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

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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.

Total Strength of the Battalion
 

Officers 207
Other ranks 3656
. 3863

Casualties
 

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

Decorations
 

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.

THE RUNNERS
By L. McLeod Gould
Inspired by the Runners of the 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion
(Reprinted from “Canada in Khaki”, 1917)
When soldiers are ready to drop with fatigue..
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.