Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-25
AUGUSTA MAN IS
BACK FROM FRONT
after LONG SERVICE

! OdyO 11111C1 1CQ1IO w ia
! Be Deciding Factor
in War
survivors of the original BLACK Devil
| Regiment'-the Sth Canadian Battal-
ION. Is back at his home in this city,
as good as ever" as he expresses it,
after participating in several of the
| bloodiest engagements of the three
and one-half years OF warfare. 1t is
true that Aubin didn't emerge from
the fray wholly unscathed-two gold
stripes on his left sleeve testify to
wounds in battle--but. in striking
contrast to the appearance Of many
who return from long service at the
front. he seems fresh and vigorous of
body. and his cheeks. instead of wear
ing the familiar pallor. are aglow with
| health. Besides the gold stripes Au-
bin wears on his coat a decoration
awarded him for bravery on the field,
small badge fashioned of red, white
and blue ribbon, and on his right
sleeve are five stripes which bear wit
! ness to the length of his service. At
the bottom is the red volunteer
stripe" and above four stripes of
blue. one of which he received on en-
tering the service. and the others, one
by one for each year of fighting. Mr.
Aubin enlisted in September. 1914.
and went from Canada to Salisbury
Plains, England. where his battalion
was in training until Feb. 9Th, when
: it was sent to France.
He got his first taste of action at
Fleurby but in April at Tpres hao
his most thrilling adventure in his
whole experience. He fell victim of
gas and for "a hours was held pris-
! oner by the Germans. Getting pos
| session Of some of Frtzs own hand
! srenades he put these to good ser
! vice in capturing Il machine gun and
with this he fought his way back to.
the Canadian lines. The Germans
were cOwardly. says Aubin. and were
very susceptible to q Bluff that many
other Canadians We're with him. 1t
was at Ypres that Aubin received his
, first wound when a fragment of
/ shrapnel lodged in his chin.
The next fighting in which Aubin
! participated was at Festubort. where
! the Canadians repulsed a German at
I tack Next was Givenchy. and here
! the Canadians attacked and gained
i the positions, with the aid of earth
mines.
When the Germans attacked at
! Copses Wood it was again Aubin's
fortune to be in the thick of things.
/ The c. NJ Rs lost two lines of
trenches, says Aubin and the 5th eth
and Sth battalions of the First Divi-
sion were called upon to repair the
loss. They succeeded, and in so do
ing We're taken prisoners.
Mr. Aubin was in the historic battle
OF the Scmme and received no wounds.
AT Nimy Ridge the Sth battalion saw
its next action. In the charge which
followed the big explosions we had to
work our way over dead German bodies
10 or !. deep" says Aubin. THE bay
onct lighting which followed was the
ficrcest in which we at any time took
p: IT..
The Black Devils" were again in &C
ton at the successful attack on Hill 70,
ard their next fighting was at Pass
chcndaele Ridge. Early one morning
Aubin was wounded in the neck ana
leg but remained in the action all day
Awas for his gallantry on this occa-
sion that he received the decoration
which he wears.
Returning to Lens. Mr.. Aubin and his
comrades of the 18th battalion participant
ed in cellar fighting, i'm which hand
srenades were freely used AS a SOU
venir of this action Mr.. Aubn has Il
German grenade. 1t consists Of a cyl
indrical metal conta iner for the charge
and wooden handle about foot long
There is hook by which the weapon
is hung to the belt The numerar 81 is
printed on the handle, indicating, Aubin
says. that the charge explodes five and
one-haif seconds after the string is pull
ed which ignites the charge Mr.. Aubin
explained the use of the weapon saying
that the user grasps it by the handle,
holds it over his shoulder. pulls the
string, counts four to time the eXplo-
sion, and Immediately hurls the grenade
at its target. If the weapon is thrown
a second too late the thrower is himself
soon the explosion takes place before
1T reaches its mark and is ineffective.
Mr.. Aubin has several other interest
| ing souvenirs of the war, including
pieces of shrapnel-one of which is the
fragment which lodged in his leg at
Passchendaele. German water bottle,
and buttons from the uniform Of a Hun
officer
1t was after the fighting at Lens that
Mr.. Aubin was granted a three months
furlough, which will allow him two
months at his home. He resides, with
his wife. at 13l Water street He is will
ing TO go back to the front but admit,
that three months away from the sound
of the big guns affords a most welcome
relief.
Its going to be q long war" was
Aubn's answer to the familiar query.
and he added ITS the Americans
who are going to win it,"