Gap. Nills Bombe, ɛmmunition and other equipment was strewn around, apparently as it was left the night previously, and he morale of the Canadians sɛemed to have gone to piece8. However the sprinkling of Royal Scots which were among the Canadians were zagnificent, always alert and on their jobs. The Canadiens on the other hand seemed to centre their main interest in he possibility of getting out as soon as possible. ach time I passed with despatches for the front, they vo ld be anxious to know the contents, and whether it related to a retreat. it was readily pparent that these soldiers wer、 not sufficiently trained for a war, both in the matter of discipline and efficiency. As an example i would cite the following incident.
On my return from the front line one morning I met Canadian ajor, who asked me to deliver a verbal mes: to a section of Canadians somewhere up the road" the exact location of which he was unaware. The me age was to ask them to refrain from firing on positions "xxXXXX" and "XXXXXx" because they were our own troops. I was successful in locating the section concerned, where I met the Lieutenant in charge. I gave him the map references but he did not have a map, as the onl; one he had seen WAB the one in the possession of his 0.C. and he was not on the premises. Fort nately, from y knowledge of the district and the location of our troops, was able to give him the points involved. Later I secured a map from Volunteer Headquarters and ¿essed it on to him.
one maraing at about one o'clock i was sent to call some reinforcements Canadians) which were resting near Gough Hill lice Stat on. I was "acompanied by a Canadian orderly, and when we arrived we found they were not where they were supposed to be, and after a search of half an hour, found the located on the side of a hili, but the N.C.D. did not know exactly whore his officers were sleeping. After considerable delay they were found,
The foregoing instances are quoted not with the idea of slighting the Canadian Tro pe, but as evidence to show that they were not ready for battle. Also, it may be said here, that wile to re were Canadian losses (the extent of which I have no idea), this was not the result of their being shoved in the front, as appears to heve been the impression in the o taide world. They did not bear the brunt of the first attacks, but their positions on frontal situations were brou,ht ubout by the defent of other troops in more forward positions. The last dispatch I took to the front on Christmas day instructed that the line must be held at all costs. That afternoon the general retreat to the Feak took plac, and later on the surrender was announced.
As far as the Chin se units of the E ngkong Volunteer Defence Corps were concerned, they were given permission to endeavour to . scape to town.
77
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.