Hello Collectors,
Important To Note
Although Newfoundland was not formally a part of the Dominion of Canada hundreds accompanied the First Canadian Contingent to England 1914.
So you may not have had a good sleep last night, as you tossed, turned & pounded the pillows a few times and even got out of bed to take (3) three, unscheduled bathroom breaks.
Perhaps you raided the fridge at 3:00 am for that healthy snack (pepperoni sticks and/or ice cream). The rustling sounds may have awakened the dog. The keen sense of smell triggered the appetite of your beloved pet, so of course you share your snack.
Now it’s the dogs time to take a bathroom break. You accommodate it by opening the back door. Immediately the security alarm engages the sound; deafening!
So What Do You Do?
Battle Before The Battle (continued).
Now Picture This !!
It took days to unload all of the equipment off the ships but now the Canadian First Contingent is in a bog, mud, weeds higher than your knees, darkness in a torrential down pour. Besides, the horses are sliding, falling, twisting and tons of artillery are in ditches partially buried in rivers made from the continuous pelting rain.
Oh!! Let’s not forget about the fallen soldier!
Now laid flat out in mud, bleeding, unconscious with layers of skin and scalp detached from his scalp, sustained by the sharp force of a horses hoof striking the soldiers head.
What do you do?
A quickly made stretcher from fallen timbers and the move continued.
A few more tenacious hours and finally the troop arrives at Salisbury Plain.
The four month of training begins in one of the worst winters ever recorded in England. (Of the 120 days of preparation for combat- almost 90 days of rain.)
A couple of notes.
1. The soldier with the head injury recovered quickly and was ready for action.
2. There was uncertainty of who was going to command the Canadian Contingent (Canadian or British). Based on England’s experience in the Boer War, a British Commander was selected.)
3. Also the question arose. Should the Canadians stay together as trained at Salisbury Plain or be interspersed with British units? It was decided to unite with the British units as they had a lot more experience.
4. For the most part, Canadian artillery was substandard to the British’s. Much of it was discarded.
5. In WWI 61,000 Canadian Soldiers were killed.
6. This narration began by simply looking at a Postcard.
#FD7766 on MJR’s Website: mjrpostcardsandcovers.ca
