Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-14
Harrisburg Boy Tells
of Three Years Service
With the Canadian Army

After being with the Canadian
forces during the past three. years
during the latter two of which he
has been unable to tell where he
Was. Vas Psniiip stx,lp Sidney Bierly. 18th Bat
r Bierly, OF s29 Chestnut street.
win the censorship relaxed, he
located and to relate some OF his
more interesting experiences.
belgium. Emines. Nov. %. 1915
Dear Iather. Tor the first time since
where | am. and l propose to. make
good use of the relaxation in the
Censorship. while 1 may. At present
are resting in a village about six
lSilometers north of historic Namur.
We have great hopes of passing
shrsueh snrs 81 ,L,'ege. though we are not
DOUBTLESS you have been left to
conjecture where. 1 have been in the
line OF battle. AS you know 1 was
In which | enlisted to the Field Ar
tillery. 25th Battery. Sixth Brigade,
and was in at the fierce fight at
Vimy Ridge. There we maneuvered
nghtins all the time. as We faced
the Bavarians. Then came the Bit
ter work at Paschendaels, near Ypres.
see again. Returning to the Vimy
front we had period of comparative
rest. In the spring we were jump.
sd out OF the line and sent south OF
for three months we worried Fritz
with a series of raids. Then we
Went into g. II. Q. reserve. that ulti-
near Amiens. in time for the, battle
OF August 8. Having repulsed Fritz.
We never shifted north again to our
old camp ground south of Arras at
There we. participated in the series
Beaehain. piHain and Valeneiennes
or Wrh riaSt the United states soldiers on
never eWe Went bank back" txe As fittins f cone %e
tered the Hindenburg line before the
joy. Briefly. this details where I
have been in France and Belgium.
There have been good times mixed
with the bad, as Well as dull times
"On the whole, things might have
been worse. seeing am all mere but
the angelic disposition!
of the main place we so through. to
send you. as the marching is very
fatiguing and don't expect TO have
much inclination to write many let
very beautiful country beyond Cam
bria. The towns aren't much ruined
by the bombardnments. 1t certainly
was thrilling to see the 'civics' for
the first few times.
They would hear the rumble of
the wheels of the artillery on the
cobble stones and come crowding out
of the cellars to stare at us. Then
all cheered and clapped their hands
when they saw our pet guns. Then
came the infantry bands playing the
Marseillaise or the Belgium national
air and all would go wild with
ecstacy.
our troops had q great time when
the armistice was signed, but when
peace is declared our rejoicing will
known no limit. When Heinie started
to blow up his ammunition Is sound
ed to us much like a barrage in
the distance that We were fretted,
thinking some madman had started
something again. The 'civics' were
blue.
Now We spend our time, when
not on the march. in cleaning and
polishing our guns. as we'll as our
selves. Peace warfare" the officials
dub it. A dull proceeding. to my
mind. But as long as they sit on
the lid and don't start the real thing,
we needn't worry. l have hopes of
leave soon, being third on the bat
terry list, for leave to go to 'Paree.'
A week. II I don't get It, will have
that much more silver to blow when
l come across the great rocking
PHILIP SIDNEY BIERLY."