The Pony Express
Heroes Remember
The Pony Express
Transcript
Description
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.
Robert Burton
Robert Burton was born on February 21, 1896 in Dundas, Ontario. After public school, he was accepted into university which he attended from 1914 to 1916, in the Canadian Officer Training Corps. For a time, he worked at Massey, checking shrapnel shells. Despite being shortsighted, Mr. Burton was recruited into the 13th Brigade in Mar, 1916. In England, he joined the 5th Division, a reinforcement unit, and deployed to France with the 2nd Division as a sapper. Mr. Burton became a mounted courier at Courcelette, and had several interesting experiences in that capacity. He witnessed and was attacked by Gotha bombers at Arras, and was shelled at St.Pol. Mr. Burton also served in the trenches at Amiens. During the 2nd World War, he was a very successful engineering instructor at camp Petawawa, where he attained the rank of Major.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 1:19
- Person Interviewed:
- Robert Burton
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- First World War
- Battle/Campaign:
- Arras
- Branch:
- Army
- Units/Ship:
- 2nd Division (Special Force)
- Rank:
- Private
- Occupation:
- Sapper
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Feeding The Troops was Big Business
Mr. Burton describes the precision with which rations were given out to the troops.
Gotha Bomber
Mr. Burton describes the Germans' use of the Gotha bomber to harass allied rest camps at night. He describes coning a Gotha and watching it release its bomb, which, fortunately, was a dud.
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.
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.
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.
Strategy and Success at Amiens
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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.
New Electronic Surveillance
Mr. Burton describes the use of a new British device which could intercept German radio traffic in the front lines.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Engineering Instructor
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