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23 results returned within occupation Sapper
Engineering Instructor
Mr. Burton describes his role as an engineering instructor at Camp Petawawa. Having the best training record in camp, he speculates on the reasons for his success as a teacher.
Gambling at Sea
Mr. Burton describes the huge game of Crown and Anchor in which many of the three thousand aboard took part on the voyage back to Canada. Mr. Burton, not a gambling man, arrives home with all of his money safely in hand.
Armistice
Mr. Burton describes being in Frameries, near Mons, when the Armistice is signed. He goes on to discuss the controversy that arose over which divisions should occupy Germany and which should return home.
German Bombs and Friendly Fallout
Mr. Burton describes a German bombing raid which spooks the horses in his care. He discusses not only the potential danger of the bombs, but also that from 'friendly' spent ammunition used against the bomber.
An Emphasis on Intelligence
Mr. Burton discusses Sir Arthur Currie's insistence on acquiring good, pertinent intelligence. To this end, he developed Canada's army into an elite force for conducting trench raids whose purpose was to capture prisoners for interrogation.
New Electronic Surveillance
Mr. Burton describes the use of a new British device which could intercept German radio traffic in the front lines.
Rat extermination
Mr. Burton discusses the presence of rats in his bunker, and using abandoned German cordite to blow the vermin out of their tunnels.
Strategy and Success at Amiens
Mr. Burton describes the use of extra radio traffic at Ypres to divert the Germans while the Canadians moved south to prepare for the Battle of Amiens. He discusses the unprecedented territorial success of this surprise attack, as well as the taking of forty thousand German prisoners by the allied forces.
A Dangerous Moonlit Ride
Mr. Burton describes a nocturnal courier mission during which he is followed and strafed by a Gotha bomber. The bomber follows him to his destination, dropping its bomb and as he seeks shelter in a basement, he's surprised to find his horse following him. The ride home is no less eventful, as he's shelled by the Germans.
The Pony Express
Mr. Burton describes his responsibilities as a mounted courier near Courcelette. Despite the long distances he rode in the performance of this duty, it was the most enjoyable time he spent in action.
An Angry Horse
Mr. Burton discusses being given a horse with three former riders' broken noses to its credit. He's told the secret of mounting the obstinate horse, and finds it to be a very good mount once he's safely in the saddle.
German Long Range Shelling
Mr. Burton describes the Germans' use of long-range naval guns to shell the storage yards at St. Pol. He describes the predictable timing of the bombardments and the unpredictability of the bomb fragments.
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