CHAPTER VII

ST. ELOI (_conclusion_)

The enemy's final effort to capture Canadian trenches--The Higher Command decides to hold on--The precise position of affairs--The 5th Brigade in inferno--Loneliness of the watchers--Carrier pigeons killed by shell-shock--Crater No. 6 abandoned--The enemy's lack of imagination--The power of the British Army "to come again"--Troops of the Allies able to act without support--General Watson on the state of the craters--The report of Lieut. Vernon--Linking up the craters with the old British line--Advantageous position of the Huns--Four attempts to take Canadian craters--The Huns driven back--The assault on Craters 6 and 7--Isolated position of the Canadians--Aeroplanes reveal the true position--Army Commanders blameless--The importance of dominant ground--Difficulties of the Higher Command--The enemy begins an intense bombardment--Many casualties--Permission to surrender---Lieutenant Myers fires his last round--Five survivors--Sergeant Bostel's narrative--The failures at St. Eloi--The garrison of the Canadian craters swept out of existence