Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-22

OovOlc
AsraseAs PlAs. sl.oo Per- eAv W
.ct1secdSmo
along a trench in the inky darkness
sion, the General being out. we could
not get permission so we returned and
they left me of at my end of the city
Shortly afterwards the Canadian units
got orders to move out Of the town as
the Jack Johnsons began to fall in
that quarter. l waited for my man
Davis formerly OF Maugerv1lle). but
as he did not come and they began
dumping them in thick l packed my
own kit and prepared to move. Just
as / was rolling my coat shell passed
through the roof and did havoc. The
family had moved sometime before.
Germans Broke Through Lines.
When l got to the street all / could
find was four of the sth Battalion A
great lot of people were in the street,
chiefly women and children. and they
were trying to get out of the town.
Just about this time very He'll was
let loose on our street and shells
dropped everywhere. killing men, wo-
A43Cii anu A4O1 ScS. k4OQScS " ere
and bodies being strewn everywhere.
Women and children ran to me, beg
ging help. SO l abandoned my kit and
gave hand. / got the boys from the
Sth and we broke into a cellar and
helped and carried SO women and
children down into a dark basement
Here we stopped for a time and then
a poor wounded Belgian brought in
the news that the Germans had broke
through our lines and were entering
the town.
People Fled for Their Lives.
Il could not stop these poor people
from getting out. They all managed
but one poor woman with five chill
dren. the youngest being ten weeks
old and the eldest about six years.
Her mother. about 20 years of age,
was also there. l was in a sweat to
know what to do and / had about
three miles to 90 to report to the Di-
visional Headquarters and l wanted to
be there in case l was needed. /
could not desert these poor women.
however, and the boys and | carried
youngster and away we went.
Around us houses tot,ered and fell;
shell burst along the road. tearing
down telephone poles and wires.
The Last Canadian to Leave.
AS one neared the head of the
canal a bicycle orderly motored
through at full speed. shouting for all
OF US 10 leave. and the two sentries
moved On. | was keeping a look back
with the Old lady trying to help her
along as we'll as carry the younester.
AS looked back | realized that | was
perhaps the last Canadian soldier 10
leave that fated town. We carried
the kiddies along until we struck the
road leading directly away from the
direction of fire and l left the woman
and kiddies with some folks in a
country house where some soldiers
were quartered. This was about two
miles from where we started A
Scotch soldier helped the woman
along with her infant. We lost the
old lady at the turn of a road. which
caused. great sorrow among the fam
lily Her husband is fighting in the
Belgian army. l proceeded to Head
quarters and Major Swift and l with
some other officers did what we could
TO help the tide of refugees that
passed along the road. We got blan-
kets and food from the ordnance
stores and put lot of them up. The
reserve Battalions got orders to move
up and ! reported to Colonel -
toeleted) asking permission for Major
swift and myself to go to the firing
line. We were told to wait as we
might be needed at any time to take
the place of some officer Of our rank
killed. l am at the Ordnance Depart
ment now awaiting an order at any
moment to go into the fight again.
canadien'ss Name Will Never Die.
I cannot tell you what happened
during the night as that would be
censored. Suffice TO say that it was
great battle and the Canadians
Fought hard and bravely and have
made name that will never die in
Belgium The battle is still on, but
not so fiercely.
Back to Trenches on April 22nd,
April 2S-Things have been run
ming rough all afternoon and the out
look for tonight is not by any means
promising. The 10th Battalion have
lost some officers and 1 am being sent
up again with this battalion. Also
Capt Costigan. We are starting now
from the Divisional Headquarters. I
just had a talk with General Anderson
and he had all kinds Of praise for the
Canadians They have certainly paint
ed the name Of Canada in big letters
on this worlds war map. 1 wish I
could tell you all about it, but it Womb
not get by the censor, and further. /
have not much time The General is
very fine and We all have the ut,nos,
confidence in him; also the Generals
| commanding the brigades. I am mar
| ticularly fond Of General Turner of
the 3rd Infantry Brigade. 1 have also
found General Currie Of the End IN
fantry Brigade to be first class.
Net Viii Brewer.
Il just saw company of artil,erv
| pass through here and kept nv eve
peeled. Soon 1 spied a long, lank
and bronzed young fellow and rushed
up to shake hands with Will Brewer.
/ spoke to one Of the oficers about