blows ) and as such occasionally come in contaot w:i.th the beverage represented by the Black and Vlbite Scotties,, which reminds me o:f the time, Dec. 31, 1917 D Co. was supposed to have Nevr Year d:inner at Cha.teau de la. Haie, and a shmv after 1 but 15 and 16 Platoon soerned to be at the tail end of the l:Ule and lost out on the turkey, which defic-iency lvas made up later.. By the t:iJne, the D Coy Sergeants had seen to it that the boys at least got some beer 1 and turned their weary footsteps toward the picture show dovm in the valley they found that there also 1 they were at the tail end of the line, and no standing roam. ava.i.L:Lble. To cheer our failing spirits we thought possibly Gou,y Servins miglrt. offer respite 1 but by th:Ls time Gouy estaminet were olosed. Being Orderly Sergeant for the day, it seemed that it was my duty to see that those weary Scats Sergeants should have an opportunity of seeing New Year Eve out in the traditionaJ. nmmer. With a11 due respect the Orderly Sergeant reported to the 0l:'derly Officer am. a~er being cordially :invited to enter I oould not leave 11\Y comrades in distress, Sgts. Nicoll, Munro, and v1ho was the other one? Anyhovr, ai'tier toasting the King, the Queen, the 72nd and Col. A. J. Clark and D Co Officers, we were starting to give a toast to each other, when the Officer of the day seemed to notice that altho there irra.s only one bottle on the table at a time, the supply behind his bunk seemed to be depleting rather rapidly. He therefor mde the ruling that any further toasts would have to be made with rum. The Orderly Sergeant al-lowed one toast in rum then got. his brother-in-arms out of there beeause the :Major was due back .from the picture shaw and might want to know what happened to the spirits, so passed a New Years Eve m good fellowship al1d. cheer that started out rather drear. I wonder if Lt. Mand.el still talks Ga.eJ.io.

Another :incident that oome:J to :mitrl was the night June 28 1 1917 1 about 6 P. .M. when we took that other 250 yards around Elen trenches to the le.t't of Avion. That was where Geordie Munro and yours truly found Dunoan Murray of our own Platoon 15 in a Shell Hol.e with broken legs. After fixing h:fJn as best we oould v.re had to l eave him for stretcher bearers. Next time I sa"llV Dunoan vras here :1n Miles City, about ten years later. Inoidently L.A. Mercy:fie1d, 2020:;92, who le.ft U.S. Navy and joined the 72nd. in VancoU1Ter is now Chief Grazier in U.S. Graziel' Office here in Miles City and am sorry to report that he has just returned from 'Misso'Ul.a, Mont. after the 11'1lneral of his -vdi'e.

Then there was the time on V:im;y Ridge when it looked like Jerry was coming over a.nd Geordie Munro says to Duncan Murray -"I am taking off m::r apron al1d. we will let them see the color of the tartan11 That was about the t:ime Col .. Clark gave the order that every p:itrol had to be accompanied by an Officer and he, Clark, went out first in bright moonlight, snOVt on the grourrl in about 75 yard no nans land, I have reco-llection of Bill MaoLennan ma.k:illg his oup ot tea those cold nights on his pork and bean tin tonnrw oooker (salvage fat and gunny sack). Talking about B:ill 'nd.nds me of the t:i.m9 he took my place that tillle we went in at A.miens and Bill knocked out that machine gun crfI'lt with a revolver, aJJ. by his lonesome, according to Blighty, who 'l'l'a.S trying to keep up with him pacld.ng a ma.chine gun and son:i rumnunition. Tilat was about; the t:ll!le Par.rot took the oour:d;er aC.tacking Germana to a cleaning. S,, a.i'ter I had dutifully followed the cmfit u.:p to Roseries,, waiting .for my leave

...

warrant, tha.t I was supposed to get at Gentille Wood, the beys were being assigned for leave, oadet oour'ses and so forth, there vra.l!I I expeoting Sgt. Weddel to oome to me next ''r3.th 11\Y transportation warrant, but he oalml.y aays, I have to report to B., H. Q., you are detailed Orderly N C. o.. Funny how these things stick in your :memory. Instead of going on leave we went baok up to the Arras .front, Mljor Wocxi, Lt. Fe.iJiler, taking the lead of the Company that night Orange Hill and Drury. I got my leave on a stretcher a.Ild hospital boat, and Ool. Clark gettmg a stretcher for me and eayillg ''I will meet you in Vancouver. 11

