COLONEL J.A. CURRIE, M.P.
Reading edition
London: CONSTABLE AND COMPANY, LTD. 1916
COPYRIGHT, CANADA, 1916 By McCLELLAND, GOODCHILD & STEWART, Limited TORONTO. PRINTED IN CANADA.
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE CANADIAN SOLDIERS WHO FELL IN FLANDERS
These for the Empire stood in war array, Barring the Hun invader on his way; Into the battle rushed at Duty's call, Resolved to hold their trenches or to fall; That Britons ne'er to tyrants bend the knee But live as they were born, unyoked and free. Now, in the bosom of a distant land These warriors sleep, for such is God's command. The Fates in all decree, and have their will, And mortals must their destiny fulfill. J.A. Currie, M.P., Colonel.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Preface 9
Chapter I
Kilties in Canada 11
Chapter II
"The Red Watch" or 48th Highlanders 18
Chapter III
The Newer Colonial Policy 22
Chapter IV
The Call to Arms 28
Chapter V
Organizing Imperial Battalions 37
Chapter VI
The New Armada 46
Chapter VII
Salisbury and the Stones of Stonehenge 63
Chapter VIII
Under Field Marshal Earl Roberts 72
Chapter IX
Moulding an Army 81
Chapter X
His Majesty the King, and Field Marshal the Right Hon. Viscount Kitchener 90
Chapter XI
Off for France 100
Chapter XII
Somewhere in Flanders 112
Chapter XIII
With Field Marshal Sir John French 116
Chapter XIV
Under Hiex Shells 122
Chapter XV
The Flare-lit Trenches of Fromelles 132
Chapter XVI
With General Sir Douglas Haig 146
Chapter XVII
The Battle of Neuve Chapelle 155
Chapter XVIII
Billets and Bivouacs 174
Chapter XIX
With General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien 182
Chapter XX
The Historic Salient at Ypres 189
Chapter XXI
The Red Cock Crows 197
Chapter XXII
German Gas and Turcos 204
Chapter XXIII
The Battle of St. Julien 216
Chapter XXIV
Hanging on 228
Chapter XXV
All that was Left of Them 245
Chapter XXVI
Digging in with General Snow 257
Chapter XXVII
Twelve Glorious Days 267
Chapter XXVIII
Winning Another Championship 275
Chapter XXIX
An Appreciation of Valor 281
Chapter XXX
Wanted, More and More of Them 286
Index 289
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Col. John A. Currie Frontispiece
Capt. R. Clifford Darling, Adjutant 24
Officers of the 48th Highlanders 40
Group of Non-Commissioned Officers, 48th Highlanders 56
Aboard Ship in Winter Garb 72
Our Pullman Coach 88
48th Highlanders at Church Service near Messines 104
Church Steeple where V.C. was Won 120
Signallers in Flanders 136
The Trenches in Winter 152
First Aid in the Trenches 168
Trenches at Neuve Chapelle 184
Map of the Original Salient at Ypres 194
The Famous Road to Ypres 200
Map of the Break in the Salient 206
Sniping Through a Port Hole 216
A narrow Escape 232
Map of the Salient Flattened 248
The Muster of the 48th Highlanders after the Battle of St. Julien 264
PREFACEToC
The kind reception given to the rough notes from the Author's Diary, which appeared first in the daily papers in Canada, encouraged the production of this book. These notes, in order to make them more readable, have been put in narrative form. There is no pretence that this is a history of the war. It is only a string of pen pictures describing life and incidents of the campaign common to almost every corps in the field.
Where anything is omitted it must be borne in mind that the author cannot give any information of a military character which might assist the enemy while the war is in progress.
Opinions and observations on military matters are omitted. Discussions on the merits of the various arms, equipments, rifles, work of the staff, errors, omissions and criticisms of the manner in which the war is conducted, must wait for a future volume.
It is hoped that this publication will encourage all young men to "take their places in the ranks" and bear arms for the King and Empire, regardless of whether our military system be volunteering, conscription or National service.
It is more evident every day that there is need for the mobilization and consolidation of all the resources of the Empire. Consolidated and mobilized the Empire is self-sustaining and invincible. Its military and financial powers would be quadrupled. There is nothing to justify any delay in accomplishing this object except political expediency. In union there would be not only immediate strength, but confidence and harmony.
The world is just as full of brave deeds and stirring events as ever. The British Empire is yet a lump of clay unfashioned and formless on the wheel of the potter. That is the colonial view. It is for us to help "Mould it nearer to our heart's desire."
It is a great privilege to live in this age when such glorious deeds are being performed and history is being written. It is better still to be permitted to die, doing brave deeds, that our Empire may live, greater, freer and happier than ever.
Toronto, October 2nd, 1916.