An excerpt from the book From BC to Basieux submitted by Ray Montgomery featuring three pages of the book directly relating to Manitoulin Island and reprinted under the fair use doctrine which allows “limited reproduction of copyrighted works for educational and research purposes.”
Being the narrative history of the 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion
By L. McLeod Gould, M.S.M., Croix de Guerre, Late Sergeant, Headquarters Staff, 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion.
1919-Thos. R. Crusack Presses, Victoria, B.C.
BC to Basieux
Definitions
W – wounded, D.o.s. – Died of sickness, Evac. – Evacuated, K.i.a. – Killed in action, Tr. for demob. – Transferred for demobilization
Some of the battles fought by the 102nd:
Somme
Vimy
Passchendaele
Mericourt
Oppy
Amiens
Second battle of Arras
Second battle of Cambrai
The 102nd Battalion captured the last position, Basieux, taken by the 4th Division.
| Officers | 207 |
| Other ranks | 3656 |
| . | 3863 |
| Officers killed in action | 31 |
| Other ranks killed in action | 482 |
| Officers died of wounds | 6 |
| Other ranks died of wounds | 117 |
| Officers missing after action | 1 |
| Other ranks missing after action | 22 |
| Officers died of sickness | 0 |
| Other ranks died of sickness | 17 |
| Officers wounded | 95 |
| Other ranks wounded | 1620 |
| . | 2391 |
| Victoria Cross | 1 |
| Companion of St. Michael & St. George | 1 |
| Distinguished Service Order | 5 |
| Military Cross | 38 |
| Bar to Military Cross | 6 |
| Distinguished Service Medal | 19 |
| Military Medal | 162 |
| Bar to Military Medal | 8 |
| Meritorious Service Medal | 9 |
| Croix de Guerre (French) | 1 |
| Croix de Guerre (Belgian) | 6 |
| Medaille Militaire | 1 |
| Medaille Militaire d’Honneur avec Gliaves en Bronze | 1 |
| Cross of St. George, 4th Class (Russian) | 3 |
| Mentioned in Dispatches | 26 |
| . | 287 |
On Sunday, 22 September 1919, the Regimental Colours of the North British Columbians were deposited in Christ Church, Vancouver.
By L. McLeod Gould
Inspired by the Runners of the 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion
(Reprinted from “Canada in Khaki”, 1917)
And only an Adjutant’s brain can conceive,.
A vital dispatch to his C.O.’s colleague,.
Who are the boys who can still stay a league?.
The Runners
When wires are broken and pigeons won’t fly,.
When shrapnel and bullets are raining on high,.
When hell’s on the earth and earth’s in the sky,.
Who are the boys who will get through or die?.
The Runners
Then here’s to all soldiers of every degree,.
Be they horsemen, or gunners, or stout infantry,.
But specially to those who appeal most to me,.
Who tackle their work with a semblence of glee..
The Runners
DAWN
Reprinted from the Battalion Christmas Card, 1918.
(These lines were written during the interval between the .
2nd Battle of Arras and the 2nd Battle of Cambrai)
Dawn! And the sky grows brighter,.
The darkness and mist disappear,.
Passed are the shadows of evening,.
The things that we fought for grow clear;.
And the doubts that have troubled the nations.
Are stilled, as our triumph draws near.
Dawn! And the night shrinks cowering,.
The Powers of Darkness decrease,.
Soon o’er the ruins of Europe.
Will hover the Angel of Peace;.
And the lives that the struggle has parted.
Will meet, when all warfare shall cease.
Dawn! And this Christmas morning.
Brings hope to a suffering world..
E’en now from their tottering strongholds.
The Forces of Evil are hurled;.
And the nations are banded together.
‘Neath the banner of Freedom unfurled.
J. McLeod Gould
The book, From B.C. to Basieux, is D 547 C2 G66 1919t and was on Inter Library Loan from Stauffer Library, Queen’s University, Kingston.