May be Col. , you remember the tme you tried to get Pipe Major Gillies to play the pipes 150 to the minute and the kiltie~ march like a bunoh of Grenadier Guards but the lcilt would not mTing at that paoe, Baok to that morning of June 28 in .front of Ia Goa.latte Brewery, when we cleaned our pa.rt o:f the trench and ran into Capt. Ma.oinl;osh barging down the trenoh wanting to know if there were any more huns aro\Dli, then trying to get some information out of the two Gernnns who seam to ha.ve been taken prisoners. The big fellow who would not aay anything and the young fellow in pigeon French trying to tell him. somsthingJ to oap it all, the young GenllU11 when we started them baok with one of the boys that got a finger shot off 1 indicated that the oonmunioation trench was no good., and took the lead over the t0p direct to the brewery. Just when we thought we had done our good deed for the day, sanebcxly oom.es aJ.ong and gives order to follow Scout Sergeant Brawn to Saskatoon Road, so vm followed. him dawn but it seemed a long way down es-pec:ially in broad daylight 1 but. a:eyway vre got there, and Brawn started to give us our .frontage but the .Art:Ul.ery beat us to it and says Brown, "see that tree on your right , that oh:JJnney in lens on your left;, it is t:i.Jne to go" , and we went. I always rem.ember that "tV'e busted a gap in the wire 1 and Geordie Munro behin:i me with the Machine Gun.1 then soroohcw Geordie and I took off down this German trench just as it was getting dark bub d:Ui not encounter any Fritzias, but we run onto some of the boys who had been killed in Murrays section,, then when we started to reconnoitre a bit we got to that fork in the trench where Murray heard ua talking, he oalled to us, then we took one fork then the other and decided. he was :1n between the forks of the trenches, so we got on top again and got Dunoan in. It seems anywhere I have been that Geordie Munro pope up. When we were 1.Jl the l.ine at V:ilt\v an April 9th, and the boys went over the top. You relnember the morning Major Sweet wa.a killed, Geordie and I vrere out there bringing in some wounded fellows with the whiz bangs banging around as we were trying to keep the atretoher leve1, -walking over shell holes. That was the time Lt. Chowne was hit. Then ai'ter a. while we took off down to Givenoby and. up that Gluoas trench, we got up there a bit, when a1ong comes Col. Clark and Brig. Ma.oBrien when ,,1e enquired where they were going they sairl they were trying to locate the Frit~des. McLennan was with them. I think, a:nyway Mc.Brien got -vrounded in the arm or somewhere shortly a.fter we -vrere relieved by the Mi.d.d1eeex or same other 'English outfit.

It seems that next time :!n Avion I had a bit of a mix with some Germns and Jimmie Rowbottom was supporting my out-post wit h his Maohine Gun but could not fire because Germans dropped in the street between us. Anyway I will always remember that fellow who was with me, and when the Germ:i.ns rushed us he said he vras not much good on parade but he sllre would stay with me, and he sure d:W. 1 nhen we had taken care of the rush Kappel ca.me back from further along trenohes to see what the noise was, and thought , we ought to take a prisoner, we were not taking any oh.a.noes on prisoners, lib.en they were about 20 to 25 (I wonder if Kappel is as good an orator as he was then) I think it was that night Kappel and the rest of ua investigated the orchard - and got some good pears. Soon after, the '.38th rel:i.ewd us. I still wonder what happened to the GerJMn Lug~ pistol I took off the German that night o Maybe Jinimie Well bum remem-bers the time Nicoll mailed it at Oarency for llle. This is about all I am good fo.r.- tor.ight ~ j:\; is a change from. thinking up somethi-rig to say about Salvage.

S.AM FINDLATER .

