The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1918-04-18
MUCH INTEREST IN
RETURNED SOLDIER
SERGEANT DOWNS OF WINNIPEG
GIVES INTERESTING ADDRESS
Packed House Listens With Almost
Breathless Interest to the Story
of Fighting in the Trenches

The Methodist church was not large
enough to accommodate the crowd of
people that came Friday evening to
listen to the address of Sergeant
Downs. Many turned away when it
was found that they could not get
within hearing distance of the SER
geant.
Supt. Blume of the city schools was
chairman of the evening and had the
high school girls glee club, under the
direction Of Miss Graham, sing those
popular songs keep the Home Fires
Burning" and "We'll Never Let the
Old Flag Fall" In the introduction
and receiving of the speaker Chair
man Blume asked all to rise and give
a hearty welcome to the returned SOL
dier. This was done with resounding
applause.
Sergeant Downs spoke very inter-
estingly of his army life and eXper-
fences. He was newspaper man en-
gagged in work at Saskatoon, Canada
when war broke out in Europe. Be-
ing a married man he could not go
without the consent of his wife. His
wife was in Nova Scotia at her faith
er's home with their only boy and
failing to get consent by message he
started for Nova Scotia himself. About
that time he received word from u
chum in the trenches, which con-
WINGED that great cause demanded
the service of every man who could
possibly go. He was enrolled in the
25tlr Battalion of the First Canadian
contingent
ut is hard for the ones left at
home" said the speaker The women
pay a heavier sacrifice than the men
in the trenches who become Injured to
hardship and reconciled to the thought
of death. The loved ones at home are
continually torn by suspense. The
leave taking as the boat left the
shores of Canada was a sorrowful
sight of fearful goodbyes and anguish
ed farewells.
On the journey the troops had their
life belts ready at hand. Lights were
eXtinguished as much as possible. Two
days out from English shores the
transports were met by escorting bat
tleships. The green shores of Eng
land made beautiful sight as they
gradually rose from the emerald sea.
The sight of wounded and manned
soldiers and the appearance of mill
tary activity soon brought the real
ization of the war closer to the arriv-
ing recruits. And here the speaker
remarked that we at home will never
begin to realize the gravity of the
war, it won't be brought home to us"
until we see the wounded and manned
soldier in our midst.
After strenuous course of training
his contingent was sent to France.
Then they were transported in cattle
trucks to the battle sector. The rough
army boots were discomforting things
for travel and march but proved best
adapted to trench life. With little rest
en- route the troops were bivouaced
on hill not far behind the first line
trenches and in territory in which
shells occasionally fell and burst
Amid darkness the men were led to
the front line trenches. Part of their
route lay along the Victoria Cross
road, so called because to cross it in
daylight was considered feat of
bravery worthy of the V. C. At one
time the whole company was given
the order to fall down while star
shells lighted up the road. But weeds
and shrubs along the road helped
cover their advance, and the men led
by expert guides took their places in
the front line trenches without the
loss of single man.
The Sergeant gave some interesting
details of life in the trenches. Trench
life is no joke" said the Sergeant
Rain and snow were great discom.
fort and water often flooded the
trenches. The general plan was to
dig a "gully" at the bottom of the
trench and place boards across to
stand upon. Fritz" seemed to know
the boys meal time and would throw
over his "call box" shell at the most
inopportune moments, often throwing
dirt and mud in the big kettle of soup
swung over a wood fire. Some rare
soup cooks we're evolved. Soup, bully
beef, sea biscuits. and tea were the
ration, and occasionally some highly
priced bacon.
In the early days the Canadians die
not have steel helmets and the steel
rims in the caps were more of men
ace than a. protection. as bullet
striking them sQuarely would force
them into the brain. Speaking of the
German snipers. the Sergeant re
marked that "you have got to hand II
to them on their marksmanship." Me1
who apeered over the parapet- ever