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Posted by Douglass Chappell from Toronto ON Canada on April 23, 1999 at 11:54:21:



Comrades On 22-24 April 1915, the 48th Highlanders of Canada engaged the German army at the battle of St. Julien and earned a Battle Honour that today is emblazoned on the Regimental Colour This was the first time the Canadians had encountered gas. Description of the battle at St. Julien "The heroic stand of the 1st Canadian Division in the first gas attack at Ypres in 1915. On the evening of April 20, 1915, the men were moved to a point near the village of St. Julien northeast of Ypres where they relieved the 16th Canadian Scottish in the trenches. In the lengthy, wavery defensive line around St. Julien, the 48th Highlanders, along with the Royal Highlanders of Montreal, Black Watch were at the very toe of the salient with approximately a thousand yards of frontage. On April 22 at about four o‘clock in the afternoon, the Canadians observed a strange yellow haze in motion over the distant lines of the French colonials on the northern face of the salient. The French lines collapsed under the German Chlorine gas attack, leaving a gap in the defenses of six miles. Allied leaders behind the lines sent these orders: "The duty is to hold the trenches at all costs against all comers, and on no account give up the line." Despite poorly operating Ross rifles, shortages of ammunition, and inadequate artillery support, the Highlanders held the line in the face of numerous attacks, both conventional and chemical until relieved on the 24th of April. John Currie reported that at the 48th Roll call on April 27, out of a battalion of 912, seventeen officers and 674 men were killed, wounded or missing in action. Only two officers survived unscathed, one of which, Major William R. Marshall, was awarded a Distinguished Service Order for his leadership during the four days of battle." Kim Beattie also described the battle in this manner "The light of the momentous dawn of April 24th began to thin the covering darkness all too soon. It was the last red dawn that many of the holders of that defiant line were ever to see. The men stood-to in the black of the early morning , as usual about 3 AM. A German airplane droned up and down over the trench within easy rifle range, as it grew light. He was hotly fired at but remained unharmed. Then he dropped coloured lights as he banked for home. His signal brought an increase of fire on the instant. As it grew lighter it was seen that April 24th was going to be one of those beautiful spring days of Flanders that are un surpassed anywhere. About 4 AM all the men along the line noticed a German observation balloon on their right flank about a mile behind the German front line. Three red lights dropped from it.....a signal which was to mean the end of the Highland salient and the end of all things for many officers and men if the Battalion. Immediately after the flares fell, two Germans appeared on top of their trench directly across from Capt. McLarens Company. They wore grotesque helmets, something in the manner of a divers headgear. Each had a hose in his hand from which began to flow the same heavy green-tinged vapour that had annihilated the French line on the left. Those who had not heard of the chlorine, thought of liquid fire. Several fired at the Huns amongst the Sgt H Ashling an expert marksman of No 4 Company, but without effect. The frantic roar of rapid fire and stutter of Capt. McKessock‘s machine guns broke along the front line, but the death cloud spread and thickened, rose to ten feet in height and in a moment men were firing as at ghosts. In another it had rolled over the entire front of No.1 Company, part of the 8th Battalion and part of No.3 Company. In one more instant men were clutching their throats, writhing in torment in the bottom of the trench and retching with fearful nausea as the slow agony of death by suffocation mantled their faces. The appalling tragedy of Hun frightfulness in the 2nd battle of Ypres had fallen upon them. Gallant McGregor, "Geof" Taylor, Argonaut stroke and University of Toronto footballer, valiant Captain Daniels and the well loved Langmuir and their stricken men, fought hopelessly to keep the green choking poison out of their throats and to stem the swarming hoard of advancing Germans following in open formation, behind the wall of gas. The three officers of No.1 Company fell, but the actual manner of their death has never been known and never will be known, and no word has ever been heard of Captain Daniels of No.3 Company. One but knew this, that in the choking chaos the Highland officers and their men died as splendidly as any soldier ever did on the field of battle. For hours the situation had been wild confusion, wherein was hopelessness, and wherein men knew the swiftness of fleeting breath. For them "The Clock" had stopped. For almost all of No.1 Company and a great part of No.3, the green wall of strangling fumes rolled over them, blotted them from the sight of their few remaining comrades on the left, and no doubt the black veil of the Last Darkness came mercifully to them before the Hun stormed over the parapet onto the agonized garrison already down. Elsewhere along the line the men stood-to and awaited orders. Their officers will never forget their splendid steadiness and fierce excitement and apprehension of the moment. Discipline was perfect as the blow fell." I just thought that we might reflect this day on this dark moment in our history. "They shall grow not old as we who are left grow old......." Dileas Gu Brath Douglass Chappell Toronto CANADA --------------------
Comrades

On 22-24 April 1915, the 48th Highlanders of Canada engaged the German army at the battle of St. Julien and earned a Battle Honour that today is emblazoned on the Regimental Colour This was the first time the Canadians had encountered gas.

