Mr. Featherstone describes the success of Canadian marksmen in shooting competitions while at Bramshott. He relates how he had taught himself to shoot a rifle.
Everything stopped
Mr. Gleason describes the lack of celebration when the armistice took effect, and how his war experience later resulted in nightmares.
Missing rations
Mr. Gleason describes the fact rations intended for the soldiers were sometimes sold, resulting in unnecessary hunger among the troops. He complains to his officer, resulting in a unexpectedly positive outcome.
They’d break your leg
Mr. Gleason discusses the challenges of moving supplies, in particular moving mule teams over pontoon bridges, and driving trucks at night in total blackout conditions.
He put me in charge
Mr. Gleason describes escaping a dangerous situation with his ammunition supply team, and a dangerous yet amusing situation arising from a girlfriend’s photo.
We hoofed it all the way
Mr. Gleason describes moving from Arras to Amiens on foot.. He has an interesting take on the army’s definition of “non-essential kit.”
Digging trenches
Mr. Gleason describes the long hours and drudgery of digging trenches which were sometimes never used.
Enlightening experience
Mr. Gleason describes being helped to a dressing station by a badly wounded Japanese-Canadian soldier from an adjacent battalion, and years later giving a neighbour a lesson in tolerance.
Over the top
Mr. Gleason describes the assault at Vimy Ridge on the fourth day, losing three friends, being wounded, and nearly drowning trying to evade enemy shelling.
Dogfight at 6,000 feet
Mr. Hatch describes being wounded in the head, blinded by his own blood, and not remembering how he landed his aircraft after a dogfight with a German aircraft.
Machine Gunner
Mr. Hatch describes with some amusement his roller coaster transfer from the army to the air force.
Waste deep in dead bodies
Mr. Hatch describes a gruesome discovery while trying to locate a First Aid post in pitch darkness, witnessing terror, and sleeping with the enemy.