Deborah Florence Glassford Letters and Memorabilia
Letters written to Deborah Florence (Leighton) Glassford of Vancouver by men serving overseas, including some cards, programs and memorabilia. Learn more.
*All transcriptions are provided by volunteers, and the accuracy of the transcriptions is not guaranteed. Please be sure to verify the information by viewing the image record, or visiting the BC Archives in person.
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Well, the first of my experiences, and the one that sticks in my memory most vividly is the march up to the trenches. "Villers au Bois" was where our billets were, and we had a march of about 6 1/2 miles on roads, and about 1100 yds of trenches to get to the front line, and as the packs carried are very heavy, the roads bad, the pace very slow with many halts, the march in and out of trenches is hated by all.
First as regards kit - the officers are dressed and carry practically the same as the men, and very often a little more as they have revolvers and ammunition, gloves, compass, map can, and books in addition. Well, I was young at the game, and listened to everyone's advise, and finally decided to take a lot more than I might require, as it would, first test out my packing capabilities, and second allow me to judge exactly what I could actually dispense with. I may say I had a devil of a load. Heavy steel helmet, pack, equipment, rifle ammunition and rifle, haversack, water bottle, coat, 2 gas helmets, and the usual things we carried round ones waist hung on the belt which make one look just like a Xmas tree, and to finish up with a very heavy pair of top boots.
Oh, I may state here, the Canadian Corps (4 Divns) had a front of 5/6000 yds - 1st 2nd and 3rd Divns in the front line, the 4th in Reserve. The 3rd Division had a front of 1500 yds, slightly to the left of Neuville St. Vaast, with La Folie Farm as the objective, with the wood beyond, just over Vimy Ridge as their ultimate destination.
About 6pm on 21/3 No. 1 platoon of A Coy started off, 5 minutes interval between each platoon. I had No. 4 and started at 6.15 marching in file. Our route lay through Mount St. Eloi, La Targette, and Neuville St. Vaast
BC Archives, MS-0089 Box 1 File 5 GLASSFORD, Deborah Florence (Leighton). Vancouver Correspondence inward, 1917.