Full Description
The following is an Excerpt From "Brave Battalion": The company was completely bunched in front of the wire. Some men threw bombs toward the German trench while others tried to beat down the wooden stakes supporting the wire with their rifle buts and then trample it into the mud. The German grenades generally fell short as they were throwing uphill, but their rifle fire was 'deadly accurate'. Casualties mounted. Unless something were to be done quickly, Mackie realized that Number 4 Company would be wiped out. Suddenly Richardson turned to the sergeant. 'Will I gie them wund?' he asked calmly. 'Aye mon, gie 'em wind', Mackie barked back. Coolly, the young smooth-faced solder marched back and forth in front of the wire, playing the pipes while a storm of fire swirled past him on either side. 'The effect was instantaneous', reads his Victoria Cross commendation. 'Inspired by his splendid example, the company rushed the wire with such fury and determination that the obstacle was overcome and the positions captured'.
Contents
List of Maps. Order of Battle for the Canadian Infantry. Order of Ranks in the Canadian Infantry. Acknowledgements. Prologue: Make Every Sacrifice-August 1914. 1. "Ready, Aye, Ready!" - August 1914 -February 1915. 2. Learning War-February-April 1915. 3. Baptism - April 22 -May 14 -June 1915. 4. Blown to Hell - May 14-June 13, 1915. 5. Trench Warfare Drudgery-June 1915-March 1916. 6. Return to the Salient - March 28-August 9, 1916. 7. Crisis in the Somme - August 9-October 11, 1916. 8. Vimy - October 12, 1916-May 4, 1917. 9. It Isn't Worth a drop of Blood! - June 7, 1917-August 4, 1918. 10. Decision at Amiens-August 8-20, 1918. 11. The Finest Performance - August 20-September 3, 1918. 12. Drive to Victory - October 2-November 11, 1918. Endnotes. Bibliography. Index of Units, Formations, and Corps. General Index. About the Author.
