Canadian Major Billy Barker was flying from France en route to England one autumn day. The morning on the last of a ten-day roving commission saw him atop Le Fôret de Mormal (Mormal Forest). After shots were fired from Barker, an enemy reconnaissance aircraft fell apart mid-air. A Fokker biplane proceeded to strike the Canadian in the same moments. Alhough he was wounded in the right thigh, Barker attacked and came away the victor. He then found dismay a-flock of Iron Crosses. Barker’s grey eyes could not be deceived. He was in the company of sixty enemy aircrafts! Fifteen Fokker D. VII’s promptly broke formation to down a solo Barker.
The Sopwith Snipe that Barker commandeered was promptly peppered with shot and shell. His five-foot ten-inch frame suffered numerous affronts, including a serious wound in the left thigh. Yet so, he downed two enemies by way of a spin. From blood privation, he fainted. Consequently, his aeroplane fell to gravity. He awoke mid-air to be confronted by a second formation. However, Barker downed an enemy once more. After his left elbow was almost entirely shot off, he fainted a second time. While still in air, he came to and downed another enemy. From extreme wounds and exhaustion, he tumbled into and out of awareness. He then dived from a third formation in order to reach Allied territory, though he met with a fourth formation. Charging steadfastly, he dismantled the last formation. He was credited with four kills in total, three of which perished in flames. His overall kills were brought to a dashing fifty. He crash-landed behind Allied lines.
Barker would recover and obtain letters of adulation from George, George’s son, the Prince of Wales, and Borden. The most marvellous hullabaloo Air Cavalry would see over the duration saw Barker endowed the Victoria Cross. Also, by war’s end, Barker would be granted the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Military Cross with two bars added to the medal, the Distinguished Service Order medal with a bar added to it as well, and be mentioned in dispatches for gallantry three times. From other Allied countries, Barker would be awarded two Silver Medals for Military Valour from Italy (Italy’s second highest medal of honour), and Le Croix de Guerre (France’s highest medal of honour and the equivalent of the Victoria Cross). Canada had the supreme distinction of her native-born son, from Dauphin, Manitoba, William George Barker, claim the title of the most highly decorated soldier history would write for all British Military Forces. The record would stand more than a century to follow.
Aubrey thought he was Michel, he had aged so when he walked into her bedroom one evening. Through much tribulation at rest from all his labours228, Étienne had been granted leave. He was the only Old Guard or 1st Division she knew to have survived four years indebted to His Majesty’s Services.
Generals agreed that if not in a bombproof setting, it was essentially impossible to survive the entire theatre of war. After Frédéric’s death, since Étienne was the last remaining brother of his family serving, he was moved from his position as a gunner to a bombproof position in the rear. Student and soldier of Christ229, over the course of the war, Étienne was sent to hospital nearly twenty times: for gas exposure, gunshot, and shrapnel wounds. Aubrey was too weak to write and needed his assistance. He was a brave soldier and true friend230; Étienne was immune to writing last letters for others.
The letter addressed to Auré was finished. Left with Étienne, as well, were instructions that she be buried next to Emmett and on the other side of René, so that her son would be surrounded by family. Étienne then ran a hand over Aubrey’s hair and kissed her forehead. “Goodnight, beloved231,” he said gently. He silently left the room.
At the start of November, the Corps captured Mont Houy, a sixty-metre high hill, then heavily defended Valenciennes, the last major occupied French city where the Canadians were outnumbered three to one but took 1,800 prisoners. The Corps then freed minor villages. The Corps members were staying with, and were waited on nearly hand and foot, by civilians in their residences and no longer in dugouts. Monetary payment was continually and crossly refused. What was demanded of the Canadians were to accept offers of coffee, alcohol, and physical affection from their grateful hosts. The soldiers worked hard to maintain the Corps in a glorious light. A common catchword was “Hustle the Hun!” and Canadian soldiers largely handed their rations to the boys and girls of the inhabitants. On crowded French roads, the liberators were cheered onwards. The foe, in tenacious retreat, saw the Corps push towards that emblematic city.
There is something sublime in calm endurance232. Outside Aubrey’s room, Musgrove confided to Fitzwilliam and Henrietta that he was shocked beyond all reason that Aubrey was lasting as long as she was.
Henrietta exclaimed, “But how can this be, doctor? The original ones to contract the illness had some sort of immunity to the second phase of the virus. How can she be dying?”
Musgrove replied, “The majority did receive an immunity, but not all.”
The trio then discussed the forced resignation of Ludendorff the week before, on October 26th, and that Turkey and Austria had signed their respective agreements. Newfoundland sliced hard to cross the river Lys and then pushed to come to the river Scheldt. Then, on October 26th as well, Newfoundland was ordered out of the front lines and given a respite in billets. The Regiment’s war was over.
In Ottawa, every electrical light had been wired jointly to spread word of the coming end. To-day saw all electrical lights blink twice. The abdication of Keiser Wilhelm II had occurred on November 9th. Blackberry syrup was used for toasts. Champagne, a favourite of the Edwardians, had long ago faded from their diet due to the war. Ottawa’s streets saw people congregate to celebrate the fall of Germany’s House of Hohenzollern.
Lights were set to blink four times to assert the establishment of peace. Ottawans found themselves glancing at electrical lights many times each passing day. At Pembina, the declaration was presumed to be announced the very day, yet the announcement did not happen.