From the News

Dated: February 14, 1916

9th Battery Actions As Told by the Major

Full Account of Year's Work of Toronto's Senior Unit.

Many Casualties

Major MacDougall Says Toronto Has Every Reason to be Proud

A resume of the work done by the 9th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, the senior unit of the militia from Toronto at the front, is given by Major E. A. MacDougall, officer commanding, in a letter received in Toronto, dated January 23. The battery left the Ypres salient for Festubert on March 18 last, and next day went into action in an orchard with the 2nd Brigade of infantry immediately in the rear. Enemy balloons spotted their position and they were forced to move when shells began falling nearby, two gunners being wounded. The guns were sunk into the ground next time and screened from observation by aeroplanes in a thick hedge.

After Festubert the battery was next in action at Annequin, on the south side of the La Bassee-Bethune Canal. The guns were placed on an island in a marsh, an ideal position, as German shells falling into this marsh failed to explode.

Expensive, But---

Speaking of cutting barb-wire entanglements by gun-fire, Major MacDougall says it is done by firing continually in the same place with shrapnel, bursting the shells low down and close to the wire, so that the obstructions are literally blown out of the ground.

"It is a very expensive method, of course," says Major MacDougall, but up to the present the only feasible one where the infantry attack is contemplated."

The casualties to the battery at this period were remarkably small, even though the observation stations were in an already ruined village which the Germans kept shelling. After this the battery was given a resting spell for three days. Then it was sent to Ploegsteert, where, after four months' nerve-wracking work, Major MacDougall says it seemed like being back in Petawawa Camp.

"Men could rest," he writes. "The battery rapidly attained its full strength through reinforcements arriving, and altogether it was a most peaceful time."

In the middle of September, the 9th Battery with the 3rd Brigade Artillery, was selected from the Canadian Division to take part in the Battle of Loos, and was relieved by their old friends and instructors from Kingston, the R.C.H.A.

9th at Loos.

The battery went into position covering the advance of the Royal Irish Rifles, the Lincolns, and Berks. These regiments were enabled to advance under cover of the battery's fire and darkness to within 20 yards of the German trenches without suffering a single casualty. Captain J. W. Ross the observing officer climbed out of the trench and rescued an artillery officer of the Imperial army, who lay in the open, and his act was mentioned by Colonel Mitchell for distinguished service. Captain Elliott Greene also rendered very good service on that day.

The battery moved back to Ploegsteert after this, and last October went into its present position.

Many Changes of Personnel.

Gunner Medhurst¹ was killed at Festubert and Bombardier G. A. Yates² was killed later in December last.

"It is particularly sad," writes the Major, "as his brother was killed at Ypres, and they were both well known young fellows in Toronto. Many men have been wounded and some have already returned to Canada, but although the battery is hardly recognizable as the battery that left Toronto in August, 1914, there are still a number of men left of the original enlistment. Changes in war time are inevitable, and of the original officers there are few left. Capt. Ross has been transferred to the Medical Corps. Capt. Greene is in the 12th Battery, but will return to the 9th. Mr. J. M. Macdonell was transferred to the 17th Battery of the 2nd Division. Mr. Arthur Ryerson was severely wounded and was invalided to Canada. Mr. Stanley Lovelace was wounded, but returned to France. Unfortunately his health gave way, and he has been retired. Mr. H. E. Cawley, a well-known Cobalt engineer and Toronto man, is now one of the subalterns in the battery.

"Battery Sergeant-Major R. Wildgoose received the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the New Year honours, which was thoroughly deserved, and the honour was greatly appreciated in the battery. He was further honoured by being appointed an instructor at Shorncliffe, and his place has now been taken by Battery Sergeant-Major W. S. Connor, a well-known member of the police force, and for many years an enthusiastic member of the 9th.

"There are only 38 officers, N.C.O.'s and men left in the battery now of the original 140 who came to France a year ago. Casualties have accounted for a large proportion of the shortage, but in all twenty-one N.C.O.'s and men have been granted commissions, both in the R.F.A. and the C.F.A., and Toronto may well be proud of the men she sent with the 9th Battery."

Major MacDougall warns friends at home not to accept statements from returned soldiers as to hardships in the field literally. Many accounts, he says, that he has seen in Canadian papers are gross exaggerations.