The front line at Ypres, 1916
The front line at Ypres, 1916
JANUARY 1916 PRESENTED A PRETTY BLEAK PICTURE for the Allies. Most of Belgium and a large part of France were occupied by the Germans, and the Germans had conquered some further key positions in the Salient. In 1914 and 1915, the French had lost some two million men, and were incapable of making any important headway without the British. The German defence tactics were far superior to those of the Allies. Their barbed wire was virtually impassable, and their underground fortresses could accommodate an entire garrison at the Front, while neither the French nor the British had anything in comparison. They also had more and superior rifles, grenades, and mortars.
Both the Allies and the Germans were developing more efficient and more useful aircrafts, and 1916 promised further advances. At the outset of 1916, there was also an increasing use of mines to destroy the enemy positions on both sides.
The Canadian troops at the Western Front in January 1915 already numbered over fifty thousand. They were stationed along a Front running six miles south of the Ypres Salient, where their first winter had brought thigh-deep mud and bitterly cold winds. The soldiers usually undertook a six-day rotation, going from support trenches, to trenches at the front line, and finally to reserve locations. The accommodations during their rest periods in the nearby village ruins were meagre to say the least. These weary soldiers would enjoy some basic refreshments and a few luxuries, like laundry facilities, hot baths, and occasionally a showing of films, improvised by enterprising engineers and commanders.
10 February 1916
My dear mother,
As we are about a hundred officers, it’s difficult to find the instructors and the guns to give us a real course. I had a possibility of being sent to France for fifteen days of instruction in the middle of this month, but on Saturday night, when the list of those that were elected was published, I wasn’t included. It will be the next time. In the meantime, I hope to have several days of holiday when André returns from the Front around the 18th of this month, judging from what he says. That means in eight days. I am wondering what we could do together.
Etienne
13 February 1916
My dear father,
On Friday afternoon I saw two of my friends with jubilant expressions, who greeted me with “Here is the third one.” In fact twenty-one officers from here must leave for action as soon as possible to be attached to the Canadian brigades at the Front, and by some extraordinary chance I am one of them. A week ago, I got a word from André, who was hoping that he would have a few days break around the 16th of this month. I had planned a motorcycle trip with him. Now, I think that we must cancel it.
Etienne
A SEA OF MUD BETWEEN Poperinghe and Outerdam, was awaiting Etienne! Snow and freezing mud, added to the autumn rain, combined to make an indescribable muck on the land, already tormented by machine-gun craters.
But one is not discouraged by minor details when one has just been promoted and the rumour is that we will soon chase the Germans all the way to Berlin! As we await this great day, we must faithfully accomplish our daily tasks: supervise the storage of the shells, these small fiery tubes piled up here and there in the trenches, or accompany on horseback the convoys of munitions passing through the remains of the Great Plain of Ypres, and avoiding if possible the enemy shells aimed at destroying our explosives. Etienne is very happy with his role as the leader of his mobile unit. He feels like a real artillery officer.
We received a letter from Jean, describing his visit with Etienne and their discussion about Philippe’s projects, which don’t really appeal to him. “Why is he in such a rush to go to the Front as an ordinary private? He should do better than that by taking a course in artillery in Kingston, for example, and in any case delay his departure while we try to hold him in Canada!”—(BB)
14 February 1916
My dear father,
It was at 9:45 on Sunday that the colonel arrived at the service and that the chaplain began. The brigade formed a square, with the officers in front of their men. We had created a choir of the best singers, directed brilliantly by a colonel. It’s not in every brigade that the colonel and the majors would stand like this in the melting mud during a half-hour service. Good sermon based on Revelation 21:16. Then the colonel took the whole brigade for a three-quarter-hour march. He had a need to stretch his legs and thought that the men had the same need!
This afternoon I will be an interpreter for an hour or two. Ours left on holiday and isn’t back. We had to make the rounds of the houses in the village with the paymaster to arrange for the payment of the men’s and horses’ lodgings. The cleanliness of all the houses we went in struck me. One couldn’t find one grain of dust on the kitchen tiles, and that is during a time of melting and mud.
Since my return to France I haven’t yet seen André. I hope to soon have the opportunity.
