CHAPTER VIII

THE BATTLE OF SANCTUARY WOOD

Moving northwards--The immortal field of Ypres--The greatest of all Canadian battlefields--Description of the ground--Who holds the rim holds the saucer--Advantageous position of the enemy--Sanctuary Wood--Observatory Ridge--The unpleasantness of life and the prevalence of death--Situation of the Canadians--Fortified posts--The German attack begins--The artillery preparation--Jack Johnsons--Whole areas destroyed--A tornado of iron and steel--Canadian trenches swept out of existence--The thunder of high explosives--German guns on the second line--The capture of General Williams--Tragic death of General Mercer--The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles swallowed up--Heavy casualties--A gallant advance--Machine-guns on Hill 60--Lieuts. Key and Evans make a brave stand--The Princess Pats in the firing line--The exploits of Captain Niven--The gallant-hearted gentleman--A mix-up--Between two fires--Game until the last--Major Critchley--Rescue of men buried alive--Lieut. Glascoe--Canadian guns spotted by the enemy--Attacks repulsed by the Royal Canadians--Plucky deed of Corporal Hood--Loss of sacrifice guns--Lieut. Cotton killed--Faithful unto death--A critical position--The colours of Princess Pats returned to Headquarters--Second Canadian Mounted Rifles move under heavy fire--The enemy loses an opportunity--Energetic action of General Macdonell--The Seventh Brigade in peril--Timely support of the Royal Canadian Regiment--General Butler sends relief--The Fifth Canadian Mounted Rifles hard pressed--Daring reconnaissance of Sergeant Jones--Fifth Canadian Mounted Rifles save the Salient--Heavy losses of the Eighth Brigade--Help at hand