Canadian War Veterans Memorial Project
Commemorating those that served
Commemorating those that served
Welcome: Guest (Login/Register) |
Welcome: Guest (Login/Register) |
Although the specific engagement described in this report was not detailed, it probably refers to the counter-attacks of the Canadians in the period after the German gas attack at Ypres in April 1915. The reference to "The second battalion at the end of Friday" likely means Friday April 23rd, 1915, a day of Allied counter-attacks.
Dated: May 6, 1915
GOT BEHIND GERMAN DEAD
FILED IN PARAPETS.
Canadians Forced to Use Corpses in Front of Trenches - Germans Do Not Use the Bayonet.
London, May 6. -- Sergt. Larkin, of the Second Battalion, First Brigade, lying wounded at Cardiff, confirms the assertion made by many Canadians that the German dead were so numerous after they had been repulsed in the charges leading up to their great attack that the Canadian piled their bodies as parapets. "The German artillery fire was so heavy that it was more like machine gun fire," he says.
"It is a curious fact that in preliminary German attacks not one of our men was brought in suffering from a bayonet wound. The Germans damaged us by shell or rifle fire, but would not risk coming to us at close quarters. They either ran away or stood still and screamed for mercy."
SECOND BATTALION LOSSES.
"The second battalion at the end of Friday had six officers killed, six wounded and missing, and four wounded. The Germans had absolutely no feeling for the wounded. They shelled the dressing station, and blew fellows lying there wounded into smithereens. Some of our motor ambulances were also blown up. The German prisoners seemed utterly fed up. Several Saxons told us they would sooner be back at work."
"One of the pluckiest things was done by a machine gun team of the second battalion. They occupied a cottage in broad daylight within the German lines and planted a machine gun under Capt. Hooper. Eventually they were driven out. Capt. Hopper is wounded and missing."
WANTS BACK AGAIN.
Pte. Wickham, fort signaller, writing home, says: "I don't know what they are going to do with what are left of the Canadians. We lost everything but our rifles and ammunition. I got through without a scratch, although I had to go half a mile in full view of the Germans over open fields. They put two machine guns on me and just plastered that half mile, with shrapnel. I guess, though, what remains of the Canadians are anxious to get busy again. I have lost a pal or two, and am anxious to get even."
Transcribed by: M. I. Pirie