Due to Auré being bound for the front, Aubrey found herself wanting greatly to know of the war. She read newspapers daily.
Given that Canadian troops were deemed Imperial ones, the Corps was made to completely follow the British Expeditionary Force’s regulations. When the duration started, Hughes spoke in Parliament, “We have nothing whatever to say as to the destination of the troops once they cross the water.” No one gave much thought as to who would govern the Canadian military. However, in November 1916, Borden determined the military would cease to be “The Canadian Division” of the British Forces but would be given a new name, The Canadian Military, under the recently formed Ministry of Overseas Military Forces of Canada. After two years of scandal, incessant drama, and embarrassment in the ministry of defence, Borden asked for Sir Hughes’ resignation, which Borden received.
Aubrey read pamphlets pertaining to war as well. From London, government acquired posters, brochures, booklets, and pamphlets in the thousands to distribute across the dominion throughout the effort. Kellynch lent Aubrey British doctrinal pamphlets that educated the reader, An attacking force often lost half its strength simply by leaving the trenches and then by crossing No Man’s Land. It may be taken for granted that in attacking the front system of the enemy’s trenches, the first three lines will be wiped out. The fourth may reach the enemy’s second line. The fifth may capture it.
I see thee not, I hear thee not, yet though art oft with me78, Aubrey thought, as she had hoped to hear from Auré before long. Thus far, she had not received a single letter from him all of September. Auré had made it to basic training without so much as a telegram to his wife. How her heart yearned for him! Her fretfulness at him being gone was considerable. Her acquaintances at the front had sent her lovely embroidered postcards made of splendid cotton or silk material with ornate details of patriotic emblems or their regimental insignias. She had not even received a Field Service card that the lads referred to as “Whizbangs.” These postcards functioned as a way for the front lines to communicate faster with their families, so that censoring was not necessary. Lads merely circled one of the numerous already-printed choices on the postcard, such as, I am quite well. Not even a piddling, standard Somewhere in England letter had been sent to let her know he so much as landed in England.
Dear………
Safe at port of disembarkation.
Nothing unusual to relate, and daily drill, physical exercise, games, and music all add to the pleasures of the journey.
Will send letter on arrival at headquarters.
Address (name and rank)
CEF
C/O army post office, London
Instead, Aubrey sat woefully reading Étienne’s correspondence.
As boys come trooping from the war, our sky has many a new gold star79. “At evening time it shall be light”80, to quote Zechariah. The eruptions from the guns and star shells emit enough light for me to write to you to-night. Snipers still fancy the Ross, though throughout the Corps it was replaced almost entirely by the classic Lee-Enfields, which has been in use Empire wide for fifty or so years. The Somme is still raging: the battles for Thiepval and then for Le Transloy just ended. I can hardly articulate what a shell explosion is like. However, a battle can be heard across the Channel on a calm day. A team and wagon can go through a gap in a structure. If a shell reverberates against a dugout, sometimes discerning torsos from respective legs cannot be done. Skulls, femurs, and the like become missiles. One can shatter eardrums 3 meters off. All of a mate’s teeth can be torn from their roots in one go. Slight concussions are never-ending. A shell can actually lengthen bone — a body can be recovered at over a foot longer than when the chap was alive. The force of one can send a mate more than 100 yards distant. A shell that erupts near can cause no damage whatsoever; however, those hundreds of yards behind the explosion will feel the force of it. A clean shot will leave the fellow cut to bloody ribbons. The figures are monstrously high — the Boer War in its entirety cost less than any one battle here.
As for your husband, Aubrey, he does not really fancy chumming with other officers or mates — I’m unsure if he has any mates here — but he uses his liberal time to review maps and read the Bible, or he spends time outdoors in the fields not far from the front. I wonder what it’s like for French civilians who reside just a few miles from all of this. It’s like a different world there. You must know, my cousin’s worth as an officer can be proven by those whom Auré commands would make the King’s own guards jealous for how disciplined they are.
Fold up the tent, a voice is calling me to rest, to rest81; it must be the Colonel. Give my love to those in Old Ottawa for me.