_,_

During rey spare man.ems today, it ciocurred to m that all thru six pages I seem to have lost traok of Bill Niooll, sinoe we cleaned up on Duggants Dew at Chateau de la Hail, but. Bill could not have been very far away as we bunked together most of the time in the line and out. You remember the t:ime at Hailleootn"t near Bruay when we visited Madame at the Etamuet across from D Co. fa.rieyard billet. We went on the prowl far some meat. The butcher had no pork but; said he would have some pretty quiok, he broughti the hog into a shed with cement floor and it seemed no time until vre had the pork ohops over to Madame. I guess that was the only time I had garlic mixed 1n my food and did not know it 1 bub it sure was good. After a pleasant visit vre mde our homeward way a.long bedgrows and fog, arriving in Camp far a good nightls rest only to find that we were next up for sentry dut.y. Then there was the ti.me in the sector to the lef't of Arras, wher e no ma.n' s land was about tr mile wide~ 15 Platoon took the night patrol, first half of the night and Sgt. Nicoll and 16 Platoon took the second shift, of course Nicoll had his Officer along, I think it '\l'ra.s Lt.. MacKenzie and the way Bm told it 1 that Officer just took him :around tha.t GerI!\9.ll wire :in the dark, l:lke as if he was on daylight patrol. They got some good inf ornation tmt night. During the early part of the night two other ello.'Vs who were out, run on to a c~ of' grO'USe, that just about gave us heart failure. Now that I got started on Nicoll it seems he was around somewhere most of the tilne.!t Just after we took Vil:ey and were going on working party to dig a trench to the right of Givenohy the Jerries must have Jmow we were ooming, they straf.fed us going down the hill and. mde us take oover, but 1m fimlly got to the white tape the engineers ha.d ki.ml.y la.id out far our benefit, we got out a ff1W shovelfuls before daylight.

One of the worst nights was when we went up past Courcelette on the Somme, up through Death Va.ll.ey1 rain, mud and slush, wire overhead, wire underfoot, when we vrere lift-ing our feet high f or about 50 -yards, the wire overhead would cat oh us in the neck and vioe versa. We finally gal:; to a more er less dry spot and rested until daylight. Just ai'ter eating our dry brealct'a.st the :N.c.o. wanted to lmow who had finished break-fast, so yours truly happened to be one picked on a stretcher deta:iJ. to oalJoly follow that stretcher bearer out over the top to pick up the wourrled, I should have said follOV' the calm stretcher bearer, After ooming back f'rom that job we bad to go up to Desire Trench, but all we ooul.d f inl was some shell holes the fellCTl'vs -vm rel.ieved said it was the fi'orxt line, but we d'Ug a. nevr one that night 1 then af'ter Comlllg out of that we camped in Bivouac and it rained all. night, we were glad when the order to go up the line again in the rain 1ras oanoelled. Thia is Ir11f third start on this letter and am lietening to the radio and the Bible Hour 1 and they are eiinging 1'When the Mists have Rolled Away11 J so if the mist would roll away maybe I could get started. Talking about. Chaplins1 reminds of the excel-lent work that Cpl. Ba.tzold in taking oare of the wounded in that PassohendaJ.e trip. That ,.,as some trlp, and it really r ained, that was the night that somebody- got some gasoline mixed with the rum and it made the rounds vd.th s~ to spare, and somehc:m it got back to me. I :nnnaged to piok up an extra water battle alld. saved that over-flow. Next; night the ration plr't;y got knocked out ~o we had an iron ration of a kind. When we ware coming out. eooo ~the boys were ready to drop out dea.d t:lred1 so I gave them a swal.l.ow of tha rum and gasoline mixture and they mde ca.mp in good shape. That was the same trip that Jirrm:te Rowbottom. a.ni Curly '1ibl.ado got buried with the:lr ma.chine gun in the j umping off trenoh. You lalow hmr it is in the da.!'ke I crune to No. 6 on the gun who seemed to be groggy an:l the rest of the crew a little worse. On starting along trench I found myself waJ.ldng on top, where I figured ~O\'lbottom and Pitblado shouJ.d be. . I imrood.ia.te.1y got shovels am started digging. We m:naged to get Curly O. K. but. J:i.mmie had been r esting when Curly was standing sentry, and he got buried, we tried to 'LlSO :3.I"t,:!.:fiaW r espiraticn b\ll; h8 was too far gone a.nd I dontt think he lmm1 'Wh-1.t h:l.:t hL1., Uurly v..ras not bUt'ied so deep and :r.iti' shovel struck soroothing sofi;,, whe:.l I ~o ~;. dovm F.,'Y'..cl f'e'.:.t with ';ey hands, I contact ::ici

