



Produced by Graeme Mackreth and The Online Distributed
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FROM THE ST. LAWRENCE TO THE YSER

_Frontispiece._

[Illustration: LIEUTS. KLOTZ, STRATHY AND CURRY AT AMESBURY.]




FROM THE ST. LAWRENCE
TO THE YSER

WITH THE 1st CANADIAN BRIGADE

BY

FREDERIC C. CURRY

LATE CAPTAIN 2ND EASTERN ONTARIO REGIMENT

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS

McCLELLAND, GOODCHILD & STEWART,

PUBLISHERS... TORONTO.




_Printed in Great Britain._




To

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR SAM HUGHES,

K.C.B., M.P., MINISTER OF MILITIA,

TO WHOSE EFFORTS

THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CANADIAN CONTINGENTS

IS LARGELY DUE.




PREFACE


In presenting this little work to the public the writer wishes to thank
those of his fellow-officers and others who brought to his notice
incidents that did not come under his personal observation.

Valuable assistance has been gained from the official accounts of Sir
Max Aitken, and from the historical writings of Mr. John Buchan with
regard to the parts played by other brigades and divisions with which we
were co-operating.

In spite of these attempts to broaden its outlook, the book stands in
the main a personal account of the actions of the 1st Brigade, Canadian
Infantry.

As such, however, the writer hopes it will be accepted, and not as a
detailed history of the events chronicled, though every attempt has been
made to check the accuracy of the facts stated.

One fictitious character has been introduced, that of Begbie Lyte, in
order to make the tale impersonal.

In all other cases the true names of persons mentioned, or initials,
have been used.

To Dr. Shipley, Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, the writer owes
much for his kindly criticisms and encouragement in this work.

F.C. CURRY.

_October, 1916._




CONTENTS


CHAP.                              PAGE

I. ANTE-BELLUM                      1

II. PETEWAWA                       11

III. MOBILISATION                  24

IV. VAL CARTIER                    31

V. THE CONVOY                      37

VI. IN ENGLAND                     44

VII. INTERIM                       49

VIII. YPRES, 1915                  54

IX. WITH THE DRAFT                 63

X. THE BREAKING IN                 72

XI. RESERVE BILLETS                80

XII. BAILLEUL                      88

XIII. THE TREK SOUTH               95

XIV. FESTUBERT, 1915              103

XV. CARPE DIEM                    110

XVI. GIVENCHY, 1915               117

XVII. NORTHWARD AGAIN             126

XVIII. NIGHTS OF GLADNESS!        132

XIX. IN FRONT OF MESSINES         140

XX. MINE WARFARE                  145

XXI. MYTHS, FAIRIES, ETC.         152

XXII. THE WINTER MONTHS           160




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


LIEUTS. KLOTZ, STRATHY AND CURRY AT AMESBURY         _Frontispiece_

                                                     _Facing page_

SAILING DOWN THE ST. LAWRENCE, NEAR BIC                  38

CHURCH PARADE                                            40

EASTERN ONTARIO REGIMENT, NEAR STONEHEN