The battle glory of Canada

22 April – 25 May 1915

Second Battle of Ypres

THANK YOU.

at the front, including the battle of Ypres, by A. B.

LIEUT.-GEN. E. A. HERVEY ALDERSON, C.B.

Being the Story of the Canadians at the Front, including the Battle of Ypres

BRAVE WORK IN THE TRENCHES

Sir John French on the Canadian Troops — Address by General Alderson — First Experiences in the Trenches — Letters Home — A Glimpse at Billets — Adventures with Snipers — Cana- dians' Part at Neuve Chapelle — St. Patrick's Day — Some Casualties — Work of the Engineers and Artillery — Report by General Alderson — Training to Meet German Methods — New Billets — Inspection by Sir H. Smith-Dorrien— Last Letters before the Battle of Ypres — Bringing down German Aeroplanes — Mr. W. L. Griffith's Report . . . .38

CANADA ANSWERS THE CALL TO ARMS

Fund, emphasised this point very strongly, saying: " When war was declared last August the whole of Canada as one man rose and said they wished to take part in it, from Atlantic to Pacific. Recruits came forward on the first day of our anxiety, and within three days after the declaration of war oflftcial recruiting was actually begun. In Canada the Imperial feeling, if I may call it that, is strong — perhaps stronger than you know of here. To us the Empire is a very live thing indeed. It has been said that the Dominions have come to the assistance of the Mother Country in this war. I do not like that way of putting it ; not that we would not be proud and happy to come to the assistance of the Mother Country from whom we have had so many blessings, but this war is our war. We are part of the Empire which is assailed and threatened by the militarism of Germany, and we know that unless the Union Jack is supported and flies over us as of old, the liberty we and the other Dominions enjoy must be weakened, and that we shall be unable to hand down to our children the liberties we possess. This is a fight between liberty and popular government on the one hand and the endeavour of the Kaiser to enslave the world. Therefore, we consider that this is our war, and our men have gone to the front and will continue to do so until the war is over. I do not intend to say much about what the Canadians have done. They took part in the terrible battle at Ypres. They were sur- rounded, but did not give way. Some people say it was because they were brave, and others because they did not know the rules of war and that had it been a mimic war- fare they would have been declared prisoners. But that is the kind of war that Britain has waged all through the generations — hard wars, often hard-won wars. She never knew what it was to be defeated. Canada has done her best and will continue to do so. It needs no stirring words from me to discourse on such a subject. Our men have spoken for themselves."