Letters From the Front

Dated:

Letters from the Front

Arthur Carswell writing from Aberdeen Scotland, says:

I don't think Phil Galbraith¹ was hurt, but I am not sure. Out of the six other fellows who left Edmonton with me three were killed, two were wounded and another one and myself were wounded before the big scrap.

A hospital just behind the line, in Maple Copse, was pounded to the ground and the grove itself just about obliterated. Our brigade drove the Bosches out of there after they had captured it. One wounded man was telling me he saw where some of the troops had fought with bare hands after their weapons were broken or useless. One of our bunch and a German were choking each other and both were dead. Such things are not very nice to talk about, but I just mention it to give you some idea. A wall called the China wall had been built across an open space behind our lines to protect troops coming along. It was almost completely levelled and dead men lay along its whole length. They can certainly drop shells pretty accurately these days.

After they had secured our front line though our artillery gave them just as much and they certainly never gained anything. Several of our 12 inch guns were in action there, and the shells sound like express trains when they are going over. They stir things up when they light alright. When the whole front line was finally taken back again there was a nice mixture of dead Canadians and Germans.

And then to see the poor fellows afterwards, that are badly hit but not killed. And hear them hollering when the wounds are dressed or amputations are taking place. It is rather horrible. I see no reason for it being over, but many seem to think it will be over in a month or so. They say they don't see how it can go another winter. I don't see why not.