Etienne
February 24th 1916
EXTRACTS FROM ROUTINE ORDERS BY MAJOR GENERAL A.W. CURRIE COMMANDING OFFICER 1st CANADIAN DIVISION OFFICERS
Under authority War Office letter 121/overseas/1660 (A.C.6.) dated 17.2.16 the following officers are permanently attached to the 3rd Canadian Artillery Brigade, supernumerary to establishment and posted as follows:
Lieut. DG Higgins to 9th Battery; Lieut. NI Patterson to 10th Battery; Lieut. RH
Deane to 11th Battery; Lieut. ES Bieler to 12th Battery
From sentences which have lately been awarded by Court-Martial in the case of men tried for being in possession of a camera it is evident that officers do not realize the gravity of this offense. Stringent and repeated orders have been issued by G.H.Q. that no officer or man is to have a camera or similar photographic apparatus in his possession. Disobedience of these orders is a serious offense and all such cases are to be tried by Court-Martial and in case of a finding of guilty, severely punished.
12th Battery, 3rd Brigade. C.F.A.
List of Casualties Feb. 10th 1915 to Feb. 29th 1916
4 men killed or died of wounds
28 men wounded
1 officer wounded
February 29th 1916
A gun of the 12th Battery was hit during the second battle of Ypres by a German 5.9’ shell, blowing off a wheel. This wheel was shipped to London, Canada, by Major EW Leonard. Photograph, attached to original sheet of War Diary, is selfexplanatory.
9 March 1916
My dear mother,
I must say that I’ve had an extraordinary bit of luck to be sent to this battery, one of the best of the division. The major is a real soldier, with many years of experience in this field, and he wants everything to work perfectly.
After about ten days at the place where I joined the battery, we left one morning to make our first stop on the way to the Front, a distance of about twenty-five miles. It’s no minor business with an artillery battery. Thankfully the weather was radiant, and we left enthusiastically. Unfortunately, after an hour the sky darkened and soon, as is often the case in March, a wet and cold snow began to fall. The snow and the good weather went back and forth during the rest of the journey. At 12:45 it was the halt to feed and water the horses, and to have the snacks and sandwiches that we had brought. At 6:30 we arrived at the farm that was to shelter us for the night, that is to say, the officers and the men, the poor horses had to put up with being tied in a field of mud.
Since then we have travelled a short distance to the farm where we now are. We were received a little like a cat in a bowling game. There was a crowd of sergeants from the Army Service Corps. These men live more comfortably than the colonels of battle divisions, and the farmer’s wife was firmly against us throwing them out. Her husband is soft and encouraging, but she creates a scene about everything we ask her, and it’s naturally me that is in charge of most of the discussions with the local people.
Etienne
12th Battery 3rd Brigade CFA
March 13th 1916
At 12:45 two German planes passed over the diagonal coming from our rear. They were fired upon but escaped safely to their own lines. About 25% of enemy shells particularly 4.1 Howrs. fired in this vicinity today were blind. The batteries of the Brigade in conjunction with the heavies fired in retaliation from 2:40 PM to 3:00 PM today. The shooting of our batteries was very effective and the shooting of the heavies was also very good. Many direct hits were obtained by our guns on enemy first line and also by the heavies on FACTORY FARM MARK 2. The enemy fire in reply was slight.
March 14th 1916
12th battery reports at 10:10 AM 3 German planes appeared from the direction of MESSINES, They were flying in a South Westerly direction over trenches 14 and 15. Later they flew N.W. over LINDENHOCK and dropped a red rocket about N.27.c One white rocket was dropped by these planes over Mont Kemmel tower and later in the day KEMMEL VILLAGE was shelled. At 12:35 PM smoke of a train was observed travelling N.E. of MESSINES. The train appeared to be proceeding very slowly.
March 18th 1916
Morning rather misty, clearing up about 10:30 AM. Enemy aircraft very active this morning and more or less during the day. Enemy opened up heavy fire with 4.1, 5.9 and 77mm guns on our C and D trenches and points in rear, also on Shell Farm and R.E. Farm. The batteries of the brigade retaliated with 100 rounds on target “H” in conjunction with the heavies. The shooting is reported to have been very good, many direct hits having been made.
