Mont
Kemmel
29 July 1918 |
The 4th headed north by train, and
arrived at Mont Kemmel, Belgium,the high ground between Ypres and the River
Lys. From there, the battalion could look south over Flander's broad valley
lost to the Germans in the offensive of last April. There was little activity
on the front line, though, interrupted only once by a random shell that
landed in the headquarters tent one morning, killing a popular officer.
What the battalion did not realize was they were on a mission of deception. While British and Imperial forces to the south amassed for a major counter-strike, the 4th C.M.R. plus some smaller units were sent to make the enemy think the Canada Corps was in Belgium instead. On the 6th of August, the men again piled into the train cars and traveled all night to rejoin the Corps near Amiens. |
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Boves
7 August 1918 |
Arriving early in the morning in Boves, 9 km south-east of Amiens,
it took nearly five more hours to reach their billets due to the traffic.
Twenty divisions including the 1st French Army, 4th British Army,
with the Canadians, Australians and Americans, were gathering in preparation
for an attack on the large German salient in the Somme and Oise valleys.
This would begin a new and final phase in the Canada Corps' contribution
to the Great War:
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Battle of Amiens
8 August 1918 |
Using first their fastest mobile armour including 450 tanks and without
preceding bombardment, the Allies surprised the Germans south-east of Amiens
and pushed them back over six miles the first day. In the wake of the main
force of motor machine gun units and cavalry, George's unit marched 17
km south-east along the main Amien-Roye road toward Le Quesnel. Spent troops,
scores of German prisoners and captured equipment streamed back from the
front, and the men learned of the overwhelming success.
On the morning of August 9th, the 4th C.M.R. entered the battle east of Le Quesnel and the recently won Outer Amiens Defense Line. The men captured Folies from the Germans and halted at day's end at the main north-south road. The 4th sustained 74 casualties, and of the 12 killed was included their beloved Padre Capt. W.H. Davis. While more troops pushed the battle beyond them, George's battalion rested and remained in Folies for the next week.
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En route
to Arras
20 August 1918 |
Arras was at the northern edge of the Somme salient. From here, the Allies would launch their next 'hammer-blow' to the enemy. |
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Feuhy
23 August 1918 |
In the small town of Feuhy, 5 km west of Arras, the battalion prepared
for the next battle. As the officers memorized plans and distributed maps,
the men would assemble their kit and go over their different maneuvers.
On the night of the 23rd, a German artillery attack landed amidst the billets.
One company suffered 116 casualties from the 'Yellow-cross' gas shells
and 'H.E. shrapnel', seriously crippling the battalion. Before they could
join the comming battle, they received reinforcement.
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