-4-

Curly1 1!1 eurly hair and got the dirt away from hie faoe. He eays, ''By Gosh Sam, I thought you were never com:i.ng11 I guess I had waJ.ked over them a couple of times in the dark loold.ng for them and I am pleased to 3ay we still drop each other a card at Christmas. Along that same trench next da.y ar so, Jerry was dropping the oooasional shell, and one landed as I thought :right in tho t~enoh - fortunateJ.y it landed behind but there was Worral shoving away as if he were back in billets, he said it did not hit him so why wqrry. The episode of that Raid on ViJlw when Private w. Blaok oame back from the German third line to get a stretcher for the wounded. I saw Debauohier af'ter he got baok from Gerim:ny and he .said that when Black did oot; get back by daylight he had to give up to save the comrade. Bill Black was ldlled in Camnrunicating trenoh up near to Avion. He 1va.s on ration party that night and was badly hit when we put; him on stretcher.. He said so long to llB, he knew he had come to the end of his road. About; the time we were around Pia.no Dugout we got some rein.foroem.ents who did not knmr the value of vrater, and the:i.t' days ration drank up by 8 A.M. and wanted more. When I shmved them the shells dropping around the well at Givenohy their thirst left them, and they got a1ong on their da.il;r ration ai'ter that. Do you remember that time up in, I think it vras Canada Trench? when Col., Clark, Scout Offioer Finlay, Major Bird met ~ officer ani :rey-aelf at Blook in Communication Trenoh. On enqu:iry where they 1rrere going, they eaid they were going up to try and looa:te the Boeohe1 did I vrant to go along? I guessed if they could ramble up that trench in daylight I aould. Capt. Fillla.y was 8lllall enough, he could crawl around on top and look ahead once in awhile. We f inally oame to the GerDBn blook in the trenches and used aur mi.n.1a:ture perisoopes. It wae rather a shook to find yoUC'seli' looking at the baok of a German Sent.ryts neok. We f ormed ourselves int.o a. bombing party with Col. Clark taldng the bayonet but we did not have to use any rough stuff, the German did not know we were there. It was decided that we had located the enemy so we r eturned to our lines, bixb I had to go baok again that night with a patrol, which did not end up !!6 good.

ReJileIJlber the time that D Co. survivors i.vant f'ram Chateau de la Ihre to a plaoe near Mout; St. Eloi to get our pictut'es taken - some of D Co. boys still have them. I do not know who was in the lead coming back from the studio but it seemed we had to go thru an estanrunet on our way. Vin bl.a.no seemed to be the only refreshment. We started out. two and tln'ee at a. table but it -was not long imtil we 111[ere all one party at one table and very sociable, and we all marched past the M .. P. in gooi shape on our homeward way.

That last sld.rmish I -vms in at Drury, September 1, 1918 when we got up to front line, or vve thought it was., a runner comes up and details Lt. Feidler and 15 Platoon got out and established a Post., j-ust as the runner lef't and we were trying to give it .~ some thought the support:lng bar.rage start.ad and away they vrent, a few hoUC's a.i'ter

daylight. Lt. Clark, D Ccy. came along and told me Lt. Fiedler had been wounded and Major Wocxi was killed, &Drl. that I vras to reorganize 15 Platoon and report to the Colonel. By the ti.ma I got what was le.rt; of the Platoon and located some machine g'Ull ammunition Col. Clark arrived and told me that there was a part.y going out on our right and he wanted m:r bm.ch to take oare of' any flanking movement of Germana. The Germ:i.ns shcnved up just about the t:lJM The Red Devil German planes oa.me over ua drop-ping grenades. So, I looka at the Col. and 6aid it looked like it wa.~ time to go, so over we went, I think a.bout lo or 12 of 1lB al.l that lei't. 11w idea was to have one section cover the other seotion with :l.n.filade fire While advancing, but that was easier said than done in shell holes vdth bombs dropping and bullets ldcldng up the dust, so I bad to get up in front. on top to eee where the boys were in the shell holes. FinaJ.l.y,, decided the only thilig to do was to go ahead and figure on the boys following. So I got to McLean (one of tb..e 23lst from Boston,, Mass.) he was all in,