March 19th 1916
At 3 PM a German was seen near a dugout at N.36.a.9.2. The battery fired on this point and scored a direct hit. The dugout appears to be very strongly constructed, as no apparent damage was noticed. There is a white tape on two stakes about 50 yards apart at N.30.d.4.6 probably marking the ground for a new trench. A pile of sandbags can be seen at N.30.d.2.7 Communication trench at N.36.b.3.3 has been newly re-vetted and dug out. There is a suspected M.G., emplacement at N.36.a.91/2.2.
20 March 1916
My dear mother,
It’s during the evening of a beautiful Sunday that I am writing to you. It’s not exactly a rest day, as there are tasks to be done on Sunday like every day in the profession we are in. This morning a torrential rain prevented us from having a service, then the weather lifted, the sun broke through, and the afternoon has been radiant. After lunch I went out with the men to give the horses one hour of exercise, and it was a real pleasure to have a short ride. One doesn’t dare go too far from one’s lodging, as we can be called at any time. However, yesterday I got permission to have a ride on the horse I have just adopted. It’s not a bad animal, and with some care, he will be great.
Etienne
12th Battery 3rd Brigade CFA
March 20th 1916
During the afternoon battery fired upon and dispersed working party at N.30.d.21/2.6. This party was evidently repairing a German trench. F.O.O. 10th battery reports at 9 AM heavy artillery and rifle fire heard to the South apparently near ARMENTIERS, rifle fire ceased about 10 AM but shelling continued at intervals all day. F.O.O. 12th battery reports at 10:30 PM 19th inst. 2 enemy MINENWERFERS very active, one 97 degrees Mag. and the other 107 degrees Mag. Bearing as observed from N.29.c.8.3 Battery fired on both and fire of MINENWERFERS appreciably diminished. Enemy seems anxious to conserve artillery fire.
OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, Etienne sees an infantry battalion having a break. “I’ll be damned if it isn’t André’s unit, maybe I can find him.” His friends search, and soon the two brothers, sitting on the side of the road, talk about their recent and future leaves, as well as the news from home: “Mom and Dad are celebrating their silver wedding anniversary, Philippe has apparently volunteered … Why? Isn’t it enough for the three of us to be in this never-ending war? It seems that Jacques is an excellent young scout.”—(BB)
20 March 1916
My dear mother,
After two or three weeks in the 12th battery, here I am temporarily transferred to the ammunition column. It’s the habit here that we begin the work that we do here in this fashion. It won’t do me any harm. I need to know a little more about the horses, and learn to ride a little better. Here is how we spend the day: The morning at 6:50 stable parade. We get up for that every three days when one is orderly officer. For forty minutes the men brush, water, and feed the horses. At eight we have breakfast. We get together for the meals in the wooden hut, which is also used as a bedroom. The chaplain, in his role as mess secretary, presides at the table. We have the major, the vet, the paymaster, and the three subalterns, Bell, who was French Master at Montreal High School, and me. The morning is spent exercising the horses, and then cleaning the harnesses. During the afternoon we clean the harnesses again. It’s always the same routine, except when we need to transport the munitions to the batteries.
Yesterday morning, I was listening to a conversation between two men. One was recounting an imaginary conversation with his son in 1930: “Father, where did you get that ribbon – at the great war my child – but what did you do in the great war, Father? – Well, child, I cleaned harness in the morning, I cleaned stables in the afternoon, and sometimes I cleaned ammunition.”
After this morning’s church parade, I asked for permission from the major to leave until 6 p.m., in order to see André. So I left at 11:30 and arrived at the Princess Pats’ location at 3 p.m., after having stopped for lunch at a village hall. – I easily found the farm where the No 2 Company was. The first familiar face that I saw was Stewart’s, André’s friend, and then I saw André. He almost fell down when he saw me. It seems that half of my letters never reached him, and he didn’t know where I was. I had a short walk with him. Unfortunately the hour that I had to be with him was quickly over. He continues to look happy with the Patricias and has some very good friends. The poor guy has not yet received his pass for Paris. He had gotten his leave and passport but had not been able to go.
Etienne
3rd Brigade Ammunition Column
March 21st 1916
3 PM smoke observed coming from a dugout at N.36.a.9.2
4:15 PM smoke observed coming from a building at N.30.d.9.7.