Étienne wrote “mum’s the word” at the bottom, code for he was not able to divulge any further information. The letter was ripped apart in frustration. Aubrey wondered why her husband had not written her as of yet. Consequently, Aubrey did not bother to correspond with Auré thus far; she saw no point. Besides, a letter from her would not be kept, as rules were that a letter was to be read and then spoiled, so that the enemy could not obtain information from front-line troops.
Brief, brave, and glorious was his young career82, Francis was accorded the coveted Victoria Cross, posthumously. When strongly pressed by Aubrey, Lawrence spoke resignedly.
He sighed and said, “‘Even so, father, for it seemed good in thy sight83,’ were Francis’ last words to me before leaving for Valcartier.” He served his generation84 in the Boer War; however, Lawrence felt he was too aged to fight in the current war. Inasmuch, he permitted his sons to enlist. “Francis’ epitaph will be, ‘He took my place. Father85.’ We gave our son, he gave his all86. We miss our boy, but it helps to know that he fell facing Britain’s foe87.”
The Victoria Cross was, what would remain, the British Empire’s highest award for gallantry. The medal was established in 1856 during the Crimean war by Queen Victoria, whose husband suggested the medal be named for her. Only soldiers could be awarded the Victoria Cross because the medal was solely earned for excellent bravery in the face of the enemy. Canada had been bestowed eight Victoria Crosses before the present war. Obviously, there was no Canadian honours system.
During the first week of October, the Corps’ 16th Battalion was stationed north of Courcelette. They that take the sword shall perish with the sword88; their objective was to take a section of Regina Trench. The over three-thousand-yard network zig-zagged atop Thiepval Ridge. A piper often times went with units in the trenches. The noble army of martyrs praise thee89, Piper Private James Cleland Richardson pleaded with his commander to go with their battalion into the front trenches, as he was not scheduled to. The commander conceded and was killed before Richardson’s unit left their trench. Richardson piped his mates over the parapet. The unit went to advance on their target: to reach the top of a slope in plain sight of the enemy, unable to out-flank the opposition, and in a narrow locale. However, the 16th soon came against a wall of enemy fire and wire that artillery had not succeeded in cutting. The number of the battalion’s dead and wounded grew considerably. With no one to lead them, the unit’s hope floundered. To fall back to Allied lines under heavy fire was decided on by the majority. “Wull I gie them wund (wind)?” asked the Scotsman, who lived in Chilliwack after immigrating with his parents to Canada at a younger age. The company’s Sergeant-Major agreed. Richardson stood outside their trench’s wire, in full aim of the Germans, and played his bagpipes up and down the line for roughly ten minutes. Remarkably, he remained unhurt while bullets stupendously sliced the air around him. His unit became inspired and drew courage from his splendid example and greatest coolness, the Victoria Cross commendation later stated. Richardson piped one hundred mates onward. Still under heavy fire, the Highlanders rallied, their bayonets cut the wire, and they charged up the slope. The notation concerning Richardson’s involvement with the Highlanders assault on Thiepval ridge read, The effect was instantaneous… the company rushed the wire with such fury and determination that the obstacle was overcome and the position captured.
After aiding with bombing operations on the very same day, Richardson was tasked with leading an injured mate and captured Germans behind Allied lines. Richardson began his errand but he went back to claim his bagpipes left in a barn. His body would not be located until the duration ended. At first thought to be missing in action, the military officially declared his day of death to be October 9th. His parents were called to Buckingham Palace to accept the medal in their unwed son’s stead. He was killed in action at twenty years of age. Richardson would remain one of three bagpipers in Empire history to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
Francis’ mates detailed the capture of his Victoria Cross in various letters to the Lawrences.
Our unit was about to be annihilated by the foe… Deo Legi Regi Gregi90 (Latin for “For God, The Law, The king, And the People”), Francis, acting solo… dashed at the trench… fully manned… brought down —Germans & —machine gun nests… In sacrificing himself, Francis enabled our unit to push our objective: a ridge spanning fully four metres.