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- 5 ....

he had been out with Feidler in the morning - ~o I gave him Dzy' bayonet and I took the ma.chine gun and etarted firing at a Germn Post and seen some of them disappear. We went on to where I thought Feidler was headed, but you know that the other hole looks better than the one your in, so we started :in but they got me and McLean, I had felt the bang on my chest but not enough to knock me down. McLean said he was hit so I went to help h:iJn, but, could not loosen his equipment. Some of the boys that were following caJn.e into the hoJ.e and helped to fix him up, then they went to work on me aa I had had one that went right through and two reohoohed off my ribs, one through llliY" finger. Leaving the boys in ah.ell hole, I started to see who was a.round and where, then I ran into Cpl. Carson who had seen :me oaning (he had stayed cut from the early morning raid) and joined UB in the move forward. I told him he vra.s in charge of Post forward and he go up and talce oharge as the bullets i,,vere cut-ting grass he wanted me to stay where I was until dark as I had a bandage round my ohest, one round nw belly, one on l1JiY' finger and one round nzy- leg where it was torn on the wire. He YfEmt up and I lay for a while but got restless again and :made a :rmv more holes, and run onto a ComJWlY scout;, spoke to h:hn and he disappeared. Shortly a.f'tenrard I heard noises and talking, stuck my head up aga:ln and savr the bunch of Ger.mans that I had seen from J'Ulllping Off Trench. The only rifle that was handy was that Scout Rifle, so as I thought it was rrry .finish, I would ta.lee as many as possible with ma. I emptied the rifle at the bunch then saw a Hienie firing at me i'rom a ehell hole to n:w left. .t I t'ltt'lled the ri.:f'l.e on him. and pulled the trigger .... nothing happened, was out of ammunition, so I made far him to uee the bayonet, and mde a poke at him only to find that it did not have a bayonet and tried the butt stroke but d:ld not seem to have the strength, W'O\lnd up by grabbing him by the throat with JI\Y' hanle trying to ohoke him, guess I ImJst have been gett~ weak by this time, he hollered for his pal "Helmuth11 and I dropped in the shell hole beside him. They ha.d m down and whammed me on the head with the rifle butt a couple 0 timea before they put ma to sleep. (I still have to piok a scale o:ff.':nw head ewry once in a while yet). When I canatoo, those tv'TO Jerries were sitting on top of my legs, so I did not argue anymore. Next. time I ca.me to my senses it wae dark and they were still nround. but not sitting on 100. I gob a chance to tUt'n over on my back and ease the pain :In my chest. T award daylight the artillery started up again, then the Brigade Gmis, and as it got daylight the boys started corning over so I gave them a wave of the hand and managed to get to nzy- feet and made it to the Headquarters dugout and met Ool. Clark on the stair. After a while they got a stretcher and started me ba.ok to the 1ight railways on the shoulders of four Gernan Prisoners. From there to BO'\.tl.ogne, Birnrlnghrun, Clarence House ConvaJ.esoent Hospital, Putney near London.

It. was while coming in 1'.rom Riohmond Park to the hospital. that a bus of wotmded passed me and a feD.O\'T yells, l'.fiello Sam." If I had not left him in that shell hole I would have thought it was McLean. .Anyhmv it was McLean and he had his Captain call my hospital and had leave arranged and a place to meet :ln London about an ho\.U" a.ft.er I had seen h:iln.

Well thia is enough. Hope you oa.n mke it out,

4664331 Sgt. s. Firxllater, l5 Platoon, D eoy.

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Yours truly,

SAM FINDLATER.