This building is probably used as a cook house as smoke appears only at meal times. F.O.O. 11th battery reports about 5 AM our heavy guns and 18 pdrs fired on trenches and hills about WYTSCHAETE. This firing lasted about 20 minutes. F.O.O. 12th battery reports the same firing by our guns and that 3 shells exploded in WYTSCHAETE and the remainder too far over to be observed. No reply.
March 22nd 1916
F.O.O. 12th battery reports that at 4:30 PM our STOKES gun fired on enemy lines to the left of SPANBROEKMOLIN. Enemy retaliated with 4.1” bursting in air and 77 mm guns. These batteries were firing from 15 degrees and 18 degrees respectively left of MESSINE CHURCH from sound bearing taken from S.P.8 (N.29.0.8.2.). This fire did not silence our STOKES gun.
March 25th 1916
Brigade order No. 126 issued today:
Lieut. RH Harcourt transferred from Amm. Col. to 12th Battery
Lieut. ES Bieler transferred from 12th Battery to Amm. Column.
F.O.O. 12th battery reports at 3:30 PM an enemy Trench Mortar fired about 12 rounds on Trench D.4 Our Trench Mortars and Stokes gun retaliated with good effect, breaching the enemy parapet opposite d.4.
March 26th 1916
Our bombardment gradually silenced enemy and caused considerable damage to his works. The bombardment by the batteries of the brigade was very effective and there was little retaliation for this shooting.
March 31 1916
In accordance with op order no 128 one-half of the brigade’s Amm. Column and one section per battery moved out today on relief and proceeded to billets near EECKE.
29 February 1916
My dear father,
You will have heard the news of the death of Laddie Millen, that will be a terrible hit for his family. A few hours before I was speaking to him and he was telling me about his trip to Scotland.
The Germans are very good marksmen; they destroyed four of our periscopes the last time, and one of the guys almost lost an eye from the flying glass from one of the mirrors. We were hit with a sausage the other day (a big bomb projected by a mortar). It’s very exciting to see them come; if one watches them come they can generally be avoided.
André
20 March 1916
My dear parents,
I am ashamed to have been silent all this time, but I wait and put off day by day hoping that I will receive a short message from you. It was a terrible disappointment for me when all of a sudden, in fact the day I was to leave for Paris, they stopped all leaves without much of a chance that it will start again prior to the summer, but the army is the army!
André
25 March 1916
My dear parents,
I’m sure that you would have trouble in guessing to whom I passed your letter no 9: Etienne, who came to see me the other day. I found him much fatter and taller; he is magnificent in his officer’s uniform. I hope to see him from time to time now that he is in Belgium.
Mother described so well how she had obtained socks for Tante Julia’s soldiers, but there’s a little Canadian soldier who would also like to have some.
André
P.S. If mother could find me some pills to relieve my back, I would be very grateful.
3 April 1916
Dear Dad,
What pains me in your letters, is to see that Mom has almost abandoned the wonderful plan of coming to Europe this summer. I hope that she has been reassured about the dangers of the submarines, and that she will decide to come all the same. The newspapers of the last few days say that the Germans are changing their minds about sinking all ships, whether enemy or otherwise, that dare to enter the area near the North Sea. And Philippe? André, who I saw yesterday, tells me that he heard it said that the company is expected in England.
Unfortunately André and I were only together for a few minutes. I had heard that he was in this area and even that a Great Russian Duke was to inspect the regiment one of these days. It was only last night that I could arrange to see him a few moments while I was transporting munitions. He was radiant at the idea of finally being able to go on leave.
Etienne
3 April 1916
Dear Dad,
The mud is drying beautifully, but the dust is already beginning to show its face. Our new general, who replaced the one who was killed in the trenches a few weeks ago, inspected us this morning.
On our return from the trenches a few days ago we went through the town of Ypres. What a ruin, not one house still upright, and the monuments even worse than that shown in the pictures. Only the tower remains of the Halle aux Draps, and there’s not much left of that.
You perhaps know that we have lost Bruneau; because of his eyes, he’s thinking of not returning. I have heard that Phil is in quarantine in England. If you are able to pull some strings to help me get into the “Flying Corps,” I would appreciate it, another eight months in the Front is quite enough for any man.
André
THE CANADIAN FRONT LINE was almost continually bombarded during 4 and 5 April 1916. A veteran British artillery officer described it as the most violent bombarding that he had ever experienced.