Description of the battle at St. Julien

"The heroic stand of the 1st Canadian Division in the first gas attack at Ypres in 1915. On the evening of April 20, 1915, the men were moved to a point near the village of St. Julien northeast of Ypres where they relieved the 16th Canadian Scottish in the trenches. In the lengthy, wavery defensive line around St. Julien, the 48th Highlanders, along with the Royal Highlanders of Montreal, Black Watch were at the very toe of the salient with approximately a thousand yards of frontage. On April 22 at about four o‘clock in the afternoon, the Canadians observed a strange yellow haze in motion over the distant lines of the French colonials on the northern face of the salient. The French lines collapsed under the German Chlorine gas attack, leaving a gap in the defenses of six miles. Allied leaders behind the lines sent these orders: "The duty is to hold the trenches at all costs against
all comers, and on no account give up the line." Despite poorly operating Ross rifles, shortages of ammunition, and inadequate artillery support, the Highlanders held the line in the face of numerous attacks, both conventional and chemical until relieved on the 24th of April. John Currie reported that at the 48th Roll call on April 27, out of a battalion of 912, seventeen officers and 674 men were killed, wounded or missing in action. Only two officers survived unscathed, one of which, Major William R. Marshall, was awarded a Distinguished Service Order for his leadership during the four days of battle."

Kim Beattie also described the battle in this manner

"The light of the momentous dawn of April 24th began to thin the covering darkness all too soon. It was the last red dawn that many of the holders of that defiant line were ever to see. The men stood-to in the black of the early morning , as usual about 3 AM. A German airplane droned up and down over the trench within easy rifle range, as it grew light. He was hotly fired at but remained unharmed. Then he dropped coloured lights as he banked for home. His signal brought an increase of fire on the instant. As it grew lighter it was seen that April 24th was going to be one of those beautiful spring days of Flanders that are un surpassed anywhere. About 4 AM all the men along the line noticed a German observation balloon on their right flank about a mile behind the German front line. Three red lights dropped from it.....a signal which was to mean the end of the Highland salient and the end of all things for many officers and men if the Battalion. Immediately after the flares fell, two Germans appeared on top of their trench directly across from Capt. McLarens Company. They wore grotesque helmets, something in the manner of a divers headgear. Each had a hose in his hand from which began to flow the same heavy green-tinged vapour that had annihilated the French line on the left. Those who had not heard of the chlorine, thought of liquid fire.

Several fired at the Huns amongst the Sgt H Ashling an expert marksman of No 4 Company, but without effect. The frantic roar of rapid fire and stutter of Capt. McKessock‘s machine guns broke along the front line, but the death cloud spread and thickened, rose to ten feet in height and in a moment men were firing as at ghosts. In another it had rolled over the entire front of No.1 Company, part of the 8th Battalion and part of No.3 Company. In one more instant men were clutching their throats, writhing in torment in the bottom of the trench and retching with fearful nausea as the slow agony of death by suffocation mantled their faces. The appalling tragedy of Hun frightfulness in the 2nd battle of Ypres had fallen upon them.

Gallant McGregor, "Geof" Taylor, Argonaut stroke and University of Toronto footballer, valiant Captain Daniels and the well loved Langmuir and their stricken men, fought hopelessly to keep the green choking poison out of their throats and to stem the swarming hoard of advancing Germans following in open formation, behind the wall of gas. The three officers of No.1 Company fell, but the actual manner of their death has never been known and never will be known, and no word has ever been heard of Captain Daniels of No.3 Company. One but knew this, that in the choking chaos the Highland officers and their men died as splendidly as any soldier ever did on the field of battle. For hours the situation had been wild confusion, wherein was hopelessness, and wherein men knew the swiftness of fleeting breath. For them "The Clock" had stopped. For almost all of No.1 Company and a great part of No.3, the green wall of strangling fumes rolled over them, blotted them from the sight of their few remaining comrades on the left, and no doubt the black veil of the Last Darkness came mercifully to them before the Hun stormed over the parapet onto the agonized garrison already down. Elsewhere along the line the men stood-to and awaited orders. Their officers will never forget their splendid steadiness and fierce excitement and apprehension of the moment. Discipline was perfect as the blow fell."

I just thought that we might reflect this day on this dark moment in our history. "They shall grow not old as we who are left grow old......."

Dileas Gu Brath
 
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