Vimy Ridge
Ninety years ago today:
The notion that this was a day like none other here was established early on when, in the darkness before zero hour, the troops were treated to a rare hot breakfast. There was bacon, bread, butter, tea and oranges — and after the meal, an issue of rum for every soldier, “which was rather small,” grumbled Private Leo Kelly, a 19-year old, who nonetheless remarked, “We don’t need rum to fight. All we need is grub and cigarettes.”
Maybe so for the young Quebec private, full up on a rare warm breakfast and energized by the prospect of battle, but for Lieutenant Stuart Kirkland and his platoon, who had spent the night packed into a front-line trench in the cold and muddy darkness, the rations of rum were essential.
“We stood there in mud to our waists all night waiting for the eventful hour. After fifteen minutes before the time set, I took two water bottles of rum and gave each of the men a good swallow, for I was bitter cold standing in the mud all night.”
Read it all here.
The vigil. Thanks to Capt. Heinrichs, Royal Strathconas, and Sigmund and Carl.
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 12:07 pm on Monday, April 9, 2007
3 Responses to “Vimy Ridge”
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April 9th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Jules,
I never cease to be amazed at the quiet courage of all these men. My own grandfather was a machine-gunner with the Australians in France during WWI. He survived wounds and a partial loss of lung power due to gas exposure. Yet, he always was cheerful, never complained openly that I remember, and, when asked, would speak honestly and forthright about his experiences. He came home, and got on with his life, married, and became reasonably well off, considering.
Sometimes, though, he’d just sit on the porch, with that 1000-yard stare, a cup of tea cooling on the stand beside him. After awhile, he’d come back, sometimes with a start, and then wonder why mom gave him a cup of cold tea. I miss him.
Respects,
April 9th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Vimy Ridge
The Easter Monday That Changed The World Sigmund, Carl and Alfred (Hat tip: Jules C.) On Easter Monday 90 years ago, the world changed forever. On that day a terrible battle was fought and won, in a place called Vimy
April 9th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Bill’s Nibbles // Open Post — 2007.04.09
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