3 April 1916
My dear mother,
Did I tell you that we have, with our officers of the Ammunition Column, a large very amusing Englishman, a Mr Steel, who taught French at the High School during the last three or four years, and had Laddie Millen in his classes. He was shocked to hear of his death and had gone the other day to place several stones around the cross over his grave.
Since our arrival here, we have worked to prepare for the long-awaited visit of our Corps Commander. This morning, woken up at 5:30, everyone is working like mad to clean himself, to shine the harness hardware, to break in the leather, to brush his horses, and to prepare everything else. We have selected a guard of honour made up of older soldiers who handle their rifles so well that they would have made the guards at Buckingham Palace jealous. You can therefore imagine everybody’s disappointment when it was announced that the Corps Commander couldn’t come, and that we had to accept a brief inspection by one of his subordinates.
Yesterday, Sunday, as you can imagine, we didn’t have much of a break the day before this visit. We had, however, a brief service out of doors, given by Canon Scott from Quebec, a good-looking man but doesn’t seem to be much of an orator.
Etienne
15 April 1916
Dear mother,
Finally, here is the news of my leave that you have been waiting for. I am now back in the battalion after my little stay in Paris.
I left at 10 p.m. on Friday, I arrived in Paris at 10 a.m. after a quite tiring trip in the third-class carriages of the “poilus,” surrounded by others on leave like me. It didn’t take me long to find the Metro to the Porte Maillot ... I must have looked quite peculiar with my rifle, my bags, and my overcoat covered with mud ... it felt quite funny, as it was the first time in a long time that I sat at a dinner table ... Unfortunately I had to meet with the British Police that morning, so I missed the church service ... we got back in time for dinner, and who shows up but Camille Chazeaud in his French uniform! He doesn’t seem very happy with his regiment and envies my khakis!
The next day I had to leave, as I was recalled all of a sudden. Once again a long voyage, and here I am back in my trenches! I will remember for a long time this little trip to Paris that brought back so many good memories. I sent a package to Jacques; I hope that he’ll get it, the content exploded very close to me.
André
28 April 1916
My dear parents,
I have received your two letters, but stop worrying about me, I feel fine and I don’t know why you think that I’m in the hospital.
There’s a little lake just in front, and I swim in it almost every day. I presume that Etienne told you about our day together. I was really happy to see him and to be able to talk together about home.
About the room above the kitchen: the best way is to build it yourselves, trench style in sandbags, with a rubber sheet as a roof. It’s both economical and more or less healthy.
André
18 May 1916
My dear parents,
I’m back in Paris! Without having any expectations, the other day while I was in the front line, the sergeant told me to get my passport and head for Paris. You can imagine that it didn’t take me long to leave, particularly as the Germans were bombarding us very energetically. I was also lucky, as that same morning a shell hit the cubbyhole where I had spent the morning. After a long walk, I arrived at the train thoroughly soaked, covered with mud. I must have looked pretty peculiar as I arrived in Neuilly just in time for dinner. Naturally I couldn’t warn them, and they weren’t at all expecting me. It didn’t take me very long to improve my appearance and have a good meal. The next day, on hearing that the entire family was in Orleans, I asked the mission for permission to go, but they replied that I was not permitted to leave Paris.
Monday I met Tante Julia for lunch near the station, and then left for Boulogne. After a night on the train, I find myself not far from Napoleon’s monument, and find Jean’s hospital. He has a good college-like set-up in the Registrar’s Office. I found that he hadn’t changed as much as Etienne, and seemed to be very well. After visiting the hospital and having dinner at a good restaurant, we made a good trip to the countryside and the seacoast. The weather was perfect, and I can’t remember ever having a more enjoyable trip (it was at Wimereux). That evening, as I was going to the train, I found out that I had another day with Jean. I visited the hospital more thoroughly and met a few wounded men from our company. It is not as pleasant to return to the Battalion as the leave has been, but I am happy at re-joining my friends.
André
MEANWHILE, PHILIPPE TRAINED every day after the lectures, and then completed his training at Camp Niagara, where the marching order, near the end of March, surprised them. He announced that they would have one day’s leave before leaving for Halifax, and that if that didn’t disturb Maman too much, he would like to bring to lunch all his friends that didn’t have family in Montreal.
