CHAPTER IV

FORMATION OF THE THIRD DIVISION

Coming events cast no shadows before--General Seely's command redistributed--The Seventh Brigade in the trenches--Heavy bombardment at Messines--Fortified positions of the Huns battered--Good work of the Artillery--Three privates distinguish themselves--Death of a daring explorer in "No Man's Land"--Visit of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and the Colonial Secretary--Canadians co-operate with British--A terrific bombardment--The Huns establish themselves in British trenches--Canadian guns aid the British--"Tobin's Tigers"--The Tenth Battalion in a serious encounter--A fierce medley in the dark--An unfortunate day--Two Generals wounded--A survey of the strategic position--The force of massed artillery--A new era--Mr. Lloyd George's work--Iron lips produce conclusive arguments--A successful ruse--Ingenious device of Captain Costigan--A swollen river aids the Canadians--A hero indeed--An exchange of front--The value of salients questioned--The problem of transferring a sector--The Battle of St. Eloi a joint affair--Description of the ground--The process of exchange described--Adequate reasons for changes--A critical moment--Second Canadian Division supports the British--Six huge craters created by exploding mines--Activity of Northumberlands and Royal Fusiliers--Timely assistance of Canadians acknowledged--The "Canadians' Trench"--The enemy cleared out of debatable land--Good fighting of the enemy at St. Eloi--Trenches filled with the dead of both combatants--The Sixth Canadian Brigade to the relief