Volume 25 www.legionnl.com 27 Newfoundland Labrador Command continued ... where the people of Dundee would come to spend their Sundays or week-ends. One Saturday evening myself and a chap Goodwin from New Melbourne met two young ladies by the name of Fenders from Dundee, who were very much interested in us. On Sunday we met them again and received an introduction to the mother who was a very courteous old lady. They gave us an invitation to their home but during that week we were quarantined for diphtheria and we were unable to get to Dundee for over a fortnight. Some evenings we would steal out under the back side of the tent after dark and go to Carnoustie. At last the day came for us and we had our freedom from the tent again. We obtained late passes and proceeded to Dundee, where we were met by the two girls who took us to their home at 49 Erskine Street, and here we were treated as if we were their brothers. During this time we were getting more and more used to our drills and to a soldier's life. We were also getting quite used to our small allowance of food. The route marches which we had to do once or twice a week were also becoming commonplace to us. These we had to do in full marching regalia which was from fifty to one hundred pounds in weight. Certainly for every march our pack would be heavier. The march would be fifteen to twenty miles. While we were at Barry we had become more and more fitted for the front and we became well acquainted with our friends there. In fact it almost seemed like home to us. At last the day came when we had to leave Barry to return to Newton Park in Ayr. This was on October 2, 1917. We arrived in Ayr that evening and it was raining hard. We soon got into our Barracks which was a large stone or brick building. Here we slept on board mattresses. I felt very much at home at Carmel's Cottage and during the month that I stayed there we had some very long marches. The last day that I spent there saw rain falling all day whilst we were out marching and when we finally reached our barracks about four o'clock we were soaked through. Then we were informed that we had to be ready to leave at nine o’clock that night for France and we were at liberty to go out as soon as we were packed up. I was soon in the house of my dear friends where the old lady sat from six until nine holding my great coat before the fire trying to get it dry before I had to leave. It was still raining very hard and by the time we got on board the train we were almost wet through. Soon all were on board and the train pulled out from the station as Kate and her sisters stood on the platform under their umbrellas and waved 'good-bye' to us. Now we were on our way to Southampton. It was Monday, November 5 and we arrived in Southampton the next day. Here we boarded a small steamer and crossed the English Channel the next night. On the seventh we were going up the river Seine looking at all the wonderful sights. We arrived in Rouen that evening. There was a certain examination we had to go through before we could join the boys ‘up the line'. So we were detained there two or three days. At last we got clear and joined the battalion at Burles le By on November 14, 1917, where they were then practicing for a battle. After three or four days we set out to march back to the firing lines. After marching all night on November 19, we reached the trenches, and there were three divisions to go ‘over the top’ that morning, November 20. We were the third. Just before dawn broke, the bombardment started. Up to this time everything was very quiet, only an occasional rattle from the machine guns. Now everything was red as the big guns which were concealed from view of the aeroplanes belched forth fire and smoke and the tremendous roar was almost unbearable to the head. Since it was my first time ever seeing or hearing those big guns, I did not realize my danger. I remember saying to my pals, “it is an early hour for anyone to be getting married”. As we joked over the noise and ate lunch, daylight became more bright. Soon I could see large parties of German prisoners coming out and here and there a wounded man getting back as best he could. The stretcher bearers were busy bringing back those who could not walk. I soon saw the fruits of the terrible bombardment and realized my danger. These thoughts were soon overcome by a desire to get on where the fighting was. Finally eleven o’clock came. This was the hour when we would 'jump off' at the sound of a bugle. We were soon out of our trenches and formed up in 'artillary formation' in which formation we marched for very nearly a mile. Then we came under rifle fire and we got the order to 'extend'. Soon I saw some of our numbers falling never to rise again. I remembered the first bullet I heard whistling past me and I compared it to the sound of the little birds in the woods at home when they were disturbed. These 'birds' were hot ones. Just before coming under rifle fire, I saw the first man I had ever seen killed in action. I shall never forget that poor fellow. He was killed by a shell and his face was a very dark purple. His pack, which was strapped to his back, kept him in a sitting position. I also saw the arm and leg of another man lying close by this poor fellow, which told me that another had met his death there. continued ...
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