We add all the extensions to the dining-room table, about twenty place settings, and lay out a lot of tasty delicacies, and flowers on the white tablecloth. Then, the sound of military boots, voices and laughter, filters down the street and fills the house. We sit down, and the boys gulp down with considerable appetite the big and small dishes, and when the dessert comes, Philippe’s parents and the soldiers together toast this happy day, and hope to meet again at Les Colombettes after their victorious return! … But tragically, of this group, only one was to survive the war. We had the heart-rending privilege in 1920 to hug this dear badly wounded comrade at the Vancouver military hospital, and to receive from his deathbed a tray that he had made.
Before breaking up, the joyful group met at Strathcona Hall, where the university had organized a goodbye reception for the company. We then sat in the drawing room with our families to enjoy quietly this last intimate afternoon. The rooms at the university were attractive with flowers and a generous buffet surrounded by several khaki coloured groups, contrasting with the bright colours of the young ladies waiting on their gallant cavaliers. The parents, less happy than their children, were at the periphery, talking to the officers. We would have all so much wished to prolong this moment, but military orders being what they are, they had to march off instead.
All of a sudden, Philippe’s mother felt an arm around her waist. It was he, and he said: “What would you say, Maman, if we went together to a little hiding place? There behind this door there’s a very low radiator, where we could talk so comfortably!” We sat down, just as if we were playing hide-and-seek, and hand-in-hand we looked straight into each other’s eyes, without saying much … Words are a little childish in moments like that! Then, we cried, as the bugle played some particularly emotional notes. We embraced frantically, and the long khaki column lined up and began to file out, and disappeared into the melting snow and darkness. They were off to their barracks, and would leave the next morning at the break of day. Jacques and his father intended to be there for a final embrace and to witness the long convoy move off, with each window crowded with laughing faces and frenetic waves of their caps.
What weeks these were at the beginning of the war, and what strange years were to follow! Up until then, these developments had not affected our private lives, but we are now weighed down by world solidarity, with its combination of both indignation, and enthusiasm. Our sons … they are no longer ours and belong to the grand cause, and all that we know is that they are “somewhere in France”! Our time, our ability … we are no longer in control, we all belong to the same cause, aiming towards this same victory for which they will fight.
The first and most important thing to do is to uphold the morale of our sons. That’s what we are trying to do with frequent letters, by parcels, and by our prayers. Without an exact address, without complete instructions, our hearts and our eyes search for them on the maps of the Front, but because of the censorship, it is only a long time afterwards that we know where they passed. We think of them a lot, and they certainly don’t forget us: Jean, always alert in his hospital in Boulogne, is in an excellent information centre, and writes to us or sends us telegrams.
Philippe’s first letters were not important enough for us to transcribe. The details of their train trip from Montreal to Halifax can be summarized in three words: rest, cigarettes, and maps. The countryside was nothing but fields of snow, with here and there a small spruce forest. At the stops, a swarm of young girls often swooped onto the train to sell sweets. Then it was the sea, the Halifax harbour, a little walk around the city, and the embarkation on the Olympic on 1 April 1916. Philippe, looking forward to lounging on deck and playing games, was very disappointed at being condemned to the infirmary with acute laryngitis, and he suffered right up to his arrival in Liverpool.
What a contrast to travel across a green and pleasant countryside in a minuscule train, as compared to the passage through the depressing Canadian deep freeze, and then to arrive finally at the West-Sandling camp. There were rows of attractive barracks on the slope of a sand dune. Each one housed about thirty soldiers, and Philippe settled in quickly and proceeded to polish the leather and buttons in preparation for the great inspection the next day.—(BB)
3rd Brigade Ammunition Column
April 15th 1916
At 2:30 PM enemy fired a number of Trench Mortars into our trenches South of the Canal. The Mortar used by the enemy is a new one shaped like a rum bottle but just a trifle larger having a fuse at the top. It is made of sheet steel and has a wooden handle attached to the base which disappears when it is fired. The bomb is estimated to weigh about 80 lbs.
At 3:45 PM a number of Germans were seen in the enemy front line trench at 0.4.a.5.6 apparently observing their fire South of the Canal. One had a cap on with a red band around it and a red vertical band running through the centre of the peak of the cap.
17 April 1916
My dear mother,
I only have the time to write a short note today, as I am leaving this evening for a brief stay in the trenches. The officer who directs the trench mortars has asked for an officer to spend several days to help him, and I think that it will be an experience that I won’t regret. Obviously I am not thinking of going in there forever. I much prefer the artillery in the countryside, pure and simple. Our life here these days is not very tiring. We are well set up in a farm with good stables for the horses, a good number of huts and tents for the men. The officers are in huts that aren’t too bad at all. I share my compartment with Steel, about whom I talked in my last letter, and with the veterinarian. A wooden frame with bags nailed across makes a perfectly comfortable bed, and our sleep proves it.
We are very hospitable here at the Front, always happy to see a new face and to hear the news and the rumours they may have heard. Yesterday morning, Sunday, we had a brief service here given by our padre. During the afternoon I left on horseback to see André. The camp where I thought I would find him is only three or four miles from here. Having gotten there, I find out that André had finally left for Paris. Thursday night they came to wake him up at 11 o’clock to tell him he could leave, but that he had to be back on Tuesday. It’s a little short, but better than nothing. I still have nothing from Philippe. I wonder if he’s in England.
Etienne
3rd Brigade Ammunition Column
April 18th 1916
An Infantry officer of the 26th battalion who is in the trenches on the opposite side of the canal informs me that enemy used a pontoon bridge on the canal at a point about 0.4.a.8.7 and 0.4.a.8.8 at night. I had a look at these points and I find the enemy have a foot bridge under construction about 0.4.a.8.6. This must have been put up during the night as I have not noticed any work about that point before.
Signed Lieut. Colonel J.H. Mitchell, O.C. 3rd Canadian Artillery Brigade
28 April 1916
My dear mother,
I am here for several days’ rest before returning to the Ammunition Column. It’s wonderful to have absolute freedom for a few days. The second evening, I had an experience that was quite unusual for a poor lieutenant like me – I had dinner with General Appleby at the Canadian Headquarters, where I had been held back on a business matter. Being the only guest, I was sat on the right of the general, who was perfectly courteous, and I can assure you that the menu didn’t displease me after the “popote” of the trenches.
Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasant surprise of seeing André arrive. He seemed to be still beaming after his visit to Paris. As André was free for the afternoon, we went on a tour of the neighbouring town together. It was during a beautiful warm afternoon, real summer weather. Also the first thing I did was to take a bath. Then we had tea together, and then to a movie organized by one of the divisions.
André seemed to be in great health. He looked very well, even after a night digging in the trenches. He showed me your photograph of the four soldiers. Who was ingenious enough to include Philippe? It’s very well done.
Etienne
Belgium, 9 May 1916
My dear father,
Here I am once again in the Ammunition Column since Sunday after Easter. After several days of complete rest in the French Mortar rest billet, I wasn’t unhappy to start an active life again, but it’s apparently not for long. I have just received the order to go on Sunday to a military school not far from here.
Etienne
3rd Brigade First Division, 21 May 1916
My dear mother,
Here I am at the beginning of the last week of this course, and I think that we would all like it to continue for a long time. The work is interesting and not overwhelming, and the countryside is so lovely during these beautiful spring days that we almost forget that we are at war. A sign in the yard says: “It is forbidden to speak Flemish,” indicates that we are in France!
Etienne
3rd Brigade, 1st Divison CFA
May 27th 1916
At 10:35 AM this date the 11th and 12th Batteries 458th Howr. Battery assisted by the 461 Howr, Battery of the Left Group and 128 Heavy Battery fired on suspected gun emplacement at I.36.b.3.7 A gun at this supposed point has been firing on our trenches. The enemy retaliated at 10:45 AM in rear of our trenches about 400 yards left of the DUMP with 20 rounds from 5.9” Howrs.
Considerable airplane activity during the afternoon in which our planes maintained a decided ascendancy. Several enemy balloons up during the afternoon.
May 30th 1916
O. C’s 10th, 11th, and 12th Batteries and O.C. C Battery (49th) will rearrange the personnel of the four subsections of their Batteries so as to absorb the newly posted N.C.O.s and men into the various subsections while maintaining a uniformity in trained men in each. The same principle will be followed by O.C.’s Batteries at their Wagon Lines.
Lieut ES Bieler is hereby transferred for duty to C. Battery (49th), on organization.
